Do you believe in Heaven ?

[Sunbliss]

Just that. Do you believe in Heaven? If so what do you think it’s like. Im not religious but do believe there is a Heaven or would like to believe there some place we will see loved ones again and find peace ourselves.

No

Ha ha ha definitely not. Doesn’t exist. When we die that’s it dust

"I never understand why atheists do this. Fair enough if they don’t believe, but it’s like they try to unsettle the ones that do.*

Exactly. They can even give their reasons if they like, but laughing at people (see comment above mine) is making a mockery of people's religion and it's disgusting.

I actually think it’s so rude to mock people when they’ve suffered losses. @FabbyChix I’m looking at you. I hope you never have the pain of losing a child & want to be reunited with them as some have on here. Shame on you.

I understand why the idea of gods/ a god and an afterlife occurs in many ancient myths and religions. I understand why even today, with all our scientific knowledge, some people find the concept comforting when they are grieving or having to cope with other emotional stresses.

But I find the idea of Heaven irrational and therefore impossible to believe in.

There's nothing disgusting in starting that. I don't mind people countering my reason with their faith (which is just a synonym for belief without evidence) and equally believers should be able to cope with their ideas being dismissed. If their faith can't cope with rationality or if they find logic too upsetting then they shouldn't open an internet thread where such views will inevitably be posted.

1066 I agree.

Of course it’s fine to say you don’t believe but it’s not fine to laugh at people

Yes, I do believe in heaven. It is a place of contentment and happiness.

Given that religion frequently threatens those of us without faith with eternal damnation/hell etc I’m not so sure a little laughter about faith is so bad really ?

Should add I don’t think o ever do ‘laugh’ at those with faith. My Verbalised response to faith (exceedingly rare) is not emotional but tends to be rational I hope.

@1066vegan there's nothing wrong with your post, you expressed your opinion, which is the reason for this thread. The issue is people who are laughing at those who believe.

People who believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster get the same ridicule, it's very disrespectful.

Thar what I was trying to say Rebel but you put it so much better than me

It’s pretty pointless to have these kind of threads, as people either believe or they don’t, and you’ll never convince either side to change their mind!
I believe Christ’s promise that He has prepared a place for us in heaven, and that we will have life eternal. I had one encounter with the presence of God that convinced me of that, and I look forward to being reunited with my much loved and missed DH who died 28 years ago.
You either believe Christ rose from the dead and was God incarnate, or you think he was a liar and a fool for choosing to spend his life in poverty and service, and his death in agony. And that all his disciples were liars and idiots too, who accepted flogging and crucifixion themselves in order to spread the message of the gospel. Personally I think it’s rather more likely that only the inspiration of knowing the truth would have given them the courage to do that.

I agree. Whilst an ‘avowed’ atheist I choose not to think of my lovely old ma as ‘dust’ too carefully. We can have a robust discussion without triggering words for those vulnerable to them.

@Babdoc That was so beautifully put. I would love to know about your experience with God, but I know such things are intensely personal and also there is a risk of them being mocked here. I am glad you had it and I believe you will see your husband again too

I don't really think it was one or the other @babdoc

I don't think that saying you're worm food or dust is in the slightest bit disrespectful. That's what I'll be and I have come to terms with it. My dad died suddenly a year ago. He's gone. I know that I'll never see him again. We talk about him; that's the only way he lives on.

That view is too harsh for some people but if your grief is too raw to be able to cope with these kinds of opinions then you really shouldn't come onto these kinds of threads where you'll inevitably read posts that you find upsetting.

There's also nothing wrong to effectively going back into the earth. The minerals of everything being renewed is part of why it works.

@1066vegan given that these are EXACTLY the type of posts that bereaved people often read, how hard is it really to put things in a way that is less blunt? What's more important: someone hanging onto their sanity by a thread because their child has died NOT having their feelings hurt further by unnecessary bluntness, or people not having to think about their choice of words for two seconds?

People who are grieving don't always make the healthiest choices and can be drawn to threads like this. It's not hard to bear that in mind and express the same point using less harsh language.

There's also nothing wrong to effectively going back into the earth. The minerals of everything being renewed is part of why it works

That's fine. And expressed very differently from describing someone as worm food. It May be true but it's immature to say it. In the same way we don't tell someone their bum looks massive in an outfit if they ask us, we couch it in nicer terminology.

I believe in an afterlife but not the way it's portrayed as heaven and hell.

Yes. I probably wouldn't say worm food as such. I do believe energy does not disappear and im not sure about reincarnation. I think I do believe. I do not believe in heaven or hell though.

I don't know, I wish I did. I'd love to 'see' my Mum again or feel her love. She died when I was 8, 34 years ago. My Mum took us to church regularly, have rarely been since she died.

I'm frightened by the concept of reincarnation - what If I get reincarnated and its horrible?

I'm terrified of dying and have been since my Mum died (suddenly, accident at home)

I try and remember that energy never dies, that we are all stardust and will eventually return to that. I tell my children that love never dies

I don't want to be forgotten about, my existence is really important to me.

I'd love to know what the future brings.

I used to want to live forever until I had a dream about how horrible it would be watching all your loved ones die time after time after time.

So now, I don't know. I wish it were real.

For now I do as my DH advises whenever I feel my 'fear' I try and live the best life I can.