Should I feel guilty for wondering if Heaven really does exist?

Question

I'm not non-religious, but don't attend church regularly. I'd like to believe Heaven exists, but just don't know for sure. Does that make me a bad person, or does God forgive such questions as being human? I think some people say they totally believe in things just to feel God will accept them into Heaven when their days on Earth are at an end. What do you think? My mother recently died and I sure would feel better if I felt more sure that she is in a wonderful place at the side of God........

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

You're not wondering if Heaven really does exist, you're wondering if you should believe that it does. There's a difference. As far as I'm concerned, deliberately choosing to believe something that is obviously not true is not rational.

I'd like to believe that Santa Claus exists, but wanting that doesn't make it so. Death is hard enough to deal with - it shouldn't be hard to accept because it's the one thing that we're all guaranteed to do. You can't grieve until you move past denial, and believing in Heaven is a form of denial. It's not psychologically healthy. Give yourself credit for being able to deal with death in a rational manner and not taking refuge in delusion when the going gets tough.

Answer 3

there is no such thing as heaven with fluffy clouds and a hell with burning flames. when we die, we "sleep" when Christ returns, he will resurrect the dead and take his believers to His paradise which can be considered heaven. because in this paradise, there will be no pain, no suffering, no death, no hate, no hunger, etc... hell is where we are at now. all the sin that we are surrounded by daily. the innocent being punished, hate, war, rape, hunger, addiction, ect,... many people dont know this and many other things. it is not at all stupid to want to find the Truth. the Truth is there for us to find. if we seek our Lord he will come into our hearts and make everything better! i would like if you would join a Bible study so that way you could learn and have knowledge about where you come from and where you will go. it makes life make sense! God Bless! p.s. your mother is just fine! you will be with her again one day!

Answer 4

I think everyone wonders at some time in their lives. Why else would we seek an answer, and how else would we be so sure of that answer if we hadn't considered the alternative. This is a very soul-searching time for you. I believe that a family is so basic and important, it is everywhere in the bible and religion, we even call God, The Father. Families are meant to be an enduring component in the afterlife. Your mother is in a wonderful place, with many of her family with her. They are safe and watching over you.
I am sorry you are missing her.

Answer 5

no,it is perfectly normal to have those feelings. All Christians have. You just need to be brutally honest with God and pray to him about your doubts. He will open up your mind to him if you truly ask for it and in the end you will have a deeper relationship with him. That may be the purpose of your doubt in the first place.
I am so sorry for you on the loss of your Mother. I am sure that she is in heaven. The only way for you to truly find out is by getting there yourself. Please keep believing and find comfort that God will always love you no matter what your questions are.

Answer 6

I can sympathize with your grief.

I was still a Christian when my father died, and I didn't know where he was or what happened to him. That just about drove me nuts.

I got really involved in my religion at that point, wanting to make sure I'd see him again.

But then a little later, I started to learn things about my religion and the Bible that I didn't know. I fought hard to keep my faith, precisely because of my father. But in the end, I couldn't ignore what I had learned. It took a while, but I eventually left Christianity...

I'm now an atheist. Some atheists, though not many, believe in an afterlife. I don't. That is kinda hard to accept... but ya know, just because my father is no longer there doesn't mean that the relationship isn't.

The relationship we had is still very much alive in me, in my brothers, and in everyone whose lives he touched.

I'm very sorry to hear about your mom.

Answer 7

Always I had been told that I "should believe without a shadow of a doubt.", but I have had times in my life when I didn't have just a shadow - I had a whole eclipse! He knows us. He knows we will wonder - He just expects us to keep proving things to ourselves.

I have been praying and asking questions and asking for proof - when suddenly a bright light filled the room. I opened my eyes, expecting, believing.....the car passed and I was there alone in the dark with my doubts. But I kept looking, and eventually, someone who doesn't even know what they're doing will say something and I will feel His spirit wash over me - confirming all my beliefs, and erasing my doubts.

I like this scripture: Thessolonians 5:21

Luck.

Answer 8

You shouldn't feel guilty for having questions. Even John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus and saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove, upon Jesus, asked if Jesus was the one, or if there is another coming. Jesus didn't rebuke him. Instead, he did many great miracles, then told John's disciples to go back and tell John everything they had seen.

As far as heaven existing, there certainly IS a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Jesus spoke at great lengths about both, using parables to explain the unexplainable.

The only problem is that all of us stand guilty for breaking God's Laws (we have lied, stolen, etc, etc, etc), but the wages of sin is death, and our sins have created an unbridgable gap.

This is why God sent Jesus - to die in our place, to pay the penalty for OUR sins (crimes against God), and to reconcile us to our loving heavenly Father.

When we acknowledge our sins before God, and ask Him to forgive us, He will forgive us. When we repent (turn from) our sins, He will dwell in us by His very Presence, and prepare us for eternity in heaven.

I pray that you will find God's grace and forgiveness, and be reconciled to God.

Answer 9

You shouldn't feel guilty for wondering about things. The more I learn, the more I question. I felt guilty at first too, but I realized that I am just human, and it is human nature to wonder about things. The way to the truth is to find the answer within yourself. You can wonder all you want, but you know what the truth is-deep down inside its there.

Answer 10

I think any good priest would answer your questions with honesty and tell you no. I think the only person who can answer whether or not God forgives you for your doubt is God. I suggest taking some time and praying to him and following your instincts in the matter.

I"m sorry to hear about your mom. Maybe talk to her at her grave.

Good luck. And don't beat yourself up for doubt. I doubt God would do the same.

Answer 11

my mother just recently died 9 months ago that's when i really had to lean on god to make me understand why but your mother is up there with mine watching us having a discussion about our lord and savior i bet your mother is smiling from ear to ear. god bless you and stay encouraged and by the way they are in heaven such a place does exist so take comfort in that on rest on gods word because it is true