After reading all these posts stating that there's no life after death; I'd like to bring this book to your attention - "The Urantia Book". A book that all humans on this planet should at least read once. I don't think I can cover all the topics mentioned.
It's from a more or less a Christian standpoint (many would disagree since it forces you to re-learn a lot that the modern Christian Faith has taught - for example: there is no hell.
The book extensively covers:
The definition of God
The history of our local universe
The cause of the "Big Bang" all the way to the formation of earth
The early stages of earth and the evolution of the human species to this point
The actual origin of Adam and Eve and their default
A perspective of all religions, and where they have faltered and excelled (highly recommended
Full description of the afterlife - it's not just endless bliss and repetitive actions that are being carried out. The post would be pages long if I had to list what goes on on the other side, better to read it yourselves. Our short stay on earth is the first link on this chain that is our long journey ahead.
And last but not least,(imo) the definitive life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It really puts him in a new light. Jesus for the masses, for everyone willing to learn by example from how he lived his life, from childhood to death.
Im not sure what more I can say, many of you will dismiss this book and that's okay, some of you may even read it and be put off by it but those that do chance to really dig in will be better for it I assure you.
By a Christians definition I would labelled somewhat a heretic - but this book has changed my perspective made me even more Christ like and caring to my fellow person that I could ever imagine. Between religions and people it's not a competition, it's ultimately a group project.
The book doesn't hold your hand, it's very technical which is a pro and con. I would recommend reading in this order for ease of understanding:
Part 3: The history of Urantia
Part 4: The life and teachings of Jesus Christ
Part 1: The central and super universes
Part 2: The local universe
I'll leave you with a few choice quotes relating to the thread:
"Eternal truth should not be slighted because it chances to be found in company with obsolete ideas regarding the material world."
"Science teaches man to speak the new language of mathematics and trains his thoughts along lines of exacting precision. And science also stabilizes philosophy through the elimination of error, while it purifies religion by the destruction of superstition."
"Modern man is adequately self-conscious of religion, but his worshipful customs are confused and discredited by his accelerated social metamorphosis and unprecedented scientific developments. Thinking men and women want religion redefined, and this demand will compel religion to re-evaluate itself.
Modern man is confronted with the task of making more readjustments of human values in one generation than have been made in two thousand years. And this all influences the social attitude toward religion, for religion is a way of living as well as a technique of thinking.
True religion must ever be, at one and the same time, the eternal foundation and the guiding star of all enduring civilizations."
"Evolved religion commands respect because its followers believe it is The Truth; "the faith once delivered to the saints" must, in theory, be both final and infallible. The cult resists development because real progress is certain to modify or destroy the cult itself; therefore must revision always be forced upon it.
Only two influences can modify and uplift the dogmas of natural religion: the pressure of the slowly advancing mores and the periodic illumination of epochal revelation. And it is not strange that progress was slow; in ancient days, to be progressive or inventive meant to be killed as a sorcerer"
There's so much more - I can't force you to believe in life after death, only put the info out and ask that you may reconsider.
There's so much to do in this life and even more in the next, but with that said we should try our best to do good by others and lookout for each other especially at times like these - not only should we love others as we love ourselves, but endeavour to take it a step further and love others more than we love ourselves!
