[Fiction]

Here is just two problems. Feel free to add more.

1. Is there free will in heaven? If yes then does evil exist? If no then how is it heaven?

2. How can you live in eternal bliss if you know that a friend or loved one is suffering eternally in hell? Let's say your mother was a skeptic agnostic and you tried for years to convert her but never succeeded, would you be able to live in heaven and be content knowing that your mother was burning and suffering in hell?

[Mens Rea]

hell = infinite punishment for finite sins
therefore hell is infinitely unjust

where are heaven and hell located?
the three tiered earth model was destroyed in the capurnican revolution

[Broken Bulwark]

Originally Posted by Fiction

How can you live in eternal bliss if you know that a friend or loved one is suffering eternally in hell?

If you love a hellbound person you go to hell. Sorry. It's just the rules. I didn't make em.

[BlackBeltNow]

thats one argument i use against christians. i say even if i could get into heaven, i wouldn't, cuz most friends i know owuld be in hell.

[cakewalkbaby]

I'm pretty sure somewhere in the bible it says that when you go to heaven you forget your past life. Your memory gets wiped, you won't even recognize your own family. It's one of those passages most christians want to ignore.

[Reyesnuthugr]

1. There is freewill at your birthday party. But if some dude gets drunk and suddenly makes ita goal to grope your sweet lil nutz, he gets booted from the party premise (I hope). Get the premise? teehee

2. Perhaps (as I believe) hell is a state of intense remorse and not a physical location. There is pain and anguish. And since time does not technically exist, it is therefore properly described as "timeless", manifesting the feeling of eternity, the whole enchilada of guilt. Perhaps it stops when fully recompensated for by appropriate guilt and learning, which would make sense.

In that case, it is possible to have positive attitude while your friends cope.

-----

A good way to look at it is-- assuming for the sake of the argument that it is/could be valid/exist (which has already been stated), the details of the eternal scheme of things are not known by anyone with finite mind. Nobody.

A few centuries ago, one could propose the theory of a combustion engine (to scientists, no less) and be ridiculed with unending laughter/confusion
But it's always fun to discuss.

[DridenGX]

Originally Posted by Fiction

Here is just two problems. Feel free to add more.

1. Is there free will in heaven?

I don't believe so. You will no longer be allowed to be like God. After the sin we were able to see the differences of good and evil and became incharge of our lives and decisions, but once we devote our lives to God living through Christ, you become like Christ in that you obey God and only do his bidding.. i.e you will still be the same but your thoughts, actions, words etc will all be pure.. all evil, dirty, etc will be wiped in heaven. Remember when you gave your life to Jesus you died.. and you are now living through Christ..

2. How can you live in eternal bliss if you know that a friend or loved one is suffering eternally in hell?

The Bible says you will not recognize family, friends, and others who are to be sentenced to the lake of fire. Why? I supose to spare us pain, but the real answer is probably because once your made your choice to reject God, reject Jesus to cleanse you, and Holy Spirit to be within you to be pure, You are not apart of God, therefore you(or whoever does believe) will only know your heavenly family.

Let's say your mother was a skeptic agnostic and you tried for years to convert her but never succeeded, would you be able to live in heaven and be content knowing that your mother was burning and suffering in hell?

It states in Parables and in teaches that those who make it into Heaven will not know those who don't make it, but those who are being judged and do not make it will recognize those that did make it. So if your mother is being sentenced to hell she could be on her knees as God is judging her, crying, weeping, and on the side behind God could be you in white with an emotionless face not knowing who she is.

[DridenGX]

Originally Posted by BlackBeltNow

thats one argument i use against christians. i say even if i could get into heaven, i wouldn't, cuz most friends i know owuld be in hell.

That is something I heard all my life. We'll party in hell, its fun etc. It's a joke. hell is described by many religions to be a place of pain and torture everlasting, there will be no time for anything but pain. Some say whatever you hate, fear, or hurts you the most is what you have eternity to look forward to. The Bible says its just a large crater type hole filled with fire/lava that never stops burning you. Either way, Hell is not a place to be with a friend. Hell, I wont even go to the store or double date with a friend, I sure aint going to hell with one

Edit - The Hell we talk about now is actually considered a "Heaven" a place where Satan and his fallen angels rule since he wanted to be like God, but make no mistake, come judgement day he is going to burn as well. People get this misconception they will be in Hell reigning with Satan when they die, but bible and other books say otherwise

[Gorgo]

Another way to look at it is that Hell equals eternal death not suffering. Ole Aunt Edna isn't out there buring like fat on a barbque but snuffed out forever. Revalations states that a new heaven and earth are created where there will be no pain or suffering.

I'm not sure where modern christians get the idea that the soul is an eternal thing. The bible clearly says "Fear not the man who can destroy the body but he that can destroy the body and the soul".

The problem I have with many christians is that they try to convert you by fear instead of love. God isn't out there sitting on a big throne trying to zap you. He has given us a way to reach him through the sacrifice of Christ. Christ died and suffered so that we won't have to and as surely as he rose from death we shall as well.

People who don't want to be in heaven won't be there. When we as people can throw off the shroud of our own self importance and realize that there is something greater than us, then we can begin to serve God.

And remember that God loved grappling so I bet there are some serious competitions in heaven. In Genesis chapter 32 God wrestled Jacob till God used some technique to dislocate his Jacob's hip.

Wootd!!!!!! Christ by hiplock

[RobT]

So, if I was to go to Heaven, what would it be like? What can I do there?