Have you considered the desirability of Eternal Life?

Question

Eternity is a very, very, very long time. Think of the longest time you can think of. Then multiply by a trillion. That's just the beginning! You've still got an eternity to go. Granted that Eternal Bliss is better than Eternal Torment, but if Christianity were true, I'd want to opt out of both. Do my thing for a while, and then disappear into oblivion. An afterlife that, basically, is just like before birth---that wasn't so bad, was it? You already did half an eternity of nothingness, and you didn't even notice. Easy.

Other world religions don't promise Eternal Life as a reward. The Hindu religion, for example, you get eternal life through reincarnation, whether you want it or not, whether you're good or not---and no eternal torment for a finite number of transgressions. It's a burden to go through those infinite cycles of life. Buddhism was invented as a way out---a way to get off that eternal wheel into a kind of oblivion.

Answer 1

What amuses me is people who long for eternal life in heaven, yet don't know what to do with their time on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Answer 2

Problem #1: You're assuming time exists in eternity. We are only bound by time in this physical universe. Outside of this universe the rules change.
Problem #2: God created us, therefore he knows what brings us joy. There is no chance of anyone being unhappy in heaven, not because we won't have the ability but because we won't have a reason.

Answer 3

Check it out:

http://www.cloudwater.org/dailypureland.html

"Furthermore, Sariputra, in the world known as the Land of Bliss there are lotus ponds all made of seven precious substances, namely, gold, silver, emerald, rock crystal, red pearl, sapphire, and mother of pearl as the seventh. These ponds are brimming with water that is cool, clear, sweet, light, soft, free from odor, free from disease, refreshing, and invigorating. In each of these ponds the bottom slopes gently along the shore, so that the water reaches the right depth in every bathing spot and a crow could drink from the edge of the pond. The bottom of each pond is covered with golden sand. And all around on each of the four sides of these lotus ponds four sets of stairways descend into the pools. These stairways are colorful, elegant, and made of four precious substances, namely, gold, silver, emerald and rock crystal. And on every side of these lotus ponds grow gem trees, colorful and graceful, made from seven precious substances, namely, gold, silver, emerald, rock crystal, red pearl, sapphire, and mother of pearl as the seventh. ..."

And on, and on, and on, and please read the section of the Amitabha Sutra about the Buddhas of the six directions praising this particular Sutra.

In other words, nah, wrong, not! Buddhists are not into oblivion. That's a complete misconception. Buddhists are into Enlightenment.

Namu Amida Butsu
Xing Ping

http://blog.myspace.com/res6zeam

Answer 4

I don't believe in eternal torment, and eternal life is effortless....you come and go as you please, live more lives when you choose too, travel to other worlds, find every answer...it sounds like heaven to me.

I am not christian, I am primitive baptist....which is a highly misunderstood religion because of its simpleness....but its beautiful.

Answer 5

Yahoo! Answers is not a place for you to preach your beliefs, it is a place for people to ask questions and get answers. This is not a question. Please don't spam...

Answer 6

No. I have much more tangible things to think and consider abouıt. Get real kid.