Do You Know Where You’ll Go When You Die?

posted in: Blog, channeling, spirituality | 10

You have traveled in dreams while safe at home with Me. ~ A Course in Miracles

angel in heaven

A few weeks ago someone asked me, “Do you know where you’ll go when you die?” My answer: “Yes.”

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, and I was enjoying a few hours off from my work. The loud knock at my front door brought me abruptly out of a lazy, peaceful place.

There were two men at the door, and I knew instantly why they were there. Doing my best to be pleasant, I said hello. That’s when one of them popped the question.

They were from one of the local churches, and were on a mission to convert people to their religion. One was the pastor of that church, and the other a member of the congregation.

We chatted amiably for a few minutes. But I cut our discussion short (politely), for I knew where they were going. I was pleasant, but firm. They accepted that, handed me a brochure, and said a friendly goodbye. They were nice people, as most of the people in this little town are.

I glanced at the brochure and was struck by the cover title, “How To Know You Are Going To Heaven.” Inside the brochure were four bold, upper case headings:

First, you must accept that you are a sinner.
Second, you must accept that as a sinner you owe a penalty.
Third, you must accept that Jesus Christ has already paid your sin debt.
Fourth, you must accept by faith what Jesus Christ did for you.

Well, if those are the requirements for getting into heaven, most of the world’s population ain’t gonna make it—including me.

In preparing this post, I did some research on religion and spirituality. I discovered nothing earth-shaking. But some of the statistics were interesting. Here are a few I found the most intriguing.

  • Total membership of the 25 largest churches in the United States and Canada is about 145.700,000. That number is down 1.15% over the 2011 number.
  • A poll by the Gallup Research organization concluded 40% of all Americans regularly attend church. But that is based on interviews, on what people said their attendance was.
  • Another polling group did not interview anyone. Instead they actually visited various church services and counted the people there. They concluded actual church attendance was half the Gallup poll’s results, or about 20%.
  • The largest religious group in the United States is the Roman Catholic Church, with about 67,000,000 people. That membership is down a little from 2011.
  • Many other religious groups’ numbers were also down. Some were up. But, overall, the trend is downward.

Why do you supposed religion is losing its clout? Even the mighty Roman Catholic Church has fallen on hard times.

In my opinion, people are waking up in increasingly larger numbers. That’s what this transformation our planet is in the midst of is all about. We are all becoming more conscious.

My spirit guides are fond of saying, “All paths lead home.”

But what does that really mean?

A Course in Miracles says we have never left home (God). Or, to say it another way: If God is within us, we have never lost ourselves. All we have done is to delude ourselves into thinking God has abandoned us.

So all paths really do lead home—the home we actually never left. Those paths lead us back to God, back to ourselves. In other words, we are finally remembering who we are and why we are here.

Life is only a dream from which we are now awakening.

That is what all this talk about raising human consciousness is about.

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Do you belong to a traditional or non-traditional religion or church? How has it affected your life, positively or negatively? Or do you practice another form of spirituality? Or none at all?

Please share your thoughts with us below.

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Copyright © 2016 by John Cali

If you know someone who could benefit from this post, please forward it to them with a personal note.

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In this video, United States presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, talks about his spiritual beliefs. I have no political convictions, nor am I particularly interested in politics. But Bernie’s words are, in my opinion, an eloquent and powerful description of what true religion is all about.

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Related links:

Reader Question: What and Where Is Heaven?
Beyond the Veil of Death
Dead People Want To Talk To You

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What other subjects would you like us to talk about in these posts? Please email me.

10 Responses

  1. George Ball

    John, Did you know I am a Quaker, a member of Friends Meeting of Washington (as well as a member of the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church). Love, George

  2. George Ball

    Dear John,
    Every day as I walk down my hallway to the elevator, I sing a song to myself that starts with the Air Force words and tune: “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder; flying high into the sun. Off we go, into the arms of Spirit; we are Home, like everyone.” Then the tune shifts: “And when those saints, go marching in, oh when those saints go marching in, oh Lord I will be in that number, when the saints go marching in.” My self concert concludes with “Amazing grace; how sweet the sound, that saved a SOUL like me. I once was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see.” Love, George

  3. jean

    My father told a minister who came to our door often about church. He said that he doesn’t have to attend a church for God is within him (and all of us). He didn’t need a church to be close to God.
    Though my siblings and I had to go to church every Sunday until we hit 14 years old. When I reached that age he said it was up to me if I wanted to continue. I didn’t like my siblings before me. My mother wasn’t pleased he gave us that and allowed us to quit church.

    I am not saying church or religion is bad for many people need that structure to fill their lives. I just didn’t need it in mine.

    I like what Bernie Sanders said, I think he is a wise man.

    love and hugs
    Jeannie

    • John Cali

      Thanks very much, Jeannie, for sharing your experiences. Your father was a wise man. My father felt pretty much the same as yours about religion, even though he and my mother brought us up as Roman Catholics.

      I agree with you — church and religion can, and do, fill the spiritual needs of many. As my spirit guides say, “All paths lead home.”

      Love & hugs,
      John

  4. Mikala

    Religion | Define Religion at Dictionary.com
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/religion
    a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs …

    Yes,I belong to a religion as per the definition above. I am a member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers who say, “There is that of God in every man/woman.” From that inner presence comes the voice of the Creator. From that inner guidance comes the very positive grace which introduces itself as Love, Light, and Blessing.

    Whether we acknowledge it or not, we each have our very own pathway, and we are following it. (Consciousness) We are each one of the ONE.
    Where will I go when I leave this body? Out into the total of Creation, wherever I choose.

    Blessings to all,
    Mikala

    • John Cali

      Thank you, Mikala. I have several other friends who also belong to the Quakers. I have always admired them, and love that quote you included, “There is that of God in every man/woman.”

      Amen!

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