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Sammer
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 Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:18 am Post subject: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"It is not my purpose to promote religion. Although I used to be a strict
religionist, my only desire now is to promote the unconditional love and
compassion found in near-death experiences. I have read about many
experiencers who say that God cares only about love - your heart - your
spirituality - not your religious affiliation or church membership. The
near-death experience reveals that people do not go to heaven by worshipping
Jesus, or by believing in his name, or by believing in the cross, or by
accepting him as our Savior. The way to heaven is through love. When we die,
we take this heaven of love with us to the level of heaven that corresponds
to the love within us. I have read about many experiencers who affirm this
to be the case because love is God and God is love. And love is not limited
to any one religion or even religion at all. Religion is a cultural
institution but love is universal."
---
Kevin Williams http://www.near-death.com/about.html
To me, this is what it all comes down to. |
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bd4u
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:13 am Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 00:18:25 -0400, "Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote:
| Quote: | "It is not my purpose to promote religion. Although I used to be a strict
religionist, my only desire now is to promote the unconditional love and
compassion found in near-death experiences. I have read about many
experiencers who say that God cares only about love - your heart - your
spirituality - not your religious affiliation or church membership. The
near-death experience reveals that people do not go to heaven by worshipping
Jesus, or by believing in his name, or by believing in the cross, or by
accepting him as our Savior. The way to heaven is through love. When we die,
we take this heaven of love with us to the level of heaven that corresponds
to the love within us. I have read about many experiencers who affirm this
to be the case because love is God and God is love. And love is not limited
to any one religion or even religion at all. Religion is a cultural
institution but love is universal."
---
Kevin Williams http://www.near-death.com/about.html
To me, this is what it all comes down to.
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Right On the Mark Kevin. In so many very important ways as well.
Maybe you would like to check this site out on the subject..
www.thetree.20megsfree.com
The Heart is the ribbon of highway that stretches from hell (eternal darkness)
to heaven (eternal light), you won't get very far with intellect alone. As a matter of
fact; way to many people are deceived into thinking otherwise.
Best Wishes..
;-)
bd4u |
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Dan Barker
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote in message
news:vof3b.2912$_F1.467901@news20.bellglobal.com...
| Quote: | The near-death experience reveals that people do not go to heaven by
worshipping
Jesus, or by believing in his name, or by believing in the cross, or by
accepting him as our Savior. The way to heaven is through love.
|
You are basing your assumptions on the experiences, real or otherwise, of
those who "nearly died." Your conclusions, however, fall apart because your
study has no data from the other control group, i.e., those who actually
died. It isn't at all surprising that individuals who weren't prepared to
die felt a force of love had something to do with an experience which
culminated in their being given a second chance at life. The question is,
what do those who weren't ready to die, yet did, have to report?
Dan Barker
http://www.findhim.org |
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CAndersen (Kimba)
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Dan Barker" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
| Quote: | The question is,
what do those who weren't ready to die, yet did, have to report?
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The one I talked to was very happy, and talked of love. |
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Sammer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"CAndersen (Kimba)" <KimbaWLion@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8lbskv8rinde4aqgnkei2dicc34gje8bvl@4ax.com...
| Quote: | "Dan Barker" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:
The question is,
what do those who weren't ready to die, yet did, have to report?
The one I talked to was very happy, and talked of love.
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Are you psychic yourself? |
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CAndersen (Kimba)
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote:
| Quote: | Are you psychic yourself?
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Everyone is psychic.
Myself, I haven't learned to stop "turning it off" well enough that I can
do it on command.
I was concentrating on this one when I heard from her. I was unaware that
she had died before I heard from her. |
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Sammer
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2003 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"CAndersen (Kimba)" <KimbaWLion@aol.com> wrote in message
news:78fskvgin4nt7v6mpg1m45suuedg8696o2@4ax.com...
| Quote: | "Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote:
Are you psychic yourself?
Everyone is psychic.
Myself, I haven't learned to stop "turning it off" well enough that I can
do it on command.
I was concentrating on this one when I heard from her. I was unaware that
she had died before I heard from her.
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I think children should be taught to pay a lot of attention to their
"imaginary friends" and should think about who they were before, and so on.
I bet we would have a much more intuitive society. |
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CAndersen (Kimba)
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:54 am Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote:
| Quote: | I think children should be taught to pay a lot of attention to their
"imaginary friends" and should think about who they were before, and so on.
I bet we would have a much more intuitive society.
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Exactly what I was going to say next.  |
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Sammer
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 8:38 am Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Dan Barker" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:LyidnXpqXf51gdOiXTWJjQ@comcast.com...
| Quote: | "Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote in message
news:vof3b.2912$_F1.467901@news20.bellglobal.com...
The near-death experience reveals that people do not go to heaven by
worshipping
Jesus, or by believing in his name, or by believing in the cross, or by
accepting him as our Savior. The way to heaven is through love.
You are basing your assumptions on the experiences, real or otherwise, of
those who "nearly died." Your conclusions, however, fall apart because
your
study has no data from the other control group, i.e., those who actually
died. It isn't at all surprising that individuals who weren't prepared to
die felt a force of love had something to do with an experience which
culminated in their being given a second chance at life. The question is,
what do those who weren't ready to die, yet did, have to report?
Dan Barker
http://www.findhim.org
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You will see that I'm right when you die. |
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Sammer
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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"Dan Barker" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:k8qdnf8m5L-I89KiU-KYgw@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
"Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote in message
news:cVz3b.13146$Cg2.1165257@news20.bellglobal.com...
You will see that I'm right when you die.
It concerns me much more what I won't see when I die: Those who once
experienced the supernatural, miraculous, life-changing power of Jesus
Christ, but who later chose to walk away from the greatest gift one can
receive.
There is hope to the living.
Dan Barker
http://www.findhim.org
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It doesn't matter what religion you follow. All that matters is that you
understand and practice the concept of love. And if you follow it, you
won't be stuck in a dark abyss. |
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searching
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 10:50 am Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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I used to be a very strong believer in the bible and the Christianity
"group" I was with for many years.
I found that when I truly sought God with fasting as was biblical, as Jesus
and Moses did... that the closer I got to God, the more I realised that God
is far greater than rules and love is the most important thing... The
conviction that God is love and that man does not know what they are doing,
and through ignorance causes many of his own troubles, even in the name of
God. The conviction that all man are one kind, mankind, and that all are
brothers and sisters in the greater whole. Its all about practical
workings... love and forgiveness is what works.
Perfect Love casts out all fear
Love covers a multitude of sins.
It seems very much that Jesus was very against the religious system of his
day, but could not outwardly speak against as he would have put walls up
with many people... He had to go along with a lot of it to show them how to
"drive it" so to speak.
Love and forgiveness... Sowing and Reaping... these where the main things
Jesus taught... and anything beyond these is Bondage which weighs people
down...
Seek the Holy Spirit and you will find Truth... and it is the Truth that
sets you FREE from the bondage of religion, ritual and rules... the law of
liberty is in the heart
Instead of getting caught up on to worship or not to worship Jesus, try
listening to his words and applying them practically... he said, "Blessed is
he who hears my words and does them." He said, "This is the wole law and the
prophets... love God with all your being, and love your neighbour as
yourself." That is the essence of all this teachings... when you are loving
everyone, even your enemies, you are said to be perfect as your Heavenly
Father is perfect... and remember if he is your Father, then you are his
child, making you also of his being-type, makes us also gods. Hence we all
came forth from the Father and we will all return to the Father... We and
the Father are one in spirit. So we should perhaps listen to Jesus and
realise he is our brother.
Seems God must be justice, and as such he can not condemn someone who is
innocent based on their ignorance... I.E. you don't condemn a child who is
molested by a stranger do you? The biblical story put the naiveness of Adam
& Eve about the same when compared to the ancient serpent, who knew how to
trick them. Seems we should know more about the power of words to convey
ideas which have "chain reactions" and sow some peace... and this means YES
YOU... everyone, no one is exempt... everyones words have an effect on what
can be chain reactions... So lets keep it sweet and loving... and
encouraging... and then we will be changing the world for the better... (we
must be blind if we think we do not cause things)
--
Peace is within, and is projected outwardly.
Searching... for eternal truths...
"Dan Barker" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:LyidnXpqXf51gdOiXTWJjQ@comcast.com...
| Quote: | "Sammer" <sammer@sammer.sammer> wrote in message
news:vof3b.2912$_F1.467901@news20.bellglobal.com...
The near-death experience reveals that people do not go to heaven by
worshipping
Jesus, or by believing in his name, or by believing in the cross, or by
accepting him as our Savior. The way to heaven is through love.
You are basing your assumptions on the experiences, real or otherwise, of
those who "nearly died." Your conclusions, however, fall apart because
your
study has no data from the other control group, i.e., those who actually
died. It isn't at all surprising that individuals who weren't prepared to
die felt a force of love had something to do with an experience which
culminated in their being given a second chance at life. The question is,
what do those who weren't ready to die, yet did, have to report?
Dan Barker
http://www.findhim.org
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CAndersen (Kimba)
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 5:23 pm Post subject: Re: The Bottom Line of Religion |
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I agree with your whole post, I just wanted to amplify one part...
"searching" <searching@rm.org> wrote:
| Quote: | Seems God must be justice, and as such he can not condemn someone who is
innocent based on their ignorance...
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Perfect Love understands the reasons we don't love perfectly, and so there
is no condemnation.
Some people seem to want the idea of condemnation hanging over them, but
for me there is nothing so conducive to being loving than to know the peace
of being loved, completely. |
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