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Everybody wants to go to heaven. But nobody wants to go now.
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
psychoslice
Veteran Member
I feel that the belief in a heaven came from the fear of death, the belief of heaven is like a pension, like an old age pension, but in this case an after life pension waiting to be collected, but it aren't going to happen, so we may as well enjoy the only life we have, here and now..
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Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
A bird in the hand or a wing and a prayer.
Gnostic Seeker
Spiritual
Sure. If by heaven you mean afterlife- there is still growth to be had here. This life is like the opening act of one long eternal existence. In this sense, death isn't even actually death. Dying will not automatically put one into a state of extreme bliss or torment, rather this will be determined by one's state in life. That's how I see it anyway. I think the Greeks referred to these states symbolically as Elysium (paradise), fields of Asphodel (a neither pleasant or painful between), or hell. Its important to see ourselves in one of these states now, so we know where we are, and we can change ourselves in this life before we get to the next where change will be more difficult without a vehicle of change (the body).
I fail to see what the issue is. Yes, I hope to go to Heaven and be united with God, all the Saints and my loved ones, but I don't want to die yet. If I have to die, fine, I'll accept that. But why should I rush to it? It's not like God wants us to be suicidal or something.
What is even less intelligent is imposing this on little kids.
Suppose you got a 5 year old. He couldn't possibly have done anything wrong and he loves Jesus Christ very much. If I suggest putting a quick .45 shot through his head, sending him straight to heaven, his parents get upset! They want to risk him going to Hell, out of totally selfish motives.
What's with that? How can good Christian parents be so cavalier with a child's eternal well being?
Tom
Sabour
Well-Known Member
This post reminds me of some verses in the Quraan
2:94 Say, [O Muhammad], "If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.
2:95 But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
2:96 And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life - [even] more than those who associate others with Allah . One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allah is Seeing of what they do.
2:94 Say, [O Muhammad], "If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone and not the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.
2:95 But they will never wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
2:96 And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for life - [even] more than those who associate others with Allah . One of them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it would not remove him in the least from the [coming] punishment that he should be granted life. And Allah is Seeing of what they do.
To the best of my understanding, most people do not so much believe in Heaven as hope for it.
Considerable evidence exists that ultimately most people simply fear death and nurture that hope to better deal with that fear.
Exceptions probably exist, but in typical social or religious situations it is bad form to attempt to make the distinction clear. The purpose is usually to de-emphasize it, in fact.
We have an eternity to experience Heaven, but the time spent on physical earth is limited, and though Heaven is easier and more blissful, might as well get as much time as you can in this physical universe before they have to leave it forever.
The time will come, but no need to rush it.
The time will come, but no need to rush it.
InChrist
Free4ever
I'm ready to go to heaven anytime God calls, but in the meantime I trust His timing for my life here on earth, as the scriptures indicate that each persons days are numbered. Since I believe God has put the desire for life into the human heart then it stands to reason the death itself is not something most people look forward to.
psychoslice
Veteran Member
Fear breeds desperation, hence heaven.
DawudTalut
Peace be upon you.
Peace be on you.
From Ahmadiyya Muslim understanding:
Basic thing is to get nearness and love of God. For this, one need grace of God, right faith and good deeds and avoiding bad one, paying rights of God and rights of people. The time in this world gives opportunity to keep doing good things which will keep elevating stations in paradise when good people go there.
Holy Quran tells about two heavens. Pious live pure heavenly life in this world too so it is heaven but the real heaven will be surely in Hereafter.
In the story of Adam, he and his people were living in paradise-at-earth. When discord started they lost peace [i.e. lost paradise-like life], then repented and followed divine teaching.
Secondly Holy Quran prohibits one to take the life of self and lives of innocents.
General reference: alislam.org
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oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Hi!...... What? Everybody wants to go to heaven?
Now hang on there...... Have you heard some folk's descriptions of heaven?
One religion offers a heaven where you would walk amongst the animals, lions and all, in a state of perpetual exhilaration, loving all who you bump into, no longer needing to eat creatures...... unending hysterical joy.
Now, would you want to wander about for ever and ever and ever, munching grass and being continuously sweet to everybody?
Oldbadger would rather sleep.........
There is also a very sad answer to this question, in as much as we are seeing, Worldwide, the actions of a certain type of people who truly cannot wait to reach their heaven, those who seek to die in battle for their concept of religion and heaven......... now that really does need explaining.