For the Religious - How Would You Answer?

[Forever Atlas]

I was just reading over a Christian based article that was answering a few questions that are common to many people today. What it made me want to do is see how other people (that are religious) would answer the same questions.

The questions featured were as follows:

-Does God really care about us?

-Will war and suffering ever end?

-What happens to us when we die?

-Is there any hope for the dead?

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

-How can I find happiness in life?



Now that particular article had it's own answers for those questions. What I wanted to know is, based on your personal religious beliefs, what would be your answer to those questions and why?

(FYI- I am thinking about coming up with a series of questions in the future that I would like to see what other religions [or people with spiritual/religious beliefs even if not belonging to a particular religion] or people even of the same religions believe the answers to be. I think it would be interesting to see.)

Edit: Since I already quoted most of it I'll just post a link to the article here - Would You Like to Know the Truth?

[Shade737]

-Does God really care about us?

Hard to say actually, but I would settle for a yes if you return the care.

-Will war and suffering ever end?

I believe that it might, but its so far off its not even funny.

-What happens to us when we die?

Heaven or eternal separation from God.

-Is there any hope for the dead?

Not sure

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

Keep your wants and needs in check and know the difference between the two and whats what.

-How can I find happiness in life?

Makes the best of whatever bad situation you end up in because true happiness is impossible to find at this point.

[Forever Atlas]

Originally Posted by Shade737

-Does God really care about us?

Hard to say actually, but I would settle for a yes if you return the care.

-Will war and suffering ever end?

I believe that it might, but its so far off its not even funny.

-What happens to us when we die?

Heaven or eternal separation from God.

-Is there any hope for the dead?

Not sure

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

Keep your wants and needs in check and know the difference between the two and whats what.

-How can I find happiness in life?

Makes the best of whatever bad situation you end up in because true happiness is impossible to find at this point.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by the bolded section? Just curious.

[Sora RE+Mixed]

Originally Posted by Forever Atlas

I was just reading over a Christian based article that was answering a few questions that are common to many people today. What it made me want to do is see how other people (that are religious) would answer the same questions.

The questions featured were as follows:

-Does God really care about us?

-Will war and suffering ever end?

-What happens to us when we die?

-Is there any hope for the dead?

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

-How can I find happiness in life?



Now that particular article had it's own answers for those questions. What I wanted to know is, based on your personal religious beliefs, what would be your answer to those questions and why?

(FYI- I am thinking about coming up with a series of questions in the future that I would like to see what other religions [or people with spiritual/religious beliefs even if not belonging to a particular religion] or people even of the same religions believe the answers to be. I think it would be interesting to see.)

Does god really care about u-Yes, otherwise we'd all be dead

Will war and suffering ever end-Nope

What Happens to us when we die-"Our life is made by the death of others" Leonardo DaVinci: so when we die life is recreated..or idk

How can I pray and be heard by god-Any way you want as long as you mean it

How can i find happiness in life- A cold drink, a video game, and a hot chick

[Shade737]

Originally Posted by Forever Atlas

Could you elaborate on what you mean by the bolded section? Just curious.

I'm not too sure about Hell being about Fire and Brimstone so I just settled with eternal separation from God since whatever happens you will be separated from God if you are a sinner/not forgiven etc. and die.

[Forever Atlas]

Originally Posted by Shade737

I'm not too sure about Hell being about Fire and Brimstone so I just settled with eternal separation from God since whatever happens you will be separated from God if you are a sinner/not forgiven etc. and die.

Okay, that's what I assumed you meant, just wanted to be sure.

[Candy Man]

Originally Posted by Forever Atlas

-Does God really care about us?

-Will war and suffering ever end?

-What happens to us when we die?

-Is there any hope for the dead?

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

-How can I find happiness in life?

Yes.

It'll take a while.

Eternal Life or Eternal Death, Hell being the latter.

Yes the first one.

If you're trying you are.

Find your purpose in life.

[Boukyaku]

-Does God really care about us?
Yes; the fact we are here today is a testament to that.
-Will war and suffering ever end?
In this world, probably not.
-What happens to us when we die?
That depends on what you believe. If you believe Jesus came to Earth, died on the cross and rose again to pay for your sins, then you will spend eternity with God. If you do not believe or repent for your sins, you will be seperated from Him forever.
-Is there any hope for the dead?
I'm not quite sure I understand what this question is trying to get at.
-How can I pray and be heard by God?
God knows everything about you. Your past, your future, the amount of hairs on your head, everything. Surely He would know if you were trying to talk to Him as well. It is also the connection formed with the Holy Spirit that becomes a part of you when you repent for your sins and confess that Jesus is Lord, I would think.
I remember my mother telling me a while back about something in a news article about doctors who had set up sensors to read radio waves (or something of the sort) near a dying woman's bed. She began to pray, and the sensor's read spiked. It had the power to broadcast a radio signal for a great distance.
-How can I find happiness in life?
Temporary happiness is found in the things on Earth that we enjoy. True and eternal happiness is found by doing good in the Lord's eyes. Not so much working for charities and things like that, but spending time with God and sharing Him with others.

I was raised Christian, and those are my beliefs.

[Yeshallbeasgods]

My answers differ a bit since I'm not Christian but since you didn't really specify a religion I'll offer my answers.

-Does God really care about us?

Yes, else we wouldn't exist as we do as free beings.


-Will war and suffering ever end?

It will, it all depends on us in the end. The end is never given to us straight out but we have to work at it ourselves.


-What happens to us when we die?

We go to the Summerland to await our next life and see our loved ones before we move on again.


-Is there any hope for the dead?

Yes, everyone ends up in the same place I believe.


-How can I pray and be heard by God?

Believe in yourself and (in my case) in the Goddess.

-How can I find happiness in life?

Make the most of everything, try not to regret past mistakes but make up for them in a way that brings you peace. Don't think about what won't happen because of a decision, think of what will happen.

[Ordeith]

-Does God really care about us?

Hm, well, He has for centuries shown a deep care in us, or the Israelites, at least, as can be seen through the Bible. I believe that the Lord still does care deeply of the fate of the human race, but in the recent millennia has acted less so than in the past because He desires to know if we truly deserve heavenly paradise, or even care about what becomes of humanity.

-Will war and suffering ever end?

Without direct divine intervention, then the answer is most likely "no".
Humanity will forever be divided due to our own lust for power, money, and the things of this earth to cease conflict amongst ourselves.
We cannot cease to as we are too afraid to prioritize what truly matters-the uncertain-over what we know is certain, ie. money, power, and land.

-What happens to us when we die?

A spiritual afterlife achieved in accordance to how we have conducted our lives, in other words, heaven or hell, I would assume.
But, how can anybody be certain? We only have science, something very limited in comparison to religion, as a definite rock to stand upon; there is always a reasonable amount of doubt.

-Is there any hope for the dead?

Hope? By what exactly do you mean by "hope"?
In my opinion, we'll either thrive in heaven, toil in hell, or in the end prove to be incorrect altogether and rot as corpses in the ground when we die; there isn't any hope or dread to it, merely simple fact.

-How can I pray and be heard by God?

Well, when one prays, the Lord naturally listens; there wouldn't be a great deal of reason behind prayer otherwise.
Prayer is able to take any form conceivable, so long as it conveys a message to the Lord.
Formal prayer, improvisational prayer, meditation, Tai Chi, etc.

-How can I find happiness in life?

I find happiness by savoring every speck of enjoyment I can find, and searching for it in all that I do.
To know that one has left a positive and lasting impact somewhere or upon someone helps, as well.

[UsagiOkami]

I'm answering from the point of a Hindu.

-Does God really care about us?
Yes God does care about us, people just need to have faith that all will work for the best.

-Will war and suffering ever end?
Yes, all suffering and wars will end when all on Earth reach Molksha, or enlightenment. Hinduism states that when all have reached Molksha that there will be no more suffering in the world only peace.

-What happens to us when we die?
When we die we are reborn into a different form or body and will continue to do so until we have learned all we need to in our lives and have reached enlightenment.

-Is there any hope for the dead?
The dead always have hope for they know that they will always be reborn and have the chance to learn from the mistakes of their past lives.

-How can I pray and be heard by God?
All you must do is pray and God will hear you, he is within us all so he is always close at heart.

-How can I find happiness in life?
By always following the path on nirvana which states that you should do no harm in any matter and live your life fulfilling all of your dharmas.

[Nevermore]

I'll be brief. I'll elaborate as you ask.

Does God really care about us?

Yes. While some could say that because not everyone is relieved of suffering, that he doesn't care. However, suffering isn't a sign that someone doesn't care. It's proof of an existing problem. Besides, the fact that unexplainable miracles (and I'm talking about huge things, like not dying from an insane car crash, or an otherwise fatal injury) do occur leads me to believe that He does care. If God were hateful or apathetic, miracles wouldn't happen at all.

Will war and suffering ever end?

I believe that it will during the God's reign on Earth. Before that? No, it won't.

What happens to us when we die?

I believe that we spend eternity in either heaven or "hell" (I don't particularly mind what you take that term to mean).

Is there any hope for the dead?

What do you mean? I don't quite understand the question. Do you mean is there hope for those that die? If so, then yes. If not, then I'm not sure what the question is asking.

How can I pray and be heard by God?

Simply by talking to God. He hears everything we say and think anyway, so it isn't like we're keeping secrets from him. Praying simply involves talking to God (either mentally or verbally). It's my experience that it's best to do in private, often referred to as "quiet time".

How can I find happiness in life?

Happiness? It's a fleeting emotion. You'll be happy if one desire is fulfilled, but you will be unhappy once another desire comes up. The best that humans can do is be content. This is simply choosing to be satisfied with what you already have (you can still want things, but it's not a huge focus when you are content).

[Aucune Raison]

All these answers really make me cringe.

[Nevermore]

Originally Posted by Ragione

All these answers really make me cringe.

Then would you care to answer the questions as well?

[Angel]

Originally Posted by Raven

Then would you care to answer the questions as well?

his answers wouldn't meet the status quo of this thread though. which is why i won't bother either. your incessant agreement with everyone's answers can continue now.