Years ago, I posted here as a skeptic. Now somewhat older, I have come to appreciate this particular study because of its seemingly solid foundation; and while these themes are not entirely new (they are represented in one way or another in every religion), they are creedless, which increases their appeal ten-fold.

One thing that has always bothered me, however, is the subject of animals. Being that we humans are the product of evolved apes (to put it simply), what is the afterlife representation of, say, a cave-man? Does he retain his primitive conciousness? Or does he go through a sort of insta-evolution and come out spouting quatrains of Shakesphere? My past animals aren't going to set the record straight with me, are they?

My next question is related to things of a military nature. With military history being a hobby of mine, I have often wondered if anyone has ever been able to establish a dialogue with General Washington, or perhaps General Sheridan, maybe even General Patton? To be able to call upon them and converse with them across our two planes would be an experience beyond what words could describe for me.

Barbarism is torturing to death 6 million Jews and over 7 million Christains. Liberating them from their captors takes more than just singing songs of peace and love while waving daisies. When you can not negotiate for your own freedom, you fight for it.

As for animals, I have never committed an act of hatred towards them in my life. Every pet I have ever owned has been given 100% of my love and treated as I would my own child. When I suggested that they would set the record straight, I was entertaining the thought that perhaps they preferred milk-bones over raw-hide ones; preferred canned food to hard food.

If my post suggested to you that I was in dire need of your idealism, perhaps you should read it again without the goggles of cynicism.

this is interesting dialogue between Lights and Patrick, mind if I meander into it a bit?

I sort of see both sides. at least from my own limited view of both sides.

if you go here Patrick, there is some discussion of war from a spiritual viewpoint http://www.earthlypursuits.com/WLLDM/WLLDMan.htm

I read about 100 books regarding the Holocaust, always asking myself the same question...how could this be, that Jews could be led to slaughter with hardly any resistance? so then I began reading only books about the resistance which did operate..there were less books available on that..but enough to support my conviction that a part of me existed in the resistance movement in another time frame..for I seem to recall the thrill of battle, of plotting, of surprise attack. we seemed to have two approaches:
1) Divide the enemy to conquer
2) flank them from the rear, as in surprise method, like when they slept. since we were small in number, we could not face them head on, as in civil war methods or much earlier TV depictions of armies clashing head on, wouldn't have worked! so war became for us to throw a grenade into their supply trains, but first you had to steal their grenades in order to throw one...all this war business was of course justified completely, as you were only protecting your mother or your sister or brother who at the same moment were boarding a train to a camp where they would be promptly gassed. you hoped you were not too late to save them.

then we all died of necessity screaming NEVER AGAIN!
and some other persons were born and read the books of the war and wondered were they there too? You couldn't tell for sure, you only knew that inside you, you could still feel the grief, you could still see the blood, you still saw the little children slipping out of their bodies like they were sacrifices for all of us to understand we didn't need to do this...but that we dreamed it up and did it anyway. so you thought about how to make peace then, how at least to prepare for peace instead of war, for as sure as you stockpile war implements, you surely intend to use them, the same as you stockpile peace implements, you have those intentions also.

this not a lecture...people did die so I might live and I love warrior spirits who practice courage...I know in my heart some part of me was there....I just don't ever want to go back there. love, alysia

My sister has been visited by her dog.  I think it is possible her new dog is the same soul - yet in a very different body.

I have had visits from one cat (she was really angry)  She had very specific questions about why my x treated her as he had - and why he had her put to sleep.  Once she had her answers, and I assured her I loved her, she left and I haven't heart from her since.

I also have visits from a special little hamster.  She will be back, this time as a puppy.  I guess I will have to wait and see.

I have some theories about Abe. I did read that someone did see his impending assination and warned him and so he was prepared that way for death. and I know they say his ghost hangs around but I don't think Lincoln is inside of that ghost..I think that is an imprint of his consciousness there for a reason. to remind us, the rest of us of his great leadership. there are  some ghosts you can engage in conversation that are real spirits and others that are impressions left by very strong vibrational process of a very deep thinker. and I am in agreement that we can evolve on the other side and not necessary be caught up in our former lives to remain stuck there. love, alysia

ps. I really like Letters From a Dead Man too, used to read it all the time.

I have to wonder though, how accessible do you think General Washington is in the afterlife? Considering his image and history is burned into the collective conciousness of all American citizens past, present, and future; I would imagine he has a waiting list that would be the envy of Disneyland's "Club 33." Now, you would have to excuse me for being so human as to imagine that a concept such as a waiting list would be applicable in a void where practicability has no purpose.