# A few questions about the Christian heaven **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 24, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643 "2015-10-24T17:26:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/81 "2015-10-27T10:58:03Z")
I think you’ve missed the point of the poem. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/82 "2015-10-27T11:14:11Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I think you’ve missed the point of the poem. The poem is flawed in a great many ways. You can touch an elephant. You can actually find physical evidence that an elephant exists, even if you are blind. We may be “blind” to the existence of god but we have exactly 0 amount of physical evidence to examine. ---
**Author:** ![nicky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f0a364/32.png) [@nicky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicky)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/83 "2015-10-27T14:21:46Z")
Bobby bob bob… If an Atheist says “christianity is bunk” , then thats a fair comment. If an Atheist says “christianity is bunk - theyre just making stuff up that isnt even in the bible”, then that atheist is an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/84 "2015-10-27T14:34:38Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > If their belief is not supported by the bible then it is irrelevant. It would merely be an opinion. Wrong. First off, the OP asks what Christians believe, not what they _should_ believe according to how _you_ interpret the Bible. Second, _you_ don’t get to define “Christian” or “Christianity”. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/85 "2015-10-27T17:47:40Z")
Christians don’t have to square anything. Some believe this, some believe that, they each believe the other is wrong, and anything they can’t explain about their own brand of faith is a “mystery”. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/86 "2015-10-27T18:47:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Wrong. First off, the OP asks what Christians believe, not what they _should_ believe according to how _you_ interpret the Bible. Second, _you_ don’t get to define “Christian” or “Christianity”. There is only one way to interpret the bible. To look at what is printed there. It is an absurd notion to claim otherwise. The bible is divine authority. That means there is only one version and you can only accept what is printed. If, however, you claim that the bible is - not - divine authority then it no longer has any relevance, according to gods instruction(s) for us humans. It is just a book(s) like any other book. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/87 "2015-10-27T18:51:37Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > There is only one way to interpret the bible. To look at what is printed there. It is an absurd notion to claim otherwise. The bible is divine authority. That means there is only one version and you can only accept what is printed. > > If, however, you claim that the bible is - not - divine authority then it no longer has any relevance, according to gods instruction(s) for us humans. It is just a book(s) like any other book. Who says? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/88 "2015-10-27T18:55:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Who says? It is either gods divine decree or it is not. There is no third option here. Which third option do you propose??? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/89 "2015-10-27T19:00:01Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > It is either gods divine decree or it is not. There is no third option here. > > Which third option do you propose??? That wasn’t sarcasm or evasion-that was a direct question. Who says that a Christian is someone who has to take the Bible the way you describe it? Where did you get the idea that there was only one way to interpret the Bible? If this is true, would you mind telling us what religion comes closest to following this edict of yours? ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/90 "2015-10-27T19:14:20Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > There is only one way to interpret the bible. To look at what is printed there. It is an absurd notion to claim otherwise. The bible is divine authority. That means there is only one version and you can only accept what is printed. > [@Robert163](#): > > If their belief is not supported by the bible then it is irrelevant. It would merely be an opinion. Ok, do just that, show biblical support for it, by using scripture, and not just your opinion. Wouldn’t surprise me if you could find some, the bible says a lot of things, with many authors, having many different opposing views. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/91 "2015-10-27T19:20:48Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > The actual specific details about heaven in the bible are very very very limited. I think it mentions streets of gold and crowns for the particularly righteous. Other than that, it has very little to say. Odd, considering that Christians obsess over it so much. Well, besides the streets of gold, there will be mansions there. And harp music. But yeppers, it does seem strange that so little was written about it. Eternity is a long time, I would like to know as much as possible about it if I was going there. I’ve been told, I have nothing to worry about. 😉 I heard one Christian also tell me that they wouldn’t have their genitals either, and cited Matthew for that. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/92 "2015-10-27T19:26:46Z")
Is gold a valuable commodity in heaven? Is it something one would _want_ to walk on? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/93 "2015-10-27T19:27:43Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > Ok, do just that, show biblical support for it, by using scripture, and not just your opinion. Wouldn’t surprise me if you could find some, the bible says a lot of things, with many authors, having many different opposing views. Right!!! **with many authors, having many different opposing views** So you admit it is a book(s) written by man and not written by god? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/94 "2015-10-27T19:29:17Z")
> [@razncain](#): > > … I heard one Christian also tell me that they wouldn’t have their genitals either, and cited Matthew for that. Where do they go? Are they stored somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/95 "2015-10-27T19:30:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That wasn’t sarcasm or evasion-that was a direct question. Who says that a Christian is someone who has to take the Bible the way you describe it? Where did you get the idea that there was only one way to interpret the Bible? If this is true, would you mind telling us what religion comes closest to following this edict of yours? No, this is simply lazy thinking on your part. Either demonstrate how Divine Authority can have more than one accounting of the Truth or simply bow out and admit that I am right. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/96 "2015-10-27T19:36:47Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > No, this is simply lazy thinking on your part. > > Either demonstrate how Divine Authority can have more than one accounting of the Truth or simply bow out and admit that I am right. I’m sorry, but I don’t have to do either, because " demonstrating how Divine Authority can have more than one accounting of the Truth" has nothing to do with what defines a Christian. You have given _your_ strict parameters of what a Christian has to be, and I am not accepting those strict parameters as to be commonly held by most of the world’s _self-defined_ Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/97 "2015-10-27T19:45:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m sorry, but I don’t have to do either, because " demonstrating how Divine Authority can have more than one accounting of the Truth" has nothing to do with what defines a Christian. You have given _your_ strict parameters of what a Christian has to be, and I am not accepting those strict parameters as to be commonly held by most of the world’s _self-defined_ Christians. But Divine Sanction does not allow for self definition. It only allows for one account. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/98 "2015-10-27T19:48:57Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Well, remember, the theory involves supernatural and miraculous attributes. The novelty never “wears off,” because it can be miraculously multiplied, like loaves and fishes, and splinters of the True Cross. > > The joy never palls, because God is directly stimulating your pleasure centers. Or just radiating “perfect absolute Good” whatever the screw that means. > > The fact that this necessarily entails the eradication of any of our existing human values is a small price to pay. > > (One might just as well be absorbed by Azathoth. But, then, if Azathoth wanted to, he could probably make the experience totally pleasurable.) What you say reminds me of a similar podcast on the subject a few years ago. I think “Mr. Deity and the After Party” nails it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vWpO_dymCZ8/maxresdefault.jpg "Mr. Deity and the After Party") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWpO_dymCZ8) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/99 "2015-10-27T19:52:17Z")
> [@Robert163](#): > > But Divine Sanction does not allow for self definition. It only allows for one account. Really?? Why don’t you go Google “Devine Sanction” and tell us if there is any consensus about the supposed “one account”. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643/100 "2015-10-27T19:57:28Z")
Bringing it back to the OP (I think this tangent isn’t really helpful), I believe that many posters have indicated there are many, many ways that Christian denominations believe in Scripture. Especially there have been given a lot of potential answers for Question #1 (I personally believe in some sort of spiritual heaven which is a wait for the Final Judgement when the new Heavens and the new Earth are formed, as per Revelation ch. 20-21, and people will have perfected bodies and live with God forever, etc, etc). For #2, it’s also varied, but while I’ve seen the “all good people go to heaven” argument back and forth, I think that no one has yet mentioned universalism, which has been a historic (though highly minority) Christian position; and one that is currently growing, especially in mainline Protestantism (and even Evangelicalism - Rob Bell’s book for instance). Good or bad, one is attains life in the age to come (the new Heavens and new Earth time). The question is why should one be a Christian then was answered a bit all the way back in post #2 by **Thudlow Boink** - specifically, to me, that one lives with the freedom that comes from the acceptance and embrace of the truth of God’s love. All, IMO, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-christian-heaven/735643.md?page=6)