But heaven isnt appealing

[Lafemme]

Everyone tells me different things about my views and I don't know who to believe. My whole life I just wanted to be beautiful and have a privileged life. I am ugly and my life is a nightmare. If I can't have that, then I dont want anything at all. But the Bible says if you accept Jesus forgiveness for your sins you go to heaven. Heaven is boring and unappealing. I think its like being in church all the time, to be honest I don't really want to worship God, I'll do it but I am more concerned with enjoying my life and religion was a consolation prize that I never really wanted. I think the real life is here and now and its what I truly want. I couldn't have it so I settled for some religious paradise. I am technically a Christian but I don't have the same happy joy joy feelings that other Christians have. I don't know who or were to talk about how I feel because it is pretty strange. Would a person like me go to heaven or hell?

 

[Albion]

Everyone tells me different things about my views and I don't know who to believe. My whole life I just wanted to be beautiful and have a privileged life. I am ugly and my life is a nightmare. If I can't have that, then I dont want anything at all. But the Bible says if you accept Jesus forgiveness for your sins you go to heaven. Heaven is boring and unappealing. I think its like being in church all the time, to be honest I don't really want to worship God, I'll do it but I am more concerned with enjoying my life and religion was a consolation prize that I never really wanted. I think the real life is here and now and its what I truly want. I couldn't have it so I settled for some religious paradise. I am technically a Christian but I don't have the same happy joy joy feelings that other Christians have. I don't know who or were to talk about how I feel because it is pretty strange. Would a person like me go to heaven or hell?

I don't think we can decide that for God, but I do think that our knowledge of Heaven--from the Bible--is rather sketchy.

We do have St. John relaying his vision (in the Book of Revelation), and it tells of Heavenly worship, but I believe the bigger story is one that will be revealed to us only after death when we are capable of appreciating it. There's one thing I do think is certain, and that is that we are going to like it. Beyond that, we can't or shouldn't speculate too much.

 

[Lafemme]

I don't think we can decide that for God, but I do think that our knowledge of Heaven--from the Bible--is rather sketchy.

We do have St. John relaying his vision (in the Book of Revelation), and it tells of Heavenly worship, but I believe the bigger story is one that will be revealed to us only after death when we are capable of appreciating it. There's one thing I do think is certain, and that is that we are going to like it. Beyond that, we can't or shouldn't speculate too much.

I think there's a difference between liking and accepting

 

[Albion]

I think there's a difference between liking and accepting

Of course there is. But I think what I wrote explains the point correctly. That was that you don't know what lies ahead nor do the rest of us...except in very general terms.

That being the case, it doesn't make sense to decide that that which is usually described as wonderful, joyous, a reward, etc. is actually going to be drudgery. If that were the case, the Bible would be lying to us...and I don't see any reason to assume that to be the case.

 

[masterp48hd]

That's one of the things people don't understand about atheists, we know this life is all we got so we live it like we want, after all we're gonna die relatively soon and there is nothing more after that, so we try to live our lives the best way

 

[ananda]

Everyone tells me different things about my views and I don't know who to believe. ...

Maybe you are feeling the need to explore different views of the universe, different religions, different philosophies.

Don't just believe others ... know for yourself.

 

[essentialsaltes]

 

[Songsmith]

What I believe about heaven is that it will be in no way boring. It will be an eternity of growth in our knowledge and understanding of the creation of God. I don't think that we will have an immediate download of information and automatically understand all things. Can you imagine spending, say 1000 years looking into the thing you are most interested in? Or unlimited conversations with your best friend? Delving to the deepest depths of who they are and revealing to them the deepest parts of yourself, and still being accepted and loved? I don't think heaven will be boring. I believe it will be unlimited joy in learning and fellowship, both with God and each other.

Conversely, think about the deepest and darkest depression you've ever felt. If you haven't killed yourself due to the hopelessness you felt there must have been some measure of hope there to keep you going. Now imagine that there is no hope, ever, of coming out of that darkness and no way of escaping it either. No killing yourself, no drowning it with alcohol or drugs. Just ever present darkness and hopelessness. For eternity. This is the end awaiting those who choose it. I can't imagine why they choose this eternity, but obviously some do.

As for me, I choose to follow God, both in this life and in the life without end. Even if it is constant worship of God, which I doubt, I am good with that. He is the source of all joy and I want to be as close as I can be to His goodness.

 

[Chriliman]

What I believe about heaven is that it will be in no way boring. It will be an eternity of growth in our knowledge and understanding of the creation of God. I don't think that we will have an immediate download of information and automatically understand all things. Can you imagine spending, say 1000 years looking into the thing you are most interested in? Or unlimited conversations with your best friend? Delving to the deepest depths of who they are and revealing to them the deepest parts of yourself, and still being accepted and loved? I don't think heaven will be boring. I believe it will be unlimited joy in learning and fellowship, both with God and each other.

Conversely, think about the deepest and darkest depression you've ever felt. If you haven't killed yourself due to the hopelessness you felt there must have been some measure of hope there to keep you going. Now imagine that there is no hope, ever, of coming out of that darkness and no way of escaping it either. No killing yourself, no drowning it with alcohol or drugs. Just ever present darkness and hopelessness. For eternity. This is the end awaiting those who choose it. I can't imagine why they choose this eternity, but obviously some do.

As for me, I choose to follow God, both in this life and in the life without end. Even if it is constant worship of God, which I doubt, I am good with that. He is the source of all joy and I want to be as close as I can be to His goodness.

This is great! I like to think at some point after we die God will present us with answers to all the questions we've ever had about our physical life on earth which may lead to more unimaginable questions about God himself that will be answered for eternity since God is infinite, therefore we'd never lose interest even for eternity. All desires continuously fulfilled for eternity. This is very exciting to me and it only motivates me more to spread the good news!

Also what you said about eternal separation motivates me too but for completely different reasons. Again great post! Keep it up!

 

[zippy2006]

Everyone tells me different things about my views and I don't know who to believe. My whole life I just wanted to be beautiful and have a privileged life. I am ugly and my life is a nightmare. If I can't have that, then I dont want anything at all. But the Bible says if you accept Jesus forgiveness for your sins you go to heaven. Heaven is boring and unappealing. I think its like being in church all the time, to be honest I don't really want to worship God, I'll do it but I am more concerned with enjoying my life and religion was a consolation prize that I never really wanted. I think the real life is here and now and its what I truly want. I couldn't have it so I settled for some religious paradise. I am technically a Christian but I don't have the same happy joy joy feelings that other Christians have. I don't know who or were to talk about how I feel because it is pretty strange. Would a person like me go to heaven or hell?

Heaven is unappealing to us because we are ugly and our minds desire ugly things. It is only through the slow and constant transformation of our minds that we learn to desire what is good and beautiful.

All good things come from God, and they are mere reflections of his infinite beauty. Personal beauty and a privileged life are good things, but they are gifts from God and we are meant to place our focus primarily on the Giver rather than the gift. That is what heaven is: enjoying the gifts while counting them as nothing compared to the surpassing beauty of the Giver who we possess fully. Could it be that God has allowed the "nightmare" to show you how transitory and superficial your desires are? That even when the things you desire are absent God loves you and provides you with all that is needful?

You need to pray. And pray honestly. Tell God that you want a beautiful and privileged life and don't much care about Jesus or heaven. Strike up a dialogue with him about that. Let him speak to you in your daily life, in your joys and sorrows. Make yourself available to him in a fundamental way. Give him a chance to answer.

God bless,
zip

 

[parkerjwill]

There are descriptions of "heaven" in the Vedic literature, most notably the Srimad Bhagavatam. There it is stated that life in heaven is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge. What we experience here, in the mortal world, is a perverted reflection of the spiritual, heavenly world. In heaven the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys unlimited pastimes with His devotees.

The veil of death can and should be pierced within this human form of life.. No reason to go blindly about life. Science and religion are meant to go together. Test the knowledge within scripture. Take the medicine as it is prescribed and see for yourself the results.

 

[FireDragon76]

Some people have great lives materially, are very beautiful, and yet thoroughly miserable. Some even choose self-destructive ends.

Don't put off being happy any longer just because you think "if only things were different" you could be happy.

I think self-acceptance is very important regardless of your religious beliefs. You are what you are, God doesn't make junk.

 

[RileyG]

In all seriousness, it sounds like you might have some self-esteem or body image disorder. We cannot help you, because we are not your therapist.

That being said; (depending on your own beliefs) Heaven is union with God. It's where we will see God face to face and we will be eternally joyful, blissful for all eternity.

 

[juvenissun]

Everyone tells me different things about my views and I don't know who to believe. My whole life I just wanted to be beautiful and have a privileged life. I am ugly and my life is a nightmare. If I can't have that, then I dont want anything at all. But the Bible says if you accept Jesus forgiveness for your sins you go to heaven. Heaven is boring and unappealing. I think its like being in church all the time, to be honest I don't really want to worship God, I'll do it but I am more concerned with enjoying my life and religion was a consolation prize that I never really wanted. I think the real life is here and now and its what I truly want. I couldn't have it so I settled for some religious paradise. I am technically a Christian but I don't have the same happy joy joy feelings that other Christians have. I don't know who or were to talk about how I feel because it is pretty strange. Would a person like me go to heaven or hell?

Your faith has to be real. Otherwise, it is useless and will not help you.

Jesus tells us that we will have no more tears in the Heaven. How real could that be? We can consider it with an example: When you feel sad or unsatisfied for a particular reason, then you may imagine how good the life could be in the Heaven by just taking off that particular reason. If you have migrant headache and hate that, then you can believe that there will be no more headache for you in the Heaven.

You may think about many other similar possibilities. Whatever reason that caused you to hate this world would not exist any more in the Heaven. Would the Heaven be a place which is really wonderful, beautiful and appealing? I believe Heaven is really such a place. I can't wait to go there. Unfortunately, simply kill myself won't make it happen. If one day, I discovered that I got an incurable disease, then I would become really excited, because then I would be sure that God has issued me my traveling ticket to the Heaven.

 

[juvenissun]

That's one of the things people don't understand about atheists, we know this life is all we got so we live it like we want, after all we're gonna die relatively soon and there is nothing more after that, so we try to live our lives the best way

If I were you, then I would dedicate my life to plan and to execute a perfect crime. If one such a crime is too easy to do, then I will try to do two, or three, or more.

Tell me what is wrong in that case. You said, I should to do what I like to do.

 

[paulm50]

Religion won't solve your present problems. It tells you to suffer and enjoy it, in order to get to a better place. That may not exist.

Here's the problem. "My whole life I just wanted to be beautiful and have a privileged life. I am ugly and my life is a nightmare. If I can't have that, then I don't want anything at all."

Everyone has something beautiful in them, it only needs recognising, life is a privilege and without knowing the nightmare it's hard to offer advice. Is the problem lack of a job or one paying good wages. Lack of a job that fulfills you. Illness, age, friends, etc? Once a situation is identified it can be resolved. All a devout person will tell you is to pray to god and wait for a reply, in the mean time believe and your reward will come after you die.

In all seriousness, it sounds like you might have some self-esteem or body image disorder. We cannot help you, because we are not your therapist.

Good advice.

Neither can god help you.

 

[grasping the after wind]

That's one of the things people don't understand about atheists, we know this life is all we got so we live it like we want, after all we're gonna die relatively soon and there is nothing more after that, so we try to live our lives the best way

Most atheists, that I have seen posting here, deny the first part of your post and affirm the last. Unlike them, you seem to think there is no contradiction in the two concepts of doing what you want and living the best way. Perhaps you could expand upon that. I would suggest, for instance that living like I want would involve my acquiring the things I desire with no concern for anyone else that I have no close relationship with. In other words living pretty much like the majority of people now live but without the guilt. For some reason I do not understand, there are a number of atheists that say this a bad idea and insist that we ought to be concerned with the plight of not only others we do not know that are now alive but others that may or may not one day exist to the point that they will sacrifice acquiring some of their own dearly desired personal luxuries and even some relationships of great value to them in response to this idea. They even advocate that their close family and friends do the same. Not just strangers whose well being they have no reason to care about. As there is no way to predict even whether tomorrow the present humans will exist, to plan for the welfare of some hypothetical future humans who may well never exist at all, seems a bit ridiculous. To my mind that is an irrational response to the fact that this is the only life one has.

 

[juvenissun]

Religion won't solve your present problems. It tells you to suffer and enjoy it, in order to get to a better place. That may not exist.

I suggest you to read a few chapters in the Book of Ecclesiastes. It definitely gives you a different view.

To correct you in a very simple way, I just rephrase what you said but adding ONE key word to it:

.... It tells you to enjoy IF (or when) you suffer.

Can you see the difference? Are you able to do that?

 

[quatona]

If I were you, then I would dedicate my life to plan and to execute a perfect crime. If one such a crime is too easy to do, then I will try to do two, or three, or more.

Tell me what is wrong in that case. You said, I should to do what I like to do.

Can´t tell you that or what´s wrong with you - all I can say is: Fortunately, people like you - i.e. people who suffer from psychopathy - are but a very small minority. There´s absolutely no good reason to found our metaphysical views on your/their condition.
However, personally, I am happy about every psychopath whom religion keeps from acting upon their condition (which, though, doesn´t work with most of them).

 

[grasping the after wind]

Can´t tell you that or what´s wrong with you - all I can say is: Fortunately, people like you - i.e. people who suffer from psychopathy - are but a very small minority. There´s absolutely no good reason to found our metaphysical views on your/their condition.
However, personally, I am happy about every psychopath whom religion keeps from acting upon their condition (which, though, doesn´t work with most of them).

Do you equate crime with psychopathy? Am I a psychopath if I exceed the speed limit? The perfect crime might be embezzlement without being noticed. I do not think that is psychopathic do you? Now you may think it is wrong to embezzle but you are not the poster that the question was asked of and perhaps have a different POV on life than that poster.