mission of the soul

[HooLooVoo]

I had this theory a while back that is about the purpose of the soul. Not really my theory as quantum leap was kind of like this.

You only have one life. And you are being "jumped" about within your life by God to complete certain things. This is when you have a deja vu moment, you have just jumped back into a point in your life after you have failed to do something, and have now jumped to that point to try again.
When all the things that can be put right within that life have been put right your soul is then ready to move to a different life. And when all the lives that you can possibly put right have been then your soul is ready to move to a different planet. Eventually your soul will become a spirit, then an angel which is when you help other souls etc.

This is probably not true, but what do you think?

[Sano]

This is probably not true, but what do you think?

I think you're right to admit that this is probably not true.

The entirety of your premise relies on the existence of God in the sense that 'he' embodies human qualities that would enable us to understand 'him'.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think your "theory" isn't much more than a well-brewed stew of other people's ideas that have been simmering in your head for a while, with perhaps a dash of spices [drugs] here and there.

[HooLooVoo]

This is probably not true, but what do you think?

The entirety of your premise relies on the existence of God in the sense that 'he' embodies human qualities that would enable us to understand 'him'.

Maybe it is us that embody qualities of God, which helps us to understand Him a bit.

[SofaKingdom]

Well, as long as "God" is a symbol for a concept and not a deity/personage needing to be referred to as "Him", then perhaps.

By using the word "God" you have subscribed to the idea that nothing is lost in translation when we "personify" truth/existence and that there is no harm in making use of a communicative paradigm for truth/existence that has been commandeered and redefined by organized religion. I call myself an atheist because I do believe that use of the word "god" is not benign and that it confuses the concepts of truth/existence in an extraordinarily damaging way.

However, I also observe that many people simply use the word "god" because culturally it is the word people use to talk about truth/existence, not because they necessarily intentionally mean the other things. Your use of "Him", and particularly the fact that it is capitalized, makes me wonder if you're referring purposefully to the Judeo-Christian god, or just using the easy cultural vernacular as shorthand for truth/existence.

If it is the former, then I don't know what we are talking about.

[Sano]

However, I also observe that many people simply use the word "god" because culturally it is the word people use to talk about truth/existence, not because they necessarily intentionally mean the other things.

That's just wrong. [As in they should not do it.]

"God" is a theological/dogmatic term, anyone that uses it otherwise doesn't really have a full grasp on what the hell they're talking about.

[ROYGBIV]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wGyx0X4FsY&fmt=18

[HooLooVoo]

For me I always thought God was one of two things. Either impersonal or personal. Either God was just a force that does things a certain way or was completely personal and that He knew everyone and wanted a certain thing for everybody. I like to think of God as the second thing now.

I notice that people who say they don't believe in God or that they don't believe in God in the sense that he is all good, they usually contradict themselves. I probably do it too when i'm letting my ego take over. I might be doing it now. Everyone knows that you should be good, that you should always do the right thing. That there is a standard to live up to. Even people who don't believe in God or believe in God but that you can't say God is all good. The next moment they'll say something that is about this standard.
Like someone will say "i don't believe you can understand God in terms of right and wrong" But then they'll say something that takes right and wrong and will put right as the stronger of the two. So they are trying to live up to this standard.

I was thinking, someone who says they don't believe in God, i'd like to see their reaction if you asked them to say that they renounce God for ever and ever. I bet most people who say they don't believe in God would be hesitant. And if not then i reckon they would be the type of person who does wrong sometimes for the sake of it.
And calling God Him or He i think is just a way to relate to God when you see God as the personal type. God probably is not male or female.
I see God as a single being but with unlimited power and who created everything. Like God can take any form that God wants. You could be walking down the road and the cat that just jumped out and distracted you from getting run over could be God. Not like everything is God. But that God is beyond time and space and personally takes action to change things. But only enough to allow free will.

[ROYGBIV]

Good post bruthaman.

[HooLooVoo]

Thanks. i'm still just thinking about this kind of stuff. I've been thinking about it for a while and it seems like the more you think and don't let your ego take over then the more a real good God seems to be the answer.
I'm still not sure about the other fella though, the devil, whether the devil exists or if badness is just an absence of good and not an independent force.
I know what badness is, that it is taking what is good and twisting it and distorting it and then it eventually destroy's itself into nothing, but whether it is the devil behind this or just an evil perception created by humans like greed etc, i'm not sure.
That's how i came to the conclusion that there has to be an ultimate good, because evil is a distortion of good, it needs good to feed on. It wants power for itself, which is the definition of the devil.
Dualism doesn't work, a belief in opposite but equal powers. It doesn't work because one of those powers we see as good and the other we see as bad, so one of them in our eyes is living up to a higher standard of good than the other.

i read this interesting theory that each planet is governed by spirits, and that the planets are like stopping places for spirits who travel through space. And each planet has a great spirit who watches over it and is in charge so to speak. Now a long time ago the spirit who watches over earth went bad, like there was a rebellion between it and God. So it rebelled and many spirits joined it and ever since this planet has been under siege. But this is where that theory takes a christian tone. God sent a secret infiltrator against this great evil spirit to start a rebellion against it and some day God will land in force to reclaim this planet.

Thought that was a cool point of view and i guess the great spirit that went bad is the devil and the infiltrator is the christ.

[ROYGBIV]

You are searching and remain open, this is wonderful.

I'm worried most about those without a firm cultural base. If you do not have this safety net, form one. Cultivate a belief system that works for you with the word "Congruence" in mind.

And stop searching until you form these from the bottom-up. There is a great danger to your mind if you aren't protected by a storied past.

America is in the most trouble. Their story is that of a country, not of any person. They are blissfully without culture and I'm afraid dramatically prone to the complexes that can form from manipulation.

Everyone's struggle is different. Forget about specifics and contemplate the movements of the world into "trees" or "roots" systems and how there will be a microcosm and a macrocosm. Think about Circles, the letter "Y" and stare at a Thunderbird. Whether on purpose or allowed to form through ignorance, it is there.

P.S.- Do me a favor. Lightly, so you're barely touching, move your fingertips up the hairs of your arm while contemplating a memory that is peaceful and relaxing, if not arousing in a "morning pee" kind of way. Think of the sensation increasing first with your mind, and then with the things that follow. 1-10 helps.

If you feel anything that excites you... be excited!

[ROYGBIV]

Well HooLoo, one good thing about programming Christianity into you is that you will have a leg-up in the survival game.

Bigger group, more willing to eat people and much quicker.

And no, it is not a slight on the believers, it is the system that sets these parameters.

Find the parameters and set them yourself.

[HooLooVoo]

I'm worried most about those without a firm cultural base. If you do not have this safety net, form one. Cultivate a belief system that works for you with the word "Congruence" in mind.

And stop searching until you form these from the bottom-up. There is a great danger to your mind if you aren't protected by a storied past.

Everyone's struggle is different. Forget about specifics and contemplate the movements of the world into "trees" or "roots" systems and how there will be a microcosm and a macrocosm. Think about Circles, the letter "Y" and stare at a Thunderbird. Whether on purpose or allowed to form through ignorance, it is there.

It seems the more you search you seem to come full circle. What if the reality of it is simple and what we have all been exposed to at some point.

That there is a good God who created everything and knows everything.
That there is a devil who wants power and souls for himself.
That this reality is a battle ground for good and evil to fight on.
That every person can make a change in this battle.

I think maybe when all the thinking and philosophy is exhausted this is what will be left.

I am drawn towards christianity. though i like to think of God more than jesus. I don't like the preachy side of christianity. the bible belt mentality, which i guess is not christianity at all after reading the new testament. The feeling i get from it is one of solidness and cleaness. something to fall onto when confused and down. Soemthing good and light (as in bright).
So i'll be thinking of a circle with a cross in it.

I know what you mean about stop searching. Find a "map", the system of belief and stick to it and everything else will just fall into place. And if you get tired with this belief system still stick to it, because it is the mind wavering and not the map. It will get you there eventually.

The letter Y i've thought about. I remember hearing how it was a powerfull symbol. To me i think of it in simple terms. Like i see it as every decision a fork in the road. Which way to choose. The right way or left.

[HooLooVoo]

Sorry lipan. Got posts mixed up there as i was glueing two together.