Dust to dust. We die. Our dust, molecules, and atoms remain on this planet for the duration of the planet, maybe another 4 billion years. We may, for awhile, become calcified material on this rock flying through space at millions of miles an hour. Our dust is heading towards the Sag A*, when it gets hit by the Andromeda Galaxy. Meanwhile, the Sag A* and the Andromeda black hole (Does it have a name? Lets call it Joy.) are both getting sucked into the Great Attractor. Our dusty location is no longer suitable for life. The universe quickly expands so far so fast that all that is left is a cold dimly lit universe full of massive black holes. Eventually, all the black holes will either get together and pop goes another big bang, or the expansion will not allow them to gravitate towards each other, and they will finally lose their energy. So this 100 years is all we get. Pretty bleak scenario if you ask me. I think I like any religious idea where we get to have another thought - better.
The personal appeal of an idea has no relationship to it's truth. Should we adopt positions because we like the implications? Should I believe that walking in traffic won't harm me? And how indeed can we make ourselves believe something for which there is no evidence, is that possible? And more importantly, what's in between birth and death is life, why make something worth less just because it's temporal? Why is living a great life suddenly bleak just because it doesn't go on forever? How arrogant is it to want to be more permanent than even the universe itself? Get used to it, you are a sentient collection of molecules with a limited term of coherence. To me that makes life much more valuable, like a beautiful flower that lasts but a day.
None of the OP depresses me. This configuration is temporary, which is a good thing. Nothing here is eternal, so why would anyone even wish to be? As far as I am concerned, eternal life in this form may as well be eternal damnation. Ending it at some point before eternity starts is a mercy and a blessing.
Death is a change in chemical processes. It most certainly DOES exist and recycling of the materials does not negate that fact. As for the OP, I would rather be stardust than sit at the feet of some deity.
Someone once told me that Heaven is love 24/7. With the love that we experience here on Earth, it's hard to imagine the intensity that a diety's love might offer
Religious people like to tell us that God "allows" evil so that we can appreciate good. How would we appreciate the good in heaven with nothing to compare it to?
That would be a misconception. If such were the case God would not have created Heaven and Hell. Hell is the total absence of God's love and joy. A place where one's identity and self-perception is wiped clean from one's mind. A place in which minds of pure negativity run amok blindly and unintelligently going about their business. Evil is the absence of good just as dark is the absence of light, hence its inferiority. It can be destroyed and replaced by a flicker of good or light. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
That's a pretty poor analogy. Light doesn't "destroy" darkness. At most, it lights up a small corner of the darkness. If the analogy was apt, Heaven would be a few pinpricks of starlight in the vast dark ocean of space.
Another way to think of it (evil) is not as a physical entity, but rather, an idea. An idea that can be broken up into pieces and those pieces can then be rebuilt by good. I guess that is a better way of putting it. Think of a mind of pure negativity being replaced.
A Satanic cult would be an example of minds or personalities that exude evil. Their mannerisms, their words, their actions, etc. Uh yeh.
Psychotic personalities can easily mask their ugliness with a smile and the mimicry of kindness. 002:014 Khan : And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils , polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking."
It doesn't speak of silliness. It speaks of your ignorance on the nature of evil. Read the Quranic verse above. An evil person can be exposed. They are not kind. They are not loving. But they can mimic these attributes. And a greater intellect can expose them.
I'm trying to understand what YOU think the "nature of evil" is. So far, all I'm hearing is silliness. Of course people can pretend to be nicer than they really are. How does that equate to "pure negativity"?
Anyone can wear a smile and say "thank you". But how ugly is their personality or mind? Evil exists as an idea, not an entity, within the mind. A Satanic sicko can go through day to day wearing a smile while functioning at a job, but when penetrated or exposed by love, truth and light, their true colors are seen. And it's not pretty.
I don't believe heaven is supposed to be an intellectual exercise. If you have ever experienced love, then you know it's more a feeling of total bliss. Nothing else matters.