For DIANAIGB- In all compassion and honesty, if you really want an answer, see a therapist.
I really believe you might find some peace through talking this through. Good luck.

Bottom line: I'd rather believe in God and find out He doesn't exist, then not believe and find out that He DOES. My picture, if you will, of God isn't of some bearded white man sitting on a throne. My picture is of a white light so powerful and intense that if we saw it as humans, it may shatter us. Moses got to see him and that experience forever changed his life.

I buried my only child, a daughter, 15 years ago. Yes, I'd rather have her here with me, that's the self-centered part of being human. But I know she's in a better place and healthy; her work here was done. I buried my beloved husband just six years ago and I know he, too, is in a better place and healthy again and is with our daughter. I will join them one day when my work here is done, too.

And if you think all the souls in heaven sit around worshiping and praising God, then you are totally deluded. The souls have work to do THERE, and best of all, they get to CHOOSE what work they do.

Yes, I have faith, though it has been sorely rocked at times. Lest you think I'm a senior citizen, I'll let you in on a secret...I'm only 46.

It is terrible when a parent loses a child.

Good post Sammbritt. I once was in a car for a 4 hour trip with a Roman Catholic and a Muslim. Both were very devout and pious and believed without a doubt they were correct. In fact, they had proof, the feeling in their heart that they were correct. I said that is great, I don't have a religion; I want to be faithful as well. However, you both have equal conviction that you are correct, and if I am choosing a religion, I don't want to choose the wrong one. So each of you tell me why yours is the correct religion. Unfortunately, there was no "Speaking in Tongues" episode. That is the same thing with this authors first "proof," it is still a "this is my explanation and you can't disprove it so it is true" case. He didn't disprove Dawkins explanation so that must be true. Believable plausibility is not proof.

So, I am still waiting for someone to show me the correct religion.

'Life after death' is the ultijmate oxymoron. At what poing along the evolutionary chain did our ancestors win 'life after death?' In Lucy's day? homo erectus? even earlier? Or do all beings live after death? Cocikroaches included? How about plants? (Aren't they God's creatures, too?) And what about inequalities? Are conjoined twins conjoined in the afterlife? Are pathetic humans born without a brain stem zombies in the afterlife as well? Or are we all equal, knowing as much as every other dead-but-living again person (in which case personal 'life after death' does not exist)?

Actually sambrit, evolution does not account for the moral sense. Moral sense is not synonymous with cooperation. Even criminals cooperate with each other in crime

There is absolutely no such thing as life after death. The bible says that "the dead are conscious of NOTHING" Once somebody is dead, they don't hear, see, taste, touch, move, breathe, or anything. It's amazing that people believe such a lie. The devil and his demons sway people to believe life after death, as well as other things are true when they are at their lowest point. It's obvious if somebody is dead or alive.....

There is absolutely no such thing as life after death. The bible says that "the dead are conscious of NOTHING" Once somebody is dead, they don't hear, see, taste, touch, move, breathe, or anything. It's amazing that people believe such a lie. The devil and his demons sway people to believe life after death, as well as other things are true when they are at their lowest point. It's obvious if somebody is dead or alive.....

All you that post your thoughts on this subject should may be just look at it this way, you know like a gambler at a craps table. There is a 50/50 chance you could be right or wrong, and for those that are "all in" on the.... no life after death camp....OR the no "Heaven or Hell" camp.... Well I shure hope you can "LIVE" with your choices..... becuase if your wrong..... Oooooh Boy!

Wether its true or not, how can I can explain being visited by a husband of a friend, he told me he was no longer living on this earth. I immediately called my friend who said her husband had been missing and did not come home that night. 11 days later they found his body. So how do you explain that away?

Many religions, indeed many who are spiritual but not religious, believe in the existence of consciousness beyond the physical. It is not just a fundamentalist Christian or conservative thing as some argue out of pride or ignorance. Modern physics is beginning to understand that the energy of consciousness permeates the Universe and that, indeed, God and the Universe are One.

how do you know they're not more arrogant in the belief that god is on their side, you're with us or against us, and such similar tripe?

Well put!!!

GOD LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT:)
just have FAITH!!

This speaks to the human experience so quietly, yet so powerfully: "I would gladly trade my prospects for Eternity for the chance to hug him one more time." Try to remember that the consolation of religion, that both you and C.S.Lewis dismiss somewhat, is that you may one day have the chance to do that.