Another way to look at heaven and hell

[cho_pilo]

What are your thoughts on this statement?

“Heaven and Hell exist only in one’s mind during life. If you have a tormented, hateful, destructive mind you are already in Hell. If you are happy, loving and forgiving you are already in Heaven.”

Sounds logical. Food for thought especially from the perspective of someone who can dare to contemplate the fact that religion has life on Earth as its main source of insight and focus of influence. Ideas of afterlife are primarily significant for their influence on the here and now.

 

[GEddie]

What are your thoughts on this statement?

“Heaven and Hell exist only in one’s mind during life. If you have a tormented, hateful, destructive mind you are already in Hell. If you are happy, loving and forgiving you are already in Heaven.”

Sounds logical. Food for thought especially from the perspective of someone who can dare to contemplate the fact that religion has life on Earth as its main source of insight and focus of influence. Ideas of afterlife are primarily significant for their influence on the here and now.

Respectfully, I say, forget it.

Many, many human beings experience hell on earth solely as a result of physical reality or the actions of others.

If the idea of a human afterlife were valid only for changing persons’ behavior, then religion in general would be a psychopathic deception.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[tonyrey]

“Heaven and Hell exist only in one’s mind during life. If you have a tormented, hateful, destructive mind you are already in Hell. If you are happy, loving and forgiving you are already in Heaven.”
It is more accurate to say we have a **foretaste **of heaven or hell according to whether our thoughts are positive or negative, creative or destructive.

Ideas of afterlife are primarily significant for their influence on the here and now.

 

[InspiritCarol]

What are your thoughts on this statement?

“Heaven and Hell exist only in one’s mind during life. If you have a tormented, hateful, destructive mind you are already in Hell. If you are happy, loving and forgiving you are already in Heaven.”

Sounds logical. Food for thought especially from the perspective of someone who can dare to contemplate the fact that religion has life on Earth as its main source of insight and focus of influence. Ideas of afterlife are primarily significant for their influence on the here and now.

Consider this.

That is a fantastically narrow perception of reality. To encase all of reality in such a tiny nutshell *does *work on a very small, infinitesimal level. Sure, we can impact our moods with our attitudes, but to apply that teensy data point to all of reality is a bad mistake. There will come a point when that nutshell gets shattered; it is best to be prepared for what happens then.

It is not remotely daring to consider oneself the “source” of belief, in general; we are, after all, taught from infancy to grasp for knowledge where we can. It is only daring when you admit that somewhere, deep down inside you, you KNOW better. It is “daring” to deny that core of our being, yes, I’d say so.

 

[Eclogue]

This question brings to mind the theory that, in some sense, heaven and hell are the same place. The only difference is the individual soul. A pure and holy soul will experience the love of God and rejoice; the wicked and selfish soul, however, will find it unbearable.

A slightly different theory might be that heaven and hell are similar in that they both give their “patrons” (for lack of a better word) whatever it is that they worked for in life. Heaven would, of course, be the kingdom of God for those who contributed to it by their good life. Hell might be like some parts of Dante’s Inferno, in which the suicides are forbidden to inhabit the body which they cast aside; and the lustful, who while living let themselves be ruled by their tempestuous passions, are now tossed about by more fearsome tempests. Perhaps those who lived only for themselves are doomed to spend eternity in isolation; after all, haven’t their actions demonstrated a hatred of their fellow humans?

This is just speculation. I apologize if this is off-topic or doctrinally unsound; I just like thinking about this sort of stuff.

In any case, I don’t think you can truly be in heaven or hell unless you’re dead. Is that what you’re asking? Maybe I misunderstood the question.

 

[lemondiesel]

“Heaven and Hell exist only in one’s mind during life. If you have a tormented, hateful, destructive mind you are already in Hell. If you are happy, loving and forgiving you are already in Heaven.”

As the last poster said, this statement implies Heaven and Hell as one. The way your mind acts reflects the way you, yourself, act. The way we act in this world effects it also, like an teetor totter. When it is not balanced on the equilibrium, it weighs itself towards one side.

 

[tonyrey]

A slightly different theory might be that heaven and hell are similar in that they both give their “patrons” (for lack of a better word) whatever it is that they worked for in life. Heaven would, of course, be the kingdom of God for those who contributed to it by their good life… Perhaps those who lived only for themselves are doomed to spend eternity in isolation; after all, haven’t their actions demonstrated a hatred of their fellow humans?

This is just speculation. I apologize if this is off-topic or doctrinally unsound…

It is the most reasonable interpretation of Christ’s teaching! We all get precisely what we deserve…

A warm welcome to the forum.

 

[Eclogue]

Thanks tonyrey; I don’t usually post on forums, but some threads catch my eye once in a while and I want to participate!

Anyway, not to be nit-picky but I wonder if it isn’t our actions that reflect what’s in our mind. I may consider myself a morally upright person, but I often fall into sin. Am I to be judged based on what’s in my mind, or what actions I choose to do?

I’m pretty sure it’s the latter. The feelings we have (or think we have) make very little difference, if any. But the righteous are known by their fruits. If someone who struggles with greed manages to be just as charitable as someone with a naturally generous disposition, is one more fit for heaven than the other?

Naturally it’s a lot harder for the greedy person to be so charitable, but everyone has free will with which to conquer their instincts.

 

[GEddie]

Thanks tonyrey; I don’t usually post on forums, but some threads catch my eye once in a while and I want to participate!

Anyway, not to be nit-picky but I wonder if it isn’t our actions that reflect what’s in our mind. I may consider myself a morally upright person, but I often fall into sin. Am I to be judged based on what’s in my mind, or what actions I choose to do?

I’m pretty sure it’s the latter. The feelings we have (or think we have) make very little difference, if any. But the righteous are known by their fruits. If someone who struggles with greed manages to be just as charitable as someone with a naturally generous disposition, is one more fit for heaven than the other?

Naturally it’s a lot harder for the greedy person to be so charitable, but everyone has free will with which to conquer their instincts.

Actually, I think you are right. At least, our LORD when teaching about the Judgement, always links life everlasting to one’s human actions rather than thoughts or feelings.

It is the son who despite not wanting to, goes out to the vineyard, who is commended.

Of course, a “wrong head” isn’t suitable for living all of Life Eternal. That is what Purgatory is for.

ICXC NIKA