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Original poster

If you believe in Heaven

28 replies

goodheavens · 26/03/2022 10:58

How do you think it works?

I've always thought Heaven is where you meet your loved ones again. I hope so.

But what if all the loved ones don't love each other?

Do you just get your own little bit of Heaven and that is whatever you would want it to be, so there are lots of little bits of Heaven with the same people in them with different people? If that makes sense?

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AnotherPoster · 26/03/2022 11:04

I don't believe in an afterlife, but if I did, I could only imagine heaven being a state of blissfulness, where everyone went (the idea of segregation with hell and purgatory is particularly repugnant to me). So everyone who had died would be there, and hatred and ill-feeling would not exist, so no need for separate groups in Heaven for people who didn't like each other on earth.

The thought of seeing pre-deceased loved ones is so powerful and emotional, isn't it? But sadly I do not believe it will happen.

Original poster
goodheavens · 26/03/2022 11:13

That's true. In a true heaven, there would only be love. But then what about those who had more than one spouse for example?

I have mixed feelings about Heaven. I want to believe, so I can imagine seeing my loved ones again, but I've never considered that there is only Heaven, and I'm worried I'd end up in the other.

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NrlySp · 26/03/2022 18:55

Yes, I’m Catholic so it goes with the territory. Heaven is the beatific vision - which means the love of God. You truly understand the full love of God and who God is. I too struggle with the idea that those I love may not be there (if I get there!) . In the theology God is all just so if they are not there it’s for a reason.

WhatIsThisPlease · 26/03/2022 19:12

I believe that heaven isn't a place where we all go.

I believe that heaven is different for everybody and that my heaven would be filled with friends and family I've lost, at the ages I remember them most.

It would be peaceful and calm and happy and utterly filled with love.

But my mum, for example, would have her heaven and I'd be in her heaven just as she'd be in mine. But they wouldn't be the same place as everyone's heaven will be utterly personal to them.

Original poster
goodheavens · 26/03/2022 19:16

@NrlySp I was raised as Catholic, but no longer practicing. Although i do pray often. Hypocritical, probably.

@AnotherPoster yes, that is how I'm starting to think it would be. Im not sure I considered the ages, and your theory would mean I'll be far older than my mum if I do get there.

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XDownwiththissortofthingX · 26/03/2022 19:24

Maybe there's kind of a 'mid-tier' place that's a type of 'sub-heaven', where you do have to thole all the arseholes you thought death would finally rid you of, and you are free to argue like buggery and ignore people for years on end.

It's no more ridiculous a prospect than the stereotypical 'paradise' vision of heaven, but it sounds a hell of a lot more interesting.

LizzieMacQueen · 26/03/2022 19:28

@WhatIsThisPlease

I believe that heaven isn't a place where we all go.

I believe that heaven is different for everybody and that my heaven would be filled with friends and family I've lost, at the ages I remember them most.

It would be peaceful and calm and happy and utterly filled with love.

But my mum, for example, would have her heaven and I'd be in her heaven just as she'd be in mine. But they wouldn't be the same place as everyone's heaven will be utterly personal to them.

I think @WhatIsThisPlease has the closet description on how it would work. We'd all have our unique experiences and quite separate to everyone else's.

Have you watched 'life after death' with Tyler Henry? Netflix. It's most interesting.

Original poster
goodheavens · 26/03/2022 19:28

Sorry, I meant that I agree with @WhatIsThisPlease version.

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Original poster
goodheavens · 26/03/2022 19:30

No, I haven't. Maybe a bit soon for me. But I'll keep a note.

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fortheloveofcheesecake · 26/03/2022 19:32

@whatisthisplease has described better than I ever could how I believe heaven would be. Believing that brings me comfort when loved ones pass on and I think of my own mortality.

Justkeeppedaling · 26/03/2022 19:35

So everyone who had died would be there,

This is the bit I don't get about Heaven. How could everyone who has died be there?

Does that include stone age man? Roman legionaries? The Tudors?
German people? Spanish people? Still born babies? Aborted babies?

It would surely be very crowded.

LizzieMacQueen · 26/03/2022 19:39

Oh sorry OP @goodheavens , are you recently bereaved?

SoyMarina · 26/03/2022 19:41

I'm an ex catholic but I remember aged about five, being told that unbaptised babies go to Limbo. I confused it with Limerick so thought that's not too bad after all 🤪

Original poster
goodheavens · 26/03/2022 19:45

@LizzieMacQueen

I'm not sure bereaved is the right word. Someone I loved, but was now longer in much contact with.

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Kendodd · 26/03/2022 19:50

No

Kendodd · 26/03/2022 20:00

I remember watch the God channel in America in the late 80s/early 90s. They introduced a very special video one of the parishioners had made. He had been in bed one night when an angel had come to visit him and wanted to show him heaven. So he went with this angel and he was allowed to take his camcorder with him. Heaven was like a luxury five star hotel, with all his friends and family.

I have to say I prefer that version to the ISIS version of being 'serviced' by virgins.

NrlySp · 26/03/2022 20:10

@goodheavens prayer is good 🙂

CanIHaveASnaaaaak · 26/03/2022 21:04

I was raised Catholic but now am agnostic.
I like the idea portrayed in the Netflix show “The Good Place”. Your own neighbourhood so you do what you like and see others in the afterlife - but also have the space and ability unto not see anyone too.

My question on heaven (and hell) is if I was evil and went to hell - my mother wouldn’t be happy in heaven knowing I am suffering… so how can heaven be blissful knowing loved ones are in hell?

Bunbunbunny · 27/03/2022 00:31

I imagine it's just total peace no worries about all the daily crap we get caught up in. I don't really believe in hell and judgement was raised Catholic but disagreed with a lot of the teachings. Guess we'll all find out one day the truth just won't be able to share it

JulieYS · 29/03/2022 14:29

Hmmm really interesting questions!

I looked this up in the bible for you, and discovered that we shouldn't actually take it for granted that all good people go to heaven.

Here's why. When Nicodemus visited Jesus in the middle of the night (as an Israelite ruler/teacher, Nicodemus probably went under cover of darkness for fear of his fellow Pharisees, who condemned Jesus/wanted to kill him!), Jesus told him this: "And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven." John 3:13

If no-one had ascended into heaven until that point, that means that faithful people such as Noah, Moses, David, Job, and even John the Baptiser (who was beheaded) had not gone to heaven! And they were super faithful!

So I don't believe that all good people go to heaven...

Margaretmatcher · 29/03/2022 14:45

My idea is beautiful fields full of beautiful smelling flowers and people floating along happy all the time. As for meeting up with deceased family members I sincerely hope not because most of mine were pretty cruel when they were alive

Catinabeanbag · 29/03/2022 18:02

I don't think heaven is a 'place up there' that people go to, though if that's what works for you, your heaven will probably be like that for you. Why not?!
I also don't think we'll be able to be sentient in heaven or recognise each other. So I don't think there will be any 'Oh, look, here I am in heaven - and there's aunt Mabel'. I think it's only our soul, or 'essence' which goes to heaven and (for me) that's different from my conscious, thinking, brain. I'd say heaven is more about our soul going back from whence it came - back to source, or creator. Like a wisp of smoke joining a great cloud, if you want any sort of metaphor (and that's the best I can come up with!).

Chakraleaf · 29/03/2022 18:08

I don't believe In Heaven or hell.

WildFlowerBees · 29/03/2022 18:26

I don't believe heaven is a place, but I do believe that someone takes you to the other side and you meet with people you share a love for. Heaven had better be bloody real because the thought of never meeting my mum again is awful, I told her to meet me with chocolate cake! Confused

MyMoneyIsAllSpent · 29/03/2022 18:38

I listen to JeffMara on YouTube. He has many many interviews with people who have had near death experiences, they are very interesting although I avoid any that might be frightening at all. They definitely will answer your questions.

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