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Does God judge our experiences here - to decide on our next life?

In my views between lives I have not gotten a sense of judgment from anyone except myself. I have felt compassion and sympathy from others, but not judgment.


As for our next lifetime, I believe we choose the life which enables our greatest opportunities to fulfill the experiences we desire. The course our last life took may very well provide grist for our next life decision, though the next life may provide instead an opportunity to deal with a matter from a previous lifetime from farther back than just the last one.
 
In my humble opinion, there is no single entity in charge except the collective consciousness of which we are all a part. I do believe that our individual choices between lives belong to us, and that the decisions we make are with the loving assistance of those closest to us. Our access to knowledge there is much greater than on earth, which lends a degree of determinism to life on this side. However, free-will is always behind everything.
 
The idea that we create our own reality is a relatively new one for me, but I am beginning to understand the power of that concept. I believe free will was an element in the teachings of Christ. He didn't bring people to his side at sword-point - they followed him because of love. Of course, free will hasn't been quite so highly valued by subsequent, and less enlightened, purveyors of religion. "As it is above, so below". Probably a "mangled" quotation on my part, but it makes the point that there are parallels between our experiences here, and those we have on the "other side". If we choose our actions in life, we probably had input into the circumstances of the life we would be living. Modern thought has evolved away from a harsh, judgmental God to a loving creator. Perhaps, we would choose more difficult life paths for ourselves than would be chosen for us.
 
I can only speak from my experience and what I have read. I have always believed, and my father has told me, that once we pass we go through a life review where we witness all that we have done and we view it from the viewpoint of the other person, feeling their feelings on the matter, etc.


Dad was back in the house 5.5 hours after he passed cracking jokes. Knowing how he lived his life, his review went well and he was feeling quite loved and appreciated, something he did not always have in life.
 
It's all opinion, so I can't be sure. I want to believe in a judgmental God so I can have faith in Him, but the faith part is difficult.
 
I don't think that God (however you conceive her) is micromanaging people's lives, present, past or future, let alone judging them for what they do from one life to the next.


In my view the way 'karma' works is not a matter of tit-for-tat retribution for 'bad' deeds, and reward for 'good' ones. It's not a crime and punishment model, or anything like that. The way I see it evolution of the spirit (and human society), just as evolution of the physical body, is a long slow process of learning from our mistakes, trial and error, backward, forewards and sideways steps.


I see all this as a perfectly natural process, no detailed input from any deities is necessarily required to make it work.
 
I think he does because of past lifes screwed up.


. And present one I not to found of.


To explain more lets say I did something


that goes againest god law. In my past lifes.


I always felt why I am here.? and why am I here again.:grr:


I don't really perscribe to notion each life


is a learning experience . Well I have'nt really


learned anything. It may sound bitter


It's just I way feel.
 
shadowsofmypast said:
I don't really subscribe to the notion each life is a learning experience. Well, I haven't really
learned anything. It may sound bitter. It's just the way I feel.
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You just THINK you haven't learned anything. It doesn't matter. There is no time limit. However many lives it takes. Eventually you WILL learn and move forward.
 
In my opinion, no, 'God' does not judge us.


It is my belief that 'God' is the Universe, and the Universe is 'God', that Nature and Divinity are one and the same. Considering the size and scale of the Universe, and all the processes and actions happening within it at any one moment, ultimately the Universe probably doesn't give a flying fig what I do with my life, BUT I care what I do and how I interact with others, so ultimately, the only one to judge my life is myself. We are our own harshest critics, and therefore the ones best able to judge our own lives, in life and the times in between when we return to the place where dis-incarnate souls reside (where-ever that may be).


However, I would also say that waiting until after death to decide if you lived a good life or not is leaving it a little late, reincarnation or not!
 
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Helz, you made me smile! I agree that waiting until we die might be leaving it a little late. I for one, would rather not take the chance. I, too, think that each soul does it's own life review, and I am truly not looking forward to watching the "BriarRose Story" unfold. typing Maybe, if we are self-analytical enough on earth, we can watch the abridged version? cover face
 
argonne1918 said:
You just THINK you haven't learned anything. It doesn't matter. There is no time limit. However many lives it takes. Eventually you WILL learn and move forward.
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Personally in a wishful sense I wish could go back.


There alot people I met over years have same


problem as some us do .


More young people it's kinda sad.


Like a friend I have. Grandson he's really into world war 2 airplanes. Books everything. light went off in my


head when I heard that.


I guess the term is old soul, so many now. :(
 
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It's normal to feel a certain nostalgia for the past, but just as in real life, it's not always productive to dwell on it too much or get maudlin about it for too long. The important thing is 'what's next'?


Just as in real life, if you have an idea what you want to do next, things have a way of presenting themselves that will allow you to do that, either sooner or later. You might only recognise those moments in retrospect, or you might know exactly what you're doing every step of the way. People are all a little bit different, and I don't like rules much, but I think it works 'between lives' in much the same way as it does in this one...


1. Live.


2. Extract the lesson (meaning) from the experience.


3. Put it in your mental 'scrap book' for possible future reference.


4. Respect it.


5. Thank it.


6. Forgive it.


7. Decide what you want to do from now on.... (repeat)


:laugh:
 
helz_belz said:
In my opinion, no, 'God' does not judge us.
It is my belief that 'God' is the Universe, and the Universe is 'God', that Nature and Divinity are one and the same. Considering the size and scale of the Universe, and all the processes and actions happening within it at any one moment, ultimately the Universe probably doesn't give a flying fig what I do with my life, BUT I care what I do and how I interact with others, so ultimately, the only one to judge my life is myself. We are our own harshest critics, and therefore the ones best able to judge our own lives, in life and the times in between when we return to the place where dis-incarnate souls reside (where-ever that may be).


However, I would also say that waiting until after death to decide if you lived a good life or not is leaving it a little late, reincarnation or not!
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This is a very good answer. Well put.
 
I think we all feel that from time to time - he made us, then moved on to the next challenge. I think we are not alone, even if that is true. We have guides, angels, and other people in our soul groups. Maybe, what goes wrong in life is that we forget to reach out to each other.
 
I used to think that there was hope as long as we were still breathing, and there is - but, now I think that when we are really hopeful is when we are in the "bardo", and a beautiful, new incarnation full of possibilities stretches in front of us. That's when we are so optimistic that we pick lives full of difficult challenges.
 
Lol true, but we have miny moments of bardo within these lives we live. And during those moments is when we are able to recognize the miracles the most, if we add faith to the hope. <3


G0d didn't leave us at all imo, He just is waiting for us to recognize Him...But that's just my personal feeling. My life is full of every day miracles because I need them and believe in them. <3
 
smac2012 said:
According to more and more people whom had clear EVPs, God is not an entity, not a him, not a spirit, but the sum of everything. The complete Source of everything. You are a spiritual being and are part of the Source. That is, everyone is part of the source. See http://survivalhumanconsciousness.blogspot.ca/#!/2013/07/backwards-returning-to-our-source-for.html.
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I agree with this. If people feel disconnected from 'God' (however you conceive her) they need to in some way connect with their own souls more deeply. They need to stop rushing about looking for solutions outside themselves, someone to 'save' them or in any other way tell them what to do. 'God' is always all around us. We are swimming in God. We are part of God. God is part of us.
 
tanguerra said:
I agree with this. If people feel disconnected from 'God' (however you conceive her) they need to in some way connect with their own souls more deeply. They need to stop rushing about looking for solutions outside themselves, someone to 'save' them or in any other way tell them what to do. 'God' is always all around us. We are swimming in God. We are part of God. God is part of us.
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I agree. I don't think "God" is "outside" of us, or an entity that sits in a chair in the sky listening and granting requests. I see the divine rather as an energy source, the energy of life, and within all of us and everything.
 
I sure hope not!


In all seriousness though I don't really believe in 'God' in the traditional sense - or at least I don't follow him nor listen to his dictates if he does exist. I have a different faith entirely. And even without that I do not prescribe to the idea of any entity who makes it their purpose to look over my deeds like a cosmic teacher grading my lifes work.


If the point of multiple reincarnations ( in theory ) is to learn an ultimate lesson or strive for an ultimate truth; then I suppose an entity who exists to check in on your progress would make sense - if the point is getting you to learn a lesson from the outside in. But to learn from the inside out you have to be your own judge. It prolongs the process yes, but the lessons stand far more firm when put to the test that way and they become part of you instead of 'something you picked up.' or do simply because it's the 'right answer'.


And in this same vein, supposing there is an 'Almighty Judge' - how would the life you're living now determine the next? I don't put much stock in the old; "X was evil so they get reincarnated as a bug." jibberish. After all, what point would that serve? Just having you learn a whole lot of nothing? Or in that case does this 'Judge' punish you with a bad reincarnation if you do something they consider to be wrong? What if you merely offend them by being sacriligious; then do you end up reincarnated as someone in a terrible situation? That opens up a whole new horrible can of worms with the possibility that people who end up reincarnated in bad situations somehow deserve it. Isn't that where some countries are now? That doesn't seem at all ethical.


In short, no. I don't think there is a cosmic judge. Or at the very least I sincerely hope not!!
 
Hirsch said:
I sure hope not!
In all seriousness though I don't really believe in 'God' in the traditional sense - or at least I don't follow him nor listen to his dictates if he does exist. I have a different faith entirely. And even without that I do not prescribe to the idea of any entity who makes it their purpose to look over my deeds like a cosmic teacher grading my lifes work.


If the point of multiple reincarnations ( in theory ) is to learn an ultimate lesson or strive for an ultimate truth; then I suppose an entity who exists to check in on your progress would make sense - if the point is getting you to learn a lesson from the outside in. But to learn from the inside out you have to be your own judge. It prolongs the process yes, but the lessons stand far more firm when put to the test that way and they become part of you instead of 'something you picked up.' or do simply because it's the 'right answer'.


And in this same vein, supposing there is an 'Almighty Judge' - how would the life you're living now determine the next? I don't put much stock in the old; "X was evil so they get reincarnated as a bug." jibberish. After all, what point would that serve? Just having you learn a whole lot of nothing? Or in that case does this 'Judge' punish you with a bad reincarnation if you do something they consider to be wrong? What if you merely offend them by being sacriligious; then do you end up reincarnated as someone in a terrible situation? That opens up a whole new horrible can of worms with the possibility that people who end up reincarnated in bad situations somehow deserve it. Isn't that where some countries are now? That doesn't seem at all ethical.


In short, no. I don't think there is a cosmic judge. Or at the very least I sincerely hope not!!
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Enjoyed how you put it! Agree!
 
Hirsch's post about being your own internal judge links nicely with Tanguerra's statement that God is everywhere, in everything. We struggle with the concept of God, because there are no words to describe the Divine energy source adequately. When we use the term "God", the "old man with a long beard" image comes to mind. That isn't really what we are trying to describe - but one simplistic word can't contain all our ideas of what really constitutes the force that creates, and drives the universe.
 
BriarRose said:
Hirsch's post about being your own internal judge links nicely with Tanguerra's statement that God is everywhere, in everything. We struggle with the concept of God, because there are no words to describe the Divine energy source adequately. When we use the term "God", the "old man with a long beard" image comes to mind. That isn't really what we are trying to describe - but one simplistic word can't contain all our ideas of what really constitutes the force that creates, and drives the universe.
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We can not comprehend that which can't be comprehended-no matter how hard we try. Which means ultimately we need to find what works for us and helps us to understand- even if it is a lack of faith. Everyone comprehends differently and we can't force how we perceive onto others, otherwise their perceptions can be "false"-but then again it may be how they're supposed to "see" it. Basically- live and let live. To each their own.
 
I agree, Widmo. Faith is not necessary for everyone. There is plenty of room for the whole spectrum of belief systems, from atheist to agnostic, to devout. The most damage in the course of human history seems to have been inflicted by the zealot, not the "unbeliever". In my opinion, a lot of harm has been done by those who profess faith, but inwardly have nothing but selfish motivations, and no faith at all.
 
BriarRose said:
I agree Widmo. Faith is not necessary for everyone. There is plenty of room for the whole spectrum of belief systems, from atheist to agnostic, to devout. The most damage in the course of human history seems to have been inflicted by the zealot, not the "unbeliever". In my opinion, a lot of harm has been done by those who profess faith, but inwardly have nothing but selfish motivations, and no faith at all.
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Very true. I've seen the destruction this has left. The saddest part is almost all of it is out of fear. The fear of the unknown. What reincarnation helps with is that while a lot is unknown, it gives us an assemblance of a "known." People fear that which they do not understand or know- so they act accordingly.
 
BriarRose said:
.... In my opinion, a lot of harm has been done by those who profess faith, but inwardly have nothing but selfish motivations, and no faith at all.
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I agree. In my view most of the world's conflicts are really about money. The people who are behind them use religion as an excuse to motivate people to fight on their side, but the root of the conflict is always about money (and the power it brings).


The crusades were about getting more lands for European nobles when they had run out of lands at home. The Spanish Inquisition was about seizing the wealth of the Jewish community who had loaned a lot of money to the aristocracy and the church who didn't want and couldn't afford to repay it. The English battles between Catholics and Protestants were about lands owned by the Church and the story goes on. The same is true with many of the conflicts going on in the world today which are largely about money from weapons sales, mineral resources and oil.


The religious aspect of these conflicts is just 'window dressing' to disguise the true motives of the main movers behind them. If people really knew what was going on they would throw down their weapons and go home to their loved ones. Twas ever thus.


Again I say, it's not 'God' (however you conceive her) creating all the world's problems, it's people behaving badly. 'God' can't stop it. Only people can.
 
Widmo said:
Very true. I've seen the destruction this has left. The saddest part is almost all of it is out of fear. The fear of the unknown. What reincarnation helps with is that while a lot is unknown, it gives us an assemblance of a "known." People fear that which they do not understand or know- so they act accordingly.
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I fully agree. If people understood that they are essentially 'immortal' it would change everything. There would be no need to fear death. There would be consequences for behaving destructively from one life to the next (you would have to come back and face your 'victims' and the damage you had done at some point). There would be time to devote to what you really wanted to do from one life to the next, whether it was perfecting the violin or practising medicine or whatever. There would be enormous psychological and mental health benefits if we understood that a lot of our fears and anxieties are past life related. The list of benefits goes on and on and on.


Buddhists understand this, as do Hindus, and you will find by and large they are far more peaceful, cheerful, contented and relaxed than the monotheists and materialists who think that there is only one life.
 
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