07 Dec 07
Originally posted by buckkyEph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
After one gains entry into Heaven then what ? Is it just rolling around the streets of gold singing choir tunes ? Is it all the fried chicken you can hold ? Just what's going on up there ?
If you think heaven will be boring, then just look around at this world. It's pretty nice. Do you get bored now? Heaven will be better.
08 Dec 07
Originally posted by josephwBut if one believes that there is nothing beyond eternal life, then that one has nothing to live for beyond his or her endless immaterial existence.
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
If you think heaven will be boring, then just look around at this world. It's pretty nice. Do you get bored now? Heaven will be better.
What a drag!
08 Dec 07
Originally posted by NordlysBecause we were created to live forever.
Exactly. You seem to believe that our life on earth only has value because of what's coming afterwards. What makes eternal life valuable?
I know how difficult it is to believe the story of mans demise in the garden, but it is the most sublime account of the origin of man in the historical record.
09 Dec 07
Originally posted by NordlysAmong the many reasons I can think of as to why eternal life is valuable, the one I think is most important, or at least has the most value, is that we were made that way.
That doesn't answer my question.
We were made for a reason and a purpose. Only God can show us what that is. Living forever is only a consequence of how we were made.
Now even I am beginning to sound strange to myself.
I believe in eternal life! It's no more complicated than that.
09 Dec 07
Originally posted by josephwI don't see how being made that way in itself would make it valuable. A creator could create something entirely meaningless. A creator could also create something for xyr own purposes, making it meaningful for xymself, but without making it meaningful for the created beings.
Among the many reasons I can think of as to why eternal life is valuable, the one I think is most important, or at least has the most value, is that we were made that way.
We were made for a reason and a purpose. Only God can show us what that is.
Did he show you, or do you just assume that there is a reason and a purpose without knowing yourself what it is?
Now even I am beginning to sound strange to myself.
Lol.
I believe in eternal life! It's no more complicated than that.
I have gathered as much. But I could think it would be valuable without believing in it, and I could believe in it without thinking it's valuable.
Personally, I value quality over quantity. If life isn't meaningful to begin with, making it eternal doesn't make it any more meaningful. And if something is meaningful, the fact that it doesn't last doesn't make it less meaningful.
09 Dec 07
Originally posted by NordlysDon't take this wrong, but you are over rationalizing.
I don't see how being made that way in itself would make it valuable. A creator could create something entirely meaningless. A creator could also create something for xyr own purposes, making it meaningful for xymself, but without making it meaningful for the created beings.
[b]We were made for a reason and a purpose. Only God can show us what that is.[/b ...[text shortened]... f something is meaningful, the fact that it doesn't last doesn't make it less meaningful.
Eternal life very much adds to the quality of life. Knowing that I have obtained eternal life as a free gift from God only enhances the overall quality of my life now!
11 Dec 07
1 edit
Originally posted by josephwIf people were using reason, this discussion wouldn't even have started. Even if there is a heaven, it doesn't matter because we cease to exist at the moment of our physical death, and so we can never enter it. To believe in a soul that persists beyond physical death is to believe in Cartesian dualism, and there are very good reasons not to believe in that. Look them up, and save yourselves a lot of needless and unproductive angst.
Try again. Only use reason this time.