Now I ask does God have a form specifically because 12 years ago I had several NDE(near
Model of Ganesh, Hindu god Category:Ganesh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
death experiences) following my suicide attempts. In none of those NDEs did I “see” God or anything else. Am I a spiritual ignoramus, or simply experiencing “God” as I understand the phenomena/on? Let me explain myself.
We all grow up with an understanding of the world around us and a religious or secular
Pearly Gates (Photo credit: Andy Hares)Never saw these!!!
explanation for how the world works. Well in every NDE story I’ve heard the person always seems to describe seeing a bright light and their vision of Heaven or a dead relation, etc. I saw the bright light but being an Atheist I surmised my brain cells were dying off! Never did I see a dead relation though or Heaven as it’s popularly represented. Now I confess I was convalescent at the time from a massive drug overdose but I don’t think that should affect me seeing pearly gates and St. Peter or whoever I’m “supposed” to see.
You see, when I reflect back on that experience of lying in my hospital bed in the critical
Deutsch: Engel holt die Seele eines Sterbenden (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
care area of the Intensive Care Unit, I just *know* there has to be a reason beyond being spiritually obtuse. Surely Atheists aren’t excluded from ‘religious experiences’. Do not start praying for my eternally ‘damned’ soul though just yet!
I think there is a better explanation for my not seeing Heaven’s gates and a dead relative. The reason is we all experience the Infinite differently. If we were raised Hindu or Sikh I’m sure there would be a culturally relevant experience in there for the person encountering a NDE. In my case, I had never attended church and was a total Atheist. If God showed up the same to everyone, regardless of cultural and personal beliefs, do you really think that would work? I don’t. In fact I can’t think of a more “Christian or Judeocentric” way of thinking. Now I’m not discounting or invalidating anyone who has had a “Christian or Judaic NDE”, but I am beginning to think we can’t all experience the same NDE if we believe different things.
Don’t you think “God” would be pragmatic and visit us in a form we would be comfortable with and not be scared of? I do. What reason is there to have the Infinite/Universal Source/God etc. be only one way? There are a number of World religions and likely various ideas of what occurs after death. I suppose all I am saying is be open minded regarding Infinity or God because your beliefs aren’t everyone else’s in the entire world we’re living in.
The Universal Source came to me as light alone because I would not have accepted
Near Death Experiences (Photo credit: Mike_tn)
anything else! So firm was I in my Atheism Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens would have been proud! “God” is not going to shock us into believing in a Higher Power/Energy/Source etc., what would that achieve? We must all find “the way” that speaks to us in not just our mind but our heart. Is it not more effective to find God on our own terms than be force fed certain beliefs we can’t ‘swallow’?
Ellie conversing with a praying mantis called Dichard Rawkins. The scene satirizes popular atheist, biological theorist, and author of The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins. (Published 25 Nov 2009.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I don’t normally talk about religion or God because I’m not religious and have more philosophical leanings in my spiritual beliefs than anything. I’m not dogmatic and I don’t think I have the “right” version of the truth. My beliefs are mine alone and I could care less if anyone else shares in them or not. They aren’t up for scrutiny or evaluation. I don’t evaluate anyone else’s beliefs when they aren’t harming anybody. What matters is our beliefs feel right to us in our heart. Our beliefs must resonate with our soul then it doesn’t matter what others believe. So long as we’re respectful and don’t make attacks on others what difference does it make what you believe or I believe?. In my opinion we are all going to the same place. It doesn’t matter to me what name you give your final stop on your journey, so long as you aren’t condemning other people’s choices(provided they aren’t violent or hurtful).
Our world would be so much more peaceful, in my opinion, if we all just agreed to respect each other and treat one another with kindness and love. You don’t even need a religion to be kind and love someone! I ask you to be kind to one another my blogging friends.
©Sonamsangmu, 2013.
Have you ever watched the show “I Survived – Beyond and Back”? The whole thing is people recounting their near-death experiences. And they are often very different from each other. You might find it really interesting, if you haven’t seen it.
I agree that the experience of the afterlife is probably specific to each person’s expectations and experiences – I kind of hope it is, actually. But the feeling of unconditional love and peace seems to be the most prevailing common theme.
Thanks Jenny
I will see if I can find that show to watch. Sounds good. I agree with you, the universal theme does tend to be compassion and love.
The experience is indeed nothing more … an experience.
Our mind wants to interpret and colour any experience, especially when there are no words for it.
Whether dying brain cells are always looking the same from the point of view of the experiencer might be food for statistical analysis.
However, whatever the system of belief, whatever the interpretation might be, the experience is significant, and not easily forgotten, often a life changing event.
Thanks Bert.
I’m not able to be quite as Dawkins-like as you, Bert! After having lived my life this long-which may not be *that* long, I feel differently about things. You’re of course entitled as much to your Dawkins/science view of things as I am to my beliefs.
Namaste~:)
I don’t have a Dawkins view. I only propagate that I don’t know. Only experience is pure.
This means that most people think I’m a chameleon, but I’m not. I see beauty in many opinions and many experiences. If I shut down the mind, everything is experience. The profane and the mystical both touch each other in Silence.
Science talks about things to be measured by machines. Those machines become the sense of science. Maths do the rest.
Personal experiences can not be measured. They will never be able to be part of science. The word personal is impossible in science.
How you see the color green is a mystery to science. Scientists talk in wavelengths.
Fair enough.
i love this. xo
Thank you! I was worried about creating angry reactions in people but figured I’d suffer the consequences!
if people react angry, maybe you’ve touched something in them!
Good point! Although, nobody has really reacted angrily so far.
that’s great!
Thanks
Reblogged this on OAK.
Thank you
To be human is enough. Beautiful post.
Thanks!
Wonderful post. If God was only way of of being or existing, then the energy of creation would not be infinite, unfathomable,present in every cell…no-one has a handle on God, Allah, Yarweh, Krishna, Great Spirit whatever we call him,/her /it.
I don’t even think the Creator minds what we think… that Energy can only be unjudging and totally inclusive… the only right or wrong is that we do no harm…and then peace on earth really does become a possibility, and love can prevail…
Thanks so much for your response Valerie!