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Old 31-12-2016, 12:02
Lil Munchkin
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I'm in no rush to get there, I'd be bored stiff I'd probably get chucked out after a few days anyway
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Old 31-12-2016, 12:07
anne_666
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I stopped believing in God when I was about 5. I just don't understand how people can reconcile the virgin birth, someone coming back to life, someone parting the red sea, a plague of locusts and someone with an amazing technicoloured dreamcoat as things that actually happened.

Do you not think more than one book would be talking about those things if they'd actually happened? Why is it we have loads of proof about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome etc which all happened before most of the stuff in the bible, but not a shred of evidence that any of the events of the bible happened? The only true thing in the bible was that there was a preacher called Jesus. He didn't perform miracles or come back to life though, nor was he a virgin birth or the Son of God.

I've always said that thousands of years ago someone forgot to put in the "This Book is a Work of Fiction" page into the bible but by the time they'd realised it was too late to change it.
It's strange how nothing much else has happened since the days of superstitious ancient dessert tribes from a tiny part of the world and who produced little of benefit to mankind. The fear of death seemingly hasn't any boundaries when it comes to what people will choose to believe.
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Old 31-12-2016, 12:19
GusGus
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Will it be like an employee evaluation?

This nonsense started when I was coming to the end of my working life
One of the questions was "How do you see yourself in a years time" to which I replied "Another year closer to retirement"
This wasn't on their agenda, and floored them
They gave up wasting their and my time on them
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Old 31-12-2016, 12:20
GusGus
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I took to reading Dennis Wheatley books in my mid teens, it became sod heaven - the Devil has much more fun
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Old 31-12-2016, 12:52
Flash525
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If there is life after death then you have to consider the logistics.
I think you're looking too much into these logistics.

Assuming the majority of people have least lives good enough to warrant entry into heaven, say a 75/25 ratio then heaven needs to be big enough to take 75% of all people who have ever existed.
I don't believe it does, but assuming heaven exists, it's likely on another plain of existence, and thus our perception of space and volume doesn't apply there. It's not as if we'd be taking our bodies with us, is he? It's our soul that goes to Heaven (right?); to my knowledge, souls have no mass.

Are pets allowed into heaven? If so then that adds billions of dogs, cats, birds etc to manage too.
Presumably every living creature goes to Heaven, unless said creature is deemed to have been naughty, and then it's sent to Hell.

How does St Peter manage the entry to heaven by himself given that there are thousands of people trying to gain entry every day? Will there be illegal immigrants who manage to slip in undetected?
As per above, such a place would have to exist in another dimension, one where time (at least as far as we know it) doesn't apply. An hour here could be 100 years in Heaven, or an hour here could be eternity there. Time may not even exist in Heaven, you would simply be.

What do you actually do in heaven? Unless there is a process and structure you have billions of people with nothing to do, who be no goals and aspirations, where everything is given to them without working for it. Sounds like a perfect mix for under achievement, dissafection and insurrection due to boredom.
Kind of answered above. It's your soul that supposedly goes to Heaven, so maybe you don't do anything, except exist?

...all hypothetical, of course.

I've always imagined it to be a personal experience. So - a bit like dreaming - if you want to be in a room with just three other souls, that's what will happen. Then, if you want a big crowd experience, you'll get that. So, yeah, pretty much like dreaming. Which means, I guess, I haven't really given it much thought at at all.......
You may actually be on to something. I don't remember who said it, or where, but I read an article years ago about death, heaven, an afterlife and such and I remember it well to this day.

In short, you've no doubt heard of stories of people who claim to see Angels or a white light near death? The theory I read was pretty much those visions being your brain shutting down, and preparing you for death; I guess a natural occurrence for those that live to old age, or die via natural causes. It is similar to a dream state, in that time (or at least time perception) doesn't apply. You can sleep for 20minutes and wake from a dream that seemed to have gone on for hours (or longer). Is it not possible that come your imminent death, your brain/body puts you into a dream-like state where it appears you're moving on until you switch off? From that single point (and from your point of view) it would be eternal.

According to the Bible, Heaven is a square shaped city made of pure translucent gold and 1400 miles wide/long and 1400 miles tall, with walls made of jasper 200 feet thick.
I wonder what's outside.
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Old 31-12-2016, 13:47
MrQuike
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You may actually be on to something. I don't remember who said it, or where, but I read an article years ago about death, heaven, an afterlife and such and I remember it well to this day.

In short, you've no doubt heard of stories of people who claim to see Angels or a white light near death? The theory I read was pretty much those visions being your brain shutting down, and preparing you for death; I guess a natural occurrence for those that live to old age, or die via natural causes. It is similar to a dream state, in that time (or at least time perception) doesn't apply. You can sleep for 20minutes and wake from a dream that seemed to have gone on for hours (or longer). Is it not possible that come your imminent death, your brain/body puts you into a dream-like state where it appears you're moving on until you switch off? From that single point (and from your point of view) it would be eternal.
This is an idea that bothers some people. It bothered me for a short time. Then I realised it's the wrong way round and that it's actually the mind that holds the brain/body in a dream-like ego state until we "die". Naturally, it's a very convincing and complex shared dream-like state, with a massive backstory, and this explains why one would look so convincingly dead to any other third party observers.

One of the joys of taking an Idealist approach to life.
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Old 31-12-2016, 14:51
droogiefret
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It's strange how nothing much else has happened since the days of superstitious ancient dessert tribes from a tiny part of the world and who produced little of benefit to mankind. The fear of death seemingly hasn't any boundaries when it comes to what people will choose to believe.
How can you even think that?

I have Key Lime Pie in the fridge.
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Old 31-12-2016, 15:45
anne_666
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How can you even think that?

I have Key Lime Pie in the fridge.

Oooops!

I suppose they should be commended for giving the world three bloody religions born out of delusions of a bloodthirsty dad in the sky.
No doubt they would all be fighting about something else if they didn't exist.
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Old 31-12-2016, 15:48
jp761
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCSJzw6QM_Q

yep every thread has it's tune..
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:00
nattoyaki
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You will get to heaven if you are moral and have repented your past misdeeds. I am not Religious, I am spiritual. This I know.

Hope to see you all there!!! <3
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:03
Stig
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I stopped believing in God when I was about 5. I just don't understand how people can reconcile the virgin birth, someone coming back to life, someone parting the red sea, a plague of locusts and someone with an amazing technicoloured dreamcoat as things that actually happened.

Do you not think more than one book would be talking about those things if they'd actually happened? Why is it we have loads of proof about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome etc which all happened before most of the stuff in the bible, but not a shred of evidence that any of the events of the bible happened? The only true thing in the bible was that there was a preacher called Jesus. He didn't perform miracles or come back to life though, nor was he a virgin birth or the Son of God.

I've always said that thousands of years ago someone forgot to put in the "This Book is a Work of Fiction" page into the bible but by the time they'd realised it was too late to change it.
Perhaps if you got your information from reliable sources rather than Lloyd Webber musicals you would be better informed. The Bible is not only historically accurate according to most scholars, it also answers many of the questions posed in this thread.
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:05
SULLA
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Huls better, its got a week-long lazer lightshow projected on the buildings from its main public toliets.....

Heaven hasnt got that
No need for toilets in heaven
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:07
anne_666
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Yup and there's always how not to get there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOuVDknr7oU

We had a few adolescent filthy additions.

You will get to heaven if you are moral and have repented your past misdeeds. I am not Religious, I am spiritual. This I know.

Hope to see you all there!!! <3
What? No matter how enjoyable they were? No way!
Give me the heaven of oblivion
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:09
jp761
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Yup and there's always how not to get there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOuVDknr7oU

We had a few adolescent filthy additions.
Is that you ?
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:10
anne_666
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No!
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:17
jp761
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It's fuc**** excellent what ever, that is fun. Beats the pushing an shoving being all squashed up in a smelly nightclub!
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Old 31-12-2016, 16:45
Richard46
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Perhaps if you got your information from reliable sources rather than Lloyd Webber musicals you would be better informed. The Bible is not only historically accurate according to most scholars, it also answers many of the questions posed in this thread.
Then they may be scholars but they are not Historians. Miracles are not the province of Historians.
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Old 31-12-2016, 20:54
Tanky
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Perhaps if you got your information from reliable sources rather than Lloyd Webber musicals you would be better informed. The Bible is not only historically accurate according to most scholars, it also answers many of the questions posed in this thread.
So the earth was created in 6 days?

The bible sure doesn't talk about the dinosaurs, as it all started with the garden of Eden. I wonder how man evolved from primates fit into all of it, as humans just popped out and were intelligent.

In other branches of Christianity, in the beginning there wasn't just Adam and Eve. Adam was made together with Lilith from the same earth, and was the first wife of Adam. However, she would not submit to Adam, and left Eden. Thus Eve was then created, a more submissive wife for Adam. Why's this important? Cause Lilith becomes a demon after leaving Eden, and gave birth to demonic children with Angel Samael, who's children were set lose into the world. But apparently God castrated the Angel in time, to prevent too many demon children filling the world. So are there people descended from Lilith?

Sorry the religious fanatical side got the better of me .
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:05
Nakatomi
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Perhaps if you got your information from reliable sources rather than Lloyd Webber musicals you would be better informed. The Bible is not only historically accurate according to most scholars, it also answers many of the questions posed in this thread.
I can be a scholar about Batman if I want to be. Doesn't make me a historian though. Very little of the Bible is actually accurate according to real historians. Elements are true - e.g. Jesus was real but he didn't perform miracles or come back to life, and Moses was probably based on a few different preachers, but he didn't speak to God or part the red sea.

Like most folklore and fairy tales, stuff gets embellished and added on over time.
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:07
abigail1234
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Religion only makes sense if you can disconnect the rational, logical part of your brain.

But to my mind any supposedly omniscient, omnipotent being that creates a flawed creature then demands it begs forgiveness or else punishes it for all eternity for things it does wrong during the brief time in which it lives is not worthy of prayer. Such a sadistic entity should be reviled and treated with contempt.

I prefer not to waste too much time with the whole concept anyway. Sky fairies are for children and people who cannot think properly.
Odd. I've seen some very intelligent and well-thought out and argued posts on this forum from Christians, and they don't insult posters in the way that you have. It is of course fine that you have reached this conclusion: we all have free will, to search or to dismiss but hopefully, doing it with respect.
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:17
Fairyprincess0
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No need for toilets in heaven
Thats awful. There can be something pleasurable about a much-needed 'motion'.

I dont want to go to an afterlife that rules out any sensory pleasure.....
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:20
spiney2
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Why shouldn't there be toilets in heaven, for them that want them ?
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:25
Richard46
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Odd. I've seen some very intelligent and well-thought out and argued posts on this forum from Christians, and they don't insult posters in the way that you have. It is of course fine that you have reached this conclusion: we all have free will, to search or to dismiss but hopefully, doing it with respect.
Well to be fair we have been told by at least one Christian that us non-believers will be judged (with the consequence of not being among the saved) for not believing in their God. Perhaps a word with them about respecting different views might also be in order?
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:29
Richard46
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People have the choice to be imperfect

Not possible IF we had been created by a perfect God. He would not know how to make imperfection let alone choose to do it.
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Old 31-12-2016, 21:32
abigail1234
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If there is life after death then you have to consider the logistics.

Assuming the majority of people have least lives good enough to warrant entry into heaven, say a 75/25 ratio then heaven needs to be big enough to take 75% of all people who have ever existed.

What are communities in heaven based on? Families over hundreds of generations or peer groups of friends/relations for a specific period of time? Who manages and organises this?

What happens to people who die who are second/third partners. Can you imagine trying to manage those complex relationships in heaven? It will be like an episode of Jeremy Kyle and that's before you add in the in-laws and other toxic mixes in family and friends.

Are pets allowed into heaven? If so then that adds billions of dogs, cats, birds etc to manage too.

How does St Peter manage the entry to heaven by himself given that there are thousands of people trying to gain entry every day? Will there be illegal immigrants who manage to slip in undetected?

Is there a right to appeal if you consider you have been unfairly condemned to hell? Whats the process?

What do you actually do in heaven? Unless there is a process and structure you have billions of people with nothing to do, who be no goals and aspirations, where everything is given to them without working for it. Sounds like a perfect mix for under achievement, dissafection and insurrection due to boredom.

Is it just me or when you look at the logistics does heaven seem a utopian pipe dream that would be unrealistic to manage on a practical level?
But you're thinking like a human being: do you honestly think we have the minds of God who created the world (I realise that you don't believe, but let's assume you do)? I also realise that some of your post is pretty much tongue-in-cheek

As for the question about families, it reminds me a bit of this:

"Some Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Jesus, and began questioning Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that IF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES and leaves behind a wife AND LEAVES NO CHILD, HIS BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. “There were seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died leaving no children. “The second one married her, and died leaving behind no children; and the third likewise; and so all seven left no children. Last of all the woman died also. “In the resurrection, when they rise again, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.” Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God? “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. "

I think the BIB pretty much covers it

Of course, in this hypothetical case, I'd be very reluctant to marry a woman whose husbands died in such quick succession
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