Would you rather have heaven or cease to exist?

So let's say God exists according to the Christian theology, that he wanted his only son to be brutally tortured and executed, and he wants human beings to share in that suffering , but also share in that Glory.

It absolutely sucks that God wants good people to suffer, but let's just say that's the God we have, as much as it sucks, and he was giving you plenty of evidence of his existence including clear messages that your sufferings atone for sin, made your soul more pure, made you more glorious in God's eyes, and earned you a higher standing and Treasures in Heaven.

Now granted, in heaven you would be worshipping this God that you don't like very much, but you would also have eternal pleasure, Eternal Bliss, and eternal surroundings of beauty, only you had to suffer for some reason prior to receiving it.

Would you rather spend an eternity in a place where such a God exists and is worshipped (a God who wants good people to suffer in this life but have eternal joy in the next), or would you rather cease to exist if given the option?

Cease to exist.

I'm still able to understand that i dislike this god for multiple reasons, namely for it's less than admirable personality, correct?
Being around such a thing and worshiping it for all eternity would leave a bad aftertaste on any and all beauty or bliss I might encounter by its side.

I'd rather circumvent the whole situation and just cease to exist.
Saves me the headaches and internal disgust I would have to deal with for the rest of eternity.

Depends on the heaven. If it was like this world in the sense that you had something to look forward to then yes. If it would be just the same for all eternity, I don't see the point.

PopeADope said:

Would you rather spend an eternity in a place where such a God exists and is worshipped (a God who wants good people to suffer in this life but have eternal joy in the next), or would you rather cease to exist if given the option?

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I suppose I'd rather continue to exist, whatever the circumstances.

At the same time, if I cease to exist, I won't be around to worry about it.

PopeADope said:

So let's say God exists according to the Christian theology, that he wanted his only son to be brutally tortured and executed, and he wants human beings to share in that suffering

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But why the hell would anyone believe that? (That is, why the hell would any rational person believe that?)

Nous said:

But why the hell would anyone believe that? (That is, why the hell would any rational person believe that?)

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There are roughly 2 billion people who do... It must make sense to them...

PopeADope said:

There are roughly 2 billion people who do... It must make sense to them...

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If that were true, then there are at least 2 billions irrational, uninsightful people in the world. That number, if true, isn't terribly surprising.

But, without sufficient evidence, I don't believe that it is true that 2 billion people actually believe what you have described (that "God . . . wanted his only son to be brutally tortured and executed, and he wants human beings to share in that suffering.") I've known lots of people who identify as Chrisitan and who would not agree with any such proposition.

Nous said:

If that were true, then there are at least 2 billions irrational, uninsightful people in the world. That number, if true, isn't terribly surprising.

But, without sufficient evidence, I don't believe that it is true that 2 billion people actually believe what you have described (that "God . . . wanted his only son to be brutally tortured and executed, and he wants human beings to share in that suffering.") I've known lots of people who identify as Chrisitan and who would not agree with any such proposition.

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How can a Christian argue otherwise... Jesus came into this world to be a sacrificial lamb, suffer and die for sin. It was his destiny. How could a Christian argue that God didn't want it? When it was time for Christ to be crucified, he said " now has the time come for the son of man to be glorified."

PopeADope said:

How can a Christian argue otherwise.

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Even as little as I know about Christianity, it is evident to me that you need to expand your study of the various forms and philosophies of Christianity and other religions. It seems you've hooked on to some lowbrow sort of fire-and-brimstone Christian fundamentalism. Even if there is some number of people who believe such Biblical literalist junk, there are plenty of concepts of God in the world's religions that are not remotely akin to that. I implore you to read William James' Varieties of Religious Experience: W. James: The Varieties of Religious Experience (Table of Contents)

Depends on the God. Abrahamic? I would probably not chill with him but if a Job or a deal could be worked out. maybe.

but if Heaven exists it means there is a Good chance other realms exist too. so i guess having Heaven existing would be better than ceasing to exist

I don't really want nonexistence as in lack of consiousness.

the nature of heaven depends on who your asking. the Jews consider it the Kingdom of God and his Angels and not for Humans. if such is the case it existing or not does not really matter for you, though if you are one of the only mortals let in it could be an honor.

if its Christian heaven there are multiple spheres and such. the highest being Primum mobile.

I believe God does not wish for us to suffer in the physical life and indeed has a physical life where there will be no suffering for those who accept Jesus. Heaven is OK but I prefer physical life.

Deathbydefault said:

Cease to exist.

I'm still able to understand that i dislike this god for multiple reasons, namely for it's less than admirable personality, correct?
Being around such a thing and worshiping it for all eternity would leave a bad aftertaste on any and all beauty or bliss I might encounter by its side.

I'd rather circumvent the whole situation and just cease to exist.
Saves me the headaches and internal disgust I would have to deal with for the rest of eternity.

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I believe what you will get is Hell and the physical life you have in this wicked world of suffering is the best you could hope for with an attitude like that towards God and only that by the grace of God.

Jumi said:

Depends on the heaven. If it was like this world in the sense that you had something to look forward to then yes. If it would be just the same for all eternity, I don't see the point.

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I believe there is nothing to look forward to because there is no time. However it is as new as the imgination can make it.

Muffled said:

I believe what you will get is Hell and the physical life you have in this wicked world of suffering is the best you could hope for with an attitude like that towards God and only that by the grace of God.

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What a great example of why people don't like fundies.

I don't really care either way.

Muffled said:

I believe what you will get is Hell and the physical life you have in this wicked world of suffering is the best you could hope for with an attitude like that towards God and only that by the grace of God.

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If we're talking about the god described in the OP, hell isn't even a possibility so there's nothing I have to worry about. No wait, that's not true at all. Being in that heaven would be a personal hell for me.

Though I wouldn't change my position even if being put in some other kind of hell became likely.
My resolution/stubbornness isn't that weak, so to whichever other hell I shall vacation happily knowing it isn't called heaven.