Can you imagine heaven?

[Einon SAMA]

Don't give them that ammo. Next they'll say.."Thats all religion is.. Its here to have the weak feel hopeful and whatnot."

[Hidden]

Originally Posted by cam ron 77

some of you want to talk about there not being a heaven, thats cool that you have that opinion but doesn't it make you feel a little morbid? how depressing xD

Not necessarily. The concept of life ending in death is not strange to human experience; what is strange is the concept of nonexistence. Thus, while a view of an afterlife is a greater leap of faith, a view of no afterlife is a greater leap of imagination and with a less certain landing. But this is not morbidity; it is, in many aspects, curiosity. As to the charge of its being "depressing," I would say that a more appropriate term might be "unfortunate," and that only conditionally.

But there is one more factor to take into account--most people commenting on this thread, regardless of their stance, have yet to experience the possibility of their own death in any way closer than abstract consideration or by virtue of relation. We still, at this point, carry the innocence of immortality; whatever we may claim, we do not speak of our own death.

Originally Posted by Einon SAMA

Don't give them that ammo. Next they'll say.."Thats all religion is.. Its here to have the weak feel hopeful and whatnot."

That's all the majority of human thought is--most religion merely takes a stance within this general frame of the human mind. Religion can take neither the credit nor the blame.

[Ric]

Originally Posted by Hidden

Not necessarily. The concept of life ending in death is not strange to human experience; what is strange is the concept of nonexistence. Thus, while a view of an afterlife is a greater leap of faith, a view of no afterlife is a greater leap of imagination and with a less certain landing. But this is not morbidity; it is, in many aspects, curiosity. As to the charge of its being "depressing," I would say that a more appropriate term might be "unfortunate," and that only conditionally.

Why would it be "unfortunate"? Just wondering.

[L_Leon_Fuego]

Originally Posted by Hidden

Not necessarily. The concept of life ending in death is not strange to human experience; what is strange is the concept of nonexistence. Thus, while a view of an afterlife is a greater leap of faith, a view of no afterlife is a greater leap of imagination and with a less certain landing. But this is not morbidity; it is, in many aspects, curiosity. As to the charge of its being "depressing," I would say that a more appropriate term might be "unfortunate," and that only conditionally.

But there is one more factor to take into account--most people commenting on this thread, regardless of their stance, have yet to experience the possibility of their own death in any way closer than abstract consideration or by virtue of relation. We still, at this point, carry the innocence of immortality; whatever we may claim, we do not speak of our own death.


That's all the majority of human thought is--most religion merely takes a stance within this general frame of the human mind. Religion can take neither the credit nor the blame.

I have been in near-death experiences before, and I can tell you, the thought of non-existence is scary. But me, believing in God, heaven, Jesus' blood redemption of sins, and hell, I never really thought that I would not exist and worry about it when I am truly at that edge of death. I believe that all souls are immortal, it just that there is a different destination (heaven and hell). I also believe that all people are weak. Mankind isn't that great. The most we have going for us is our intellect, and even then it's just the accumulation of knowledge.

But what do I think heaven will be like? Indescribable. Beauty that cannot be truly understood by humans. Other than that, I believe the Bible's account of heaven.

[Phoenix]

I have been in near-death experiences before, and I can tell you, the thought of non-existence is scary. But me, believing in God, heaven, Jesus' blood redemption of sins, and hell, I never really thought that I would not exist and worry about it when I am truly at that edge of death. I believe that all souls are immortal, it just that there is a different destination (heaven and hell).

Tehn why is the thought of non-existence scary to you in the first place?

I also believe that all people are weak. Mankind isn't that great. The most we have going for us is our intellect, and even then it's just the accumulation of knowledge.

Not much self-esteem for your own species, eh?

[Square Ninja]

Originally Posted by L_Leon_Fuego

I also believe that all people are weak. Mankind isn't that great. The most we have going for us is our intellect, and even then it's just the accumulation of knowledge.

Is that why you believe in it God, because you can't believe in your fellow man?

[dasperro]

As George Carlin said, "It's a topless bar by the airport."

[Dantés de Divinity]

Nonexistence would imply that information would be erased and information as it is seen now does not just disappear. That's why no continuation in life in any way is so unappealing to humanity. I think heaven looks much like earth does but the perfect form of earth. This would include everything a human would want. No pain, suffering, hunger, thirst, and a big palace are what are normally thought of. I won't know until I see it but both sound like it would be God's kingdom. Don't much matter what it looks like though. The Father will take care of all who have lived good lives, have asked forgiveness, or if God is unknown to the person then a good life and little evil done in life I think would be enough. Humanity at its best in the best place of all time. You think that and your brain will think of something.

[Phoenix]

This would include everything a human would want.

What humans want is usually what humans don't need.

[Dantés de Divinity]

This is true but God's gifts can be anything and his power is what holds the covenant together. What God's actions in heaven are is unknown to the earthbound living. My thoughts on this were rushed. I think God will do what makes his creation happy to the extent where it is not sin.

[Forever Atlas]

lolz my views of heaven... are quite different i must say O.o.... its a place of work, not just layzing around... and as for how it looks, well cant really say, no 1 can because no 1 has seen the spirit realm really... except there are descriptions in the Bible (once again hebrew and christian greek) of visions some prophets may have had and others that may describe parts of heaven in many times symbolic terms