1)       Where did  (or where do)  human beings come from?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Every human being was created by "God" at the moment of his/her conception (or at the time of first breath).   Before that time, the being did not exist.

Reincarnation

Humans  are eternal beings who always were and always will be.

Scientific Evidence 

Human bodies evolved along with the rest of the Earth’s life forms.

Atheism

Before birth we did not exist.   A human being is merely Earth matter that has somehow magically acquired consciousness.

2)       What are we?   Are we a body with a  soul,  
                 a soul with a body or just a physical body?

Christian  One-Life-ism

We are human bodies that have a soul.

Reincarnation

We are not our physical bodies.   We are eternal beings temporarily experiencing life in a human body.

Scientific Evidence 

All physical matter is merely energy in a condensed form.  No one knows what "you" and  "I" really are.   Whatever that is, it's not a physical body.

Atheism

We are our bodies.  We are only our bodies.  We are Earth matter that has somehow acquired consciousness.

3)       What is the distinction between the body and the soul?

Christian  One-Life-ism

The distinction is confusing.  The Christian Bible makes several clear distinctions between body and spirit.   However, the conservative fundamentalists claim that God creates humans as their physical bodies.   They also claim that at death, humans magically become something other than their bodies and go to heaven or hell forever.

Reincarnation

Humans are eternal, non-physical beings who simply inhabit physical bodies.

Scientific Evidence 

Although there is no clear answer to this question, the available evidence indicates indicates humans are something more than 
(or something other than) physical bodies.

Atheism

There is no soul.   We are our bodies.  We are only our bodies.

4)      What is the Origin of the Universe?

Christian  One-Life-ism

About seven thousand years ago, God Created everything in six days.

Reincarnation

Scientific Evidence 

The universe started with “The Big Bang” several billion years ago and is continually changing via the scientific principle called evolution.

Atheism

The universe started with “The Big Bang” several billion years ago and is continually changing via the scientific principles called evolution.

5)   What is our relationship to our physical bodies?

Christian  One-Life-ism

There is a very strong tie to the physical body.   Christians believe they are their physical bodies.   Some factions even believe their physical bodies will be resurrected by God on "Judgment day."

Reincarnation

The body is merely a biological apparatus that we temporarily wear.   It is about as important as a suit of clothes that can be taken off and left behind.   When the body dies, its components return to the Earth to be recycled and transformed into other things.

Scientific Evidence 

The evidence indicate humans are something more than (or something other than) physical bodies.

Atheism

Because atheists believe we have no spiritual part, the physical body is of the utmost importance.

6)      What is God?

Christian  One-Life-ism

"God" is a unpredictable, angry, vengeful, vindictive, supper-human-being living in a place called heaven which is somewhere above the clouds.

Reincarnation

We are each a part of "God."   "God" is the sum total of all that is and is the source of all that is.”

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

There is no "God."   We have no soul.   There is no eternal aspect of us.

7)      What is our Relationship to God?

Christian  One-Life-ism

God is separate from nature and separate from man.  Man is also separate from nature.  Nature is something to be conquered.   God is to be feared, worshiped, and begged to for favors. 

Reincarnation

Everything, including man and nature, is an intimate part of God.  Nature is something to be respected and to be in harmony with.  We are Each Divine Beings, Co-Creators with God.  By knowing, understanding and properly applying the Universal Laws,  we can experience our Divinity here on Earth.

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

Because there is no God, there is no relationship.

8)       How do We Connect to God?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Believers can contact "God" only through the church leaders and by following church doctrine.

Reincarnation

Believers have a direct connection to "The Source of All That Is".   No religious intermediary is necessary.

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

Because there is no God, there is no such connection.

9)       When, where and how long we live?

Christian  One-Life-ism

We live only once on the earth and then go to heaven or hell forever.

Reincarnation

We are eternal beings who inhabit a series of human bodies in continuing cycles of lives on earth.

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

This one life, here on Earth, is all there is.

10)       What happens after the body dies?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Humans are transformed from a physical body into something non-physical and then go to heaven or hell forever.

Reincarnation

Our consciousness re-focuses on our non-physical state of existence.  In that state of being, we decide when and under what circumstances to come back to Earth again to live another life in another human body.

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

After death there is nothing.   We cease to exist.

11)       What are the consequences of our actions?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Our eternal fate is based upon what we do here on earth in this one lifetime regardless of how long or short our Earth life is.   No matter what we've done, we can still get to heaven by getting God's foregiveness.

Reincarnation

Belief 1) We have total responsibility for our behavior and experiences.   We attract back to us (in this life or in another life) all of our actions multi-fold.
Belief 2)  Once we leave the body, we are free of all ties and responsibilities to our past Earth life.   We may choose to continue with an issue, but there is no "Higher Authority" forcing us to do so.

Scientific Evidence 

In our present Earth-life, there is a distinct cause and effect relationship.  Our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and expectations are the first cause of everything we experience.  Our words and actions are the second step in that creative process.

Atheism

There are no consequences of one's actions beyond what one experiences in this life in this physical body.

12)       What is the human relationship to planet Earth?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Because Earth is considered to be simply a way station between conception and heaven, the long-term effects of the believer’s actions upon our earthly environment can be (and very often are) completely ignored  ***

Reincarnation

The long-term effects of our actions upon our earthly environment are of vital importance to ourselves, to our fellow humans, to future generations, and to every other living creature on this earth.

Scientific Evidence 

Humans are in integral part of the Earth's eco-system.   As Chief Seattle said, "Man did not create the web of life.   He is merely a strand in it."

Atheism

The long-term effects of our actions upon our earthly environment can be and usually are completely ignored by ego atheists.   "The Great God Money" rules the lives of ego-atheists.   The needs of  future generations are completely ignored.

***   Genesis 1:28 of the Christian Bible says in part:   “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over…”   This verse seems to denote that the Earth is simply something expendle abthat is simply provided for humans  to use any way they choose.   Regardless of what that verse means, humans have turned Sacred Mother Earth into  a cosmic Titanic. 

13)      What is the Purpose of Earth life?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Earth life is a ticket to heaven --- a ticket to “pie-in-the-sky -by-and-by.”   Earth is a testing ground to see who’s good enough to get into heaven.   Some believe they must suffer on Earth and avoid sexual pleasure so they can go to heaven.

Reincarnation

To remember what and who we are.   To live as God-Beings while in physical bodies. To experience God.  To bring freedom, joy, and personal growth to ourselves and to each other. 

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

There is no purpose other than what the individual believer may declare for him/herself.

14)   What Is Time?  

Christian  One-Life-ism

Eternity is a whole lot of time.

Reincarnation

Time is an illusion.   In the non-physical portion of reality, time does not exist. 

Scientific Evidence 

Time and space are intimately inter-related.  Time changes depending upon what speed one is going.

Atheism

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15)       Are believers tolerant and allowing?

Christian  One-Life-ism

The Christian Bible teaches tolerance and some practice it, but a very significant portion of the believers are quite intolerant and disrespectful of the rights, desires, and views of those who do not share their beliefs.

Reincarnation

Believers in this assumption seem to be much more inclined to practice the Universal Law of Allowing.***

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

Humanitarian atheists usually consider the wants, needs, and desires of others.   Ego atheists usually disregard the wants, needs and desires of others.

***   The Universal Law of Allowing means dropping all judgments and all emotional attachments to what others are, have, or do.  This is quite different from being tolerant.   Being tolerant is not liking what someone else is or does and holding emotion-laden, negative thoughts about them, but letting them be or do it any way.   Practicing The Universal Law of Allowing requires granting to others the same rights you ask for yourself -- the right to be, have, and do whatever you choose.

One way to practice the Law of Allowing is by transforming whatever you’re making someone else wrong for into something you are simply not willing to accept in your own life.   Then to allow the other person to be, have, or do as they will, without trying to fix anything, or change them, or make them wrong for being who they are, for having what they have, or for doing what they are doing.   The Law of Allowing is described in detail on our TLC-Life-Center website at:
http://www.lifecoach4vip.com/m030-universal-laws.html#11
http://www.lifecoach4vip.com/trp72b-vibrating-universe.html#11

16)       What is the human relationship to violence?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Most people are peaceful, but some will promote, endorse, or engage in violence in the name of God.  (i.e. Most anti-abortionists leaders believe it's OK to harass, threaten and intimidate non believers.  Many anti-choice enthusiasts also believe it's OK to promote, endorse, or commit crimes of violence, burn buildings and kill abortion service providers.)

Reincarnation

Because we attract back to us exactly what we put out, engaging in violence against others is self destructive.

Scientific Evidence 

Most people are peaceful, but the extreme believers in  Christianity, Islam and atheism regularly revert to violence if they do not get their way peacefully, particularly if they have the physical power to conquer their perceived enemy and/or the capacity to commit crimes and get away with them.

Atheism

Humanitarian atheists tend to be non-violent.   For an ego-atheist, might makes right.   The end justifies the means.

17)       What is the human relationship to other  people?

Christian  One-Life-ism

The Christian philosophy teaches that others are to be respected.  (“Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.”)   At times, the practice does not match the philosophy, but the observer must note the distinction between a true follower of the Christian one-life-ism and an ego-atheist disguise as a believer in Christian one-life-ism .

Reincarnation

This philosophy teaches that others are to be respected.   Many believers in reincarnation also practice the Universal Law of Allowing.   At times, the practice does not match the philosophy, but the observer must note the distinction between a true follower of the eastern religions and an ego-atheist in disguise.

Scientific Evidence 

Varies widely.

Atheism

Humanistic atheists are commonly very caring and very loving. 
To the ego-atheist, everyone else is expendable and will, whenever necessary, be used or sacrificed for personal gain and then discarded with the same thoughtlessness applied to discarding cigarette butts and with the same callousness with which they are presently murdering for money the last three-percent of our virgin redwood forests.

18)       What is the human relationship to sin?

Christian  One-Life-ism

Humans are judged and punished by God for their sins unless the "sinner" sincerely says, "God, please forgive me." Asking God for forgiveness completely eliminates any negative consequences of the sin.

Reincarnation

There are no externally inflicted punishments for human actions.  Humans simply reap the consequences of their own action.   Another way to say this is:  “Humans are punished by their sins and not because of them.”

Scientific Evidence 

In the sense that sin is "missing the Mark," there is a cause and effect relationship between action and the resultant consequences.

Atheism

There is no such thing as sin.

19)       Sex and God

Christian  One-Life-ism

Reincarnation

Scientific Evidence 

Atheism

20       What is the human relationship to free will?

Christian  One-Life-ism

The Christian God gives mankind free will and then sentences those who disobey Him to eternal damnation.  The idea of dispensing such an extreme consequence seems to be in radical contradiction to the very concept of free will.

Reincarnation

Followers of this tradition believe they are free to do as they will.   However, since they also believe they reap the consequences of their actions beyond this life, they tend to consider and/or limit the expression of their free will to conform to their beliefs.

Scientific Evidence 

The evidence indicates that our thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, and expectations are the first cause. of everything we experience -- that our words and actions are the second step in that creative process.  If this is true, then we are free to use our creative capacity any way we choose.

Atheism

Within the confines of what they think they can get away in the society within which they live, ego-theists believe they have complete free will.   They believe this because they also believe their actions have no consequences beyond what they experience in this life in this physical body.

21)       Who is responsible?      Who is in charge?

Christian  One-Life-ism

According to this theory, the "true believers" turn their power and lives over to "God."   The church leaders interpret the rules so "God's" laws are whatever the church leaders say they are.   If the believers question or disbelieve, they get excluded from heaven.   The religiously oriented dominator-manipulators are given a blank check.   They have used this theory for centuries as a tool for massing economic and political power.

Reincarnation

The believers must learn about themselves (i.e. "God"), take care of their environment, and be totally responsible for their actions.   This theory promotes personal responsibility and individual free thought.    At least in the U. S., the believers in reincarnation are relatively poor subjects for the religious dominator-manipulators.

Scientific Evidence 

....

Atheism

For the ego-atheists, might makes right.  Wealth and power rule.  For a look at the beliefs held by the worshipers of the Great God Money, see the list below:  The Ego-Atheist Sacred Doctrine.***

.

*** The  Ego-Atheist,  Sacred  Doctrine  of  
The  Church  of  Cheezus  Dollars.

The typical villain in a crime thriller, such as a James-Bond-type book or film, exhibits certain character traits.   Like dogs bark and cats meow, villains also express their own predictable behavior patterns.   Below is a not-so-subtle, poke-fun-at-um description of those behaviors.   Unfortunately, we also, at times,  see some of these character traits in real life ego-atheists.

A)    Self-interest as Prima Donna.

B)    The only criteria for judging actions is "THE-BOTTOM-LINE.” --What is the physical result? -- Did I get what I want?

C)    Acts of war'ship to the deity, The-Great-God-Money" are rewarded, not in some pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by kind of way,  but in the “prove-it-to-me,”  “show-it-to-me”  tradition of:  "Lie another lie and kiss my thigh  all the way to the bank."

D)    All the invisible hocus-pocus that the old, "religious fools" call “spirit" has been neatly thrown away.

E)    There is absolutely no consequence or responsibility for any actions --  unless the doer gets caught in the act.

F)    The long-term effects of one’s actions upon the Earthly environment and upon future generations are completely irrelevant.

G)    As war’shippers of The Great God Money, they even have their own  Golden Rule:   “He who holds the gold, rules.”