Postmaster said:
It's obvious that both of these beliefs can not exist at the same time? I mean for instance to some extent Christianity believes in dualism with God / Satan.
I think they can exist at the same time in folks' minds and do. Christianity is a great example. Mainstream Christianity accepts monotheism (one God) in the form of a trinity (tritheism), with dualism (belief in two opposing forces- good and evil, God and Satan, in the universe). Paradox? Yep! But something lots wholeheartedly embrace. I've discussed my take on the trinity elsewhere, suffice it to say that God is a Great Mystery. I am monotheist, and I don't believe in a literal Satan. BUT, I believe that since we all have free will, we can choose to serve God or ourselves. When we choose to serve ourselves, to gain power for our own benefit, we are adding to the evil forces of this world. So ultimately, no dualism for me- God alone created everything and imbued everything with His power. BUT, there is a dualism in an immediate, time-encrusted sense. Right now, there's a bunch of folks in His creation that serve themselves, and thus give themselves over to evil action- both in the case of mistakes, wrongdoing, error AND also intentional cruelty and blasphemy. Us sentient beings are creating the dualism we see (although I don't think this capacity is limited to humans, hence you have "demons" or non-human evil spirits).
I also have more curious questions like, did Jesus ever talk about reincarnation? I believe that Judaism covers issue towards reincarnation and with Jesus Christ being Jewish you would think he would have talked about it.
According to the canonized Bible, no, Jesus didn't discuss reincarnation. If I remember correctly, there are snippets in non-canonized texts that claim he did. As far as I know, the Torah doesn't directly discuss reincarnation, but some Jews throughout history have believed it to be a possibility. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but if I remember correctly I got this information from the jewfaq website). The thing is, the Torah is more about what to do here on earth and how to relate to God than it is about the afterlife and the nature of Ultimate Reality. Judaism, and Jesus' teachings (which makes sense) is very much concerned with right action and life here and now. So it makes sense that Jesus mostly preached about right action and interpretation of the Law, and didn't say much about what happens after you die, except that you are judged by God for your conduct in life. Heaven and hell are mentioned, but I am of the crowd that after much study and prayer concluded they are not literal places but rather metaphors for states of being with/out God.
Maybe there's a system of reincarnation throughout life and each time you get closer and closer to God, until you discover a philosophy about him and then act upon you know to get to go through a final judgment?
I have a very complicated view of the afterlife, and it isn't very traditionally Christian, I must confess. It's based on a variety of my own experiences combined with studies on death and the dying process, and religious beliefs about the afterlife in numerous religions. Since I believe that heaven and hell are metaphors for a state of spiritual consciousness, I don't really have a problem believing in reincarnation as well. If you turn away from God, I think you'll be in hell (separated from God) everlasting... until you turn toward God.
I have no real answers, but I'll give you my best guess based on what I've experience so far and how I've integrated this with religious study. Basically, I think after you die, you are released from physicality and become pure spirit. You exist in a kind of energy form, but retain your defining self- your deepest self- as well as all the memories of your lives and actions. In this form you come before God, and you are laid bare. I believe that if you have turned toward God and prepared yourself to recognize Him, if you have sought a sense of spirituality and connection, you are not alone. You are with Him. I believe that in following Jesus to the best of my ability, my sins are covered by the love that unifies me and God through my following of Christ. So I can stand in God's Presence, in love, in humility but not shame, reverence but not fear. I believe that folks who aren't in Christ may still be saved by grace if they consistently sought God during their lives. I mean God in the broad sense here- as in the Divine. I don't totally know how that operates, but I have long felt deeply that this was so. Perhaps in having prepared themselves to be spiritual beings, they have also prepared themselves to meet Christ and, in that moment of recognition, confess He is Lord.
At this point, I am in heaven, because I am wholly and completely in the Presence of God.
And then what? Well, I have what seem to be memories from past lives, so I came to the conclusion that I probably have been around in a body before, and might go 'round again. I do think we get some rest for a while in God if we prepared ourselves for it (this is the Paradise, Summerlands, Norse Hel (not hell!), Otherworld concept found all over the world). I think sometimes we go 'round again to grow more spiritually, to become ever closer to God. I think sometimes we go 'round because we want to help others come closer to God, or God sends us for a purpose.
Eventually, I think when our purpose is done and we have given ourselves completely for God, we ultimately are transformed and become utterly unlike our original selves. We become unified with God in a way that only can come about through a complete metamorphosis. This is difficult to describe, and the area that I am least capable of fleshing out in my own belief system. I've had one vision of something like this, but it's really hard to express and quite truthfully, I'm still praying over it and working out what it means. I did not dissolve into nothingness, or become God myself- certainly not. But it was most similar to what Buddhists call Nirvana, or Hindus call Moksha. Moksha is perhaps more appropriate- one professor of mine explained it: like a drop of water returning to the ocean, the soul returns and joins with God. It was becoming a pure energy existing in an eternal moment- no more memory, no more self, but yet a certain energy that I knew was a completely unique creation of God, existing in a state of constantly glorifying God with all the other unique energy creations, creating an illusion of place and beauty, with God as the Presence in our unified Song.
I'm sure all that sounds crazy, especially for a follower of Jesus, but it's the best idea I have so far to account for the various ways I've experience God and heaven, and what seem to be memories of being alive before. It can be really confusing to me to sort out my visions and experiences of God and what seem to be vague recollections- are they memories or messages? Past, present (seems like an odd idea, but possible that everything is only in the present), or future? Heaven or another reality- or is what people call heaven the other reality? Always interesting and exciting, never simple.
Of course, I'm always up for revision with new information or God's guidance! I'm quite sure that I'm way off on certain things, seeing how mysterious it is.
