Posted on 10/17/2014 10:38:34 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
When I was a small boy, I was adopted. I grew up remembering nothing of my birth family and unaware that I had a biological sister, named Betsy. Many years later, I went in search of my biological family, but for Betsy it was too late: she had died.
This is the story of how I was reunited with her — in Heaven.
Before I start, I should explain that I am a scientist, who has spent a lifetime studying the workings of the brain.
My adoptive father was a neurosurgeon and I followed his path, becoming an neurosurgeon myself and an academic who taught brain science at Harvard Medical School.
Although nominally a Christian, I was sceptical when patients described spiritual experiences to me.
My knowledge of the brain made me quite sure that out-of-body experiences, angelic encounters and the like were hallucinations, brought on when the brain suffered a trauma.
And then, in the most dramatic circumstances possible, I discovered proof that I was wrong. Six years ago, I woke up one morning with a searing headache. Within a few hours, I went into a coma: my neocortex, the part of the brain that handles all the thought processes making us human, had shut down completely....
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Excuse me Dr. Alexander, are you selling something?
This will get me hammered, but I’ll say it none the less.
There are actually very little difference between the vulgate which was translated in the fourth century and later translated into English and the king James which was 1611.
And even the so called translations in the 1970s are not that far apart.
I believe some of the garbage I hear they are printing today will not be excepted by no one except satans people.
Some one is always saying that the bible says different than what it used to say but they can never tell you what it used to say.
Does that include a Hebrew and Greek lexicon to reference the original language? If not it's enlightening to compare.
Papyrus 46 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), designated by siglum \mathfrak{P}46, is one of the oldest extant New Testament manuscripts in Greek, written on papyrus, with its ‘most probable date’ between 175-225.[1] Some leaves are part of the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri, and others are in the University of Michigan Papyrus Collection.[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_46
http://www.greeknewtestament.com/B42C002.htm
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse
Like the angel Moroni? I have a feeling that ole Joe Smith either met up with a lying spirit, or there never was any vision in the first place. Some think Joe Smith never intended to start a new religion, but just wanted to write a tall tale, to make some money, when it got out of his control, and took off. Whichever it is, there is "another gospel," that needs to be opposed.
It doesn’t matter which translation one reads, as much as one is reading FROM His Word and not reading INTO His Word.
Read His Word as we are in fellowship with God, who is a Living God. He guides you in your sanctification.
If we read INTO His Word while studying it, we fall out of fellowship, and scar our soul.
God the Holy Spirit indwells the human spirit of the believer. As we intake His Word by the bodily senses,they influence our soul, where we comprehend the vocabulary and context. He also influences our thinking in our soul with His sanctification of us. If we exercise our volition independently from His Will, i.e. read INTO His Word, then we fall out of fellowship and stop growing in Him.
He plays an active role in our understanding and sanctification. He is a Living God.
Snake oil maybe?
Alexander is the author of the 2012 autobiographical book Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, in which he asserts that his out of body and near death experience (NDE) while in a meningitis-induced coma in 2008 proves that consciousness is independent of the brain, that death is a transition, and that an eternity of perfect splendor awaits us beyond the grave – complete with angels, clouds, and departed relatives, but also including butterflies and a beautiful girl in peasant dress who Alexander finds out later was his departed sister.
Map of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon Explores the Mysteries of the Afterlife & The Truth About What Lies Beyond by Dr Eben Alexander, published by Piatkus at £14.99.
Dr Eben Alexander. Offer price £12.75 until 25 October. Order at mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0808 272 0808, p&p free for a limited time only.
Perhaps he is using the term incorrectly and my understanding of the term does not take in to account it’s literal meaning, but,
Nominal Christians I have never felt are necessarily unbelievers.
I am not familiar with this man, but it sounds to me like his heaven is secular, absent God and Christ.
However, I'm skeptical about these claims coming from a neuroscientist because they're not consistent with neuroscientific terms.
He says he was in a "deep coma, a vegetative state." Comas and vegetative states are different. In a coma, you're unawake and unaware. In a vegetative state, you're awake and unaware (and, after four weeks, you're in a persistent vegetative state).
You don't equate a coma with a vegetative state.
He claims "scans showed no conscious activity whatever [in my brain]." Yes, but did scans show any brain activity? They must have, or else he would not have been declared to be in a coma or a VS. He would have been declared brain-dead.
So, one strike, and one parsing of words.
Time is strange. I've had dreams that lasted for weeks but occurred in one night. Who's to say this long heavenly experience didn't occur in a second or two of consciousness coming out of a coma?
“This message is completely out of character for a heavenly being to deliver to a non-believer.”
Truth! Yet this is the stock in trade of all channelled “messages” from demonic sources. The truth of Jesus Christ represents an existential THREAT to rebellious mankind. That awful saving grace of His work on the Cross leaves every human being on the planet without excuse.
“Come to me, you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
But multitudes prefer sweet little lies to The Truth.
Apparently Dr Alexander’s story has changed with the passage of time, and some of his colleagues who took care of him in the hospital dispute some of what he says. He has been in serious professional trouble and was facing major financial problems before he wrote the first book. His professional reputation was not good. So quite apart from the unBiblical visions he claims to have had, the story smells.
Thank you for that information. I already have a general opinion of him but I believe I may do a little background reading.
Oh?
You've not checked for yourself?
Ol' M just got lifted atop Carmel, Indiana's new Temple yesterday!!
Thanks Els. That statue must have cost a bunch of people a lot of dental work.
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mormonism is a dead end path.
Even amoung Mormons; after their first initation in the Temple® only about 15% or so will EVER be 'worthy' enough to even re-enter it again!
That's seems to be a VERY poor advertisement for the 'church'.
some might say.
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Temple Recommend Questions
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? 2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer? 3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days? 4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church? 5 Do you live the law of chastity? 6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church? 7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? 8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel? 9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen? 10 Are you a full-tithe payer? 11 Do you keep the Word of Wisdom? 12 Do you have financial or other obligations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations? 13 If you have previously received your temple endowment: Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple? Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple? 14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been? 15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances? |
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