There’s a story to this print, but for now, look at the very last typed line: finding faith.
A physicist was recently quoted in a story whose premise was that the existence of an afterlife is “Impossible.” His proof of that was that “the laws of physics underlying everyday life are completely understood” and according to those laws an afterlife can not exist.
I had to laugh at his arrogance–and his stupidity. Scientists back in the day were also absolutely certain that the earth was flat. And that the sun revolved around the earth. Gotta love materialist scientists.
But it does raise the issue of “faith,” something I’ve been interested in for years. And knew little about. In fact, when people would talk about faith it puzzled me.
Although raised Catholic, the religion passed over me without touching me one way or another. I didn’t feel it in my bones or in my heart or even in my soul, whatever that was. And I certainly didn’t see the Bible as a set of literal stories. I saw it more like a collection of parables. Lessons.
Maybe it’s because I had a bent toward materialist science and wanted empirical proof of some kind. I wasn’t sure what that proof would look like; that part of it was vague. But the idea of faith fascinated me because so many claimed to have it.
“What IS faith?” I’d ask certain friends. “And how do I find it?”
I knew I wasn’t going to find it in organized religion. But I wasn’t sure how else to do it.
Then, my mother died and I set out on a journey to answer the question “where did she go?”
If we faded to nothing, well, it wasn’t logical: it didn’t make sense that the complexity of life on earth, our infrastructure, the way it all developed just disappeared. That we just disappeared. Even the big bang puzzled me–something had to start it. It couldn’t be simply spontaneous, from nothing. No, there was a lot we didn’t yet know. Couldn’t know. And wasn’t explained by current science.
I saw mediums, channelers and met scientists and doctors who studied afterlife issues. I met the famous Dr. Raymond Moody, who in 1975 started the public inquiry with his book Life After Life. I met Dr. Gary Schwartz, who put well-regarded mediums to scientific test and published several books on the subject. And stuff happened to me. My father appeared to me. My BFF made her presence known. I became a past life regressionist.
In the two decades since my mother’s death, I’ve learned that materialist science is not the god I thought it was. That there IS life after life. And while I can’t prove it to the satisfaction of physicists who are arrogant enough to think that the current state of science is all there is, I know it in my bones.
I didn’t find my faith in a church or a religion. But I found it.
This week I’m heading to an Afterlife Symposium where some of the best minds in the field will be speaking to some 500 of us. I’m bringing my goods and services to sell at a table that will be managed by a young woman who has helped me in the past, so I can attend all of the sessions. You might call it continuing education.
I admit that my path to faith has been an unorthodox one. But unlike material scientists who think they can explain everything, I have an open mind. Wide open.
After the symposium, I’ll report back some of the interesting things I learned.
I’d love to know about your own faith journey.
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I do not think about an afterlife, but I do have faith and pray to a higher power, whatever that is. I do not feel it has to be defined for me to believe, and to practice praying! It is more important to just take the action.
I really believe that atheism is just as much a religion as any other. All religions share one thing in common: they all think they’re the right one. Atheists are no different, really. It’s not a slam, it’s just an observation.
I WANT to believe that there is something bigger, something universal. Sometimes I get flashes of it. I know that faith means not having to be convinced…but still I am waiting I guess.
I am waiting for the signs, occasionally I get some clues but in general I never get a true sign of any afterlife. I would so much want to believe and I grew up very religious so I hope it is not a waste.
My grandfather scared me off religion when I was a small child. He was a Southern Baptist and whenever we went to church and they had ‘altar call’, which I didn’t understand at all, he would look at me and say, “You been saved girl?” I would shake my head yes with a vengeance. When I met my husband we went to his Episcopal church and it seemed so peaceful and civilized compared to what I grew up with. But, I still feel like I have my own inner faith that gets me through. I believe there is something bigger than all of us but, that something is benevolent and loving.
b
Hi Carol,
All of us are on a continuing journey. As they say, God isn’t finished with us yet. I’ve never gone to a medium. I fear I’d be scared or I would be skeptical. I am glad you found conviction.
Janice
I have a very strong faith and fully feel like there is a plan for me. I know where I came from, what my purpose is on earth and where I am going after this life. Not to say that it’s always easy, because certainly there are hardships and trials that we go through. But having the faith that I have definitely makes it easier to follow a path and keep my journey in perspective.
Faith is definitely something that we all need to find on our own terms. I spent a lot of years being lost and confused on where I stood because I had people telling me what to believe. When I took a step back and started to think for myself, I was more at peace with the faith that I have today.
Carol, when my brother and I sat by my mother’s bedside and witnessed her death–the words she said, her calmness, her honesty, the fact that she addressed her three dead siblings who we decided had come to get her–I believed. I still do. Beth
I am not someone you would call religious but I do believe in my Faith and we observe traditions as well. I think it was quite a journey for you but I am glad that you found your Faith, regardless if we’re the same or not.
It’s really cool that you’ll be exploring this even more at the symposium. It will be great to hear if you had any interesting discussions or learned anything.
I can’t wait to hear how the symposium went! I was also raised Catholic, but never “felt” it. Finding faith is something I still struggle with in adulthood so I am always interested in hearing so-called unorthodox paths from others.
Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Its a very spiritual thing people need to always see to believe it, but I treat faith like the wind. I dont need to see it to feel it!
I was “born” into my religion but my faith was made clear when I was 8 years old. I prayed ever so hard to God,tears and all, and asked for help. Soon as I opened my eyes, I received the miracle I was asking for. An experience I will never forget.
Wow, Carol. What a fascinating journey you’re on. I’ve also read several books on what happens after death and it sounds like something goes on, not necessarily as we limited humans know, but there’s something. I also question what came before the Big Bang? How can there ever be nothing?
I do not have a religion as I rejected it as the path for me a long time ago. But I do have faith and to me, that is all that matters, not organized religion. Organized religion tears us apart, faith brings us together.
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How fascinating Carol – I believe there is an afterlife and would be interested in reading about your symposium experience.
I am still not sure where I stand on all of it. I do believe there is another side after death, but we shall see someday I guess.
I do not think about an afterlife, but I do have faith and pray to a higher power, whatever that is. I do not feel it has to be defined for me to believe, and to practice praying! It is more important to just take the action.
I really believe that atheism is just as much a religion as any other. All religions share one thing in common: they all think they’re the right one. Atheists are no different, really. It’s not a slam, it’s just an observation.
I WANT to believe that there is something bigger, something universal. Sometimes I get flashes of it. I know that faith means not having to be convinced…but still I am waiting I guess.
I am waiting for the signs, occasionally I get some clues but in general I never get a true sign of any afterlife. I would so much want to believe and I grew up very religious so I hope it is not a waste.
My grandfather scared me off religion when I was a small child. He was a Southern Baptist and whenever we went to church and they had ‘altar call’, which I didn’t understand at all, he would look at me and say, “You been saved girl?” I would shake my head yes with a vengeance. When I met my husband we went to his Episcopal church and it seemed so peaceful and civilized compared to what I grew up with. But, I still feel like I have my own inner faith that gets me through. I believe there is something bigger than all of us but, that something is benevolent and loving.
b
Hi Carol,
All of us are on a continuing journey. As they say, God isn’t finished with us yet. I’ve never gone to a medium. I fear I’d be scared or I would be skeptical. I am glad you found conviction.
Janice
Faith is a journey, it can’t be forcefully ingrained in you or it won’t stick, you have to get there on your own.
I have a very strong faith and fully feel like there is a plan for me. I know where I came from, what my purpose is on earth and where I am going after this life. Not to say that it’s always easy, because certainly there are hardships and trials that we go through. But having the faith that I have definitely makes it easier to follow a path and keep my journey in perspective.
I hope you have a great time and I am interested in reading what you take a way from the symposium. I am still on the fence about afterlife.
Faith is definitely something that we all need to find on our own terms. I spent a lot of years being lost and confused on where I stood because I had people telling me what to believe. When I took a step back and started to think for myself, I was more at peace with the faith that I have today.
I think it’s important to have faith in something. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Carol, when my brother and I sat by my mother’s bedside and witnessed her death–the words she said, her calmness, her honesty, the fact that she addressed her three dead siblings who we decided had come to get her–I believed. I still do. Beth
I am not someone you would call religious but I do believe in my Faith and we observe traditions as well. I think it was quite a journey for you but I am glad that you found your Faith, regardless if we’re the same or not.
I definitely believe in life after death. Glad to have my faith to fall back on!
What has been instilled and my heart and what I know to be true can never be shaken. This is such an amazing journey.
Faith is such a personal journey for everyone. I don’t believe it can be instilled. You have to find it.
Having faith is super important, I definitely have faith and believe in afterlife! I love this post!
Indeed there is something bigger to all of these.. And I think someone doesnt really have to be religious to have faith.
It’s really cool that you’ll be exploring this even more at the symposium. It will be great to hear if you had any interesting discussions or learned anything.
That’s a pretty good definition of faith. I believe it to be something internal.
I can’t wait to hear how the symposium went! I was also raised Catholic, but never “felt” it. Finding faith is something I still struggle with in adulthood so I am always interested in hearing so-called unorthodox paths from others.
Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Its a very spiritual thing people need to always see to believe it, but I treat faith like the wind. I dont need to see it to feel it!
It’s great you’ve kept an open mind. We grow all throughout our lives; our faith also. I’m glad you found what you needed. Warms my heart!
I believe there is an afterlife and I believe there is a God. This is a really interesting blog post.
I was “born” into my religion but my faith was made clear when I was 8 years old. I prayed ever so hard to God,tears and all, and asked for help. Soon as I opened my eyes, I received the miracle I was asking for. An experience I will never forget.
Wow, Carol. What a fascinating journey you’re on. I’ve also read several books on what happens after death and it sounds like something goes on, not necessarily as we limited humans know, but there’s something. I also question what came before the Big Bang? How can there ever be nothing?
I do not have a religion as I rejected it as the path for me a long time ago. But I do have faith and to me, that is all that matters, not organized religion. Organized religion tears us apart, faith brings us together.