i think a death bed conversion is possible, no doubt. i think anything is possible with God. the example is the thief on the cross next to Christ who asks him simply "to remember him." and Christ says, "this day you'll be in paradise with me." the key is a repentant heart that is true in seeking forgiveness. if the approach is, "how much can i get away?", i think that misses the mark. but again, with God anything's possible.
The personal relationship with God is the most important thing sans the churches, sans the cults, sans the people in the world which have a say...
A Buddhist would say there are good things about your faith but ultimately a belief in a personal god does not lead to the end of suffering. Yes there are different notions of defining things. But I don't think you are going to tell me that your god is a fact in the sense that it can be scientifically proven etc.
According to Nietzche, that's because Buddhism is a more advanced religion than Christianity. It's enough for a Buddhist to say, "I suffer". But a Christian says "I suffer because of sin, I suffer because of the Devil".
"Do not accept anything that you yourself cannot ascertain. You are given the hearing, the sight and the mind in order to examine and verify," (Quran, Al Isra':36)
Let just say what I experienced not only changed my life but I didn't tell anyone about the night except I was now born-again. If you saw a UFO (no it wasn't a UFO) and talked the with an alien (no it wasn't an alien), would you go and tell others? Probably not - not unless you want to get locked up. But would you believe in aliens? Would you know that we are not alone? Would you study? To be honest, I don't know if it was an angel or the cherubim (I didn't even know there was one). I was totally blinded (pitch black doesn't begin to describe it) but I could hear giant wings beating very fast (and previously I didn't think even if there were angels that they'd really have wings). The person spoke in authority (using the word - "Me" instead of God, Him, Jesus - leading me to later believe it was the cherubim I heard, though God my have given an angel authority as the Angel of the Lord - at that point and this point I don't care.). He wanted me to follow Him and led me to the Bible Before that night, I couldn't understand the Bible, except at a high level and it was a boring book. After that night, I could understand it on many levels (though there still are mysteries - some have been answered and some have not - yet). It's more of a love letter and boggles my mind now. I know that God is real and He loves us - more than my human brain can comprehend.
Sounds like you had quite an experience. It also sounds as if you made your life better because of that. For that alone you are definitely privileged. Thank you for sharing as much as you did.
Um...I think there are lots of things that everyone accepts on faith alone. We accept as a fact that 1+1=2. Can you prove it? We accept as a fact that if a=b, and b=c, then a=c. Can you prove it? There are plenty of things we "know" and accept as truths, but are unable to prove beyond all doubt.
No way you offended. I just didn't have anyone in mind when I posted and I can only post at work so what I am thinking and what I post are often off mark. I understand the grievances against Christianity. I have been disappointed greatly and hurt deeply by Christians. Jesus is what Christianity is about. I think the idea of hell, or the lake of fire, or sheol, or however people perceive it brings controversy and struggle because it seems so judgmental. And it is a judgment of God. But the real issue is one of justice and what is logical, right and intelligent. Justice is simply that every choice has a right consequence- an intelligent consequence. Right choices have appropriately beneficial consequences and wrong choices have appropriately detrimental consequences. Justice also in a simple form says that the consequence fits the choice. When speaking of a 'real' hell from the Bible, there is also a 'real' heaven'. In the light of justice judgment is made by God. What is great about the Bible is that it is simple and clear as to how God will judge and these judgments are just, logical, reasonable and intelligent. Say you had a 5 year old daughter and her bedroom at night is your 'heaven'. Who do you let sleep with her? You would be unintelligent, irrational and evil if you allowed the wrong person into her bedroom. Liars, thieves, sexually immoral, murderers, and the like are not the people God will allow into heaven. But there is a problem. When God considers the human heart He finds that all people have this potential and purpose to do these things. Not one person is righteous. So God has a plan to save humanity from itself and redeem people, making them fit for heaven. It will not work for the proud, the hypocrite and the self righteous. Only the humble and meek will find the way. Jesus is the way.
I have no idea. Like I said I wasn't even really searching. While it has changed my life radically and love Him for doing that I did ask questions like "why me?". My life hasn't (so far) turned out like Paul or Moses or Stephen or Billy Graham or Martin Luther or.... I have the same chances to do something as those who believed from hearing and I have the same faults. I sometimes like to think that maybe my purpose was to touch someone who will be a critical piece to His puzzle because I don't see my life (so far) as being that critical to His plan. And then there is the "maybe someone just blew their witness 'assignment' ". But then why wouldn't He just send another witness. Maybe He pays more visits than we know but people like myself don't go telling others for fear of "they'd think I was nuts". Maybe it was just a slow night for Him and He wanted to get out and pay a visit. LOL. I really don't know. I know that He loves us all the same though.
Don't you think the entire concept of an all powerful deity having personal connections with us human being is at the core, pretty F-ing egotistical?
I'm not sure if I'm reading anger here or not. Like I said I don't know if it was an angel or Him (I stated why I "think" it might have been Him - either way it was not a normal night and it changed my life) or why. I wouldn't have picked me to save much less... And I can understand that you wouldn't believe me - I don't blame you. But it is what changed me from a non-believer into a believer. That is why I said I know for a fact. I didn't expect a lot of people to become believers from my night. I try to be ready to witness though actions and words and my words usually don't (never that I can think of) include that night. I don't want the focus on me and I'm not an attention hound - maybe the exact opposite. It's not about me, it's about Him. I pray that you too will come to will have a relationship with Him if you don't already - and I don't mean that in a condescending way - that is from my heart. It doesn't take a personal visit but if that is what it takes, then I pray that He would reveal Himself in a very real way (though I will say for those asking for a sign that God does not like to be tested (Deut. 6:16) Remember that this is the same God who sent His ONLY Son to be a human and die on a cross to save the sinners of the world - every sinner who would believe. His love and the means in which He will show it knows no bounds. I wouldn't have done it, but I'm so glad He did.
most Christians, including myself, will tell you it's not something anyone deserves...it's just love.
The concept goes along with basic Christian teachings that we are all the children of God and which is why Christians refer to God as the Father. A father has a personal connection and an interest in the lives of all of his children.
And you are a jackass. (I keed, I keed) Of course I am. We all know that if a=b and b=c, then a=c, but is there an actual mathematical proof out there that says so? No there isn't, and I know for a fact there isn't one because the mathematical property above happens to be a postulate. It's universally accepted as truth...according to our perception of reality. It's altogether possible that someone with a perception of reality completely different from ours is capable of believing otherwise. Moreover, said person can probably give arguments (again according to his own perception of reality) that prove his perception to be correct. In light of that, why is it so hard to accept that religion as perceived by some (myself included) will contain steadfast, immutable truths that can be reconciled and with our own observations? Mr. Meowgi, to simply say that God's existence as a "fact" has "never been proven" is utterly meaningless. His existence may not have been proven to you in your perception of reality...but He is very real to me.
