Heaven

[Beauty Mark]

I just finished reading "The Lovely Bones" this book about a girl who was raped and killed. She ends up in heaven. I thought it was a neat way heaven was portrayed, because heaven was different for everyone. You could get pretty much whatever you wanted yet it wasn't perfect (she missed her family and parts of growing up) and it almost seemed lonely.

So what do you think of heaven and what it's like? I'm not sure if the place exists, but I know one thing that always bothered me was that I was afraid I'd be bored.

 

[medusalox]

That is SUCH a good book

I don't believe that heaven exists, or hell, or God, for that matter. I call myself an atheist, but I suppose that's not the correct term...I do keep an open mind to the possibility, so I guess Agnostic would cover it better. I refuse to believe it until I see it, and if all goes to plan, I won't be seeing heaven for a very, very long time!

I'm very interested to see what others think

 

[jenii]

I haven't finished the book yet, but yeah, I like how it's done so far. It's a nice idea, that if it does exist, it's whatever you want it to be. Reminds me of the show Dead Like Me. In the first episode, a little girl dies, and you can see her run towards an amusement park made of light, and then she disappears up into the sky. So like, her Heaven was an amusement park that never closes. I thought that was cute.

 

[medusalox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenii I haven't finished the book yet, but yeah, I like how it's done so far. It's a nice idea, that if it does exist, it's whatever you want it to be. Reminds me of the show Dead Like Me. In the first episode, a little girl dies, and you can see her run towards an amusement park made of light, and then she disappears up into the sky. So like, her Heaven was an amusement park that never closes. I thought that was cute.

I remember that episode. If heaven does exist, I want it to be like that!

 

[mzcelaneous]

Yes, it was a great book. I hear there's a movie in production about it too. But anyway, in all honesty, I believe when we die, we die. That's it. No re-birth, no going to hell or heaven, which is a nice idea but like medusa lox says:

Quote:

Originally Posted by medusalox I refuse to believe it until I see it

 

[ilovexnerdsx]

i was raised as a christian but lately i'm not quite sure how i feel about religion. im still trying to figure it out

however, i can say this: my grandfather's sister was terribly sick and was in a coma for about two weeks straight. one day, out of nowhere, she sat up in her hospital bed, her eyes got really wide and she exclaimed "WOW!" at that very moment, she died. she was a devoted christian.

i mention that because hey, she must've been amazed at what she saw.

 

[Hawkeye]

what is heaven like...
hmm i think its perfect. i don't think you can get bored. if it does exist then I hope it is a lot happier place than earth is.

 

[Raerae]

I think heaven would be pretty overcrowded. All the good realestate would have been taken up thousands of years ago. Not to mention all the virgins running around, heaven must be full of those since all the men get like a personal harem of virgins.

I hope they have a good freeway system.

 

[Hawkeye]

oh no sweetie-i think you are confusing the heavens with the different faiths.

maybe the more appropriate question is-what exactly is the question on heaven? like the christian heaven? The muslim heaven? The Jewish Heaven? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbeabitch oh no sweetie-i think you are confusing the heavens with the different faiths. maybe the more appropriate question is-what exactly is the question on heaven? like the christian heaven? The muslim heaven? The Jewish Heaven? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

The all worship the same god anyways, so heaven should technically be the same.

 

[Hawkeye]

Hmmm now that is a very interesting concept and perspective.

 

[TangoMango]

For me, hell isn't a place where its burning and hot. I picture hell to be something that we personally don't like. For me, my hell would be an empty, grey, and drabby world, filled with lonliness. No family or friends. Nothing. That would hell for me.

When I was little, I used to picture heaven as a colourful place with TONS of food and lush, beautiful gardens. I pictured heaven to be literally in the clouds.

But now, I'm a bit confused. I hear stories of people that have had accidents and claim they went to the 'other side' and didn't want to come back, but I wonder if they were dreaming. On the other hand, I mostly believe that when you are dead, that's it, you're gone and that scares me. I once wondered if after we died, we went to another universe.

I'll stop because I'm starting to write a novel here, I just have lots of thoughts on the Afterlife. :/

 

[Raerae]

Why are people so conscerned with dying anyways? Thats another thing that always puzzled me about religion. Live this life a certain way, so that you'll have a better life when you die *boggle*

Why not just live your life not to the fullest? Instead of waiting to have a full death?

 

[Hawkeye]

sometimes the unknown is the scariest of them all

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

Why are people so conscerned with dying anyways? Thats another thing that always puzzled me about religion. Live this life a certain way, so that you'll have a better life when you die *boggle* Why not just live your life not to the fullest? Instead of waiting to have a full death?

If people are sure that there is an afterlife and a heaven and a hell, eternity is a long time to live in hell if you live your life to the fullest and get sent there. I think you should live your life in a manner that makes you happy, as long as you're purposely not hurting others, but I can see their perspective.

The only reasons I was afraid of being bored in heaven is because I used to think it would be like those books where it's all naturey and everyone is happy all the time. I don't like conflict, drama, and so on, but I do need a variety. That's why I was afraid of being bored. I thought people spent every day, hanging out among trees and gardens of flowers. That's nice, for a while, but I would get bored.

 

[bAbY_cHiCkEn01]

I don't believe in heaven and hell like the bible says (but I don't believe in religion at all so yeah...)
I think it depends on how you die... Your heaven is if you die at peace with yourself and happy at the end of your life and happy with the way things went and with yourself...
Your hell is if you die with regrets, in pain or hating life etc...

 

[jinsy]

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Romans 8:24,25
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Going to Heaven is not about ME ME ME again. It is to return to be with God. Heaven is where He "will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 20:4

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinsy Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Translation~ Want to sell death insurance! You can't be sure you wont need it, so you can't afford not to buy it!

Quote:

Romans 8:24,25 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Translation~ Be happy with your poor, hard lives (we'll live in luxury though), dont wish for material possesions (which we have), hope for something after you die (when we wont have to share it).

Quote:

Going to Heaven is not about ME ME ME again. It is to return to be with God. Heaven is where He "will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 20:4

Translation~ Dont cause any trouble for the wealthy, land owning, not dealing with death, sorrow, or crying population. Dont worry about all your suffering, poverty, and hardship. Once your dead, you won't have to deal with any of it, as that life has passed away.

 

[Shimmer]

Belittling another person's belief system, regardless of whether you yourself ascribe to it or not, is entirely rude and uncalled for.

 

[Hawkeye]

Jinsy,
Thank you for the biblical references

I have always found the Bible fascinating in its thoughts.

Regardless of what others here think-it is an amazing and interesting book