[I.. simply cannot comprehend the end of my mortal existence.... That underlines the ultimate reason why people want to believe in the supernatural]
No sir- that’s false- the reason people seek God is because of a universal moral code that convicts them of their sin- This universal moral code is instilled in ALL hearts, and people seek a way to allay that sense of lostness. Folks not brought up in Christian teachings and infact in quite evil settings where one would argue a universal moral code is a subjective nature, have confessed to never feeling right about doing the evil despite having been raised to think it was alright. They confess to knowing somethign wasn’t right- that still small voice inside that convicted them- 5that universal moral code that is engraved on each of our souls.
You say you earnestly looked, yet I have to doubt it was earnest. As I mentioned before- it’s quite easy to blind ourselves to God’s voice- it’s all just a matter of how committed we are to not finding the convicting truth. No God, no admitted sense of sin- no need for a Savior. It takes a big person to be broken- Me thinks you dun like the idea of brokeness- and this isn’t a slam- I certainly didn’t like it either and resisted it as long as I could too. You really want to find God? It’s very very simple- get on your knees, confess that you’re a sinner, and ask Christ into your heart- It’s simple and free- but perhaps the hardest thing a person can ever do. You see abstaining from listening to your conscience as a strength, yet it’s not- it takes far more strength to go to the throne of God and confess that He is Lord. The pride you feel in yourself is quite evident, and this isn’t a criticism, but it’s plain to see. Most religions cater to this pride nature and will never see the light of heaven
Religion wasn’t ‘created to control the masses’ it was GIVEN by God to His creation- Some churche’s might abuse the priveledge of their position, yet your claim is false.
[The irony is that this fear will only last as long as one is alive]
That’s a mighty big bet based on nothign more than an opinion Carrots. Spose you’re wrong? There is no second chances whereby you’ll be able to say ‘whoops’
And btw- I had an NDE, and there was no bright light tunnel- No euphoria- quite the opposite- I went the other way, not to heaven. I’ll not state that it was a literal experience because I simply don’t know- I feel it was due to lack of oxygen to the brain and A high fever, but it was a definate NDE with Docs reviving me and all. It was enough for me to tell anyoen that will listen that hell aint gonna be no party- you don’t want to end up there- not when there is such an easy way to avoid it.
What about Jewish upbringing, or Buddhist, or Hindu? If there really was this one one and only God, there wouldn't be so many "software fixes and updates" sent our way.
Arjuna:
Of those who love you as the Lord of Love,
Ever present in all, and those who seek you
As the nameless, formless Reality,
Which way is sure and swift, love or knowledge?
Krishna:
For those who set their hearts on me
And worship me with unfailing devotion and faith,
The way of love leads sure and swift to me.
Those who seek the transcendental Reality,
Unmanifested, without name or form,
Beyond the reach of feeling and of thought,
With their senses subdued and mind serene
And striving for the good of all beings,
They too will verily come unto me.
Yet hazardous
And slow is the path to the Unrevealed,
Difficult for physical man to tread.
But they for whom I am the goal supreme,
Who do all work renouncing self for me
And meditate on me with single-hearted devotion,
These will I swiftly rescue
From the fragment's cycle of birth and death
To fullness of eternal life in me.
Still your mind in me, still yourself in me,
And without doubt you shall be united with me,
Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
But if you cannot still your mind in me,
Learn to do so through the practice of meditation.
If you lack the will for such self-discipline,
Engage yourself in selfless service of all around you,
For selfless service can lead you at last to me.
If you are unable to do even this,
Surrender yourself to me in love,
Receiving success and failure with equal calmness
As granted by me.
Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice.
Better than knowledge is meditation.
But better still is surrender in love,
Because there follows immediate peace.
That one I love who is incapable of ill will,
And returns love for hatred.
Living beyond the reach of I and mine
And of pleasure and pain, full of mercy,
Contented, self-controlled, firm in faith,
With all their heart and all their mind given to me –
With such people I am in love.
Not agitating the world or by it agitated,
They stand above the sway of elation,
Competition, and fear, accepting life
Good and bad as it comes. They are pure,
Efficient, detached, ready to meet every demand
I make on them as a humble instrument of my work.
They are dear to me who run not after the pleasant
Or away from the painful, grieve not
Over the past, lust not today,
But let things come and go as they happen.
Who serve both friend and foe with equal love,
Not buoyed up by praise or cast down by blame,
Alike in heat and cold, pleasure and pain,
Free from selfish attachments and self-will,
Ever full, in harmony everywhere,
Firm in faith – such as these are dear to me.
But dearest to me are those who seek me
In faith and love as life's eternal goal.
They go beyond death to immortality.
Krishna:
Those who are free from selfish attachments,
Who have mastered the senses and passions,
Act not, but are acted through by the Lord.
Listen to me now, O son of Kunti,
How one who has become an instrument
In the hands of the Lord attains the Absolute,
The supreme consummation of wisdom.
Unerring in discrimination,
Sovereign of the senses and passions,
Free from the clamor of likes and dislikes,
They lead a simple, self–reliant life
Based on meditation, using speech,
Body, and mind to serve the Lord of Love.
Free from self–will, aggressiveness, arrogance,
From the lust to possess people or things,
They are at peace with themselves and others
And enter into the unitive state.
United with the Lord, ever joyful,
Beyond the reach of self–will and sorrow,
They serve me in every living creature
And attain supreme devotion to me.
By loving me they share in my glory
And enter into my boundless being.
All their acts are performed in my service,
And through my grace they win eternal life.
Make every act an offering to me;
Regard me as your only protector.
Make every thought an offering to me;
Meditate on me always.
Drawing upon your deepest resources,
You shall overcome all difficulties
Through my grace. But if you will not heed me
In your self–will, nothing will avail you.
If you say, “I will not fight this battle,”
Your own nature will drive you into it.
If you will not fight the battle of life,
Your own karma will drive you into it.
The Lord dwells in the hearts of all creatures,
And he whirls them round on the wheel of time.
Run to him for refuge with all your strength
And peace profound will be yours through his grace.
I give you these precious words of wisdom;
Reflect on them and then choose what is best.
These are the last words I shall speak to you,
Dear one, for your spiritual fulfillment.
Be aware of me always, adore me,
Make every act an offering to me,
And you shall come to me;
This I promise, for you are dear to me.
Leave all other support, and look to me
For protection. I shall purify you
From the sins of the past. Do not grieve.
Do not share this wisdom with anyone
Who lacks in devotion or self–control,
Lacks the desire to learn, or who scoffs at me.
Those who teach this supreme mystery
Of the Gita to all those who love me
Will come to me without doubt. No one
Can render me more devoted service;
No one on earth can be more dear to me.
Those who meditate on these holy words
Worship me with wisdom and devotion.
Even those who listen to them with faith,
Free from doubts, will find a happier world.
Have you fully understood my message?
Are you free from your doubts and delusions?
Arjuna:
You have dispelled my doubts and delusions
And made me ready to fight this battle.
My faith is firm now, and I will do your will.
Krishna:
I am the same to all beings. My love
Is the same always. Nevertheless, those
Who meditate on me with devotion,
They dwell in me, and I shine forth in them.
Even the worst sinner becomes a saint
When he loves me with all his heart. This love
Will soon transform his personality
And fill his heart with peace profound.
O son of Kunti, this is my promise:
Those who love me, they shall never perish.
-Excerpts from the Bhagawad Gita (The Song of the Lord).