Larry King asked the other night..."if heaven is such a great place, why are people so afraid of dying?"
Now the answer may seem obvious...but really think about it.
Is it...
people are scared of the way they will "go" (pain, prolongation, etc.)
people have been christians all their lives...but still have a bit of doubt
people are scared of the unknown (but according to religion...it isn't really unknown...is it?)
Or, is it something else?
What are your feelings (personal, religious, or other)?
Heaven...scary?
Heaven...scary?
My mother says she's not afraid to die, she just doesn't want to be there when it happens.
Schooling results in matriculation. Education is a process that changes the learner.
Heaven...scary?
Even though I am a mna of great faith. I used to be afraid of death too. After all, who doesn't hate the phrase, "Everyone out of the pool?"
Then a had a near death experience.
I was dying from RA, it hadn't been diagnosed yet. I was nearly paralyzed. it finally got to attacking my internal organs. I went to bed that night but woke up in extreme pain, knowing that something was seriously wrong. I struggled out of bed and stood up. I tried to cry out for help from my wife who was sleeping next to me, but my lips made no sound.
I leaned against the dresser, my fingers clawing the top. then suddenly..... I was standing behind myself. I could see the back of my own head. I thought, "Wow, I need a haircut." Then my body collapsed to the side...hard! It didn't even try to catch itself! I thought, "Sheesh! That looked like it HURT!" My pain was gone! I felt great!
Then I realized I was outside my body. I tried not to move, afriad I would pop like a soap bubble. I looked slowly to the right, Vicki was still sleeping. I looked past her and saw... The room was filled with small, glowing "candle flames" just hovering in the air. I could see thousands of the candles, just waiting expectantly, in the room, in the yard, in the street.
Then I realized I was looking through the walls. I got a great feeling of peace. "These are my people, I suddenly realized! Sheesh! Why do I have so many people? The answer came to my mind in the form of a vision, this is my family tree reaching back century after century, for millenia.
then, I turned to the left and looked to see my own motionless body lying on the floor. For some reason I wasn't afraid. Then suddenly, SNAP! I was back in my body. I thought, "Damn! That DID hurt!
later, the docotrs told me that my heart had stopped beating for a time. I had no brain damage, though.
I'm not scared to die anymore. When you die, you don't cease to exist. I find that infinitely comforting.
Then a had a near death experience.
I was dying from RA, it hadn't been diagnosed yet. I was nearly paralyzed. it finally got to attacking my internal organs. I went to bed that night but woke up in extreme pain, knowing that something was seriously wrong. I struggled out of bed and stood up. I tried to cry out for help from my wife who was sleeping next to me, but my lips made no sound.
I leaned against the dresser, my fingers clawing the top. then suddenly..... I was standing behind myself. I could see the back of my own head. I thought, "Wow, I need a haircut." Then my body collapsed to the side...hard! It didn't even try to catch itself! I thought, "Sheesh! That looked like it HURT!" My pain was gone! I felt great!
Then I realized I was outside my body. I tried not to move, afriad I would pop like a soap bubble. I looked slowly to the right, Vicki was still sleeping. I looked past her and saw... The room was filled with small, glowing "candle flames" just hovering in the air. I could see thousands of the candles, just waiting expectantly, in the room, in the yard, in the street.
Then I realized I was looking through the walls. I got a great feeling of peace. "These are my people, I suddenly realized! Sheesh! Why do I have so many people? The answer came to my mind in the form of a vision, this is my family tree reaching back century after century, for millenia.
then, I turned to the left and looked to see my own motionless body lying on the floor. For some reason I wasn't afraid. Then suddenly, SNAP! I was back in my body. I thought, "Damn! That DID hurt!
later, the docotrs told me that my heart had stopped beating for a time. I had no brain damage, though.
I'm not scared to die anymore. When you die, you don't cease to exist. I find that infinitely comforting.
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Heaven...scary?
wow! That is awesome! little candle flames? really? No great white light then?
I need to google little candle flames and near death. This is interesting. Wonder if more people have experienced this. One day I will have all the answers.
You wrote about "RA" before. I wanted to ask...but didn't want to pry. What is RA? I'm not familiar.
I need to google little candle flames and near death. This is interesting. Wonder if more people have experienced this. One day I will have all the answers.
You wrote about "RA" before. I wanted to ask...but didn't want to pry. What is RA? I'm not familiar.
Heaven...scary?
hotsauce wrote: wow! That is awesome! little candle flames?
Yep..not wavering or flickering, just softly glowing.
really?
My word of honor as an officer and a gentleman....and I NEVER break that word. Interestingly, it wasn't hazy or misty. The whole experience was a clear as a summer night. I wasn't cold, hot, or hungry either.
No great white light then?
I don't thin I was outside of my body long enough for that. I also got the feeling that the lights were waiting expectantly, as if they knew it wasn't my time to go yet.
One day I will have all the answers.
Yes...yes, you will. Believe in it.
You wrote about "RA" before. I wanted to ask...but didn't want to pry. What is RA? I'm not familiar.
HEY!! STOP PRYING INTO MY PERSONAL BUSINESS, HOTSAUCE!!! HAVE YOU NO LIMITS?!!! NO SENSE OF DECENCY?!!!!
lol.. I'm just teasing you. RA (also known as Rheumatoid Arthritus) is a terrible genetic disease that causes the body's immune system to begin to attack everything in the body, including the joints, tendons, and cartilage. The white blood cells stop eating only the bacteria and begin eating actual body cells. It feels somewhat like having your body filled with concrete and then injecting batery acid into your veins.
It used to be lethal 100% of the time in two years or so. Now it's completely controllable, but not curable.
There is another person on this board with this terrible disease, but if they want to tell you, they will. That's their decision and not mine to make.
Yep..not wavering or flickering, just softly glowing.
really?
My word of honor as an officer and a gentleman....and I NEVER break that word. Interestingly, it wasn't hazy or misty. The whole experience was a clear as a summer night. I wasn't cold, hot, or hungry either.
No great white light then?
I don't thin I was outside of my body long enough for that. I also got the feeling that the lights were waiting expectantly, as if they knew it wasn't my time to go yet.
One day I will have all the answers.
Yes...yes, you will. Believe in it.
You wrote about "RA" before. I wanted to ask...but didn't want to pry. What is RA? I'm not familiar.
HEY!! STOP PRYING INTO MY PERSONAL BUSINESS, HOTSAUCE!!! HAVE YOU NO LIMITS?!!! NO SENSE OF DECENCY?!!!!
lol.. I'm just teasing you. RA (also known as Rheumatoid Arthritus) is a terrible genetic disease that causes the body's immune system to begin to attack everything in the body, including the joints, tendons, and cartilage. The white blood cells stop eating only the bacteria and begin eating actual body cells. It feels somewhat like having your body filled with concrete and then injecting batery acid into your veins.
It used to be lethal 100% of the time in two years or so. Now it's completely controllable, but not curable.
There is another person on this board with this terrible disease, but if they want to tell you, they will. That's their decision and not mine to make.
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Heaven...scary?
Jives,
I believe you. I had a similar but much shorter experience not very long ago. I was above myself while lying on the bed. No pain, no sense of heat or cold and no fear. I was however, not happy with what I was doing. I was thinking and saying, “this isn’t right….not nowâ€, then the whole thing was over and I was feeling weak and shaky, wondering what had just happened to me. There wasn’t enough time to know what was going on beyond my being away from my body and questioning why.
This in no way explains death to me. It does give me the assurance that dieing is not painful in itself.
I believe you. I had a similar but much shorter experience not very long ago. I was above myself while lying on the bed. No pain, no sense of heat or cold and no fear. I was however, not happy with what I was doing. I was thinking and saying, “this isn’t right….not nowâ€, then the whole thing was over and I was feeling weak and shaky, wondering what had just happened to me. There wasn’t enough time to know what was going on beyond my being away from my body and questioning why.
This in no way explains death to me. It does give me the assurance that dieing is not painful in itself.
Schooling results in matriculation. Education is a process that changes the learner.
Heaven...scary?
hotsauce wrote: Larry King asked the other night..."if heaven is such a great place, why are people so afraid of dying?"
Now the answer may seem obvious...but really think about it.
Is it...
people are scared of the way they will "go" (pain, prolongation, etc.)
people have been christians all their lives...but still have a bit of doubt
people are scared of the unknown (but according to religion...it isn't really unknown...is it?)
Or, is it something else?
What are your feelings (personal, religious, or other)?
At 70, I am a lot closer to croaking than most of the posters. Not believing in heaven or hell, I am not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of what I will miss out on. Their will be space travel for sure, more and better technology, a host of new and wonderful inventions, and I won't be around to see it. That really pisses me off.
Now the answer may seem obvious...but really think about it.
Is it...
people are scared of the way they will "go" (pain, prolongation, etc.)
people have been christians all their lives...but still have a bit of doubt
people are scared of the unknown (but according to religion...it isn't really unknown...is it?)
Or, is it something else?
What are your feelings (personal, religious, or other)?
At 70, I am a lot closer to croaking than most of the posters. Not believing in heaven or hell, I am not afraid of dying, I'm afraid of what I will miss out on. Their will be space travel for sure, more and better technology, a host of new and wonderful inventions, and I won't be around to see it. That really pisses me off.
Heaven...scary?
Lon wrote: At 70, I am a lot closer to croaking than most of the posters. Not believing in heaven or hell, I am not afraid of dying,
But surely you must believe in some kind of Creator, If not.... doesn't the prospect of death seem bleak and meaningless? Especially when faced with two people on this thread who are certain that existance doesn't end at body-death?
I'm afraid of what I will miss out on. Their will be space travel for sure, more and better technology, a host of new and wonderful inventions, and I won't be around to see it. That really pisses me off.
Well, hang around a while and maybe you can catch a ride on NASA's Ion drive engine...get up to 0.9C, whip around the sun a few times (about a year or two) and come back...you'll be over 100 years in the future!
Time Dilation Effect.
Besides, Lon....think of all the wonderful inventions you've seen in your life! You're typing on one right now, aren't you? The world has changed more in your lifetime that in all the previous centuries of mankind's history. You lucky devil!
But surely you must believe in some kind of Creator, If not.... doesn't the prospect of death seem bleak and meaningless? Especially when faced with two people on this thread who are certain that existance doesn't end at body-death?
I'm afraid of what I will miss out on. Their will be space travel for sure, more and better technology, a host of new and wonderful inventions, and I won't be around to see it. That really pisses me off.
Well, hang around a while and maybe you can catch a ride on NASA's Ion drive engine...get up to 0.9C, whip around the sun a few times (about a year or two) and come back...you'll be over 100 years in the future!
Time Dilation Effect.
Besides, Lon....think of all the wonderful inventions you've seen in your life! You're typing on one right now, aren't you? The world has changed more in your lifetime that in all the previous centuries of mankind's history. You lucky devil!
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Heaven...scary?
Jives wrote: But surely you must believe in some kind of Creator, If not.... doesn't the prospect of death seem bleak and meaningless? Especially when faced with two people on this thread who are certain that existance doesn't end at body-death?
Well, hang around a while and maybe you can catch a ride on NASA's Ion drive engine...get up to 0.9C, whip around the sun a few times (about a year or two) and come back...you'll be over 100 years in the future!
Time Dilation Effect.
Besides, Lon....think of all the wonderful inventions you've seen in your life! You're typing on one right now, aren't you? The world has changed more in your lifetime that in all the previous centuries of mankind's history. You lucky devil!
Jives asked:
But surely you must believe in some kind of Creator, If not.... doesn't the prospect of death seem bleak and meaningless?
Sorry Jives, I just don't believe in any kind of creator, and the prospect of death seems no more bleak and meaningless to me than my existence prior to birth.
With a mom and dad that lived well into their 90's, I do plan on hanging around a bit longer. Besides, I bungy jumped 285 ft. off a bridge, into a river on my 65th birthday and plan to do the same on my 75th.
Well, hang around a while and maybe you can catch a ride on NASA's Ion drive engine...get up to 0.9C, whip around the sun a few times (about a year or two) and come back...you'll be over 100 years in the future!
Time Dilation Effect.
Besides, Lon....think of all the wonderful inventions you've seen in your life! You're typing on one right now, aren't you? The world has changed more in your lifetime that in all the previous centuries of mankind's history. You lucky devil!
Jives asked:
But surely you must believe in some kind of Creator, If not.... doesn't the prospect of death seem bleak and meaningless?
Sorry Jives, I just don't believe in any kind of creator, and the prospect of death seems no more bleak and meaningless to me than my existence prior to birth.
With a mom and dad that lived well into their 90's, I do plan on hanging around a bit longer. Besides, I bungy jumped 285 ft. off a bridge, into a river on my 65th birthday and plan to do the same on my 75th.
Heaven...scary?
I'd love to believe that their is something or somewhere else when my time here is done, but the realist in me says no.
I read a report once that explained near death experience as a massive rush of endorphines to the brain when its starved of oxygen.
I think that astronauts get it momentarily when travelling at great speed, Halucination and feelings of euphoria are common when your brain is starved.
I read a report once that explained near death experience as a massive rush of endorphines to the brain when its starved of oxygen.
I think that astronauts get it momentarily when travelling at great speed, Halucination and feelings of euphoria are common when your brain is starved.
Heaven...scary?
I'm not scared of dying and I do believe there is something waiting for us after this life. I'm just scared of HOW I'm gonna die. I know it sounds silly but its something I think about. I'm I gonna drown, will I be in a fire? Its morbid but scares me
Heaven...scary?
abbey wrote: I'd love to believe that their is something or somewhere else when my time here is done, but the realist in me says no.
I read a report once that explained near death experience as a massive rush of endorphines to the brain when its starved of oxygen.
I think that astronauts get it momentarily when travelling at great speed, Halucination and feelings of euphoria are common when your brain is starved.
I have to believe that they are trying to explain things that are very difficult to explain.
I read a report once that explained near death experience as a massive rush of endorphines to the brain when its starved of oxygen.
I think that astronauts get it momentarily when travelling at great speed, Halucination and feelings of euphoria are common when your brain is starved.
I have to believe that they are trying to explain things that are very difficult to explain.
Heaven...scary?
Jives wrote: It feels somewhat like having your body filled with concrete and then injecting batery acid into your veins.
omg! wow! That sounds terrible! Amazing that you are such a positive person...to live with pain like that.
omg! wow! That sounds terrible! Amazing that you are such a positive person...to live with pain like that.
Heaven...scary?
hotsauce wrote: I have to believe that they are trying to explain things that are very difficult to explain.?....
Heaven...scary?
abbey wrote: ?....
the endorphines...they explain lights by endorphines. it makes me feel better to think they are just trying to explain what is very difficult to explain.
does that make sense?
the endorphines...they explain lights by endorphines. it makes me feel better to think they are just trying to explain what is very difficult to explain.
does that make sense?
Heaven...scary?
I was just like you, Abbey... a logical skeptic... until it happened to me.
You believe what you want to believe, I'll believe what I know for a fact. I am utterly convinced of what happened, as sure of it as I am that I took a shower this morning. It was absolutely real in every sense of the word.
You believe what you want to believe, I'll believe what I know for a fact. I am utterly convinced of what happened, as sure of it as I am that I took a shower this morning. It was absolutely real in every sense of the word.
All the world's a stage and the men and women merely players...Shakespeare
Heaven...scary?
I have absolutely no problem with believing that this life is not the end and that death is simply a new beginning. I don't know what God has in store for me but whatever it is I'm sure it will be fine.
My father had a near death experience and it had a powerful effect on him. Personally I resent folks trying to explain what I've experienced. How dare anyone try to tell me about my experience. It is mine. They were not there.
As for dying. It is true that most folks are somewhat afraid and some a great deal afraid. I think, even the faithful, are somewhat afraid. There is the unknown factor. There is also the idea that I don't mind being dead its the getting there that bothers me.
Shalom
Ted :-6
My father had a near death experience and it had a powerful effect on him. Personally I resent folks trying to explain what I've experienced. How dare anyone try to tell me about my experience. It is mine. They were not there.
As for dying. It is true that most folks are somewhat afraid and some a great deal afraid. I think, even the faithful, are somewhat afraid. There is the unknown factor. There is also the idea that I don't mind being dead its the getting there that bothers me.
Shalom
Ted :-6