The Spark of Divinity

[Lily]

Driver, my brother is, in fact, bipolar. He knows this, and accepts it, and chooses not to manage it. It's not that he's done wrong things, we all have, it's that he continues to do the same wrong things over and over, with no regard to the suffering he causes. He never sees anything as his fault, and won't consider things he does are wrong. He's had opportunities for support and treatment and refused them. He believes it is something he can handle himself, and is handling himself, though nothing ever changes for him. He calls his depression "sin sickness" and believes it's Satan come against him. These are not just delusions, he chooses to believe these things, and I guess refuse treatment, because they provide a way for him to never face the wrong that he's done. I think I can assure you that you have little in common with my brother. Whatever you went through, you saw it was wrong and you do whatever you need to to make it as close to right as you can.

Nothing is unforgivable. I take comfort in knowing that he does still have that Spark, and that someday, he may realize it. I've seen it, but I don't think he even knows it's there, because he's afraid to look.

[driver]

Hi Lilly. One thing is certain if you don't manage your bipolar it gets worst.I didn't find out that I had bipolar until around age 44. I'm now 56 and it took ten years to get me on the right combination of the right medications. When you go into mania the crazy stuff we do is never (in our heads our fault) it's always someone else's fault. I'm in my third marriage, spent money like it grew on trees, went bankrupt twice, lost my home, run around on all three wifes, had troubles with the law, etc., etc.. Your brother also suffers within mania from religious psychosis. I had problems with that also. He still has the spark of divinity in him and if he appears not to get it in this life he will get it in the next to come.




At birth we head to death. At death we head to life.

[Lily]

I've never really thought much about reincarnation until I came here. It's certainly possible and I can't see any reason why it would be contrary to the nature of God. It's comforting to think about it concerning my brother. Yes, that spark is still there, and it will still exist after he is gone, and who knows what God will do with it?

Thank you.

Just to clarify, he's known for over 15 years, and refuses to manage it, though he's had numerous opportunities. There is a point where he becomes responsible for his condition. You had to take responsibility for yours, didn't you? I appreciate your compassion, and don't think I have none for him, I just can't let it excuse the things he's done to people.

[driver]

Hi Lily. Tough call. I have accepted my illness and live on my medications daily. I take them on time every morning and evening. It took ten years for the psychiatrists to find the right combination of medications to work. I don't know how old your brother is but the longer you delay treatment the worst you become and the harder it is to treat with medications. Some people are to respond to treatment a lot sooner than I did. It depends what type of bipolar you have. I'm bipolar 1 rapid cycler. Then too you have to remember you brother believes in an imaginary devil that to him is real and controls his illness. Just remember that whatever happens to him in this lifetime, when he crosses over at death he will be met with compassion and love and will be able to work on himself there.

[cclendenen]

...
Just remember that whatever happens to him in this lifetime, when he crosses over at death he will be met with compassion and love and will be able to work on himself there.

That is a wonderful and hopeful view of what someone will experience in the afterlife. What is your foundation for such a belief? Upon what evidence do you base the opinion that the afterlife is filled with compassion and love? That sounds like what the afterlife ought to be. How do you get from "ought" to "will be"?

[driver]

Hi Chuck. I've read a lot on NDEs. One of the best books that goes over the science of near death experiences is tilted, "Evidence of the Afterlife," by Jeffery Long, MD with Paul Perry. You can read any book on the accounts of NDEs, but if you want science Evidence of the Afterlife is where to start.

[andyroo]

The spark of Divinity. Didn't Jesus have this spark of Divinity? He was God filled but was not God. How about us? What about our sparks of Divinity? Do we realize we too are God filled and can do as Jesus did and more? I'm talking about spiritual values here not the dogmas the church has put on Jesus. What does this mean to us? What does this look like?

I have met several people in my life who have such a spark. I will not name names, but these are people who have glimpsed some measure of the truth. They have a serenity about them. I believe you could call them enlightened. I believe we all strive for that same level of enlightenment, that same spark of divinity. I believe we all achieve some level of fulfillment, but we seek more. Why? Because even a measure of fulfillment is a hint of greater enlightenment to come.

I believe few achieve the level that Jesus achieved, and even fewer are recognized for the achievement. I believe that we can all achieve some level of enlightenment. And in the achievement, I believe that enlightenment, spiritual fulfillment and spark of divinity are pretty much equivalent, even if the depth and intensity of experience can vary widely.

i didnt know what deist alliance was all about and i now know. maybe my arrogance got the better of me. christian deist all well and good i say and would like to stick around on the hedges and be no so privatol i would like to call myself a proud christian deist if i may and honour regards andrew please forgive my lack of respect i understand things better

[gainesvillecathy]

i didnt know what deist alliance was all about and i now know. maybe my arrogance got the better of me. christian deist all well and good i say and would like to stick around on the hedges and be no so privatol i would like to call myself a proud christian deist if i may and honour regards andrew please forgive my lack of respect i understand things better

[mystic444]

Hi Chuck. I've read a lot on NDEs. One of the best books that goes over the science of near death experiences is tilted, "Evidence of the Afterlife," by Jeffery Long, MD with Paul Perry. You can read any book on the accounts of NDEs, but if you want science Evidence of the Afterlife is where to start.

I'll just echo driver, Chuck. When I 'apostatized' from fundamentalist Christianity around 1987 or 1988, I began to do a lot of reading about Near Death Experiences and Reincarnation. I found that almost everyone had 'good' experiences; and even the 'worst' reported experiences were far from the 'burning hell' and 'angry God' experiences evangelical Christianity and Islam lead people to expect. Dr. Raymond Moody was probably the leader in studying and recording these interesting experiences. Two of my favorite sources, however, are individuals who wrote about their own personal experiences and the profound effects they had on their lives: Dannion Brinkley and Betty Eadie. I liked Dannion Brinkley best, because he was less 'religious' in his presentation. Betty, though, was also very interesting. In one of her books (I believe it is The Ripple Effect) she gives excerpts from other NDEers who have corresponded with her about their experiences. They all recount that any 'judgment' was personal self judgment based on feelings of guilt. Those who saw Jesus never experienced any condemnation from him - only love, compassion, and encouragement. There are a couple of almost amusing accounts - one from a Jewish person, and one from an atheist - that recount their shock both at actually seeing and talking to Jesus, and that Jesus in no way condemned them for not being 'Christians'. (The atheist, of course, was shocked just to find himself 'alive' despite the fact that he knew he had died!) Truly delightful reading. For a person who is willing to entertain even a slim possibility that we 'survive' death, such personal accounts can be very enlightening.

[driver]

Hi Chuck. Here's a web that you can visit and see the book Evidence of the Afterlife.
www.nderf.org It also has a lot of other readings on NDEs.

[cclendenen]

Hi Chuck. I've read a lot on NDEs. One of the best books that goes over the science of near death experiences is tilted, "Evidence of the Afterlife," by Jeffery Long, MD with Paul Perry. You can read any book on the accounts of NDEs, but if you want science Evidence of the Afterlife is where to start.

I'll just echo driver, Chuck. When I 'apostatized' from fundamentalist Christianity around 1987 or 1988, I began to do a lot of reading about Near Death Experiences and Reincarnation...

Interesting. I don't discount such things. They are as real as real can be for those who experience them. But I put them in the same category as special revelation. These are true only to those who experience them. Perhaps I will be in that number someday. But not today.

[Lily]

That is a wonderful and hopeful view of what someone will experience in the afterlife. What is your foundation for such a belief? Upon what evidence do you base the opinion that the afterlife is filled with compassion and love? That sounds like what the afterlife ought to be. How do you get from "ought" to "will be"?

I want to answer this because Driver's words are very comforting to me, and give me hope. My brother's Spark of Divinity will continue forever, and God will never give up on him, or the intended purpose of his Spark, whatever it is. The only way we would face an afterlife that is not filled with compassion and love is if we truly are separated from God, and how could that be, if that very Spark that remains is of God? Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, wouldn't that Spark return to God?