Is Heaven, Nirvana etc the goal?

[Muffled]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

 

[The Hammer]

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

This sounds like a classic case of reincarnation. Interesting, didn't think Christianity supported that.

 

[sun rise]

I'm not a Hindu. But to me the goal of life is to become united with God through love.

 

[Muffled]

This sounds like a classic case of reincarnation. Interesting, didn't think Christianity supported that.

Christian theology isn't always correct about everything. The resurrection is a form of reincarnation. The Spirit of God left the body on the cross before it died and returned to a glorified living body three day later.

 

[Muffled]

I'm not a Hindu. But to me the goal of life is to become united with God through love.

I believe Jesus says "where your heart is, there will you be also." So if Jesus says He is God of the living and not the dead, does that mean the love of God is for the living?

 

[Trailblazer]

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Please point me to the verses that say that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Trailblazer]

The Spirit of God left the body on the cross before it died and returned to a glorified living body three day later.

Please point me to the verses in the Bible that say that.

 

[Trailblazer]

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

So the many mansions are on earth?

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

[Windwalker]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

I always love it when people tell us what they think, and call that what God thinks. No shying away from pretending humility there. "Thus saith the Lord, hear my servant's words as my very own, verily verily, verily, gently down the stream, and such".

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

I wouldn't think so. How can you be with god, be god, and have a goal to be apart from any conception of god at the same time?

 

[sun rise]

I believe Jesus says "where your heart is, there will you be also." So if Jesus says He is God of the living and not the dead, does that mean the love of God is for the living?

The question is too complex for me because we don't know what Jesus really said - just what the authors of the Bible and other editors later said that he said.

But if you want me to comment on what is in the Bible:
Did Jesus Descend into Hell? has that quote and more.

For the last clause, having a physical body to me is a great privilege.\, because we can progress toward God only when incarnate. So I believe that working on loving God is indeed for the living.

 

[Regiomontanus]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

Yes, Paul speaks of Jesus being the 'first fruit'.

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

The notion of your soul zooming off to heaven is not the traditional, orthodox teaching, but rather a post-enlightenment compromise under the influence of Plato.


Resurrection - OrthodoxWiki

 

[Trailblazer]

For the last clause, having a physical body to me is a great privilege.\, because we can progress toward God only when incarnate. So I believe that working on loving God is indeed for the living.

I believe that we progress by the free will choices we make in this life, and that the primary purpose of this life is to know and love God, but I believe we continue to progress towards God after we die and enter the spiritual world, where we will take on another form, a spiritual body.

“And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 155-156

All that said and quoted, I do not know exactly how we will progress without free will and the ability to make choices, that is a mystery. The Baha'i belief is that we will only be able to progress by the grace of God, the prayers of others, and good works done in our name, but I tend to believe there is more to it than that.

Nevertheless, it makes some sense to me that we will no longer have free will as we know it in this life, since free will is primarily for the purpose of making moral choices, by which we can grow spiritually. I believe that when we die physically and enter the spiritual world we will be whoever we have become in this world and we will start to advance from that point on. We will begin to develop along a new line but we will not be able to get what we did not get in this world and that is what makes this life so very important for attaining spiritual growth. An analogy that has been given is that we are developing our spiritual arms and legs in this world just as a baby in the womb develops physical arms and legs, and just as the baby will need those arms and legs to walk, we will need our spiritual arms and legs (the spiritual attributes we have acquired in this world) to be equipped for life in the spiritual world.

 

[Kenny]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

I think God has bigger plans than all of the above.

 

[sun rise]

I believe that we progress by the free will choices we make in this life, and that the primary purpose of this life is to know and love God, but I believe we continue to progress towards God after we die and enter the spiritual world, where we will take on another form, a spiritual body.

I would call the after death body the 'astral body' and what we do is review and learn from the life just lived. The purpose of the review is to understand our successes and failures fully so we can continue our progress in another physical body.

 

[Trailblazer]

I would call the after death body the 'astral body' and what we do is review and learn from the life just lived. The purpose of the review is to understand our successes and failures fully so we can continue our progress in another physical body.

That is the difference between your beliefs and mine. I believe we have a life review......

“It is clear and evident that all men shall, after their physical death, estimate the worth of their deeds, and realize all that their hands have wrought. ”Gleanings, p. 171

..... but after that I believe we continue to progress in the spiritual world with a spiritual body. I don't believe we ever come back to this world and reincarnate in another physical body. I would consider that a great punishment rather than an opportunity. I believe we only have one chance to progress by our own free will decisions and I believe that is just because if we do not progress enough through no fault of our own then we will be recompensed by God's mercy, sort of like the free gift.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Hindus say they want to become one with God ..

You are making a generalized statement about Hindus. That never works. Let us list the various beliefs in Hinduism (Hindu members can add to the list if they so desire).

1. Advaita (the view that I follow): You are in reality that of which the whole universe is made up of. Just understand that.
2. Shaivas: Live and austere life to merge with Shiva.
3. Vaishnavas: Live in devotion to live in nearness of God.
4. Others: Live righteously so that you stay in heaven and avoid hell, also get a better deal on rebirth.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I hear a lot of Christians say they are looking forward to eternity in Heaven. Hindus say they want to become one with God and Buddhists say they want to reach Nirvana.

However the Gospel (Good news) is that people will spend eternity in a new body on earth.

Perhaps what God thinks is good is different from what people thing is good.

The only spiritual "goal" i have is to be the best version of me that i can be when i am on earth, the rest is up to Allah.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do not know exactly how we will progress without free will and the ability to make choices, that is a mystery. .. Nevertheless, it makes some sense to me that we will no longer have free will as we know it in this life, since free will is primarily for the purpose of making moral choices, by which we can grow spiritually.

“It is clear and evident that all men shall, after their physical death, estimate the worth of their deeds, and realize all that their hands have wrought."

Unfortunate that the know-all Iranian preacher forgot to explain that, neither did his son or great-grandson. It is wrong to believe what you want to believe when even the message from Allah does not explain it. It may take you to a dead end. In matters of Allah you should not use your brain.

That is quite silly and funny. To do what was necessary to do in life - only after death. And how will that be done when the brain is no more?

The only spiritual "goal" i have is to be the best version of me that i can be when i am on earth, the rest is up to Allah.

That is nice, but what do you think is your best version - to be superstitious?

 

[Trailblazer]

And how will that be done when the brain is no more?

The soul does not depend upon the brain, it is the reverse.