Dualism (Identity)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Saturday, March 21, 2015, 03:44 (3324 days ago) @ dhw

TONY: Closeness to God certainly doesn't denote being in heaven. Not sure where that came from, but I agree with you on that.
> 
> DHW: Perhaps my point was not clear. You claimed that if the NDE patients thought they were in heaven, Satan was deliberately deceiving them, e.g. by giving them the information about their dead relatives etc. which they could not otherwise have known. According to you, God doesn't send dead people to heaven, so Satan could then make the patients believe God was a liar. But if, as apparently was the case in some instances, they did NOT think they were in heaven and still got the information, and were then resuscitated and turned to God, what in the name of hell was Satan hoping to achieve?-
It doesn't matter if they believed the dead were in heaven, or hell, or walking around on the earth. If they believed the dead were alive (in the sense of an afterlife) then the deception hit right on the money. -God Says: The dead are conscious of nothing. -If satan convinces someone of ANYTHING other than that, he has made god a liar. --> 
> TONY: I am not the judge of anyone. I can't say what would be the outcome for your sweet Mrs X. But here is something to think about. It is a known, well documented, and proven fact that most religions, including some forms of Christianity, are utterly riddled with pagan influences. Idolatry, ancient pagan holidays, and even teachings that directly contradict the bible. There are parts of the bible that warn people to "flee" from those things, so I am going to assume that it matters.
> 
> DHW:.. Ultimately, what “matters” in my view is (a) what seems right to you, and (b) that what seems right to you does no harm to others and, preferably, actively benefits you and others. I would like to think that is the case with all the nice folk on this forum!-And believe it or not, to a large extent the bible actually largely AGREES WITH YOU (or you agree with it, depending on your perspective). In fact ALL of the laws, with exception of those regarding the sole worship of Jehovah, fall under your part (b). Every single one of them. Those that aren't directly related to (b) fall under the heading of "Love Jehovah your God with your whole heart" and only worship him. (Read Romans chapters 12 and 14)-Unfortunately, what you seem to fail to see is that these pagan holidays and traditions were meant to honor other gods. Even praying to the statue of Mary is bowing before a false idol, because Mary is NOT god. So, what you see as innocent harmless fun, is not innocent.

--
What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.