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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AdaGrace on January 16, 2005, at 16:49:41
It often excapes me the reason for my existence. But many times I am reminded by my children, my husband, or my siblings that my existence is mapped out by someone higher up that me, and therefore I have no choice in my path in life. Is this true? Do I really have no choice but to endure and live for the beautiful afterlife? My sister thinks there is sex in heaven, perhaps this is her twisted image of the afterlife as something where we can obtain everything we want and need on earth but are too busy comforting others and nurturing our loved ones to be selfish. i don't know. Sometimes I think there is such a thing as reincarnation. Perhaps that keeps me going to think that there might be another chance for me to do this again and perhaps do it better or right, or whatever. To think that there is no happier life than the miserable one I am living now, is quite dissapointing to the hopeful mind. Maybe I need spiritual guidance. Maybe I need to read the Bible. Maybe I just need a good night's sleep.
AdaGrace
Posted by just plain jane on January 16, 2005, at 20:38:06
In reply to The Choices We Make, posted by AdaGrace on January 16, 2005, at 16:49:41
AdaGrace, you psychobeauty, ;}
I do believe we make the choices, free will and all. I don't believe it is all "mapped out".
I know many Bible believers who take the phrase about God knowing the number of hairs on our heads and about the time we will die, and various other things, to mean that we don't actually have free will. It's their Bible, they can read it the way they want, but I disagree.
As I believe, God is Almighty, Omniscient, The Way, The Truth, and The Light, and all the other manners in which His entity is referred to, no matter by W/whom. This being so, and us being unable to understand or conceive of even an infinitesimal fraction of what He is, does, knows, can do, will do, I can't begin to believe I have a wisp of a hint of what is after we die. Every imaginable idea is possible, but nobody's gotten past that "bright light" thing people who have died and come back to tell us.
By choosing to lean on your own understanding instead of trusting that God will make your way clear if you let Him, you are tying His hands, so to speak, BUT, you have the choice to do that.
It is ironic to me that choosing to accept whatever He wills for me results in my life turning into what I had dreamed of since I was a child, and could not achieve on my own.
Sometimes I just gotta shake my head (to be sure I still have marbles).
just plain jane
Posted by smokeymadison on January 17, 2005, at 13:16:19
In reply to The Choices We Make, posted by AdaGrace on January 16, 2005, at 16:49:41
well, the Buddha said not to worry to much what happens after we die b/c then we miss out on living and expending our energy on living better, more clear-headed lives. but that was the Buddha, and i would give anything to know for sure what happens afer we die! i sort of think that maybe we go back to wherever we came from spiritually, just as our bodies go back to the earth (or should--i want to either be buried in a wooden box so that i can decompose or be cremated and scattered)
but anyway, the reason for our existence? that was another point the Buddha said not to spend too much time thinking about for the same reason. i do believe in an ultimate design. I mean, i think that some higher power steps in at least once in a while--maybe all the time--to make things turn out the way they do. at times i have sort of stepped back from acting b/c i sensed i was not supposed to. but i could have.
i have tried to read the Bible and really can't relate much to it. wish i could. but if you can, go for it!
SM
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