| Jun 19, 2007 @ 7:47 PM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,419
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A small child was talking to me today. She told me her dog had died and went to play in heaven.She went on to tell me that her mommy said that Heaven is a nice place and that there were lots of people there that would take care of her Dog. I asked her if she would like to draw a picture of her dog . She liked that idea and drew the very best picture a four year old could draw of a dog. She asked me to show her how to draw a heart and I did. She drew a great big heart around her picture and said now my dog knows I love him. She skipped off after that and joined the other children. She really touched my heart.
I know there are very diverse opinions about Heaven...Do you believe in the Existence of Heaven? What do you imagine it will be like? What would Heaven be like for you? All opinions are welcome, but please the purpose of this thread is not to bash religious beliefs.
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| Jun 19, 2007 @ 7:55 PM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis |
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witchietoo
Posts: 2,630
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Personally, no I don't believe in heaven or hell, but if I did, I think heaven would be a wonderful place. Family and friends that passed away would be there whole and healthy. You would be with your loved ones as they were in their prime, not how they were when they passed.
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| Jun 19, 2007 @ 8:02 PM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis
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witchietoo
Posts: 2,630
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Ok, reading about that little girls dog made me think of this, of course as soon as I read it I got teary  I know I am such a dork...lol....if this was what heaven could be like, I would be very happy. I would see my best friend again....the only animal that 9 years later I can still get teary eyed about because I miss her that much.
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The Rainbow Bridge
There is a bridge connecting Heaven & Earth.
It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its colors.
Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge there is a land of
meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.
When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place.
There is always food and water and warm spring weather.
The old and frail animals are young again. Those who
are maimed are made whole. They play together all day.
There is only one thing missing: They are not with
their special person who loved them on Earth.
Each day they run and play until the day comes
when one suddenly stops playing and looks up!
The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring!
And this one suddenly runs from the group.
You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet,
you take him or her in your arms and embrace.
Your face is kissed again and again, and you look once
more into the eyes of your trusting friend.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together,
never again to be separated.
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| Jun 19, 2007 @ 8:11 PM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis |
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Craig328
Posts: 98
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CS Lewis is a phenomenal author, studied many of his books in college, some were required reading. I would encourage anyone that hasn't read his works to do so.
A Preface to Paradise Lost
Letters to an American Lady
The Discarded Image
Mere Christianity
All My Road Before Me
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| Jun 19, 2007 @ 9:19 PM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis
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fuchia04
Posts: 953
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I don't believe there is a heaven and I sure don't want to think that there could be a hell (Surely a loving God wouldn't be that cruel). Of course, I can't really say that I believe in God either (which probably explains why I don't believe in heaven or hell).
I believe that when you die, that that is it. You are unconscious for eternity; once your body dies, so do you. The down side is, you don't get to experience happiness. The benefit is, you never ever experience unhappiness either. I see that as a paradise, and in a way it is. I could be mistaken, but I think there are certain religions that also view this state of being (or rather, lack there of) as paradise; if I remember correctly, it could be the Hindu religion, in which such a concept is believed - they see it as being "in perfect equilibrium". I am not Hindu but I can plainly see where they are coming from.
Before I could see it that way, however, I had to adjust my criteria of 'paradise'. Some see paradise as a place of complete joy and no suffering. I just see paradise as being in a state completely free of suffering of any form. But you are not just free from suffering, you are free from even the slightest annoyances. You are also free from every aggravation in between, from a great deal of pain, and even unimaginable torment. If you think about it, the lack of all these unpleasant experiences (no matter how mild or severe) is bliss!
I believe happiness is merely life's way of compensating for hardship (unhappiness). In fact, it makes all but the severest hardships worth it. Like the joy of getting a drink when you are thirsty; food when you are hungry; and you-know-what when you are aroused in some other way   - satisfying our thirst for joy and happiness is also pleasurable and makes life worth living. It is a more preferable experience to be thirsty and have it quenched, than not being thirsty. On the other hand, having a thirst that is not quenched is the worst thing you can have. It can be hell on Earth. It's definitely better to not have a thirst than to have one that goes unquenched. 
Not being loved when we thirst for love is one atrocity I can think of. However, to have your thirst for love quenched is among the greatest of pleasures in the world. I guess that's why many (including myself) would rather have this thirst in the hopes of having it fulfilled, at the grave risk of never having it quenched.
With every friendship that I have ever had, with every pleasure I have ever enjoyed, with every good thing that has ever happened to me - those are each pieces of happiness that I have gotten to experience, that have complimented my life, and justified my reason for wanting to continue living this life. I am grateful for all this happiness that I have, indeed, experienced in my life, and that which I may have yet to experience before I die.
However, I don't need to be happy, once I am in a state where I can never be unhappy (which is where I believe we all go to when we die). Therefore, I have accepted an afterlife of non-existence. The lack of being subjected to suffering or hardship is paradise enough for me - especially, considering all the atrocities in this world, and the horrible suffering that many people have to endure. I do not need to list them, for we know all too well of some of the worst, even if we cannot fully grasp the hell on Earth that they are.
There are some things in life worse than death.
- the Fuchian
Well, I guess this is gonna become a blog entry...lol.
[Edited on 6/19/2007 9:37 PM]
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| Jun 20, 2007 @ 12:09 AM |
Whats heaven like? "Joy is the business of heaven." -C.S. Lewis |
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,419
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When I was about eight years old my dog buttons died ftom complications of diabetes. It so sad and I guess a discussion I had with parents after set the stage for me to better understand about Death and Dying.We had buried Buttons in my Grandmothers back yard in New Jersey , since we did not have a backyard.Later that evening I questioned where Buttons was right now. My Mom told me that Buttons was in Heaven. That night I layed in bed and thought of a place where there is light and no darkness , no one sick or in pain and it was spring time all the time.
On the weekend we went back to visit Buttons Grave and I asked if this is Heaven?She told me that only part of Buttons was buried here in the back yard Her body was buried here.Then we recalled all the wonderful things we loved about Buttons. We recalled how she loved sleeping in my bed , how she fell in love with one of my teddy bears and thought it was her baby.My mom told that all the happy memories that I have of Buttons was the part of her that went to Heaven.
I guess I learned and still want to beleive that that the enjoyable part of those we love is never forgotten. We lose only the physical part of the relationship, not the emotional and spiritual parts. They live on. Whether it be in a magical place called Heaven or whether we feel their love in a gentle breeze or a scattering of wild flowers in the countyside. I would like to beleive that our life as we know it is just the first step toward yet another experience. It gives me a sense of peace and balance . 
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