Because of some things at work, I've been stressed and tired for a long time. I've been a moderator on this thread, so I knew this topic was coming, but when I read the questions, the afterlife question hit me hard. Maybe what I'm about to say will sound horrible, but the first thought that came through my mind about an afterlife was "Oh no, I'm way too tired to go to either Heaven or Hell. I'd never survive."
I spent quite a few years in church, and those experiences still shape much of my view of an "afterlife" and quite a few other things for that matter. Somewhere in the Bible is a verse that says that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. I'm an engineer. I understand nice, solid things, like Newtonian laws of motion and laws of thermodynamics. All of that faith stuff never worked for me, but I could see it work for others. Just because I can't make it work doesn't mean that it isn't real.
I can't validate what people of faith believe, but I can't write it off either. I agree that there's no proof of an afterlife, but I don't know what "instrument" I could use to measure whatever it would take to prove or disprove an afterlife. No one has invented a "God-o-meter" or "Heaven-o-meter" that would allow me to run those experiments. Many people who are certain that they have proof are a little scary.
When I said that I'm too tired for Heaven, I had this picture of the city with streets of gold, but cities stress me out. I had the usual Christian picture of a place where we all know each other equally and completely but do not have a unique, intimate, personal relationship with any one person. A place like that would be miserable for me. I've never had a "significant other," but I've been in plenty of the church type friendships where we all know each other but everything is platonic. I hate the thought of being stuck in that situation for eternity.
Ideally, when I die, God would just put me in suspended animation for a few million years. Maybe then I'd be rested enough to deal with the rest of heaven. If I couldn't have a wife and couldn't be put into suspended animation, then my view of heaven would be a cabin in the mountains. I'd be able to visit loved ones occasionally but wouldn't have people around me all the time. Of course, I have no reason either theologically or scientifically to believe in this idea being real. As you said, it would be wishful thinking.
This group has a strong tendency towards traditional Christian thought. My background gives me some understanding of that thought and even makes me agree with it on many levels. I appreciate your being open with a view that's probably a little different from what many people feel.
Thanks,
Bill
May I suggest a book I read a few years ago. It is called Reasons to Believe by Dr. Hugh Ross, Ph.D. . Or possibly Evidence that Demands a Virdict by Josh McDowell.
I had to smile at your post. You sound a lot like me. When I was a young ‘un in Catholic school, we were told that we’d spend eternity glorifying God. Hmm, I don’t think that sounds like something I want to do. It also doesn’t sound like something God needs. Is God that insecure?
I don’t know if I have a picture of heaven. I certainly would like to see my loved ones again, but that’s about it. I’d like to be a spirit so I could come to earth and see the new movies. : ) I also wouldn’t mind haunting a few people, but that’s another thread. I’d like to see the other planets. There just seems like so much to do, why would I want to spend eternity in a heavenly choir?