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To: jo kus; Alamo-Girl; Quix
Do you believe that God takes up space in a location or a dimension? How much does God weigh? How big is He? What area does He exist within this place called "heaven"? Perhaps for people who do not think much about it, heaven can be called a "place". But for theologians who take seriously the idea that God is a spirit (and spirits do not take up space), it would be better to consider heaven as a "state of existence" rather than a physical place.

I was just thinking that for a thing to exist, it must take up space in its environment, whether in our perceivable universe or elsewhere. God exists and satan exists, they do not co-exist as one entity. There is a separation. ...... We say that God is omnipresent. I take that to mean in our perceivable universe. But I don't think that applies to the realms of Heaven and hell. Is God omnipresent in hell? AG notes this scripture as showing that there is a real spatial divide between Heaven and hell:

Luke 16:26 : And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

In the Catholic faith, my understanding is that you believe that Jesus descended into hell for a time, and then LEFT, presumably forever. If that is a fair representation, then we know that God did not exist in hell, then He did, and then He didn't again. Whether that means a physical place or a plane of existence, the idea of clear separation is unmistakable. Wherever, whenever, however God exists is confined to that existence not in common with hell.

Now, on the question of how much does God weigh, that would depend on the gravity in Heaven, if any. :) However, on earth we know FOR SURE that the human soul weighs 21 grams! :)

13,084 posted on 04/19/2007 3:20:23 PM PDT by Forest Keeper
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To: Forest Keeper

David characterized God as being everywhere, even in hell, IIRC.

The gates of hell will not even prevail against The Church.

Therefore what, I don’t know . . . but I think those are interesting aspects of the whole picture.


13,085 posted on 04/19/2007 3:30:52 PM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD!)
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To: Forest Keeper
I was just thinking that for a thing to exist, it must take up space in its environment, whether in our perceivable universe or elsewhere. God exists and satan exists, they do not co-exist as one entity. There is a separation. ...... We say that God is omnipresent. I take that to mean in our perceivable universe. But I don't think that applies to the realms of Heaven and hell. Is God omnipresent in hell? AG notes this scripture as showing that there is a real spatial divide between Heaven and hell:

In the spiritual realm, it is not necessary to occupy space, because spiritual beings have no mass. They cannot occupy space, as a result. Being is not dependent upon mass or occupying space. Magnetism exists. Yet, it occupies no space or takes up no mass. It is an effect on the visible universe. In much the same way, God also effects the visible universe yet takes up no space or mass.

God is not "in" hell because hell is a state of existence WITHOUT God. One must be careful to taking Scriptures that use anthropomorphic language - like the "hands" of God, or the physical divide between heaven and hell. Just as easily, we can interpret this divide in a spiritual sense, because we will either be in God's presence or not.

In the Catholic faith, my understanding is that you believe that Jesus descended into hell for a time, and then LEFT, presumably forever.

We do not believe that Jesus descended into HELL, but Hades. He descended there to bring Adam and the righteous people of the OT period with Him to heaven. Perhaps at this point, the wicked then were cast into hell? I am not sure about what happened at that point with regards to the wicked. But Jesus didn't descend into Hell as we refer to it.

Whether that means a physical place or a plane of existence, the idea of clear separation is unmistakable. Wherever, whenever, however God exists is confined to that existence not in common with hell.

No doubt. I will go with the later, an existence. God certainly keeps Hell in existence - but He is not there, as that is what Hell means - the lack of God. Really, I can't go much more than that on the subject, as there is very little to support it. My views are based on that fact that God is spiritual and spirits do not take up space or mass.

I presume that you are joking about the soul having mass!

Regards

13,086 posted on 04/19/2007 4:21:14 PM PDT by jo kus (Humility is present when one debases oneself without being obliged to do so- St.Chrysostom; Phil 2:8)
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To: Forest Keeper; jo kus; Quix
Thank you so much for the ping and for sharing your views!

Since I've already taken up so much bandwidth on this thread discussing space v time, spiritual v physical, etc. (some of my favorite topics) - I'll resist the urge and instead just offer the link to my first post on the subject in case anyone is interested: 12477

13,101 posted on 04/19/2007 9:45:05 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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