Claudio,

I don't think Bruce has posted on this site since May 19.  Hopefully, he'll respond to your questions.  Meanwhile, I'll put in my two cents.
Clearly, when people are in an altered or hypnotic state of consciousness, they often focus on the famous.  For example, I read in a Boston paper about a study of past life regression which produced a few Napoleons and other people associated with famous historical events.

More interestingly, Emanuel Swedenborg contacted two of the most famous deceased Protestant theologians, Martin Luther and John Calvin.  ES claims to have persuaded Luther to embrace some of his new ideas, but he couldn't convince Calvin.   

Tellingly, neither Luther nor Calvin had reincarnated after a lengthy period in the afterlife.  ES of course is told by angels that reincarnation arises from a confusion of influxes from other spirits with one's own memory, a phenomenon commonly noted by some of the most adept mediums.  In possession cases, the victim often mistakes the memories of the possessing entity wth his own. 

Claudio, just imagine the mysteries that might be solved if famous dead people were often contacted through astral projection.  For example, Moses and Alexander the Great might tell us where their missing remains lie.  Some one should compose a list of significant mysteries that might be solved through astral visits to the famous dead.  What a marvelous approach to verification that would be!

Don

Don

I can't really comment much about this but if people could answer those mysteries that would definatly be proof and be pretty exciting!

Also just in case you didn't know Bruce's daughter came to this board a little while ago to let us know for this month Bruce is in Poland doing workshops.

Ryan

After reading two exceptional books about GW (1776 and His Excellency), it is impossible to know about this great man and not conclude that Divine Intervention of some sort was actively at work during his lifetime.

There is no question but that he should have been killed any number of times, during any number of battles.  He himself thought that something greater than he was at work behind the scenes.  Not necessarily God but some sort of divine plan.  As I recall, he was not especially religious in the normal sense of the word.

He would wade into the thickest of battles, with men from both sides falling like dominoes all around him.  He was shot at point blank range and a bullet never touched him.

Coincidence?  An extraordinarily lucky person?  You could say that maybe the first dozen or so times, but sooner or later you have got to at least entertain the possibility that the entire American Revolution would have never been successful had it not for the right man being present at the right time and very possibly not by accident.

Ok why post this?  Well, Claudio's question sparked it.  Because if we can really get in touch with the dead, it would be absolutely fascinating to chat with GW and ask him whether his role in the birth of a country was by some sort of divine plan.  With his afterlife perspective, he should know.

Of course, these kind of contacts don't happen.  Sure, claims are made but they are never verified.  And as has been pointed out, people who have past life regressions often report that they are the reincarnation of some historically famous person.  It's easy to figure out why that is the case.  Partly ego and partly because a peasant buried in a nameless grave doesn't get into the history books or the movies.

I doubt reincarnation occurs at least in the way most of it think it does; i.e. the rebirth of an ego.  On the other hand, none of us are born as a blank slate, many of us have definite talents or fears that cannot be traced to our childhood experiences or environment.

And one other thing.  Bruce once said he could contact anyone in the afterlife if he had their name and maybe some other basic information.  I don't think Bruce is correct about this.  For one thing, if it were that easy, countless unsolved murders would be solved.  We could find JonBenet Ramsey and Natalie Holloway, just to cite two prominent names.  Yes, I understand information gained that way could not be used in court, but important clues regarding their deaths could be.  And those clues could provide enough information to make a court case stick.

Ever wonder why this doesn't happen?  I do, and never get a satisfactory answer.  Btw I did read the book (can't think of title) by the person on whom the tv show Medium is based, and it was very disappointing.  All I can say is there's a huge leap between the reality of the person herself and the abilities she describes, versus the fiction of the tv show.  What else is new.

ps to George- You mention that others are easily able to access persons in the afterlife.  I would caution you not to take everything you read on this or any other board as totally factual.  I'm not saying a person would make things up, but keep in mind that their reported contacts might not be the real thing even tho they are otherwise sincere.  The afterlife can be every bit as deceiving as this life.

Oops  - I posted this on the wrong thread so I'll copy/paste here. My apologies:

Hi Kathy,

ES did write that we humans have no good of our own; the source of good is God and only God (Luke 18:19). What we must do is be inspired by the goodness of God - that is the work that we must do. We must do what God has asked us - to live by the commandments; the Golden Rule. John 14:21 - those who love the Lord are those who keep the commandments. And when we do that, out of a spirit of love towards God and love towards others, those are the works that are spoken of on the Bible. 

In fact, if you actually read James 2:14-26, you will see faith alone is dead. In the writings of Martin Luther, one can read how utterly vexed he was concerning this passage - so much so - that he completely tossed it out. 

Kathy, I too was raised in the Protestant church. All Protestants trace their theological roots to Martin Luther particularly on the crucible of faith alone. But it is clearly not taught in the Bible; the church that I was a member clearly stopped at Romans 3:28 without bothering to read through the end of the chapter - at verse 31. If one reads through verse 31, one will clearly see that Paul never taught such a theology as faith alone. 

One might ask - what difference does this make in a person's life? Why bother with theology? I'll tell you why - there are many millions of Christians who believe in faith alone. Now, some will believe that it's important to do what is right for the sake that it's the right thing to do, but I tell you truly that i have met many Christians who have told me that they can do anything that they want and still get into heaven. This leads to spiritual insanity. This type of faith leads to a famous evangelist calling for the United States to murder the president of Venezuela. That evangelist clearly cannot see the insanity of his statements; this all comes about from believing in faith alone. Much of the United States foreign policy comes about from a belief in faith alone and also a belief that God will one day destroy the world (God won't destroy the world - the book of Revelation is not about the physical destruction of the world). It's never acknowledged (and would probably be denied) that it's these beliefs are driving our national/international policies, but it's there in the background influencing it nonetheless.
 
And look what Jesus says about this - Matthew 15:9). In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Faith alone is from man; not from God. Faith alone is the doctrine of mankind. Also read Matthew 5:19.

Faith alone is the reason that I left the Christian Church years ago. I could not accept that God would "save" an evil Christian (yes, they do exist - look at Matthew 7:21-23; verse 23 clearly says "...those who do evil") but condemn a person of another faith who did his best to do good in his God's eyes. No wonder so many people have left the Christian Churches - who in their right mind can believe that God would save an evil person but condemn a good person simply on the basis of what they believe? Even our own court system does not put away a person for their beliefs, but for what they do.

ES wrote that anyone who lived the Golden Rule (and it is found in all religions and so-called non-religions - http://www.egogahan.com/GoldenRule.htm) would find their way to Heaven; even a person who naively worshipped the sun as God. Many Christians would protest this citing John 14:6 (I am the way, the truth, and the life...). As ES explains it, God is One; Jesus is God Himself. All come to Jesus, when they call upon God, no matter by what name they know God, whether or know they have ever heard of Jesus.   

I prefer ES' explanation; it allows me to be a Christian and yet know that those of another religion or faith are not condemned - that those with a different understanding of God are still loved and cherished by God and provided for in Heaven.  It allows me to see each individual with dignity and respect - a true brother and sister. Not only that, but it's the only explanation I can see when I read those Bible passages. I don't see truth in Luther's statements.

I highly recommend two of ES books - The Four Doctrines and True Christian Religion. Each of these books go into great depth and detail regarding this subject and always with supporting Biblical passages. 

With Peace and Blessings,
Judy

Hi Judy,

I'm not arguing with you... merely sharing the teachings I received, and I do think scripture can support this as well, but since I left the church almost 25 years ago for the same reasons as you left, I never argue scripture with anyone.

Love and light,
Kathy

shucks Mair...I give up.....when? 

Hi Jean-

Actually I don't think God takes sides in these sorts of things.  I agree that when someone says God is on the side of this or that country, they are engaging in either wishful thinking, and/or a whole lot of rationalizing.

I'll have to do some re-reading, but I think GW himself was convinced that his role was imposed on him by some sort of divine plan.  In any case, David McCullogh, probably one of America's greatest living historians and who wrote 1776, also is of the opinion that "something", call it what you will, enabled GW to repeatedly escape uninjured while scores of others all around him were falling.

As to Hitler, I don't have a clue.  The Nazi era raises so many challenging questions about God and divine plans and the Seth concept of writing our own scripts before incarnation, etc.  However, I do think there is reason to at least consider the possibility that divine intervention...angelic maybe...helped the allies to defeat Germany. 

There was an epic battle, wish I could remember the details but you might google it, wherein the allies were greatly outnumbered and would have suffered a major defeat, even catastrophe, had Germany won.  But at some point during the night, and during the height of battle, the German soldiers saw a spectacular sight unfold in the sky, with warriors in chariots, brandishing fiery swords, etc and were scared out of their wits.

Mass hallucination?  Maybe.  But it was a turning point in the war.  And yes I think you're right about the Delaware River account.

The bottom line for me is that I really don't know about these things.  I can't rule any point of view in or out.  But they sure are intriguing!

R