The conviction in a life after death, improvable but unshakeable, has been cherished since the beginning of thinking man's life on earth. It makes its appearance in religious literature not as fiat, commanded irrevocably by an absolute God, but rather arises plant-like, growing and developing naturally in the soul...
12 Comments Posted
"The exit from the body is the birth of the soul" I dont understand what that means. Isnt the soul born even without the death of the body. The simple proof for that being that we are able to sense things, we see through our eyes. It is the eye which allows us to see but there is the person which is seeing.
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It's a logical conclusion that there's life after death. As you point out the bible agonizes over man's day-to-day morals. If a very immoral person could get thru life and make it to death he would have escaped any judgement for his life. If God has the authority to describe morality He has to have the power to judge. If you can escape God thru death He doesn't have the power to judge your life and really doesn't have the authority to perscribe morality. Authority without power is meaningless.
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To Mr. Young
If G-d who is the creator of souls, life and the universe, than it's obvious he can and does met out justice in the next world. But because with our limited minds, we cannot know what that judgement is like nor what the reward for good is like. It is not within the physical realm. But be assured, the wicked will reap the reward they deserve.
Remember, you don't have to believe in the after life, nor do you have to accept it, all you need do is "know". For when you are asked if what you did is right or wrong, you will be judge on that "knowing".
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To J Dubitsky:
It appears we agree that if there is a God with authority He has to have the power to judge a life after death. Frankly I believe there is a God and that He has the power to judge a life; you can't escape that judgement even with death. We do disagree that the standard of judgement is my 'knowing' what is right and wrong.
People are too inclined to rationalize their behavior to allow that 'knowing' to be a standard. You kind of elude to that when you make the point that belief or acceptance of an afterlife isn't essential. Whatever reality is our perception of it doesn't effect it.
Reality or more to the point what is right and wrong isn't dependent on a my perception. For instance I might have stolen because I was hungry. All that makes me is a hungry thief.
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Remember that not everything is relative. Reality was what it was before G-d gave us the Torah on Mt. Sianai. Then He gave us his commandments. We have to follow his laws as much as we can. But then what happens after life which is the punishment/reward? The Baal Shem Tov taught that when you are put in front of the heavenly court they show you a life. It is up to you to judge what happens to this person. Next, they tell you that you are this person. Since you are now only your soul, you don't recall any of your physical life. Therefore it is you who decides your morality. Therefore you should also judge people positively.
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mind you explain a little further on, how that heavenly judgement is to be conducted, according to rabbi b.s.t? your elaboration is appreciated.
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An interesting concept. I enjoyed it. Thanks,
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What a wonderful commentary.
He has shed light on an age-old question.
My congratulations to a beautiful artist of contemporary thought.
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you guys complicate everything :)
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thank you, this has opened my eyes and mind to relieve my sorrow
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this does not exactly answer the question of life after death for Jews. i think it needs to be a bit 'more-to-the-point'
thanx anyways!!
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