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Through the “Will” to do so. Religion was collectively “Willed” into being as was heaven: a place or condition of supreme happiness and peace where good people are believed to go after death, and, especially in Christianity, where God and the angels are believed to dwell.
I personally do not believe in heaven, but I heard a really neat analogy once that came to mind- so I figured I'd share. =)
Basic premise is, there is no heaven or hell- when a person moves on from this life, they are in the presence of 'god' or whatever name you give to the spirit/life-force/energy that flows through everything. (I'll stick to using the term 'god' because it is most common and easier than going through the laundry list of possible names of whatever exists beyond this life, if anything)
Good, bad, and in-between, everyone is in the presence of 'god' once they die. The type of person they are is what determines their experience, and creates their own personal eternal 'heaven' or 'hell'.
As clarification, the analogy is this:
If a person who is healthy is outside in the sun, it is a pleasurable experience. They feel the warmth of the sun on their skin, they are energized by the sunlight, they see the vegetation that grows as a result of the sun, and experience the sun as good and life-giving- being out in the sun is the best place in the world for these people, and this is their 'heaven'.
However, if a person with an infection in their eye is out in that same sun, they will be in excruciating pain, suffering, and unable to find any enjoyment because of their personal condition. This is their 'hell'.
Both types of people are experiencing the presence of the same entity- but the condition of that person impacts their individual experience of it.
And, the theory goes, the same is true of the afterlife. All experience the same presence for eternity- and it is the condition of their soul that determines if it is plearurable or painful, heaven or hell. A 'healthy' soul experiences 'heaven' while the 'infected' soul experiences 'hell'- they are not two different places, but rather two different experiences of the same thing.
Well, being a "good person" isn't going to get anyone to Heaven considering none of us are "good." Jesus said, only God is good. Only by the grace of God can anyone enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we were "good" then Jesus would not have had to die a despicable death. If you recognize that you are a sinner but that Jesus died to pay for your sins then you are well on your way to Heaven.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13
Or you can take the atheist approach:
You are god.
There is no good or evil.
There is no meaning outside of what you make-up in your head.
You are of no more value than a toe nail.
You will die a toe nail's death.
to me it's hard to read answers and not reply to them. every person is entitled to their own opinion... but to me it's difficult when people don't just don't seem to grasp the importance.
It isn't about being good. The Bible says it is about to believe in God and draw near to him and he will draw near to you. It also says in so many words that good doesn't get you to heaven. Being good is more of a result from living right for God. Many people do what the Bible calls good works in an effort to get to heaven, but doing good shouldn't be an effort but rather the result. Basically many people try and put the cart before the horse.
[quote=veritas]Well, being a "good person" isn't going to get anyone to Heaven considering none of us are "good." Jesus said, only God is good. Only by the grace of God can anyone enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we were "good" then Jesus would not have had to die a despicable death.
Yeah. You need to ask God to forgive your sins and you need to ask him to be your true saviour. That is the only way to heaven