Making It Easier, If only I could believe Options

[russ1956]

I have been here for 4 days now. There is something that I must discuss. I have received wonderful support from everyone on this site. Many of the comments refer to our beloved pets being young and out of pain since the have now reached the bridge (dog heaven). My problem is that I have never believed in a heaven or a hell. I have believed when you die, your are reduced to ashes and bones and that is the end of that. I have never really discussed my feelings with anyone regarding this. Even my wife of 18 years doesn't really know. She just knows that i won't go to church with her on Sunday. I don't mean for this to be a policitial debate or inflict my feelings on anyone, quite the contrary. I wish that I could believe becuase I would make it so much more comforting to know that my Rosa is safe. My feelings on this issue have never been real strong, it's just something that I have believed from the time I was a teenager. Again, I'm not looking to change anyones feelings or anything like that, just that it is harder to cope with my beliefs. I have been wanting to write this since the first time I saw a comment about the bridge. I see such comfort in those that do believe that I just wish I could. Please don't be angry with me for expressing my feelings, I'm actually a pretty good person and have respect for all. Thanks for listening. Rusty

[Norah'sMom]

It's okay...everyone's allowed to have and to express their own beliefs. I understand what you're saying, as I have been though ups and downs in my own faith. I have thought, "but believing in heaven and God is just an easy way to make it all seem okay." Well, it's not easy to believe, as you are experiencing yourself. But I will tell you that when you can learn to draw near to God, He will draw near to you, and the rewards are great. But until that time you will continue to feel distance from God, and therefore your unbelief will continue to grow stronger, or stay the same. And I don't believe that faith happens in one moment, but that it is a lifelong journey. I assume that because you don't believe in heaven that you are an atheist? If not, I don't mean to offend you. Perhaps you are agnostic. Either way, I encourage you to read a book called "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. It's a really well-written book by a journalist who was an atheist and is now a Christian. It details some really powerful intellectual reasons for belief in Christianity. He also wrote another book called "The Case for Christ" which I haven't read yet, but plan to.

I do think it's possible to believe in God and not in heaven. But personally and intellectually this doesn't make much sense to me. Perhaps you could PM me and we could discuss. It is a subject of great interest to me. Faith is a gift that is available to everyone, and whether we choose to accept it is a personal decision. It sounds as though you are pretty convicted in your beliefs, and in that case, I wish you comfort in your loss through means other than a belief in heaven. ~Jenny