V
Vanguard
Guest
This question was brought up in another thread, after we were discussing the various views about hell, and what verse may or may not refer to it. Since this is a HUGE topic for discussion, I wanted to make an independent thread on it.
"What happens when you die?" is probably the single most asked question anywhere in the world. Different cultural and religious beliefs will have different answers. The following is a list of the most popular ones:
1. You go to Heaven or Hell.
2. You go to Purgatory.
3. You are reincarnated.
4. You go to a higher plane of existence.
5. You go to "paradise" (multi-cultural synopsis).
6. You die and stay dead until the Rapture or Resurrections.
7. You become a ghost and exist in an ethereal state.
8. You die and cease to exist forever.
The thing is, none of the world's major religions agree on the exact details about the moment of death! Why? Because no one really knows what happens during that moment. After you die, you can't come back and write an essay on it. As dark and bleak as it seems, there is some re-assuring evidence beyond death based off science! Energy can't be destroyed, and your body is full of energy. Where does it go?
For Christians, we like to believe in #1. "...to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." You die, and based on your salvation (or lack of) you go to Heaven or Hell. However, some modern Christian scholars are now questioning this age old premise, after doing in-depth textual criticisms of the English translation(s) of the Bible, and comparing it to what is actually said in the Classical Hebrew and Koine Greek.
By the same token, certain Christian denominations do not believe in an immediate Heaven or Hell destination. Roman Catholics (and others) believe a soul must be purified before entering Heaven, and thus goes to Purgatory, where it is cleansed by fire (but only if you died in a state of grace...otherwise you're hellbound). That's the short version.
Others still believe that, according to the Bible, when you die you simply go to the grave [sheol]. You're dead, no consciousness, no awareness. You stay that way until the Rapture or Resurrections that the Book of Revelation speaks of. This belief also coincides with the Jewish interpretation of Classical Hebrew (although there are some dissenters who say the OT speaks of reincarnation). The interesting thing here is that death will only last a fraction of a second from your perspective. You die, you have no awareness of time or events, and then BAM, you are raised (even if you are dead for millions of years)!
Atheists will tell you that #8 is what happens. You die and cease to exist forever. They say that the idea of an afterlife was created to help take the sting out of death, full of reunions, paradise, peace, etc., especially if you lose a loved one. It is very hard to deal with the loss of a child, and to think that they are gone forever after such a short life? Their view is a harsh reality.
No one truly knows what happens. No one can give you a definitive answer. But here's the kicker...
IF a non-Christian event occurs and you die as a true Christian, well you lived a good life, you were hopefully compassionate, giving, and tried to do what is right. Maybe you left behind a legacy for others to follow or to be encouraged by. You will be remembered.
IF a Christian event occurs, you go to Heaven [paradise] and all that comes with it.
Either way is a win-win!
IF a Christian event occurs and you are not saved...
Edit: I am aware that the last statement is the typical control mechanism that hell, fire and brimstone sermons are about. However, I was a Boy Scout, so "be prepared!" Or, if you like, "it is better to err on the side of caution."
Edit 2: corrected an oversight on the "...to be absent" reference to 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB).
Postscript: an after thought...religions/priests throughout time have held a lot of power and influence for this very reason. People do not want death to be the end of their existence. They fear the unknown and what's on the other side. Priests can help placate that fear...for a price.
"What happens when you die?" is probably the single most asked question anywhere in the world. Different cultural and religious beliefs will have different answers. The following is a list of the most popular ones:
1. You go to Heaven or Hell.
2. You go to Purgatory.
3. You are reincarnated.
4. You go to a higher plane of existence.
5. You go to "paradise" (multi-cultural synopsis).
6. You die and stay dead until the Rapture or Resurrections.
7. You become a ghost and exist in an ethereal state.
8. You die and cease to exist forever.
The thing is, none of the world's major religions agree on the exact details about the moment of death! Why? Because no one really knows what happens during that moment. After you die, you can't come back and write an essay on it. As dark and bleak as it seems, there is some re-assuring evidence beyond death based off science! Energy can't be destroyed, and your body is full of energy. Where does it go?
For Christians, we like to believe in #1. "...to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." You die, and based on your salvation (or lack of) you go to Heaven or Hell. However, some modern Christian scholars are now questioning this age old premise, after doing in-depth textual criticisms of the English translation(s) of the Bible, and comparing it to what is actually said in the Classical Hebrew and Koine Greek.
By the same token, certain Christian denominations do not believe in an immediate Heaven or Hell destination. Roman Catholics (and others) believe a soul must be purified before entering Heaven, and thus goes to Purgatory, where it is cleansed by fire (but only if you died in a state of grace...otherwise you're hellbound). That's the short version.
Others still believe that, according to the Bible, when you die you simply go to the grave [sheol]. You're dead, no consciousness, no awareness. You stay that way until the Rapture or Resurrections that the Book of Revelation speaks of. This belief also coincides with the Jewish interpretation of Classical Hebrew (although there are some dissenters who say the OT speaks of reincarnation). The interesting thing here is that death will only last a fraction of a second from your perspective. You die, you have no awareness of time or events, and then BAM, you are raised (even if you are dead for millions of years)!
Atheists will tell you that #8 is what happens. You die and cease to exist forever. They say that the idea of an afterlife was created to help take the sting out of death, full of reunions, paradise, peace, etc., especially if you lose a loved one. It is very hard to deal with the loss of a child, and to think that they are gone forever after such a short life? Their view is a harsh reality.
No one truly knows what happens. No one can give you a definitive answer. But here's the kicker...
IF a non-Christian event occurs and you die as a true Christian, well you lived a good life, you were hopefully compassionate, giving, and tried to do what is right. Maybe you left behind a legacy for others to follow or to be encouraged by. You will be remembered.
IF a Christian event occurs, you go to Heaven [paradise] and all that comes with it.
Either way is a win-win!
IF a Christian event occurs and you are not saved...
Edit: I am aware that the last statement is the typical control mechanism that hell, fire and brimstone sermons are about. However, I was a Boy Scout, so "be prepared!" Or, if you like, "it is better to err on the side of caution."
Edit 2: corrected an oversight on the "...to be absent" reference to 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NASB).
Postscript: an after thought...religions/priests throughout time have held a lot of power and influence for this very reason. People do not want death to be the end of their existence. They fear the unknown and what's on the other side. Priests can help placate that fear...for a price.
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