GOING BEYOND CONVENTIONAL BELIEFS
Having been brought up in a baptist family with the belief that Christians go to heaven and non-believers go to hell, I have often pondered the depth of my beliefs.
Do I have the courage to explore beyond the boundaries of what I have been taught?
One thing I know for sure is that baptists, evangelicals, and many other non-Catholic Christian churches tend to avoid discussing anything beyond a person’s death, focusing instead on the anticipation of the end times.
I’m uncertain whether this avoidance stems from fear of the unknown or a belief that delving into the spiritual realm is sinful.
Fear is a learned behaviour.
As babies, we are fearless of what we can see or feel.
I have engaged in conversations with devout Christians from non-Catholic churches about the afterlife. They have chosen not to comment, instead giving me the expected answer that they have been taught.
It’s important to note that not all devout Christians rely solely on what they learnt in church. I know some who have had experiences with the spiritual realm and choose not to fear them.
This blog is not intended to ridicule or undermine anyone’s faith or belief in God, as I have faith too. It is simply a blog to explore and question the other side.
I believe in God, follow the commandments, and pray daily.
As you may have noticed, I did not use the words "him" or "his" because I view God as a divine spirit, not a human being.
When I mentioned ‘what they learned’ in church, it’s because I was raised on the Bible and learned a lot that enabled me to answer all the questions I was asked.
Walking by faith is not just about what you learn but also about what you believe in and how you apply it to your life.
I have always been intrigued by the supernatural, as I believe there is a thin veil separating this world from the next.
I have had experiences in my own home that are unexplainable, which has led me to believe in the existence of things beyond the norm. I don’t necessarily think my home is haunted, but I feel a connection to phenomena outside of the ordinary.
Living near a cemetery, I believe that spirits may pass through perhaps searching for something or someone before moving on.
I also believe in earthbound spirits, those that are stuck because they have not crossed over to the light. Some may linger due to unfinished business, while others may be attached to someone or something.
Depending on the circumstances of their death, some spirits may not realise they have passed on and may need assistance to move on to the next realm.
I believe that I can still communicate with my Father as a spirit, but I have been told that this belief is foolish and that he is in heaven and unable to acknowledge me.
However, there are times when I can feel his presence, and in those moments, I feel safe and comforted.
Who is to say that this connection is not possible if others have not experienced it themselves? Perhaps they are simply afraid or closed off to the idea.
It is instinctual to have faith in the tangible, while skepticism often arises towards the intangible.
In many cultures and countries, death is not seen as the final destination, and the belief is that the spirit continues to live on in some other form.
Some may argue that people hold onto these beliefs to comfort themselves or to maintain hope that they will never truly cease to exist.
Ghosts, ghouls, spirits, phantoms, or whatever term you prefer, are often portrayed as malevolent beings that we should fear. However, we also have angels in the form of people on Earth who provide help and support when needed.
Yes, the Bible does indeed discuss spiritual warfare, including the roles of angels and demons in the battle between good and evil. These spiritual beings are believed to play a significant role in the cosmic struggle for the souls of humanity.
There are individuals known as mediums, demonologists, and seers who are believed to have heightened sensitivity to the spiritual world and are able to communicate with spirits or perceive supernatural phenomena. It is not uncommon to encounter people who are more attuned to these realms and have experiences that others may not understand.
Just because someone possesses a certain power or ability, it does not automatically make them evil.
It is only when they choose to use that power for malicious intent that they may be considered wicked.
I steer clear of things I don’t comprehend, such as Ouija boards and other occult practices, but I find pleasure in delving into the realm of psychic studies.
In my research I found this information.
In the realm of astronomy, dark matter is a mysterious type of matter that seems to exist without any interaction with light or the electromagnetic spectrum. The presence of dark matter is suggested by gravitational forces that defy explanation through general relativity, indicating the existence of unseen matter in the universe.
According to the standard lambda-CDM model of cosmology, the universe’s mass-energy makeup consists of 5% ordinary matter, 26.8% dark matter, and 68.2% dark energy. This means that dark matter makes up 85% of the total mass, with dark energy and dark matter together accounting for 95% of the total mass-energy content.
How can I confidently claim that death is the ultimate end when I lack understanding of the mysterious 85% of dark matter? I remain open-minded to suggestions and acknowledge the need to delve deeper into this subject through further study.
The true nature of existence remains a mystery, and we may never fully comprehend the depths of what lies beyond our perception.
Our limited understanding of the world around us often keeps us from delving deeper into the unknown. It is essential to maintain an open mind and challenge the boundaries of our knowledge, as we are capable of so much more than we realise.
Natalie M Bleau
