Does everyone want eternal life?

[oldcelt]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

 

[Counterpoint]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

What’s not to like about “sat-chit-ananada” (“being, consciousness, bliss”)?

 

[4love2God]

oldcelt asks : "Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone?"

Well, I don’t necessarily look forward to the idea of Eternal anything.
What I am concerned about is to NOT burn in Hell for all Eternity.
But, it seems that Heaven, Heaven-bound, and Hell are the ONLY 3 Options.
So, there is NO way to avoid Eternity, just how HOT you want Eternity to be.

And, "Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?"
I imagine that Time would pass in a different way than it does here on Earth.
But, no matter how (or IF) the time passes, it will be a LONG time in effect.
Or else, Heaven would feel like a 4-minute Commercial break on TV.
And, I seriously doubt that type of RUSH is the Way things will go in Heaven.

There are canonized Catholic Saints who have been told by God about Purgatory.
They report that time in Purgatory goes INCREDIBLY Slow.
Beyond that, I have no concept of what Heaven will be like (except a few reports in the Bible).

And,** “I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.”**
Like I said, Eternal Rest ain’t one of the Options.
This would be my IDEAL situation… just to Rest in Peace.

 

[Furius]

Eternity may not appeal to us because we are not in a position (by ourselves alone) to secure eternal joy. Empires collapse, jobs are lost, loved one’s die, things we create weather away or are eventually destroyed. We can not make anything last on our own so the fact that we go on after we die might pose a sort of deep seated fear since all we have to base eternity on is the highs and lows of this mortal life. We grow more tired and weary as the days march on. Our days are filled with struggle. And when things are good, they never seem as good as they could be, and when things are bad we never think they will be good again.
This is the thing God provides us should we enter into eternity in Heaven. Our happiness on earth is fleeting and hard fought for…and it never seems to last. Suffering and monotony take up the lion’s share of our existence on earth.
Eternity in itself is not a blessing, but eternal happiness and joy in Christ, now that is not just something to strive for, but essentially the ONLY thing.
Imagine those mountain top moments you have with Christ on earth. Now imagine that for eternity. If you have not had such an experience yet, I pray you have one. Either way, should you and I enter Heaven, and I pray we meet there, you will know that joy and how it is to be everlasting.

 

[steve49]

No. But weather we want it or not we got it. The question is an excellent point on why many will avoid thinking of the eternal, ignore it and it will go away. Western culture has become rooted in the avoidance of the eternal. We learn heavily about avoiding eternity in the view of science that is given in schools and we are encouraged to live a life of consumerism, ignoring even the debt we will incur in a few weeks, let alone the one we will owe in eternity.

 

[GEddie]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Eternal rest? Not me.

In fact, I long for everlasting aliveness.

Btw, it seems that in “eternity” there would indeed be no passage of time.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Googler]

We need prayer to get Grace. We need Grace for salvation. The more prayer, the more Grace and happiness, on earth and in Heaven.

 

[Vouthon]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Dear Oldcelt

The traditional theology of the Church teaches that the blessed in heaven dwell in a state of being called aveternity, or “participated eternity”. In this state, time as we know it in this universe does not exist.

Scripture confirms that we are made in the image of eternity (timelessness):

“…For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be the image of his own eternity…”

- (Wisdom of Solomon 2:23)

Eternity is not “perpetual time”, it is rather a life without succession in time.

I think that Blessed Henry Suso answered this question well:

“…Eternity is life that is beyond time but includes within itself all time but without a before or after. And whoever is taken into the Eternal Nothing possesses all in all and has no ‘before or after’. Indeed a person taken within today would not have been there for a shorter period from the point of view of eternity than someone who had been taken within a thousand years ago…Now these people who are taken within, because of their boundless immanent oneness with God, see themselves as always and eternally existing…”

- Blessed Henry Suso (c. 1296-1366), German Catholic mystic & Dominican priest (The Little Book of Truth). p320

Read this friend:

**Fr Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (1877 - 1964)
Life Everlasting
Heaven **

…

That which the blessed see in God they do not see successively but simultaneously. The beatific vision, measured by participated eternity, does not tolerate succession. Things which the blessed see successively they see extra Verbum, by a knowledge inferior to the beatific vision and hence called the vision of evening whereas the beatific vision itself is like an eternal morning.

Heavenly joy has a newness which cannot pass away. The first instant of the beatific vision lasts forever, like eternal morning, eternal spring, eternal youth. It resembles the eternal beatitude of God. God’s life is one unique instant of immutable eternity. He cannot grow old. He is not past or future, but eternally present. He contains eminently all successive events, as the summit of a pyramid contains all points at its base, as the view of a man placed on a mountain embraces the entire valley. Simultaneous totality: that is the definition of eternity.

As illustration, we may point to Mozart, who heard instantaneously and completely the melody he set out to compose. Similarly, great minds embrace their entire science with one sole glance.

The beatific vision of the saints is measured by the unique instant of immovable eternity. The joy of that instant will never pass away. Its newness, its freshness, will be eternally present. As the vision will be always new, so likewise the joy which flows from the vision.

The expression “eternal life,” everlasting life, means much more than future life. Future is only a part of time, which passes, which bears within itself a succession of moments. But eternal life is not measured by time, neither by solar time nor by spiritual time. Eternal life is measured by the unique instant of immovable eternity, an instant which cannot pass, which is like an eternal sunrise.

Theologians say that the eternal life of the blessed is measured by participated eternity. This participated eternity differs, without doubt, from that essential eternity which is proper to God. It differs, because it had a commencement at the moment of entry into heaven. But it will not end, and has not within itself any succession. It is truly the unique instant of immovable eternity. This instant is not dead, but sovereignly alive, because it fuses perfect intelligence and perfect love…

The blessed souls live above the reach of our hours and days and years. They live in one unique instant which does not pass. This instant, when we enter heaven, when we receive the light of glory and begin to see God forever, must be prepared for. In this preparation three other instants of life have pre-eminent importance: that of receiving justification by baptism, that of reconciliation with God if we have offended Him gravely, that of a happy death, that is, final perseverance. Beatific love, we know, corresponds to the intensity of our merits. Not in heaven do we learn to love God, but here on earth. The degree of our life in eternity depends on the degree of our merits at the moment of death. There are many mansions in the Father’s house, corresponding to varied merits. [596] “He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who soweth in blessings shall also reap blessings.” [597]

Christian life on earth is eternal life already begun. Sanctifying grace and charity endure eternally. St. John of the Cross speaks thus: “In the evening of our life we shall be judged by our love for God and neighbor.”

Eternal joy, beatific love, is ineffable. If here on earth we are enchanted by the reflection of divine perfection in creatures, by the enchantments of the visible world, by the harmony of colors and sounds, by the immensity of the ocean, by the splendor of the starry heavens, and still more by the spiritual splendors revealed in the lives of the saints, what joy shall we feel when we see God, this creative center of life and of love, this infinite plenitude, eternally self-existent, from whom proceeds the life of creation!

 

[fhansen]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Existence, itself, is essentially good, whether or not we, personally, give it much value at any given moment. But we all desire continued existence; how would anyone choose if given the opportunity to permanently cease existence at this very moment? Even in the case of severe mental or physical pain, I think virtually everyone still wants to live, and ultimately live happily; we have an innate sense of and hope for that kind of life. And if one “moment” of existence in eternity we’re good-very good- then all would be good.

And “very good”, unimaginably good, ineffably good, is what God promises those who love Him; this is the fulfillment of the hope all humans share, the hope for the promised land. The more we know God, the more we trust in that hope.

 

[4love2God]

DaddyGirl asks** : “Catholic saints have reported about their experiences in Purgatory?
Where are these reports, please?”**

As I stated in my Post,** “There are canonized Catholic Saints who have been told by God about Purgatory.”**
They did NOT, however, VISIT Purgatory.

The Main book I have about these Saints discussing aspects of Purgatory, is aptly named.
It is called “Purgatory : Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints” … by Father F X Schouppe. It was written in 1893, AND it has the Catholic Church’s official “Imprimatur.”

There are others that are long out-of-print, but this is the easiest one to find.
It has over 400 pages, and has an Appendix about Indulgences, and several pages of Prayers for people in Purgatory, 7 of which I Pray with my Prayer List.

 

[tonyrey]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Does the notion of eternal extinction really appeal to anyone?

It’s not a question of “rest” but absolute annihilation - not only for oneself but everyone else. It amounts to an indiscriminate death-wish which implies life is a cruel joke which should be terminated by euthanasia for everyone as swiftly as possible…

It doesn’t make sense to believe existence is valuable for a few years, an infinitesimal spark in the darkness of eternity. There is no logical halt on the descent from meaning to absurdity, from fullness to emptiness, from love to apathy…

Why should there be half-measures between all and nothing?

 

[tonyrey]

No. But weather we want it or not we got it. The question is an excellent point on why many will avoid thinking of the eternal, ignore it and it will go away. Western culture has become rooted in the avoidance of the eternal. We learn heavily about avoiding eternity in the view of science that is given in schools and we are encouraged to live a life of consumerism, ignoring even the debt we will incur in a few weeks, let alone the one we will owe in eternity.

Welcome to the forum, Steve!

The mania for speed and instant results in the here and now is manifested in the desire to finish with life as fast as possible>>>

 

[hasantas]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Every conscience feel and want a infinite life. Mankind want to go on his life in every bad conditions even in jail that prove issue. Everyone wants to be remembered in any way. Dissolving and vanishing is the biggest suffer for conscience so a mankind will want to continue his life even in Hell. God does not send creatures to nothing. Every partcile, atom, scene and deed stand and continue in a kind of entity by God.

 

[yankee15]

This discussion reminds me of the “Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis. Even when offered eternal bliss, the various characters chose to cling to their past for various reasons (pride, shame, wrath, etc …).

 

[Nelka]

Does everyone want eternal life?

In Heaven? Yes!

 

[mgoforth]

Thanks 4love.
You also said of the canonized saints that “They report that time in Purgatory goes INCREDIBLY Slow.”
So…what I don’t understand is…if these saints have been told by God about purgatory…and then these saints “discussed” aspects of purgatory and “reported” details to someone…*.who *exactly did these saints discuss it with and to whom did they report their details to?
In other words, how did the author of that book know what these saints have been told, by God, about purgatory…assuming these saints were already dead when they were told about it, right?
(Else they wouldn’t be saints)

.

The reports I’ve read described visions that the saints received while they were still alive. Some saints were allowed to experience Purgatory (even Hell) for a brief moment, either to inspire them to become saints, to inspire us to become saints, or probably both.

Here’s one example from St. Faustina:
ingodscompany2.blogspot.com/2011/02/saint-maria-faustina-visions-of-hell.html

Just google “visions of purgatory” or similar, there are more out there.

 

[fred_conty]

Eternity is an idea that we as humans cannot grasp, but does the notion of eternal life really appeal to everyone? Would we have any concept of time passing as we did in our earthly existence?

I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Maybe eternal rest is the preferable choice.

Thoughts?

Good question.

Those who take their own life want to end this life so much that tho they may consider a next life, they are in so much pain that they no longer care about a next life. They only want to terminate their life. Some may consider the consequenses of their action, but others just want to stop pain and even want nothing more to do with life at all, here or hereafter.

I also think that when considering the next life, others may look forward to total evaperation because this life for them has been miserable and difficult, and again want nothing more to do with life at all.

And of course the bad/evil person dosen’t want to face the consequences of their action and do not want what the next life will bring.

There may be times when even a good person would welcome non existence for a short time, because of a loss or an awefull experience.

Outside of these, when someone doesn’t want to go on living forever, is simply a lack of knowledge of what the next world of happiness is all about. Some think it will be constant work or that it will be boring, or that they won’t be able to do all the pleasurable things they are use to, or the idea of heaven they have does not appeal to them, or we will be just standing around looking at one another, or…or…

Heaven isn’t any of these things. A person is looking for love which fills us up. Just look at a pair of honeymooners who are in love. Look at the love between a mother and infant in her arms.
In heaven a person is swimming in more love than they could ever experience in this world and it can last since we are eternal beings. No pain, just pure love never to leave us again.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[oldcelt]

Good question.

Those who take their own life want to end this life so much that tho they may consider a next life, they are in so much pain that they no longer care about a next life. They only want to terminate their life. Some may consider the consequenses of their action, but others just want to stop pain and even want nothing more to do with life at all, here or hereafter.

I also think that when considering the next life, others may look forward to total evaperation because this life for them has been miserable and difficult, and again want nothing more to do with life at all.

And of course the bad/evil person dosen’t want to face the consequences of their action and do not want what the next life will bring.

There may be times when even a good person would welcome non existence for a short time, because of a loss or an awefull experience.

Outside of these, when someone doesn’t want to go on living forever, is simply a lack of knowledge of what the next world of happiness is all about. Some think it will be constant work or that it will be boring, or that they won’t be able to do all the pleasurable things they are use to, or the idea of heaven they have does not appeal to them, or we will be just standing around looking at one another, or…or…

Heaven isn’t any of these things. A person is looking for love which fills us up. Just look at a pair of honeymooners who are in love. Look at the love between a mother and infant in her arms.
In heaven a person is swimming in more love than they could ever experience in this world and it can last since we are eternal beings. No pain, just pure love never to leave us again.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

Very nice post, thank you. I hope that eternity is something like that, though I’m sure that we all have a somewhat different view.

 

[fred_conty]

Very nice post, thank you. I hope that eternity is something like that, though I’m sure that we all have a somewhat different view.

Thank you for your kind words. And I plan on seeing you someday there and enjoying one another like two drunken sailors. :extrahappy:

 

[GEddie]

There may be times when even a good person would welcome non existence for a short time, because of a loss or an awefull experience.

I for one have never had that.

Rather, my darkest days, I have wished that God would deduct those times from the time that I must spend dead. But I know that can’t happen.

ICXC NIKA