What do you do in Heaven?

[John V]

So my position that the Universe was not 'created' for the exclusive use of a select group of dead humans on one unremarkable planet supports your pastor's speculation that it was?

Yes, as your position was based on the vastness of the universe relative to number of humans. If his speculation had been about colonization, you might have a point. As it regarded exploration, though, you don't.

I don't remember postulating that pondering the implications of 'sin' - a horrible brand name for a faith system I don't share - causes the reader to engage in the practise themselves. What I meant was that in an environment where 'sin' is nonexistent, there will be no lust, blasphemy, killing etc that is the meat and drink of drama.

If such things can be pondered without sinning, then they can still be written about. Plus, you continue to ignore art, music, science, and technology.

For instance, one of the most ancient of storytelling forms is the Hero's Journey, popularised by the Star Wars franchise (interesting how many of these discussions come back to Star Wars at some point). Without the desire to explore, literally or spiritually, to seek better horizons and improve oneself, or to learn why one doesn't need to, there can be no journey; hence no story. No conflict, no resolution, no drama. The best that can be pondered is the memory of such things.

I'm a bigger fan of the three act structure myself. I happen to be going to a Nanowrimo write-in after work. Either way, if one can contemplate conflict without sinning, books can still be written. If not, there's still art...well, you know the drill by now.

As for the the last point in my previous, you've really not seen that before?

First, "we've seen" as you used it earlier implies that we've seen it proven. Now you're just using it as we've seen it alleged. Yes, some Christians allege that all we do in heaven is sing to God. I've never seen them prove that position Biblically.

Not even:

Christianity believes that Jesus will return and restore the Earth to what it was like before sin.

God will essentially bring heaven down to Earth and we will live our lives to his glory without sin. It will be like life now, businesses running, sports, entertainment.....but there will be no more sin or suffering and everyone will love the LORD and do all things to his glory. We will be able to worship God in his very near presence and do as He's created us to do for all eternity.

Interestingly there will no longer be marriages, we will be more like you would imagine angels to be....completely content in our singleness.

Second, this quote doesn't even assert that. Like life now, businesses running, sports, entertainment..." does not indicate people reprogrammed with a single thought, a single desire.

I'm in the position of an outsider trying to make sense of sorts of all the loose and contradictory threads.

It seems more like you're trying to make nonsense of the varying positions and invent contradictions where they don't exist. THat doesn;t bother me, but let's call a spade a spade.