Which is easier to describe to the human mind and heart - pain or glory?

[JRKH]

Philosophicaly, psychologically or whatever…

Which do you think is more easily described for “effect” the pains of eternal punishment, or the pleasures of the beatific vision?

Which thing has a more profound effect on the human psyche. The contemplation of profound pain in the future, or contemplation of profound pleasure in the future?

Peace
James

 

[Trishie]

Subjectively or objectively?..if objectivity is possible to what is always subjective and isolated brain activity.
I don’t know that either has much impression on me and both are equally beyond certain understanding.The beatific vision and joy hasn’t happened yet so it doesn’t figure with me.
It’s an ideal I can’t conceptualize. At the same time the other place is viewed with in symbolic form which we take to be the reality. And because I believe in God’s mercy, and do the best I can manage, which isn’t necessarily as much as I should do, the thought of hell doesn’t bother me.

I have to say I live more in the present moment where heaven etc is concerned.
It’s enough just to do the best one can manage to be helpful or encouraging today/each day. One can only honestly and authentically try to do that…and heaven and hell have nothing to do with that daily initiative to try to live as a good follower of Christ. The fact that I may not always succeed as I’d wish doesn’t scare me and the fact that I sometimes am successfully helpful and kind doesn’t make me feel like patting myself on the back…so the end result is kind of irrelevant. It’s God’s problem want happens to me in the end, because the choices are made daily, and there’s nothing glorious or intimidating in that. It just is what it is.

So for me, neither has more impact.

 

[po18guy]

Since we can conceive of neither the depth of pain in hell, nor the joy of God’s glory, words fail us in either regard. However, pain is usually much more of a motivator within broken and sinful humans. Again, some lives have rarely if ever felt the joy that can be associated with God’s glory, but certainly have experienced profound spiritual and physical pain. The meter is tilting toward pain.