the afterlife, near-death experiences, reincarnation, etc.

JLN, It's the first time I've seen "speculative frenzy," but I like it! I could have used that in many of my writings if only I've known of its existence. I do that all the time; speculative frenzy. I'll have to remember that. c.i.

marking

I can tell you all that there is afterlife in heaven because God took my soul there to show me for myself. Most of you won't believe me, and I wouldn't believe it if someone told me so I don't blame those who don't. God is real, heaven is real, and life is wonderful! It was not a near death experience that brought me to see heaven, it was right after I had my epiphany. God came down in the form of an electric-like energy and entered my body, showing heaven to my soul. The feeling of universal love, everlasting bliss, and learning that all souls become one in heaven is so undescribable.

I was not very religious before this happened to me but you bet I am a believer now. I am not just a believer, I KNOW! Have faith everybody. It is so real and so powerful. Some very lucky people like me are privilaged to find out during life. Believe it because it is true! We are all one, that is the message I was left with. Reincarnation is real too. Google "James3" and reincarnation and study his story. That was was the final piece convincing me of God, our higher power, leading me to my epiphany and my incredible journey to heaven!!!

If heaven is real, how come nobody sins in heaven? Is your freedom of choice taken away?

No, there's no J Goldman.

The Bible contains parts which:

• I could not defend in any sort of a debate (virgin birth, "book of revelations" etc.)
  
• I could defend the basic story but not the religious interpretation (the flood, the plagues of Egypt, the tower of Babel etc.) In those cases you need to separate the story from the interpretation.
  
• Stories which are totally alien to our own experience but which I could nonetheless defend.
  

Being heard from after death falls into that last category. There are three such stories in the Bible which stand out i.e. the ghost story involving Saul, Samuel, and the "Witch of Endor", the tale of Lazarus, and the tale of Jesus' own Resurrection. All of those stories are totally ballpark for the phenomenon which Julian Jaynes describes in "Origin of Consciousness".

In other words, there is no way in which Jesus returned in a real, physical body but, to those who experienced the thing, it was utterly indistinguishable from that.