mick Posted March 3, 2007 Share Posted March 3, 2007 In the Christian Heaven Free Will is essentially ripped from you and the consequences of this are profound. Free will was supposed to be SOOO important in the first place, and one of the reasons we are all in this mess. But in heaven, God is going to have to do something to fundamentally rob you of free will and turn you into a Borg-like drone. (There is no escaping it, you HAVE to stop being YOU in some way in heaven) Numbly reciting "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty" over and over for all eternity. Because, franklly, if someone was torturing your daughter somewhere, without mercy in the most awful way imaginable, you would want to stop it. (You , being who you are right now) In heaven this is not going to bother you somehow. Therefore God, is either going to "turn you into a worhsipping robot who no longer IS you, who no longer cares about the people you loved, or he is going to erase your memory of these people. Both are complete reprogramming of one's self, and the removal of free will. Think about it; if your daughter was being tortured by someone, (horribly tortured without hope), you would want to stop it. BUT imagine if on top of that, the person responsible for the on-going maintenance and sustenance, and on-going existence of the torture chamber she is in; captures you and ERASES your memory of her, SO you are unable to even petition on her behalf! (And forces you to worship him forever while your daughter simultaneously remains in a state of torture forever without anyone who loves her left even remembering she ever existed! ) THAT is the person you are hanging out with for all eternity!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piprus Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 You're absolutely right, mick. No provision in all those promises of eternal heaven about those whom we've left behind here on planet earth. Not to mention...what are you supposed to find to do with yourself for all eternity, free will or not? Is heaven a place where there's essentially nothing but congregating and singing YHWH's praises? Ahhhhhhh! THAT would be more of a hell than a heaven. (Lemmee outta here! Gimmee the fleshpots of Egypt!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 Very good point, Mick. Why would anyone want to worship a being like that? It boggles the mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qadeshet Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 In heaven this is not going to bother you somehow. Therefore God, is either going to "turn you into a worhsipping robot who no longer IS you, who no longer cares about the people you loved, or he is going to erase your memory of these people. Both are complete reprogramming of one's self, and the removal of free will. Think about it; if your daughter was being tortured by someone, (horribly tortured without hope), you would want to stop it. Thomas Aquinas: "That the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly, they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell." Summa Theologica. Jonathan Edwards: "The sight of hell torments will exalt the happiness of the saints forever. . .Can the believing father in Heaven be happy with his unbelieving children in Hell. . . I tell you, yea! Such will be his sense of justice that it will increase rather than diminish his bliss." - "The Eternity of Hell Torments" (Sermon), April 1739 Could the Devil be worse than such a god? Xians can keep their Heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotsy Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 So qadeshet, you're a fan of Ishtar? Might I assume you've read Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qadeshet Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 So qadeshet, you're a fan of Ishtar? Might I assume you've read Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins? Hadn't heard of the book. Have to check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotsy Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 So qadeshet, you're a fan of Ishtar? Might I assume you've read Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins? Hadn't heard of the book. Have to check it out. Two of the main characters are a conch shell and a painted stick who were formerly used in worship of Ashtoreth/Ishtar in Solomon's temple. You might find it interesting and entertaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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