Will our soul have a sense of 'self' in Heaven?

[Robert_Sock]

I predict that it will not, at least not the way we currently experience ‘self.’ Moreover, in Heaven there will be a complete spiritual unification with God and others which will fully occupy us, rendering the ‘self’ to cease to exist (or at least experienced in a qualitatively different way).

 

[eazyduzit]

I predict that it will not, at least not the way we currently experience ‘self.’ Moreover, in Heaven there will be a complete spiritual unification with God and others which will fully occupy us, rendering the ‘self’ to cease to exist (or at least experienced in a qualitatively different way).

This is a Buddhist theory of the after life in which we achieve nirvana by losing sense of individual self and blending into “the one”. The Bible teaches that “we will be known as we are known”. We will enjoy the same relationships in heaven that we have had on earth except for the relationship of marriage.

 

[marymmma]

I pray that our souls will have a sense of self. I’ve always heard it to be that way. If not, how are we to recognize our relatives and I look forward to that if nothing else…outside of our spiritual unification with God as you say. I look forward to being with my son again more than I can say.

 

[Zoltan_Cobalt]

What does the Catholic Church teach about this subject?

 

[triumphguy]

I predict that it will not, at least not the way we currently experience ‘self.’ Moreover, in Heaven there will be a complete spiritual unification with God and others which will fully occupy us, rendering the ‘self’ to cease to exist (or at least experienced in a qualitatively different way).

We are already living eternal life. That sense of self we have now will continue.

 

[WT1]

This is a Buddhist theory of the after life in which we achieve nirvana by losing sense of individual self and blending into “the one”. The Bible teaches that “we will be known as we are known”. We will enjoy the same relationships in heaven that we have had on earth except for the relationship of marriage.

I don’t recall this do you have a scripture reference out of curiosity?

 

[ffg]

Jesus didn’t tell the good thief, today you will be unified to me in Heaven.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Jesus didn’t tell the good thief, today you will be unified to me in Heaven.

What does “unified” mean? Sounds to me like we must mortify the self for this union to take place.

 

[Pat_Albertson]

What does “unified” mean? Sounds to me like we must mortify the self for this union to take place.

I suspect he means “merged with me” or “dissolved into me”, but I’ll let him speak for himself and say whether or not he thinks my interpretation of what he said is correct.

I myself think that if there is an afterlife we will be, minus our flaws, substantially ourselves, but of course I have no actual knowledge; it’s just my intuition, nothing more . . .

If the equation for who we are in the afterlife runs something like:

present self - flaws (sins, bad habits, illnesses, etc.) + amplification of virtues + changes due to the heavenly environment (i.e. God, angels and saints are present; something which will probably have an effect) → us in the afterlife

the only way we would be other than ourselves would be if we completely merged with God or if we consisted of nothing but flaws or if our virtues were amplified out of all proportion, or if the heavenly environment distorted us out of all recognition. Somehow, I don’t think God wants those things to happen, but then, I could be wrong.

Anyway, crude as that might be, that’s more or less how I see it.

 

[StrawberryJam]

What does the Catholic Church teach about this subject?

Good question Mr. Cobalt
However, are you not curious at all to know what the biblical basis would be for a theologian to extrapolate anything from the text to come up with this?
Even if you did, would you end up finding that the thought would be binding upon all Catholics?

I tend to lean on the side of a negative to the question.

Your faith teaches you that the role you have in heaven is to worship and praise God for eternity.

In order to be a practicing Catholic, you should be doing this already.

Where is the sense of self in doing it while alive, or doing it for eternity?

 

[St_Redemption]

I predict that it will not, at least not the way we currently experience ‘self.’ Moreover, in Heaven there will be a complete spiritual unification with God and others which will fully occupy us, rendering the ‘self’ to cease to exist (or at least experienced in a qualitatively different way).

No, we do not become God after we die. Unless you are Mormon

 

[StrawberryJam]

No, we do not become God after we die. Unless you are Mormon

To be frank with you, he could be describing multiple belief systems. Not just Mormons.
And, I am not even entirely sure he is even suggesting Mormons here.
He or she is being very vague.
We can be more helpful if the question is precise.

 

[Robert_Sock]

No, we do not become God after we die. Unless you are Mormon

Contemplative Prayer can lead to a union with God, as taught by the great Mystics. Saint John of the Cross and St Theresa of Avila are said to have achieved Divine Union which I suspect drastically limits the sense of self.

 

[St_Redemption]

To be frank with you, he could be describing multiple belief systems. Not just Mormons.
And, I am not even entirely sure he is even suggesting Mormons here.
He or she is being very vague.
We can be more helpful if the question is precise.

He is describing the belief of himself and he states that he is Catholic. I’m pointing out that this belief is inconsistent with the philosophy of his own chosen religion, Catholicism.

Though he did leave some room for interpretation, as he stated, “at least not in the sense the we understand it.” This could be true, but no way do we cease to be individuals. This is an entirely alien philosophy/theology to our faith. At least based on everything ive read and understood from the numerous great minds of the faith.

 

[Robert_Sock]

No, we do not become God after we die. Unless you are Mormon

No, of course we do not, but as I just posted, we can achieve union with God, even in this life. And still again, the great mystics achieved this through self mortification. Surely their sense of self changed drastically as a result.

 

[Christianus_Dei]

As I understand it, when we’re with God we’ll be more ourselves than ever before.

 

[Neoplatonist]

Here is a link to a nice, brief treatment of the topic:
newadvent.org/cathen/14621a.htm

Note in particular the quote: “Finally, contemplation leads to a union so intimate and so strong that it can be expressed only by the terms “spiritual marriage”.”

Marriage, not a disappearance of the separate self.

 

[St_Redemption]

No, of course we do not, but as I just posted, we can achieve union with God, even in this life. And still again, the great mystics achieved this through self mortification. Surely their sense of self changed drastically as a result.

Agreed

We must be vastly different in Heaven because we do not sin in Heaven.

 

[Robert_Sock]

“Just as a blind man is unable to form any idea about colors, or a deaf person to fathom what it means to hear sounds… so the body cannot comprehend the delights of the soul… For we live in a material world, and the only kind of pleasure we can understand is that experienced through our body. But the joys of the spirit are everlasting and ceaseless. There is no resemblance of any kind between the enjoyments of the soul and those of the body.”
–Maimonides

 

[without]

Will our soul have a sense of ‘self’ in Heaven?

You felt and knew nothing before you were born, correct? … you will feel and know nothing when you die.

“Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no tomorrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace.” - Oscar Wilde