Why do so many religions focus on death?

[Lunitik]

The kool confident fearless zillion-mile stare in all Christians eyes is proof enough that the holy spirit is in them, here's Grylls pic as a classic example in case you missed it in another thread.

I assure you it is not in Bear Grylls, this man kills wild animals as part of his television program because it makes him money! NO one with the Holy Spirit would be able to harm another living thing. Disagreeing merely shows you do not have it yourself, why is your life more valuable than the animals? This man is a thrill seeker, not someone you should look up to spiritually.

Of course, you will likely judge this statement, thinking me a hippy or something. You will probably not consider uttering this in these forums though, instead returning with something from the Bible stating that God has made man the master of this planet and that animals are provided for his nourishment. What is funny is you see nothing wrong with this...

 

[Waymarker]

..Of course, you will likely judge this statement, thinking me a hippy or something....
You will probably not consider uttering this in these forums though, instead returning with something from the Bible stating that God has made man the master of this planet and that animals are provided for his nourishment..

Regarding hippies, I've got no beef with them except they rely too much on drugs, heck I even visited the Rainbow Tribe at their tipi village in Wales some years ago!
As for eating animals, i've no beef with that either firstly because God himself okays it-
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:3)

and secondly because i was once chased by a herd of cows and bulls and had to take refuge on the roof of a hut on top of Robin-a-Tiptoe hill.
Now, whenever i bite into a beefburger I think "Ha ha,it's payback time!"

 

[Gatekeeper]

lets face it a lot of people probably have a pretty miserable life's, hunger, disease war etc, maybe these people need hope hence the emphasis on the after life.

on the other hand maybe this life nothing compared to eternity.

For the most part these people suffer because much of humanity has abandoned them, or because mankind is seeking power, or because medical science hasn't caught up to speed. But you are correct, I think the concept of a better afterlife is comforting to those who face such adversity.


I won't attempt to take away that comfort, to do so would be a heartless move. On the other hand, those who don't face such adversity should probably reach out to those who do. I'm just sayin ....


We're in this life together, we belong to the brotherhood of man, so I simply think that when able, we should help those who suffer most, share our blessings and do what we can to make their lives better.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Regarding hippies, I've got no beef with them except they rely too much on drugs, heck I even visited the Rainbow Tribe at their tipi village in Wales some years ago!
As for eating animals, i've no beef with that either firstly because God himself okays it-
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:3)

and secondly because i was once chased by a herd of cows and bulls and had to take refuge on the roof of a hut on top of Robin-a-Tiptoe hill.
Now, whenever i bite into a beefburger I think "Ha ha,it's payback time!"

Will we eat dead animals in the kingdom? If not, then why eat them now? Don't you think it to be ironic that we eat death on earth, yet also that death will be destroyed in the kingdom to come? Using scripture to support consuming dead animals isn't exactly helping your case. Why not just say that you enjoy a good steak from time to time. I do, but I also realize that it's not a good thing and I'm sure as heck not going to try to justify it with scripture.

Scripture also tells us that we should stone adulterers. The truth I think is that Jesus showed us a better way and that better way doesn't involve consuming dead animals. He himself said that his 'meat' was to do his fathers will. I will assume that love has something to do with Gods will for us, and I will also suggest that eating and killing other living beings is not a loving thing to do.

I have made jests in my past about meat consumption, and although I think it wrong, I still eat meat, so I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I've tried to adopt a proper (Non meat) diet, but I find it extremely difficult. I imagine it to be much like an addiction, very hard to overcome. Maybe one day <sigh>.

 

[NiceCupOfTea]

If you mean the holy spirit, none.
Christians don't have to look inside themselves or anywhere else, it comes to us..

Jesus said:- "If anyone loves me, he will listen to my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23)


If you mean the 'spirit within' (the soul), everybody has already got one of them..

the holy spirit is supposed to live within the hearts of those who are born again, looking for the holy spirit outside of yourself is charismatic witchcraft

 

[donnann]

the holy spirit is supposed to live within the hearts of those who are born again, looking for the holy spirit outside of yourself is charismatic witchcraft

Hi,

There are three different parts and a 4th which I will not adress that make upn a living being. The spirit, soul , and body. The 4th is not addressed because some may find it offensive. In holy books the breath if the holy spirit.

 

[radarmark]

"Philosophy takes upon itself to throw off the fear of things earthly; to rob death of its poisonous sting, and Hades of its pestilential breath. All that is mortal lives in this fear of Death; every new birth augments the fear by one new reason, for it segments what is mortal… And Here lies the ultimate conclusion of this wisdom: Death would be—nothing. But actually, this is not the ultimate conclusion, but a first beginning, and Death is truly not what it seems, not nothing, but a pitiless something that cannot be excluded. Evan from out of the fog with which philosophy envelopes it, its harsh cry resounds unremittingly; philosophy would have liked to swallow it into the night of the nothing, but it could not break off it poisonous sting; and the fear man feels, trembling before this sting, always cruelly belies the compassionate lie of philosophy." From the Introduction to Franz Rosenzweig's Star of Redemption.

Why do religions focus on death? Rosenzweig's reply is that Death haunts us. His work on the marches between philosophy and theology have a lingering effect and, I believe, is partially responsible for the last century's rediscovery of what I would call "Spiritual Theology" (the pushing beyond the stictures of exoteric trappings to the esoteric core).

Pax et amore vincunt omnia--Radarmark

 

[donnann]

"Philosophy takes upon itself to throw off the fear of things earthly; to rob death of its poisonous sting, and Hades of its pestilential breath. All that is mortal lives in this fear of Death; every new birth augments the fear by one new reason, for it segments what is mortal… And Here lies the ultimate conclusion of this wisdom: Death would be—nothing. But actually, this is not the ultimate conclusion, but a first beginning, and Death is truly not what it seems, not nothing, but a pitiless something that cannot be excluded. Evan from out of the fog with which philosophy envelopes it, its harsh cry resounds unremittingly; philosophy would have liked to swallow it into the night of the nothing, but it could not break off it poisonous sting; and the fear man feels, trembling before this sting, always cruelly belies the compassionate lie of philosophy." From the Introduction to Franz Rosenzweig's Star of Redemption.

Why do religions focus on death? Rosenzweig's reply is that Death haunts us. His work on the marches between philosophy and theology have a lingering effect and, I believe, is partially responsible for the last century's rediscovery of what I would call "Spiritual Theology" (the pushing beyond the stictures of exoteric trappings to the esoteric core).

Pax et amore vincunt omnia--Radarmark

I do have an issue with religions focus on death. The focus should be on resurrection and miracles that lead towards eternal life.

 

[donnann]

Regarding hippies, I've got no beef with them except they rely too much on drugs, heck I even visited the Rainbow Tribe at their tipi village in Wales some years ago!
As for eating animals, i've no beef with that either firstly because God himself okays it-
"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:3)

and secondly because i was once chased by a herd of cows and bulls and had to take refuge on the roof of a hut on top of Robin-a-Tiptoe hill.
Now, whenever i bite into a beefburger I think "Ha ha,it's payback time!"

Do you really see a pardise where animals are killed and used for food? It wasnt that way in the garden of eden so why would anyone think its ok? The bible like other books sometimes is misinterpreted.God may understand why people think its ok but he doesnt engage in it and that doesnt enter gods kingdom.

 

[Lunitik]

Do you really see a pardise where animals are killed and used for food? It wasnt that way in the garden of eden so why would anyone think its ok? The bible like other books sometimes is misinterpreted.God may understand why people think its ok but he doesnt engage in it and that doesnt enter gods kingdom.

This is God's Kingdom, and this is Eden if you could see.

Christianity likes creating hypocrisy, they like to deny entire aspects of life, and this perception is why you cannot see that man has never left Eden. Everything here and now is utterly perfect if you can see from God's perspective. The ego cannot let you though, you want to try to change God's work because you don't understand how he works, you call him imperfect by rejecting parts of his creation.

God is omnipresent, he is everywhere. God is omniscient, he knows all things. God is omnipotent, he is all powerful. You go on questioning his judgement though, you claim Satan is more powerful since the world is so evil, from the Christian perspective this must be the case, either this or God simply doesn't give a damn, he must like watching suffering. The Christian belief system is so very strange, you create hell where you could experience heaven... I just don't get it.

Then, you are called to be sheep, and you are doing a good job of it.

 

[donnann]

This is God's Kingdom, and this is Eden if you could see.

Christianity likes creating hypocrisy, they like to deny entire aspects of life, and this perception is why you cannot see that man has never left Eden. Everything here and now is utterly perfect if you can see from God's perspective. The ego cannot let you though, you want to try to change God's work because you don't understand how he works, you call him imperfect by rejecting parts of his creation.

God is omnipresent, he is everywhere. God is omniscient, he knows all things. God is omnipotent, he is all powerful. You go on questioning his judgement though, you claim Satan is more powerful since the world is so evil, from the Christian perspective this must be the case, either this or God simply doesn't give a damn, he must like watching suffering. The Christian belief system is so very strange, you create hell where you could experience heaven... I just don't get it.

Then, you are called to be sheep, and you are doing a good job of it.

There is much documentation that says that man was cast out of the garden and god placed two angels at the entrance to the garden to guard it. If your saying we have the ability to make this an eden well isnt that what knowledge of the kingdom of heaven leads the world to? Eating from the tree of life is this knowledge. The world isnt evil its like the tree of knowledge of good and evil. I believe they were forbidden to eat of that tree not because it was not knowledge they were going to obtain but that they were not mature enough to eat from that tree hence the fall. GOD does care which is why he sends this knowledge. I understand completely how GOD works but why is it easier for some people to think that sin is part of how he functions than to realize to become like him they have to progress and gain knowledge and then take action to change. I am speaking about this not only on a personal level but a world level. The fall caused a sealing away of the spirit and soul although you can feel those but only on the senses level. Eden is a place where the universal soul and spirit are one with the universe there is no death and no suffering ect. I have children and you can teach them and be there for them when they fall and make a mistake but ultimately its the childs choice. Isnt that the same as god with people? He does care but do people care or are they like a bunch of rebellious teenagers?