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thephilosopher6
Guest
Yes, I know Jesus ascended to heaven. But isn’t heaven more of a state rather than an actual physical place? Is Jesus just floating around in space somewhere or is somehow in a different dimension?
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GEddie
Guest
Heaven isn’t a state. We have no Senators from there.
Seriously, it is a place, because solid bodies are or will be living there. But it is not in outer space, else we could see it.
It can be thought of as a dimension, wherein human bodies can move around, but not visible from our world.
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petra22
Guest
Good question. He was taken up and disappeared into the clouds. And then…
He sits at the right hand of the Father…
He sits at the right hand of the Father…
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thephilosopher6
Guest
Well, I know there is no official Catholic view on what exactly heaven is other than it being the presence and ultimate love of God. I don’t think it is a place though. I prefer the Eastern Christian view on heaven and hell and purgatory.Heaven isn’t a state. We have no Senators from there.
Seriously, it is a place, because solid bodies are or will be living there. But it is not in outer space, else we could see it.
It can be thought of as a dimension, wherein human bodies can move around, but not visible from our world.
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roseofshannon
Guest
What’s the Eastern view?
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thephilosopher6
Guest
oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/the-kingdom-of-heaven/heaven-and-hell
This is the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic view. It’s all in the context of Theosis.
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Lily_Bernans
Guest
Heaven isn’t a state. We have no Senators from there.
Seriously, it is a place, because solid bodies are or will be living there. But it is not in outer space, else we could see it.
It can be thought of as a dimension, wherein human bodies can move around, but not visible from our world.
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AttendeDomine
Guest
If a material body is present, then obviously it’s a place of some sort. That’s a pretty unavoidable conclusion.
Recent theological developments, as far as I know, have placed an emphasis on heaven also being a sort of state.
But that does not mean that someone who has a material body, albeit glorified, somehow doesn’t need space for that matter to exist in.
As to your question: what does Holy Scripture say? “A cloud took Him out of their sight.”
Where did He go after that? To heaven.
I can’t show you with mathematics what that involves, but the answers are there.
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JurisPrudens
Guest
Robert Barron said that Heaven for Jews for another dimension, and that Ascension was bringing earthly reality into heavenly dimension, just like Pentecost is bringing the heavenly reality into earthly dimension.
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pianistclare
Guest
Also, I highly recommend this book for the OP:
amazon.com/Everything-Ever-Wanted-About-Heaven/dp/0898702976/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1462530336&sr=8-20&keywords=Peter+Kreeft
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thephilosopher6
Guest
Well, not necessarily. Perhaps he went to another dimension. He is God. Not only that, but he has a glorified body.
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pianistclare
Guest
He said “I will go and prepare a place for you”.
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thephilosopher6
Guest
So Jesus is preparing a literal mansion for us in heaven? I think he meant that figuratively. I honestly don’t see any reason to debate this though. The Church has no definite position.
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pianistclare
Guest
From the Catechism:
1026 By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has “opened” heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.
1027 This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him."603
Sounds like a place to me.
1026 By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has “opened” heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.
1027 This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: "no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him."603
Sounds like a place to me.
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pianistclare
Guest
Interestingly, on e of my favorite homilies frequently would say that he hoped that the Lord had a home on a lake for him. his dad, and all his huge family extended family. 
He had a notion of a beautiful home on a lake with grandkids running around, lots of fishing, and magnolia trees about.
He had a notion of a beautiful home on a lake with grandkids running around, lots of fishing, and magnolia trees about.
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thephilosopher6
Guest
Doesn’t to me. I suggest you look up the Eastern Christian view of heaven, hell, and purgatory.
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pianistclare
Guest
I’m a Roman Catholic.
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