Death, (split from former topic)

The dreams thread got me thinking about this. How do you view death? Do you believe in an afterlife, or reincarnation?



Within 9 months my father, his twin brother (my uncle), an aunt, and a good friend from high school all passed away. This made me face my own fears on death, and helped me to form my own beliefs on what happens after death. (Most of which I am still not sure about, but I am always coming to new conclusions)

The biggest thing I had to realize was that death is only bad for those who are still alive, and death is as much a part of life as birth. I have learned to not fear it.

I do believe in reincarnation. I am not completly sure about what happens after reincarnation. I tend to see the gods as a pool of light, and each life is a part of the pool of light that comes back when we die.

Well, these are some I my ramblings. Please contribute if you desire.

You learn quickly grasshopper!!

Death is not only an end but a beginning! Reincarnation or life after death, I do not see a difference for both are a continuence.

Our lives end in the present to make way for those who must live the future. Our energy will always be present in the scheme of things, how it manifests itself remains to be seem.

I have always held that grieving at death is a form of selfisness, Dont get mad, it is for ourselves we grieve and not the one gone. I have studied many religions and was brought up in the Judo-christian train of thought, which has changed greatly in the centuries. Death is a celibration time, remember the life, rejoice that the burdens of this life have been lifted, and pray that the spirit will find peace where ever it travels.

I also believe that what you do in this life will effect what your spirit must endure in the next level of existence, be it reincarnation, Valhala, heaven or hell.

I know I would like to come back as a well treated house dog or cat!!!

It would be great to come back as my cat. He is the most pampered creature I have ever seen

Good topic Mary. esp. since samhain is right around the coroner.

I have many thoughts on this subject. Where does the"soul" life force, energy go? Not sure. Maybe Valhala, avalon, the great hunting ground.. I could go on. There is a common ground for the afterlife in many faiths.

I personally feel, that there is somewhere we all go. But for how long we stay is another thing. It could be a lay over, before we are off to live and learn are next life. Or do we have so many challenges, we need to endure before we get "there".

I will agree shadows that grieving is selfish. But in a way it is a closure. When my grandfather died, some 8 years ago. He died and that was it. No funeral, no layout, nothing. It was like he never exisisted in a way. I know that when you die that is kindda how it is. If there is knowone to remember you, you almost didn't exisit then. But with my Grandfather, there is no grave, nothing. It just bothers me. There is nothing for the great gandchildern to see, to even prove he was here. He sits in a box, on a shelf at my aunts house. And that's it.
I know this is an unsusal example... but that is my only relative that has died. Aside from my G. grandmother...and I was very young, and my former wife's mom. That was not a good time for anyone... GEeezzzz

A few friends, over the past few years....

I'm not trying to be funny, but I think that the afterlife is like the Albert Brooks movie Defending Your Life. For those of you who've never seen the movie, I'll describe it as best I can:

Albert Brooks plays Daniel Miller, an advertising executive, who's killed in a car crash. Before he can pass on into the afterlife, he has to go through an examination to see whether or not he's conquered his fears and insecurities. Based on that, he either gets sent back to Earth or passes on.

A couple of months ago, I almost found out what the afterlife would be like. I was on a ramp going from one highway to another here in the Chicago area and I was between two trucks. The truck behind me was a lot closer than he should've been. If I'd had to stop for any reason, I would've been killed.

Personally, I made my peace with death several years ago. You just never know when your number's up. Look at two men who died on the same day last week: actor John Ritter and country singer Johnny Cash. Polar opposites of each other. John Ritter shocked me because it was so sudden. Johnny Cash shocked me too, but that was because with the way he lived for years, I thought he'd die sooner than he did.

I find nothing wrong with finding humor in it.

I believe completely in the words of John 3:16 - God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (forgive any paraphrasing) But I do wonder what we do in heaven.
The writer John Eldredge contents a new heaven and earth is formed. So we don't lose the familiar, it just becomes perfect - no sickness, no death, no oils spills, etc. but there are still things to be tended to. I can't imagine having nothing to do for eternity.

Oops..... Didn't realize I was in the Pagan Forum. Still new to the workings of the site. Hope you didn't mind input from another train of thought.
I like keep an open mind while keeping my base beliefs unshaken. For God as I know Him, is so vast we cannot begin to comprehend all His majesty. For example, I belive God has written much in His creation of heaven and earth and therein lies many of the secrets to life and living. God speaks to all in their own language.
I'll shut up now.......... sorry if I intruded.

No problem at all. Everyone is welcome to post here. As long as everyone is repectful of EVERYONES beliefs. That is what makes us all a little different.


Cheers

Being one who has adopted words as her medium, I must first modify this before I agree.
I cannot promise to respect all of your beliefs, just as you may not respect all of mine. BUT, I do promise to respect you as a person and your right to embrace, without attack, the beliefs of your choice, be they ones I agree with or not.
Of course, I do love to debate.

All I know is... I want to come back as a Brass Pole. Of course, with my luck, I'll wind up in a Firehouse.

Hey. You die. You rot. You're found 5,000 years later, and finally get your 15 minutes of fame.

Okay. Seriously. I'll let you know when I'm in heaven with my friends and family... atleast if St. Peter doesn't read this post. If that doesn't work... I'll have John Edward post on here for me!!!!!!!!!

Brass Pole...interesting concept! I had always thought a bicycle seat on a womens bike would be good....BUT!

Visions of Rosey O'Donel and Janet Reno bring me back to reality!

OK, this has gotten way out of proportion.

So, to get things back on track I'm going back to a quesion I asked a question before things got nutty.

If you believe in an afterlife, what do you think we do there?

When I was a young girl death was always so frightening and looming. As I have grown through the years and lost my brother in 1997, death has taken on a whole new meaning. To me death is a doorway to the other side---a sort of passageway. It was said earlier in the thread that crying over the death of a loved one is selfish. Partly it is selfish, but it is also a sort of memorial of love to their memory. I've have cried many tears over the death of my brother, maybe because of the way he left us so suddenly it was like a kick in the stomach. Last night was really hard for me, because I thought I heard his voice and it brought in a flood of memories and emotions. We humans are strange creatures who form bonds of love and friendship. Those ties that bind are hard to let go of, because they have become intertwined with who we are. So I will cry my bitter-sweet tears---sometimes selfishly and sometimes over the ties that still pull at my heart.

As to where we go when we die? It is up to us. I personally believe one being created this expansive universe---it is a wondrous miracle! God or whatever you choose to call Him/Her (I believe God is neither female or male---God's both! Because we were created in His image).
Man has for centuries tried to connect with their creator, by reaching up or out with their own feeble comprehensions. I don't believe in religion. Religion is our human-ness of rituals and actions of trying to make sense of who/what God or god(s) are/is. I believe in relationship. I have a relationship with God not because I reached up to Him, but because He reached down to me.

I'm just sharing my thoughts on death.
Thanks Mary for opening up the topic.

Oh my. Well, first of all I have to agree with Roisin-Teagan that grieving isn't selfish. It's an affirmation of the love that we felt(feel) for someone and an acknowledgment that they've truly had an effect on our life.

Secondly, I do believe in Heaven, but I'm not convinced it's reserved only for us humans. It would seem extremely sterile without the presence of animals (especially those that have been dear to us). Also, Elspeth has made a good point about an Eternity with nothing to do. Vacations are wonderful, but eventually I imagine we would need a purpose to continue. Maybe that's the time when we're sent back here???? That's a question I've never been able to come to terms with.

Dreamer1