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Heaven and Hell

Do you believe heaven and Hell are not 'places' as such but rather a STATE of existence where individuals exist in as a single consciousness. Earth 'bad' people existing in 'Hell' consciousness, and Earthly good people existing in 'Heavenly' consciousness ? Both consciousness has neither time or physical dimensions ? That's my interpretation of Heaven and Hell, what's your ?
LadyGrace · 70-79
This is why God gave us His Word; so we wouldn't have to guess. We know heaven is a real place, as the bible gives its specific dimensions and foundations, described as precious gemstones, which is exciting! God gave John a vision of it:

All pain, suffering, and tears will absent there (Rev. 21:4).
John was carried away to heaven in Revelation chapter 21, and this chapter is perhaps the best description of heaven that we know of; at least the heaven that will be seen by those who are Christ’s today.

John describes it in Revelation 21:10-27:
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia [or 1,400 miles] in length, and as wide and high as it is long [1,400 miles wide and tall].
17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits [that is 200 feet] thick.



18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.
26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Graylight · 51-55, F
Given the choice, I d go with heaven and hell being states of mind, though I bristle at the concept of either.

We have created, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, a deity who most personifies man, complete with the set of morals and concepts that one might associate with humans. What we've done, I believe, is create a God in the image of man.

The Universe has no need of vengeance, judgment, or even time. The Universe no more cares that you eat kosher food than it demands a certain period of worship weekly. The Universe flows. The more we pay attention to the current and float along it's path, the closer to "heaven" we are. The more we try to impose our own needs, beliefs and demands on the Universe, the further out of sync we fall.
KALIS · 41-45
@Graylight sounds good and logical interpretation of it all. Thank you for your insight
SW-User
I believe that at source we're all one. That the whole macrocosm of the universe is represented and reflected in us.
That the spirit/soul then choose to have a human experience and experience itself in infinite possibilities.
When it's born as a human, it forgets its true nature. Which is the only way to really experience the various ways of being a human.
There are two core emotions - Fear and Love. Fear keeps you in vicious cycles of what could be depicted as hell. Love liberates you in what could be depicted as heaven.
I do not believe these to be separate places. We're everything and everything is in us.
KALIS · 41-45
@SW-User very interesting
If it’s not science, it’s superstition.

“[R]eligion was the race's first (and worst) attempt to make sense of reality. It was the best the species could do at a time when we had no concept of physics, chemistry, biology or medicine. We did not know that we lived on a round planet, let alone that the said planet was in orbit in a minor and obscure solar system, which was also on the edge of an unimaginably vast cosmos that was exploding away from its original source of energy. We did not know that micro-organisms were so powerful and lived in our digestive systems in order to enable us to live, as well as mounting lethal attacks on us as parasites. We did not know of our close kinship with other animals. We believed that sprites, imps, demons, and djinns were hovering in the air about us. We imagined that thunder and lightning were portentous. It has taken us a long time to shrug off this heavy coat of ignorance and fear, and every time we do there are self-interested forces who want to compel us to put it back on again.”
― Christopher Hitchens, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever
Graylight · 51-55, F
@BlueSkyKing And yet - not one observed or studied cultural tribe on the planet doesn't have some kind of origin story or concept of a greater being.
KALIS · 41-45
@BlueSkyKing Conscience is science and part of quantum physics
Graylight · 51-55, F
@KALIS Very possible. Almost certainly, demonstrably to an extent. But why can't conscience, quantum physics and a sort of 'musical conductor' work in harmony?
Adstar · 56-60, M
No..

I believe heaven and hell are actual places...
KALIS · 41-45
@Adstar I will always trust my own beliefs and no writing or scripture will convince me to the contrary. I seek God through my own intuition and not the bible. Saying anything else is just ignored by me. But yes I do read the bible, but not as you or anyone else reads it. It is Not literal to me or ever shall be. I read it and it tells me everything I need to know about salvation and faith. I interpret it as God allows me to interpret it. So quoting text to me is futile. God speaks to his children in different ways, and you and me are different. Please accept that and if you need to clarify anything in the scriptures I am always willing to tell you the true meanings
Adstar · 56-60, M
@KALIS So be it..
KALIS · 41-45
@Adstar thank you
SW-User
Yes but that consciousness transcends this life... So I think it exists after we die too.
Still though, I wonder if we see again the ones our loved ones
KALIS · 41-45
@SW-User I think the consciousness that we exist as is all seeing, people we love etc
SW-User
@KALIS do you think we can connect to other others like that?
KALIS · 41-45
@SW-User yes, 100% . A consciousness has no boundaries
karysma · 31-35, F
We are all spirit beings and if we're spirits then there's a world where spirits function just as the flesh only functions with the use of the human body. Heaven and hell are places designed for spirits just as earth is designed for the body.
KALIS · 41-45
@karysma Because it's only a unified consciousness and not physical existence. That's my belief
karysma · 31-35, F
@KALIS That's what other religions teach but it's not true. If you look at things with your natural eye you'll get confused. Use your spiritual senses and everything will make sense. I for one only learnt to use my spiritual senses when the Holy Spirit was manifested in me. He is the Spirit of truth and is there to teach believers all things.
KALIS · 41-45
@karysma we are all spiritual beings of course. I feel I have used my spiritual senses, and I have arrived at a conclusion that in the next existence I will be fully spiritual in a consciousness of called heaven, where nothing is physical, where there are no 'places' just existances, as [part of a consciousness where god is and resides.
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
No! And I don't understand why the concept of hell is so popular. Why do so many people seem to want so many other people to suffer torment for the rest of time? What possible transgression could warrant such extreme punishment?
KALIS · 41-45
@ninalanyon Is that an Opinion ? Or do you have proof ?
ninalanyon · 61-69, T
@KALIS Proving a negative is notoriously difficult. But you are the one claiming the existence of something contrary to all the known laws of the universe, surely the burden of proof falls on you?
KALIS · 41-45
@ninalanyon my idea is my opinion , it needs no proof. same for you , it's just your opinion
SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M
That pic is AMAZING
SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M
@KALIS ah, i was going to ask if it's a painting, or credited to an artist of some sort
KALIS · 41-45
@SilkandLace2 As far as I know it's a painting but I can find the credit for it
SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M
@KALIS gotcha
Lostpoet · M
I can buy that
KALIS · 41-45
@Lostpoet Thanks for sayin'
Millerdog · 56-60, M
I think "heaven" would be being in the presence of God, spiritually after death. But I don't believe there is judgment and condemnation. God can enlighten any soul. But if they choose not to be in God's presence that might be considered "hell"
Justenjoyit · 61-69, M
Maybe all of the soul energies are neutral and its just down on eath there are positive and negative people, but the religious people and their beliefs will probably be shocked to find out what really happens when you die, thats why you should have an open mind to it all.
KALIS · 41-45
@Justenjoyit I will keep an Open mind.

 
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