What is your idea of Heaven and why would you want to spend eternity there.?

Question

When looking at the Christian Heaven I am confronted with visions of pearly gates, streets of gold, angels, prime real estate, and a stair case with God at the top. And the Christians will arrive and praise him for all eternity.

Sorry but I think I might be happy for about two hours before I looked around and said "This is it! I'm bored already and have to do this for all eternity?!"

The Islam paradise, full of sex, women, and booze, seems more like something I would like to do for eternity. I can kind of see why the fanatics are so apt to blow themsleves up for Allah.

So what is heaven and why do you subscribe to you doctrinal vision.

NOTE: When I was still a believe-whatever I used to struggle with this idea. Now as an atheist I find it comical. This is not meant to be offensive I am merely curious. And if you find yourself offended... get over it.

Is the christian heaven then simply better then hell. If that is the case then doesn't christianity become a fear-based religion.

This is not a true portrayal of Islamic paradise however it is still more fullfilling then the Christian Heaven.

Answer 1

Understand the true meaning and purport of Heaven and all your queries would automatically dissolve.


Heaven (aka Swarga in Hinduism) is a place in the mighty Cosmos wherein the souls rest in peace until they get to manifest a body on Mother Earth. But there is one condition attached. Any soul can only go to Heaven provided there is a positive balance of karma in hand.

All souls with a negative balance of karma go to hell (aka Naraka in Hinduism).

For every soul (aka Atman in Hinduism) at any point of time there are three abodes available. Either manifest a body on Mother Earth provided matching womb is available (for any soul to manifest on Mother Earth the existence of matching parents is an essential must).

If the matching parents are not available on Mother Earth then it is imperative that the soul would have to rest either in Heaven or hell based on the balance of karma of the earlier manifestations.

And what is karma? Right from the first manifestation the closing balance of any life form is transferred to the next manifestation through the process of karma. It is only karma which keeps the system going. In absence of karma the complete existence of Cosmos would come to a halt.

Does this mean that the reincarnation and the rebirth theory are correct... yes, they are hundred percent correct. Every human being started his first journey as an amoeba (single cell formation), then evolved into insect life, animal life and finally gained the form of a human being.

In all these stages the system of Heaven and hell plays role only after one has manifested the form of a human being... the last in the chain of manifestations.

We need to remember here that it is not Heaven that one would want to go but it is the kingdom of God where Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed went. More on heaven here- http://www.godrealized.org/heaven/way_to_heaven.html

Answer 2

My friend heaven in the bible is not as you described it. It is a Kingdom an economy if you will. The language the Bible uses to describe it is symbolic, trying to tell us it is perfection in the extreme. The book of Revelation tells us that Heaven will be one new thing after another, so just about the time you think you're about to get bored something new happens. I was an atheist for a time. I listened to what other atheist had to say, but I never seriously investigated the claims of the bible for myself which I doubt you have either (as evidenced by your question). Before you refuse to believe know what it is you are refusing. I challenge you to investigate Christ with an open mind. Start by reading Lee Strobels book The Case for Christ it might just cause you to see things differently.

Answer 3

My idea of heaven ties in with Hinduism to a great extent - that we are reincarnated (energy is neither created nor destroyed, but recycled in life) until we are ready to seek what must be sought; ourselves. I believe that everyone must be ready to seek the knowledge of the self, and when we finally are ready, the energy of the body is given to a new life, and the spirit is free to roam the cosmos, attempting to know what there is to know. Hell, with the accumulation of all of that knowledge, the spirit may even be able to create new life in a separate universe, to be the misunderstood God of a different realm!
This is obviously a very personal idea, chocked full of mysticism and speculation, but hey, it's what i hope for.

EDIT
And in the realm of heaven in the christian ideal, there is no time, as we understand it. It's not like you live out each day, one at a time, like this life. You exist in one moment, which is the past, present and future all at once. So... you wouldn't really feel anything, much less boredom.

Answer 4

First of all, you don't go from being a believer to being an atheist--you either believe in a higher power or you don't, period.

Second, there is no "Christian" heaven. True, heaven is reserved for those who accept Christ as their saviour, but that could apply to followers of any religion.

What do I think heaven is like? Well, basically, just like earth, only better--no crime, no poverty, no disease, no wars, or any of that other bad stuff. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that citizens of heaven live any differently than morally upright people here in this dimension. There are no streets of gold or pearly gates--as for the latter, if only you accept Christ, your entry is guaranteed; you'll have to answer for your bad behaviour, but that's not to gain entry because if that were the case, no one could enter.

Of course, I do believe that heaven's appearances can never be known precisely by anyone here; in short, heaven vastly exceeds all of our expectations.

And I can't speak for Islamic beliefs, except to say that true Muslims do not stoop to terrorist actions in the name of religion.

Answer 5

Some would say it is better than the alternative - but that's not the answer.
I don't know much about Heaven. The Bible doesn't tell me much - just describes a vision John had - and visions are meant to be interpreted.
However one thing I know: I will be with somebody there who loves me as I am, who has challenged me, comforted me, strengthened me, rescued me, sometimes rebuked me, - somebody who really loves me. His name is Jesus. I don't expect to be bored with Him for the first couple of billion years, nor for the next couple of billion years.
As to the Muslim heaven - wow! sounds like fun! - for men. Except that:
1) it doesn't exist
2) actually I think th excitement would wear off long before the first billion years was up! In fact - can you imagine even a month or two of that? Just think! You would be so sick of it!

Answer 6

I think Heaven is really more like home. I think that we are creatures of spirit that come to the physical plane to learn something specific and I think that "home" or "heaven" is an alternate reality that cannot be explained fully, because we have no point of reference for a spirit existence here. I think that each explanation of the afterlife is an attempt to try to explain to humans how wonderful it is to be "home" in terms that each culture can enjoy and work for - because in the end we need to return home. If we live with a strong desire to return home, we are kind of constantly reminding ourselves what we need to do when this ride is over - like trying to memorize your parking space number.

Peace!

Answer 7

The Only Heaven, the Heaven God created- is described as the New Jerusalem ( His Kingdom) In the last book of Revelation- You can read it and know ( have a glimpse) of what it will be like.

I cannot wait to meet my Lord and Savior! I know there is no other besides Him. Also the bible speaks of Heaven as a place with no more pain, torment, tears, anger, nothing negative. We will be continually filled with the Joy of the Lord....no darkness, no night- God will illuminate the heavens with His Glory....I cannot imagine how wonderful it will be, but that it will be FANTASTIC. Just knowing that I am there with the Lord makes it more than enough~

Answer 8

Heaven is dwelling in the presence of Almighty God. Joy is ever-increasing as the dross of imperfection is iradicated and a soul is refined into a more glorious image of God's purpose for an individual. Freedom from duplicity.
Carnal pleasure that Islam promises is self gratification to an extreme. It's end is death. What is glorious in that?

So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict. But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:16-26

Answer 9

Most people who subscribe to a so called heaven that encourages sensual pleasures beyond this world such as the Muslim belief sounds too earthly to me. For me Jesus Christ the Son of God is heaven for where ever he reigns LOVE REIGNS. Heaven is so far more than we can imagine because God who has created a place for those who love and adore Him will be surprised as how wonderful this place will be.

Answer 10

Heaven is so much more than what u described.... think about! and GOD is HOLY..... the islam paradise is hell instead there won't be sex, or women and booze, there is only fire and torment there!! sex, women, and booze is all on earth.... and we have free will either to serve GOD or serve satan.... sex is not a sin if done in a marriage, out of marriage it's called fornication..... GOD IS HOLY!!