Just because you haven't heard those people describe it in this way doesn't mean that it's not the basis for their beliefs. It's very possible that they simply cannot explain such an abstract idea in plain English, but in some vague sense understand it in their brain.

At least, that's the feeling I get when talking to deeply religious people.

I guess you can put it that way....

Yes, well you can only base that on what you've seen. God was limited when he created what we currently see because he had to make it so men would have to believe in what they can't see. If he created to his fullest potential as he will with the new heavens and new earth, everyone would believe without question and doubt. Creation goes through the same transformation and deliverance into glory as the sons of God (believers). When you consider our limitations and needs and those all removed in glory and realize the new heaven and earth will have those limitations and needs terminated as well, it should be quite fascinating, and I am looking forward to it.

From a Christian stand point, most Christian have an incorrect view of 'Heaven' thinking they spend eternity there, up there, somewhere. Scripture says heaven is his throne and the earth is his footstool. It says his throne is mobile and carried by winged creatures. That Jesus went to prepare a place for us (the New Jerusalem), the city of God (Abraham looked for by faith). That all of them come down to the new earth and God dwells with man. So this 'Heaven' is on earth, or rather the new earth.

So to answer the thread question....
If I were to die my spirit (breath of life) that came from God, would return to him. Scripture says there is a earthy and spiritual body. They will be reunited at the resurrection with the carnal restraints taken off the earthy body. I will then rule and reign with Christ in the Fathers kingdom, because Jesus, the overcoming man, will have completed the mystery and will of the Father returning the kingdom of heaven (not kingdom of God) back into the hands of man as God gave originally to Adam (Satan currently holds), and he will deliver the kingdom up to the Father. For you amillennialist, the Final Battle for the kingdom of heaven (Armageddon) will have already taken place so when Satan and un-submissive mortals come against Christ and the saints at the end of this earthly reign it is the Fathers kingdom, so he is the one that devours them with fire from heaven. Then comes the glorious new heaven and earth.

But how is that Christian like, considering in the Bible it says love thy neighbor. So what if somebody doesn't beleive the exact religion that you do, it gives you no right to judge them.

love never compromises truth
it is very 'Christian' to judge righteous judgment toward those that profess to be 'Christian'.
God judges those that are not 'Christian'
That doesn't mean we can't state our beliefs when asked without being judged by someone of another belief, because then you make yourself guilty of what you accuse a Christian of

btw: people are condemned for violating their own conscience and judged by what they know (Romans 1 and 2)

The Bible says "judge not lest ye be judged". The christians that do this are full of self-righteousness and are completely "holier-than-thou", so they don't have a problem with the idea of god judging them. After all, they go to church and stuff!

how does knowing believers are completely forgiven of all sins, past, present, and future, make us self-righteous when it is of nothing we have done nor is it based on anything we can do, but based completely on what Jesus did? It makes it very difficult to be self-righteous. I understand 'christians' like running around trying to prove someone has lied once and is therefore a liar and bound for hell so they need Jesus, but they are ignorant of scripture and have nothing but religion to offer the lost when most are lost themselves. Those that aren't lost only know half the gospel and only have religion.

Whos hating who? Never said that i hated people of non-christian faith

Don't know, but when it's my time to go, I can't wait to find out. Death is life's last great adventure.

You said that people that don't believe in God are going to hell. I don't hate you just because your a Christian, I just think that people should judge other people.

What did your soul learn the last time around? Or does this just happen to be your first shot?

Honestly i have no idea,but i feel like my Entity is fairly old since i feel like i have a completely different outlook on life than most people my age. Whither it be some innate knowledge from a past life or just from my own personal experiences or just a combination of the 2 so be it. I really don't know. :-)

@metallicamaster3 i don't think that they are saying that you specifically are one of the many Christians that hate all non-Christians. It can be very hard tho to look past the thousands of Christians that are like that...

From what it seems there are either very few Christan's that are on this forum or there are more they just aren't saying anything in this thread...Either way i don't want to discourage people from post because they are afraid of having their religion challenged. This is supposed to be a discussion not a witch hunt....

If you have no clue whether you you've had past lives, where did you get the idea you might be reincarnated and learn something from this one? Doesn't that pretty much demand that you either believe this is your first life, or that if not, you don't take anything from one life to the next?

@matalicmaster Don't be a sissy. It's ok to bash Christians - in fact, its really cool because they all believe in Noah's Ark, think the Earth is only 5000 years old, they all hate gay people, vote for Bush, and have dorky kids. Bash on them all you want. You can bash on Jews too so long as it Isreali Jews, or really rich media-controlling Jews, but just make sure you're accepting of all the other weird beliefs out there, especially Islam - terrorists aren't really Muslim - and you'll be ok.

Rock on. Peace out.

...but then, to me, it makes perfect sense that someone that thinks the earth is 6000 years old, would vote for Bush, and have dorky kids.

With Buddhism you usually dont have any knowledge from your past lives, keyword there is usually. There is just certian events that shift my opinion towards the route of having an older entity. So there really cant be a demand when its not expected to remember your past life.

If you would like i would gladly give you articles that explain buddhism a little better than i can.

The Eastern religions aren't very firm on these particular concepts. Some (usually Buddhists) believe that you don't get to keep any memories at all except for some exceptional cases, like a violent death (compare this to data being left on the hard disk after a messy reformat). Others (usually Hindus) believe that the knowledge of the past lives can be obtained if you dig deep enough.

In any case, it's not the memory and actual learning that you do, but a certain kind of spiritual ascent. Awareness and experience is the key, not filling your brain with facts.

And you believe you might be the rare exception why? Pretty high opinion of yourself eh?

And no, I don't want to ready any of your articles. I think a good way to ruin any religion is to introduce concepts about the afterlife or other carots at the end of the stick.

I have my own set of beliefs, and you are welcome to yours. For all anyone knows, maybe we are reincarnated, I just haven't seen anything to force me to believe that's the case.

What i mean is just so that way you can learn a little more about the religion that's all :-). As stated before there is rare cases where people have remembered selective memories or very strong emotions about something that you have never even touched before. If you knew me in real life you would understand that i am not exactly your average person my age.

I am going back to where I was before I came here.

But I do not have a clue where that was.

hmm.....interesting way to put it....