[Bill,
August 17, 2007]
In an effort to be as eclectic as possible, now for the meaning of life
Here is a fascinating introduction to God from the Jewish perspective. Here's the part I found fascinating:
Exactly. As Christians, we believe that (`) we have a body (2) It will decay and die (3) We will continue on as spirits, and (4) We will re-enter a new body. (So yes, we Christians believe in reincarnation. It's just a one-time thing.)
Now, why would God do that? And what does that have to do with the eternity of Heaven and Hell? If we cannot act as spirit only, that is, we need a body to do ... what we do in this life, in the body, is our only opportunity to act. Immediately upon death, we have done all we have done and can do, and there's no undoing it or adding more. It is finished.
Our spirits are then judged, saved or not. It is not our choice. Then we are given a new body, and can once again act, presumably.
It seems to me that the whole "life" thing looks like a filter. Put the soul in a body. Give it an opportunity to act. Take it out of the filter. Remove the sin. Place the sinless soul back in a new body.
Or something like that. What do I know?
Since it is the body, which gives man the opportunity to act ...
Exactly. As Christians, we believe that (`) we have a body (2) It will decay and die (3) We will continue on as spirits, and (4) We will re-enter a new body. (So yes, we Christians believe in reincarnation. It's just a one-time thing.)
Now, why would God do that? And what does that have to do with the eternity of Heaven and Hell? If we cannot act as spirit only, that is, we need a body to do ... what we do in this life, in the body, is our only opportunity to act. Immediately upon death, we have done all we have done and can do, and there's no undoing it or adding more. It is finished.
Our spirits are then judged, saved or not. It is not our choice. Then we are given a new body, and can once again act, presumably.
It seems to me that the whole "life" thing looks like a filter. Put the soul in a body. Give it an opportunity to act. Take it out of the filter. Remove the sin. Place the sinless soul back in a new body.
Or something like that. What do I know?