Do you believe in heaven?

[PickasillyChristmasName]

Or something else after you have died?

I think I'm reassessing what I believe in at the moment, as a local mum was killed on Sunday. I think I believe in heaven - but surely for her heaven would have her husband and little girl in and as they're still alive, how can that work?

[PickasillyChristmasName]

bump

[nailpolish]

to have a heaven you have to have a hell (in extreme terms) or everywhere would be heaven.

my head hurts when i think about all this and i dont even know if i believe what i say.

[Gumdrop]

OK deep breath - I have Quakerish tendencies and I believe that you return to the Light from which you came.

Sorry, its a bit vague isn't it, but for me it means I don't expect to see individual people "waiting for me".

Maybe I should change my name to Gumdrip!

[nailpolish]

gumdrop, so what happens when you get there (not being funny)

ps that is so sad about the mother leaving behind her dh and dd

[PickasillyChristmasName]

I suppose it depends on how you see "yourself". I probably have a basic understanding of me being how I am now, but I suppose what makes me "me" is what is inside me - my soul if I am having my vaguely Christian tendencies.

I probably still have a childish view of heaven with big green fields or something like that and as God being an old man with a beard.

And I also suppose that if I had less of a woolly belief then I would feel secure that whatever happens when I die, it will be fine.

But I'm not sure I do.

[NomDePlumPudding]

Personally I don't believe in heaven, but I do think that there is something beyond death. I think that there is a spirit world which exsists parallel to ours but I'm not entirely sure what I believe it to be like. Another v vague answer....

[Gumdrop]

Oh heck, and I thought I was going to get away with making warm woolly comment which wouldn't be taken up.

I don't think anything "happens", because I don't think there will be a "me" "other people" or a "place" in which anything could happen. All that will be left of "me" will be the impact. good and bad, which I've had in the lives of people who are left behind. PS this is my own woolly thinking and not part of any formal belief held by Quakers in general. IME, ask any 3 Quakers about anything and you get 3 completely different answers - its why I love 'em.

It is very sad about the mum, and her family. Personally, I hope that the love she gave them will outlast the pain of losing her.

[nailpolish]

heaven is just what you want it to be. your heaven will not be the same as mine (i dont believe there is a god who created heaven).

cant imagine what the mum's heaven is (who died) i just hope shes in it. wonder what her dh and dd are going through. its such a shame

[JoolsTide]

I'd like to think so but not sure I believe it!

[nailpolish]

gumdrop, thats lovely, and makes sense actually to me

[SmokedSamN]

Gumdrop, it makes sense to me too, and is something close to what I would 'believe' in if I took the time to think it through.

[KateandtheElves]

Gumdrop, that was a wonderful way of putting it. "All that will be left of "me" will be the impact, good and bad, which I've had in the lives of people who are left behind."

I don't believe in heaven, but I absolutley agree with that Gumdrop.

I have a hard time with this with my daughters, especially my 5 year old, because people sometimes tell her Daddy is in heaven and I don't believe that myself. (Telling her he is in a certain place doesn't help her understand the finality of death I don't think.) I tell her that although Daddy isn't actually with us physically anymore, he is still in our hearts and in our minds, and in that way he will always be with us.

My sister-in-law on the other hand, said she wouldn't be able to get through the day if she didn't believe that one day she will be able to sit down and have a beer with her brother in heaven, whatever or wherever that may be.

[SantaFio2]

I agree your spirit lives on. i am unsure whether it would be heaven.

I have seen many things that arent considered "real' and too many coincidences for it not to be real.

That said my sister always used to say, why fear death - if there is nothing you will not know about it and if there is something, well thats all good:o

[ladyhawk]

thinking about this thread i believe in a heaven where everyone i ever knew who has passed away will be there we will all know and recognise each other all the peoples lives we touched and those who have touched ours will be there .I imagine a happy place with no tears or sadness no sickness or disease where all our questions will be answered a place where all those things that happen that we find hard to accept will be explained and we will finally understand.
I find it hard to believe their is nothing after death ....otherwise what is the point of life.
i guess i need to believe that we come into this world form relationships,love ,bond with people,to think that when we die these end just seems too cruelxxxxx