General Chat

Hello searchers, I believe firmly in what the bible tells us. Not that we'll have everything we need in this life, but if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and trust him to do what's best for us w'll meet again. God has seven of my babies up there somewhere and I know that I'll see them and recognise them. Don't know if they'll be grown or still babes but we are promised that there will be no sickness or sorrow and I can't wait. In the meantime there are things for me to do here. Belisve me I couldn't have survived the loss of my babies if I didn't believe in Gods promises. Doesn't make me any better or worse than anyone else, just saved by Grace through Faith Love to you all Merle

Anyone who keeps an interest in what goes on in the scientific world (well, physics) would be aware that 2006 saw some mind-boggling papers concerning the nature of consciousness ( which still hasn't been defined or its whereabouts in the brain located). These range from telepathy and blind-sight to out-of-body and near-death experiences, to animal perception. Let's look forward to what revelations 2007 will bring. Len

In my younger days I was very much a believer,but after my Mam died tragically I gave my faith up. My Dad's thinking was that we were like nature and that,like the trees,plants and flowers we grew from each others' seeds,nutured,lived and died. I guess I went along with that point of view. However we all know about life's coincidences and these,in my life of late, have changed my mind on the subject. I had been trying to find my Dad's birth parents for 20 odd years. He died in 2003, 3 months later someone contacted me through a web-site and a connection was made from NZ. My new found cousins!! Their Mother had died,six weeks after my Father, and, like me they'd been trying for a long time, to find their mother's long lost family. Now I'm usually very sceptical,but,had our Parents (both fostered at birth) actually found each other? Our families took comfort in the notion. Now ,and this is where I get scared to go on, my brother died in September and I have been shocked to hear recently that one of my newly found cousins died in August. Both due to natural causes. Strange coincidences I know and it has changed my ideas on 'life after death' but...........hope nobody wants me to leave here for a long time yet!! Mau xx

Having had my darling Nan pass over 2 yrs ago and my Dad this summer I was curious to know if there was anything in a spirit world. So 2 weeks ago I went to a Spiritualist Medium ( She was Dame Barbara Cartland's spiritual healer etc for many years ) ..... I tried so hard to go with an open mind ( my religious upbringing had installed me this was a bad thing to do - only the work of evil spirits) I was AMAZED.........my grandfather came through ( he died when I was 13 ) She was able to tell me how he passed - names of his grandparents - my grandmother than came through - again I was given details of her passing over etc. The things she told me ( or rather grandpa ) were things she wouldn't have known - particularly my own thoughts not voiced to anyone. The clincher came when she said Grandpa is telling her I have a candle that I light when on my own and draw comfort from this as I talk out loud to Nan & Dad.........Grandpa was feeling left out and wanted me to know he too was there protecting me...... I wouldn't tell a soul about this candle for fear of the family thinking me silly LOL Anyway cut a long story short - I listen to the tape of that day and strongly believe in a spirit world where my family are waiting for me but happy to know for now they are looking after me and the rest of the families..........Oh and Dad, he didn't come through he was BUSY......somethings just never change LOL

Gaynor My Mam believes in exactly that...we will be reunited. Absolutely and without any doubt. When her Father (my wonderful Grandfather) died, she had such a belief in her. She was devastated by his death, but she absolutely knows she will see him again. She strongly believes my Grandfather is passing time until he gets his family gathered around him again. Sue xx

Since Mum died in July I have had experiences that have absolutley confirmed to me that this is not the end. We are merely returning to where we belong. I am not clairvoyant or anything remotely like it, but Mum has visited me on several occasions now, each time making more and more sense of what has happened. I miss her terribly, not having her here in the flesh so to speak, but I know she is with me and will be there for me when it is my turn to return 'home'.

Great thread! I have spent all evening reading and learning. I see that no one has ever mentioned that 'God' may be female! I owe allegiance to no church and I think maybe the Native American has the best idea. We owe our existance to Mother Earth. Without the earth, the sun, the rain and the air we would not exist. Life is a circle and like the grass - we are born, live and then die - to be born again as the grass dies over the winter and reappears in the spring. I believe that life is a circle and that 'what goes around comes around'. Do ill things and you will receive ill - do good and good will be returned to you. I don't have to go into a church with all it's costly trappings to commune with my 'spirit' - all I need do is step outside among the trees, feel the breeze, the warmth of the sun, the cool of the rain and look at the sky and feel total peace. I don't need a preacher to explain the bible or tell me how to lead my life. We were given a brain to use, eyes to see and ears to hear and a free will to make up our own minds. If we choose not to use those gifts then it is we who are at fault. Certainly this is not the only time we will be allowed to enjoy life and keep on learning.

Tracy Blackburn's thread 'Life After Death - How Many Believe?' has re-surfaced. Well worth a read if you have a couple of hours to spare. len

Following on from Len's discussion regarding the brain - in Oz we have a very talented man named John Joseph who works with educators and students regarding the latest brain research and applying this to learning and motivation. It's a fascinating field. I'm going to a workshop of his next week - went to one a few years ago - and I'm really loolking forward to it. He has amazing visuals of the brain and how the neurons function etc. Shall pass on any fascinating insights I might acquire! Anna

Upon re-reading some of the comments here, it reminded me of one very good sermon I once heard about death and after life. The priest was explaining that we all have 3 'lives / existences'. One in the uterus, one here on earth and one in Heaven or as some say 'on the other side'. He also said it would be no good trying to explain to a baby in the womb that 'it' would come out of there into the world one day because 'it' wouldn't be able to understand. He then added that the same goes for our next 'passage / life'. There was no point in Jesus explaining what it would be like because our 'earthly' intelligence wouldn't be able to grasp what he meant. Hope that makes sense. Margaret

Who gave you that great piece of information, Bella Donna ? And did you question their motives in supplying it? Len

Life is not a rehearsal, we only have one go at it so live it well. No, I dont believe in an after life anymore.

From long before birth the human brain has developed a vast network of interacting components capable of developing only when stimulated by sensory perception of its environment. It has sorted male from female at about 6 to 7 weeks and hard-wired them accordingly. No stimulation and the neurons atrophy and, eventually, disappear forever. Sight, speech, hearing and smell to name a few of our senses will never develop to a useful degree if not used in early childhood (i.e. by about 7). If none of the brain areas involved in the senses is activated by sensory input, the brain will remain permanently dysfunctional. Apart from this, the brain also needs food as it's consumption of energy, when working, can be greater than that of the muscles. There are some areas of the developing brain that, according to many neurologists, are superfluous and seem to serve no purpose (which means they don't know the purpose). To me, it seems highly unlikely that such a marvellous engine as the human brain could be so wasteful and install programmes without a use. My humble PC has capabilities beyond my dreams but, being a thinker rather than a scientist, I look forward to one day understanding, rather than being dismissive, of what it may be able to do. To quote from Arthur Winter MD, Neurosurgeon and Director of the New Jersey Neurological Institute: 'The organ never ceases to amaze me..... One of the most fruitful areas of recent research concerns brain potential. There is an observation about which there is unanimous agreement among neurological researchers - humans use only a fraction of their brain's true potential' Some people seem to use less than that (my words). Len

Is consciousness (id, mind, soul or inner being) a form of energy? Many believe so - in fact this is borne out by it being associated with a chemical/electrical activity in the brain so it follows, that when the body dies, consciousness cannot be lost but, to obey the laws of physics, must be transmuted into another form. Len

Andy, Im glad someone feels the same as me

Lynda,I like what your mum said:-)) And agree with your Wise words:-))

My Mum used to say If you wake up dead you'll be sorry :)) I think that when folk pass on, we are obviously devastated, but if there is life after, it would be a waste of our time here to be miserable, so we must carry on. If there isn't life after, well again no point in wasting our time here, enjoy life to the max.

lol Andy - thing with me is that there are certain people I would love to see again so I believe I will. If there's nothing after, I won't be disappointed cos I won't know but I will have gone through life with this nice idea of being reunited with those I've loved so it's a winning situation either way:)

Andy,You sound like my hubby!!lol thats the way he feels too. I dont,Im sure theres far more to us than flesh and blood, But thats only my belief,I cant prove anything, but If Im right you can apologise on the other side!lol;-))

Oh dear, this one again! I would just love to see the faces on all these believers in the afterlife when at the great moment -- they find nothing. Andy falls into hole in ground laughing! The dead body breaks down into it's constituent molecules. That's it! The dead person exists only as a human memory in the minds of the still living. When forgotten gone completely. I'm very happy with that natural outcome, and I speak as someone who looked death in the face twice last year.