At the end of the day
It all boils down to fear. They're all preaching to us, different things, because they know we all fear one big thing: DEATH.
The problem is no one who is living knows about death, save for those who have so-called experienced 'out of body' experiences, and come back living to tell the story. The irony of it is, no one's word is against theirs because we didn't see, and they so called see.
And then we say, 'Wah that person, almost died, but didn't so he came back and tell this this this, and because he has seen this this this, of course what he says is true, really really… true one.'
So we have another flock of born-again believers, whatever the religion is.
Yet we fail to recognize this one thing, those who almost died, they didn't really die. They didn't, they lived, to tell their tale, and one thing I can bet you, they DO have a fighting spirit. So strong were their minds in action that they were able to piece together visions BASED on their very own strong beliefs… so the staunch Taoist would have seen a vision of the a revelled deity, and the staunch Christian might have seen a passage leading to light while the other end of the universe begs him to come back to earth and live again.
They didn't die.
But my point is, who else have you seen resurrected?
Jesus Christ was resurrected.
Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment, Buddhists call this the achievement of final nirvana.
But we don't know whether this is true or not, because everything else happened so long ago.
So where is the basis of religion?
Kalau bukan takut mati, what else?
So you scared to die or not? You scared die adi you dunno where to go right? I tell you, very easy one, believe in Him, you will be by his side and you will achieve Eternal Life. Trust me.
You scared to die ah? Why? Because you do so many bad things right? But never mind, you do bad things now, later when you reborn, you suffer another 100 years lor. SO HOW? I teach you, you sit there and meditate (btw, if you really sat from day to night meditating, no way you'll find time to go and steal or rob or rape, go figure).
So? How? Scared leh. Never mind, this week, go and pray, pray already, you will feel MUCH MUCH BETTER.
Amen. Gate gate paragate parasamgate.
Whatever.
May 19th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
I hit my head once, passed out, and apparently stopped breathing for a while (according to a teacher who saw the incident).
How come I didn’t see any paradise or whatchamallit during that short moment? Hmm.
May 19th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
How about they say about those who saw white light in near-death experiences? Issit true, or are they just making it up???
May 19th, 2005 at 10:59 pm
I think there’s a scientific explanation for that. Something to do with the brain … google for it then
May 20th, 2005 at 12:12 am
okay, i have to confess something. sorry, it was me, i was holding a flashlight and flashed it right in front of your faces when you thought you were dying. that’s the white light everyone were talking about. i’m just too free, and i wander around looking to hold the bloody flashlight right in front of your faces when you’re unconscious.
yandao, what do you mean when you didn’t see anything? damn, i must’ve missed one…
now, back to the point. i agree that it all boils down to fear itself. when you’re dead, you’re dead lah. what’s with all the fuss? whether you go to hell or heaven or reincarnated or just simply become an undead zombie does it really matter by then? i mean, you’re already dead for god’s sake! as long as you lived a truthful life, there’s nothing to be afraid of. except clowns maybe.
May 21st, 2005 at 8:46 am
i was, too, in a worryingly (maybe not for your case) tumultous philosophical phase not too long ago. and all i can say is, the deeper you go, especially if you’re not pinned down on a certain faith, the more you’re mindf**ked.
religion and the study of it is truly astonishingly interesting, but there’s a reason why science progressed much further than religion - with religion we can never reach a conclusion. not in this lifetime anyway.
there was a time i sometimes wished i was from a strong unshakeable religious background when i couldn’t stand the theological warfare in my head anymore. but i’m thankful i don’t now. we all need a phase like this, several perhaps, to adjust to life’s changes. and we need to make our own decisions.
i once went for one talk when AIESEC Uk had hired this fantastic speaker. and there was one thing he said which would forever alter the way i think. “Perception is the reality of those who perceive it.”