A
_Abyssinia
Guest
Has anybody read it? How based in Catholic theology is it?
- Status
G
GEddie
Guest
I don’t know if the book I remember is the same one, but any such book, as the one I read, is certain to be almost fully speculation.
S
svid2
Guest
Pax Christi!
The author had a series, based on the book, air on EWTN. So it’s probably pretty orthodox, tho’ speculative.
God bless.
The author had a series, based on the book, air on EWTN. So it’s probably pretty orthodox, tho’ speculative.
God bless.
E
Evania
Guest
I’ve read it and loved it!
R
roseproject
Guest
Hehe, I was just about to make a forum thread for discussing this book. Wouldn’t be much point in making a second thread right on top of this one…
I got it for Christmas this year and it’s pretty good. Makes me think about certain things from a different angle
I am interested in how he suggests how animals may be with us in heaven. He makes the argument that, while it IS us humans who are the only ones who have immortal souls, it is also christian theology that the WHOLE universe is going to be brought back and made new as well. The planet doesn’t have an immortal, spiritual soul like us, yet God seems to have an eternal plan for the Earth. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that animals could have some sort of eternal destiny with the rest of creation
The one prominent theme he carries throughout his book is that “nothing good is ever lost with God” or “God doesn’t throw away the good things he creates.” This, according to the book, includes “material goods, spiritual goods, and relational goods.” While I’m opt to agree with this for the most part, how far can one really go with this theme? The writer seems very confident that animals will be in heaven (including the prehistoric ones!), but he also goes on to say that even things like cities that we built in this lifetime might be raised up and be made new with the rest of creation. He throws examples like the whole of New York City (including the Twin Towers) and cities that were made all throughout history like ancient Rome or ancient Egyptian cities.
However, it is interesting to note that, upon looking up the verses he uses to site these claims, in Isaiah 65: 21-22 (a chapter talking about the new Heavens and new Earth), it says:
“They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the [a] lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands."
It seems pretty evident here that there will, at least, be some kinds of literal, physical housing/buildings in heaven.
I agree that Anthony DeStefano makes some very reasonable points in his book that are worth a good amount of consideration, but again, I wonder how far you can truly go with that theme of God not throwing anything away. Does he? Will that ferrari be in heaven? Will we need cars if we can just teleport? Will we need telephones? Anthony also suggests that we will be able to enjoy the kinds of music we enjoy here in this life. What about screamo metal? Will something like that have a place in Heaven beside the sublime beauty that will be all around us? Now, I don’t mind a little metal myself but would that fit in with heaven? I don’t know. Others may have other opinions. And back to buildings, what about buildings that were used for different services like hospitals and trade centers? Will they be repurposed? Or what about animals who’s major purpose in the ecosystem was the removal of dead things; creatures like flies and vultures and other such things. What will become of them?
I got it for Christmas this year and it’s pretty good. Makes me think about certain things from a different angle
I am interested in how he suggests how animals may be with us in heaven. He makes the argument that, while it IS us humans who are the only ones who have immortal souls, it is also christian theology that the WHOLE universe is going to be brought back and made new as well. The planet doesn’t have an immortal, spiritual soul like us, yet God seems to have an eternal plan for the Earth. So, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that animals could have some sort of eternal destiny with the rest of creation
The one prominent theme he carries throughout his book is that “nothing good is ever lost with God” or “God doesn’t throw away the good things he creates.” This, according to the book, includes “material goods, spiritual goods, and relational goods.” While I’m opt to agree with this for the most part, how far can one really go with this theme? The writer seems very confident that animals will be in heaven (including the prehistoric ones!), but he also goes on to say that even things like cities that we built in this lifetime might be raised up and be made new with the rest of creation. He throws examples like the whole of New York City (including the Twin Towers) and cities that were made all throughout history like ancient Rome or ancient Egyptian cities.
However, it is interesting to note that, upon looking up the verses he uses to site these claims, in Isaiah 65: 21-22 (a chapter talking about the new Heavens and new Earth), it says:
“They will build houses and inhabit them;
They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will not build and another inhabit,
They will not plant and another eat;
For as the [a] lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands."
It seems pretty evident here that there will, at least, be some kinds of literal, physical housing/buildings in heaven.
I agree that Anthony DeStefano makes some very reasonable points in his book that are worth a good amount of consideration, but again, I wonder how far you can truly go with that theme of God not throwing anything away. Does he? Will that ferrari be in heaven? Will we need cars if we can just teleport? Will we need telephones? Anthony also suggests that we will be able to enjoy the kinds of music we enjoy here in this life. What about screamo metal? Will something like that have a place in Heaven beside the sublime beauty that will be all around us? Now, I don’t mind a little metal myself but would that fit in with heaven? I don’t know. Others may have other opinions. And back to buildings, what about buildings that were used for different services like hospitals and trade centers? Will they be repurposed? Or what about animals who’s major purpose in the ecosystem was the removal of dead things; creatures like flies and vultures and other such things. What will become of them?
G
GEddie
Guest
The problem here is that there seems to still be a law of entropy (things “wearing out”) which would not be Heaven.
As to metal music, why not? Aren’t there Christian metalheads even now?
I wouldn’t know about cars and phones, but even if we all have telepathic minds, there will be some use for apps and electronics; and even if we can move around just by clicking our bare ankles together
, the ability to create inanimate motion will still be desirable. (If we still have “stuff” to move around, we will want something other than our shoulders to move it with!!)ICXC NIKA
R
roseproject
Guest
Despite the fact that there is a lot of questions that can be asked about the author’s ideas, I don’t see anything that explicitly goes against any fundamental theology. Some of it may be speculative, but nothing seems outright contrary.
R
roseproject
Guest
And then there’s the idea in the book that we will be able to eat in Heaven. I’m certainly not complaining about this since I likes me some good food, but in order to cook something, plants will need to die to make that spaghetti sauce or animals will need to die to make that steak. Maybe there will be something that is just as good of better than these without the need to kill anything (like REALLY good imitation products)
G
GEddie
Guest
Well, but the plant does not necessarily die. An olive tree can live for centuries while human generations enjoy its fruit. The seed-body is not the plant itself.And then there’s the idea in the book that we will be able to eat in Heaven. I’m certainly not complaining about this since I likes me some good food, but in order to cook something, plants will need to die to make that spaghetti sauce or animals will need to die to make that steak. Maybe there will be something that is just as good of better than these without the need to kill anything (like REALLY good imitation products)
ICXC NIKA
V
Viki63
Guest
Jesus showed us that he could eat in his transfigured body, after the Resurrection. I’m looking forward to the wedding feast!
The book that I like is Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven, by Peter Kreeft.
I also recently read Imagine Heaven, by John Burke, a protestant pastor. It talks about the near death experiences of people who have returned from heaven to describe it. It’s from a very protestant perspective, but it looks as if some Catholics have had those experiences too.
What all of these books seem to have in common is the idea that God will judge us on how much we loved others – not the emotion, but the actions.
.
The book that I like is Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Heaven, by Peter Kreeft.
I also recently read Imagine Heaven, by John Burke, a protestant pastor. It talks about the near death experiences of people who have returned from heaven to describe it. It’s from a very protestant perspective, but it looks as if some Catholics have had those experiences too.
What all of these books seem to have in common is the idea that God will judge us on how much we loved others – not the emotion, but the actions.
.
F
Faith1960
Guest
The follow up book, Travel Guide to Life, has the approval of Cardinal Timothy Dolen.
F
Faith1960
Guest
I’m reading Travel Guide to Life now. The author is Catholic and the book is endorsed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
- Status