What do you think Heaven will be like?

[Kerry]

What do you think Heaven will be like?

As far as Heaven goes, there are many more questions than answers: Will we all get our own mansions? Will we see our loved ones? Will our bodies look the way they did when we were 25? Will we even have bodies? The Bible, Koran and Torah leave much about the afterlife up in the air. That means many of us – including the 80% of Americans who say they believe in Heaven – must fill in the blanks ourselves.

In her new book, “Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife,” Newsweek religion editor Lisa Miller gives it a go, investigating the different concepts of eternity held by the world’s most prominent religions and talking to religious scholars, pastors, monks and lay folk alike to get a better idea of what Heaven might be.

For some, it’s a place that “embodies the best of everything” and is full of “green, green pastures,” while for others it is simply “the home of God.”

Naturally, Miller doesn’t come to a neat conclusion about what to expect when our last breath arrives. But she does offer a lot of faith for thought in her thorough and intelligent look at life after death.

So, what do you think Heaven will be like? 

www.time.com

[Lynne]

Wow, Kerry...deep question.

I hope that anti-Christ discussion didn't give you the idea for it.  

I'm one for going my own way...and my ideas change with the wind (thank you, Jack!).

I see heaven as existing here on earth, just as I believe hell is here on earth.

If there is an afterlife (which most of the time I doubt), I think it is likely a change of state of being, but I have no clue what that really means...another dimension in space and time perhaps?

I hope my loved ones who have passed are either at rest, finished, at peace, or enjoying a new and different life than the one they had here at this time and place.  But that's just a hope.

[Jeff Wrangler]

My suspicion is that "there is no Heaven" in the stereotypical sense of Pearly Gates and other such images out of the Book of Revelation. My suspicion is that when we die, That Which is Us is reunited to That Which is God. As for the continuation of any personal existence after death, I'm skeptical.

That said, my "idea of Heaven" would be to spend Eternity roaming the highways and by-ways of Wyoming in a dependable ol' pickup with one special man by my side--and maybe a good dog along with us. 

[Penthesilea]

I think heaven is for everybody what they wish it were - otherwise it wouldn't be heaven, eh?

One wants a mansion, a private jet and a stable full of fine race horses? - *zap* - Here ya go, friend.

Jeff wants WY + special man + pickup + dog - *zizzzing* -  done

Another one wants to fly in full angel attire, including harp 'n all? - *snap* - already fulfilled

The next strives for the Asian form of Nivana, eternal nothing in bliss (or whatever) - *subito* - you have it


Me? I have only one wish: to be reunited with all my loved ones.

Is there a heaven at all? I hope, and I rather think yes, but I'm far from being as certain as some people are.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Jeff wants WY + special man + pickup + dog - *zizzzing* -  done

Thanks, Sweetheart! From your lips to God's ears. ... 

[serious crayons]

I will be sitting on a cloud in a white smock for all eternity, strumming a harp.

This sounds more like hell, to me! 


I picked "other." My suspicion is that when you're dead, you're dead. But I don't know that for sure, obviously. If there is some kind of continued existence post death, I think it is far beyond our ability to imagine. But I highly doubt it comes in the form of heaven and/or hell -- that is, places where the good are rewarded with a blissful existence and the bad are punished with a torturous one. IMO, that's wishful (i.e., human) thinking.

[David In Indy]

Hey Kerry! I saw your poll a couple of days ago, but I held off answering because I had to think about it carefully. Also, I tried to find a picture on the Internet of what I imagine Heaven to look like but I couldn't find anything.

God knows our hearts even better than we do, so I think Heaven will be different for each of us. God will create a Heaven for each of us that is perfect and it will have everything that makes us completely happy. And even though it will look different to each of us, we will all be there together enjoying each others' company.

Also, I don't think Heaven is located up in the sky, or on some distant planet on the other side of the universe. I think it is right here. I believe our world consists of many different dimentions and many different planes of thought and consciousness. I believe, when we die, we simply exist on a different plane. We can see things, touch things, hear things and interact with things we couldn't see or detect during our mortal lives inside our bodies.

Years ago there was this store in town called "World of Wisdom" and they sold these greeting cards with beautiful pictures on the front. Very new age looking. They had pictures of crystal castles and crystal fountains, glowing illuminated streets with purple-blue skies. That is kind of how I picture Heaven, at least for me. I wish I could find some pictures of those greeting cards but so far I haven't been able to locate any of them. Did you ever see the movie "Contact" with Jodie Foster? If so, do you remember the scene where she meets her deceased father on a tropical beach? The sky was purple - almost dark - with beautiful twinkling stars and an occassional comet shooting across the sky. The beach was glowing in a purple-blue light and so was the ocean. I always thought I would be very pleased if Heaven looked something like that.

And yes, I believe we will spend eternity not only with each other, but in the company of the Holy Trinity and the angels.