RE: What is Satan? An Alternative Interpretation of the Story of Creation
It's getting kind of late but I know that I want to think on my response a little more. Briefly though: The Bible, in my opinion, is a collection of stories, edited by man who may have been the winner of whatever conflict in whatever era.
We are all familiar with the story of Adam and Eve but not too many people know of Adam's first wife, Lilith, who was made of the same dirt as Adam, unlike Eve who was created from his rib. Hmm...
Okay, I got a little sidetracked. But if the Lord is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent then nothing is a mystery or surprise. Perhaps we're all a huge diversion from a boring existence and when the Lord gets tired of the game maybe it means annihilation for us. Maybe the devil is His imaginary friend and we're all at the tea party.
It's an uncomfortable thought, and one that I have entertained far too many times. The possibility that our Creator might not be the force for good we assume. If I were an all powerful being, I imagine I might get board after a trillion years and just start burning ants with a magnifying glass..
There are different stories, as from the Hindu religion that the Gods are having their cyclical drama, all acts included (your diversion statement reminded me on that), the Christians made out of God an architect and the Buddhists do not have a creator at all (which I find the most reasonable approach).
To me, the most important thing is what happens in my present life. After-life is not a problem, but death is. In order to face a problem which certainly will get to me as well as to those, I will accompany in their dying-process the most appealing question to me is: who has the knowledge and the professional skills in the death business? So far, all people are skilled who see dying people on a regular base AND give them the right guidance and company in a respectful and caring way. It's not easy to find this kind of person.
What a great thread of conversation!
YES. Present life... And yet death is guaranteed. I don't fear death. I just don't want to die doing anything stupid. So, the business of death is something that I am actually quite familiar with, both from a business and personal side. I was an obituarist for 7 years and many of my very good friends are funeral directors. I was also a hired singer for many funerals and when both my father and aunt were at the end of their life, my experience helped me through tough conversations with them, and then later with grieving friends and family.
With regard to an afterlife or reincarnation, I do believe in science with respect that we are all energy and energy cannot be created or destroyed though it can change shape.
That is indeed very interesting what you say. I would like to chat with you on a private channel. Are you on discord? I am interested in more details of your former profession. As I am a seeker of people who have real experience in death business I would like to freshen up my theoretical knowledge and what I experienced within my own community.