Eternity in Heaven - Scary?

[Nay_Sayer]

I see this happen from time to time. Atheists zero on on one aspect without considering the whole ball of wax. If God is infinite, powerful and intelligent enough to create the universe, created us in his image, don't you think he might have ideas how to provide fulfillment to our minds? For example, what if our minds now are limited by the vehicle they are in (our brains). What experiences could we have if some gate was opened to the richness of the universe of possible knowledge/experiences/emotions/etc.? You don't know what you don't know.

What if I do know?

What if what I know is that I know your wrong and you're headed for undue suffering?

Repent before its too late. RAmen

[Chad32]

Yeah, because we know god never screws up the things he tries to do. Oh wait, he does. Saying that maybe we're limited to the vehicle we're in, and somehow it will work anyway is a non-answer. It doesn't help things.

[Whateverist]

Here is some rare footage taken in heaven showing the blessed going about their days until a heretic arrives and some angels are summoned to deal with her.  Looks like someone co-opted this rare footage to turn it into an advertisement for something at the end.

[Jehanne]

I see this happen from time to time. Atheists zero on on one aspect without considering the whole ball of wax. If God is infinite, powerful and intelligent enough to create the universe, created us in his image, don't you think he might have ideas how to provide fulfillment to our minds? For example, what if our minds now are limited by the vehicle they are in (our brains). What experiences could we have if some gate was opened to the richness of the universe of possible knowledge/experiences/emotions/etc.? You don't know what you don't know.

It's a beautiful myth, Steve, but still a myth. I am excited about math and science. I leave the fantasy to Star Trek and Wonder Woman.

[Angrboda]

I see this happen from time to time. Atheists zero on on one aspect without considering the whole ball of wax. If God is infinite, powerful and intelligent enough to create the universe, created us in his image, don't you think he might have ideas how to provide fulfillment to our minds? For example, what if our minds now are limited by the vehicle they are in (our brains). What experiences could we have if some gate was opened to the richness of the universe of possible knowledge/experiences/emotions/etc.? You don't know what you don't know.

Yeah, I've heard similar pitches from advocates of expanding consciousness through shrooms, DMT, or ahayuasca. I'm sure if I weren't what I am, then things would be different. Well, of course they would. The question is not so much are there things we don't know which might make heaven desirable. Well, of course, but navigating life is based upon extrapolation from what we do know, not from things we don't. There just might be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There just might be a winning lottery ticket waiting for me to buy it. There just might be advanced aliens living underground on the dark side of the moon. If we made choices based on what might be rather than on what is, the number of choices to consider explodes exponentially and we become nothing more than examples of a cosmic Buridan's ass. You have faith, Steve, and well, good for you. As a matter of history, faith has proved a remarkably unreliable guide in steering our choices. But best of luck with that. You might consider the other edge of that sword that, despite all the promises and such, God really is a monster, those promises are lies, and even if there is a God, what's waiting for you in the afterlife isn't any kind of heaven. But hey, you don't know what you don't know, right?

[Succubus]

I see this happen from time to time. Atheists zero on on one aspect without considering the whole ball of wax. If God is infinite, powerful and intelligent enough to create the universe, created us in his image, don't you think he might have ideas how to provide fulfillment to our minds? For example, what if our minds now are limited by the vehicle they are in (our brains). What experiences could we have if some gate was opened to the richness of the universe of possible knowledge/experiences/emotions/etc.? You don't know what you don't know.

And you don't know what eternity is. Consider a diamond the size of Jupiter and once every trillion years a fly lands on the thing and takes off again. When the friction from the fly's feet ware down the diamond to something you'd see in an engagement ring have you approached eternity?

No. You haven’t even started.

[Rev. Rye]

Forget Hell for now as that's a whole different can of worms.

So I came across an article not too long ago and it was an atheist article and I was reading through the comments. One of the comments I came across was someone explaining that the idea of spending eternity -anywhere- was nearly panic inducing during their time as a Christian. It was the first time I had ever heard or read anyone express this so strongly.

So for those of you who used to believe in an eternal Heaven, I am wondering, did any of you share similar feelings about it?

Seems pretty creepy to me.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I see this happen from time to time. Atheists zero on on one aspect without considering the whole ball of wax. If God is infinite, powerful and intelligent enough to create the universe, created us in his image, don't you think he might have ideas how to provide fulfillment to our minds? For example, what if our minds now are limited by the vehicle they are in (our brains). What experiences could we have if some gate was opened to the richness of the universe of possible knowledge/experiences/emotions/etc.? You don't know what you don't know.

Or he could use a bucket of handwavium to solve all those problems.

[Angrboda]

[Jehanne]

That's gross, kind of like Nintendo's lawsuit.