If you are not a Christian, why do you think about or discuss the Christian heaven?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand what this post is trying to get at.

I am not a christian. I don't talk about heaven typically.

As for how the idea of a christian heaven affects me - well that could be a novel. Unfortunately lots of people act in terrible ways based on ideas about heaven and hell. So of course it affects me, as a person who has to share earth with them.

It's about the "angry athiest" poster being back again. Best to ignore.

NP- the “angry atheist” answered the question. What were you hoping for? A thread of non-Christians longingly wishing that they too could experience the promised Paradise?

No, no.

I'm referring to the religious person (?) who starts or takes over threads to blather on about some angry athiest she thinks lives on these boards 24/7/365.

The Angry Religious person goes on these tirades every few months. I now believe this person is seriously mentally ill.

Nice try

Derailing one thread wasn't enough for you?

[Anonymous]

I can't say I've ever had much of a discussion about heaven, except when dh's Grandma passed away.

Ds was 3. A few people told him Great Grandma went to heaven. Well, he attended the burial. He came to the conclusion that the cemetary must be heaven. MIL told him that heaven was a beautiful place where you got to see all of the people you love who had died. His conclusion from that? "Ok, let's go see Great Grandma!" Oh boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

When my grandma (my kids called her Gigi) died, we had a two-fold discussion:
1. The physical. My kids (ages 3 and 5) were very curious about what we were doing with Gigi's body? We talked about burying her in the ground next to my grandpa and how her headstone will be a place we can come to remember her (though we can also remember her wherever we are). My husband was a pall bearer and it's been over a year and my kids still sometimes randomly ask if we remember "that time daddy carried Gigi's box to her hole in the ground? Why did he have to wear gloves when he carried the box? Is Gigi still in the ground?"

2. The theoretical/spiritual. We talked about how her memory lives on in us and just because she isn't here with us anymore doesn't mean that we don't still love her and think about her. When we're sad that she's not with us anymore, we can tell stories about her to help us remember her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

When my grandma (my kids called her Gigi) died, we had a two-fold discussion:
1. The physical. My kids (ages 3 and 5) were very curious about what we were doing with Gigi's body? We talked about burying her in the ground next to my grandpa and how her headstone will be a place we can come to remember her (though we can also remember her wherever we are). My husband was a pall bearer and it's been over a year and my kids still sometimes randomly ask if we remember "that time daddy carried Gigi's box to her hole in the ground? Why did he have to wear gloves when he carried the box? Is Gigi still in the ground?"

2. The theoretical/spiritual. We talked about how her memory lives on in us and just because she isn't here with us anymore doesn't mean that we don't still love her and think about her. When we're sad that she's not with us anymore, we can tell stories about her to help us remember her.

Thanks for sharing.

Do your kids ask where she went after she went in the ground?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

When my grandma (my kids called her Gigi) died, we had a two-fold discussion:
1. The physical. My kids (ages 3 and 5) were very curious about what we were doing with Gigi's body? We talked about burying her in the ground next to my grandpa and how her headstone will be a place we can come to remember her (though we can also remember her wherever we are). My husband was a pall bearer and it's been over a year and my kids still sometimes randomly ask if we remember "that time daddy carried Gigi's box to her hole in the ground? Why did he have to wear gloves when he carried the box? Is Gigi still in the ground?"

2. The theoretical/spiritual. We talked about how her memory lives on in us and just because she isn't here with us anymore doesn't mean that we don't still love her and think about her. When we're sad that she's not with us anymore, we can tell stories about her to help us remember her.

Thanks for sharing.

Do your kids ask where she went after she went in the ground?

Not really. They asked related questions, like "Why can't she wake up?" And "Why did she die?" They have seemed more or less satisfied with the idea that her body is in the ground as an answer to "where" she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand what this post is trying to get at.

I am not a christian. I don't talk about heaven typically.

As for how the idea of a christian heaven affects me - well that could be a novel. Unfortunately lots of people act in terrible ways based on ideas about heaven and hell. So of course it affects me, as a person who has to share earth with them.

It's about the "angry athiest" poster being back again. Best to ignore.

NP- the “angry atheist” answered the question. What were you hoping for? A thread of non-Christians longingly wishing that they too could experience the promised Paradise?

No, no.

I'm referring to the religious person (?) who starts or takes over threads to blather on about some angry athiest she thinks lives on these boards 24/7/365.

The Angry Religious person goes on these tirades every few months. I now believe this person is seriously mentally ill.

Nice try

+1

Let’s be honest: terrible try

+2. We found the angry atheist, who also has many trollish characteristics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

When my grandma (my kids called her Gigi) died, we had a two-fold discussion:
1. The physical. My kids (ages 3 and 5) were very curious about what we were doing with Gigi's body? We talked about burying her in the ground next to my grandpa and how her headstone will be a place we can come to remember her (though we can also remember her wherever we are). My husband was a pall bearer and it's been over a year and my kids still sometimes randomly ask if we remember "that time daddy carried Gigi's box to her hole in the ground? Why did he have to wear gloves when he carried the box? Is Gigi still in the ground?"

2. The theoretical/spiritual. We talked about how her memory lives on in us and just because she isn't here with us anymore doesn't mean that we don't still love her and think about her. When we're sad that she's not with us anymore, we can tell stories about her to help us remember her.

We’ve had these discussions too, and ours went along a similar path. We’ve also explained that, because only this life is guaranteed, we all have an obligation to take care of each other and our planet and make sure it’s the best it can possibly be, and not waste what we’ve been given in the false hope we might get something better later.

The one thing we have not broached is the concept of cremation. That’s a little scary even to me as an adult, but we don’t believe in the modern American burial tradition. Here’s hoping at the time of the next major death we have better options for natural burials.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is a question you have for a specific person. It doesn't make sense as a question to the general public.

Like, I don't spend time thinking about or discussing the Christian heaven? But if I did, it would be because it features heavily in my culture, and it reveals a lot about who we are, what we value, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer not to discuss or think about Christian heaven and I don't think about or discuss other version of heaven. Christian heaven here in the US is a pervasive idea that pops up in popular culture, media, and in well-meaning expressions of sympathy, so it requires some thought and discussion, even though I don't believe in it myself.

When my grandmother died, I had to talk to my young kids about heaven when they heard from well-meaning Christian friends and family that "grandma is in heaven now." (As if walking them through grief was not hard enough). I have to explain song lyrics to them about heaven and hell. Ideas of heaven usually go hand-in-hand with hell.

Thank you for your post.

Also: what do you tell your children happens when a loved one dies?

When my grandma (my kids called her Gigi) died, we had a two-fold discussion:
1. The physical. My kids (ages 3 and 5) were very curious about what we were doing with Gigi's body? We talked about burying her in the ground next to my grandpa and how her headstone will be a place we can come to remember her (though we can also remember her wherever we are). My husband was a pall bearer and it's been over a year and my kids still sometimes randomly ask if we remember "that time daddy carried Gigi's box to her hole in the ground? Why did he have to wear gloves when he carried the box? Is Gigi still in the ground?"

2. The theoretical/spiritual. We talked about how her memory lives on in us and just because she isn't here with us anymore doesn't mean that we don't still love her and think about her. When we're sad that she's not with us anymore, we can tell stories about her to help us remember her.

We’ve had these discussions too, and ours went along a similar path. We’ve also explained that, because only this life is guaranteed, we all have an obligation to take care of each other and our planet and make sure it’s the best it can possibly be, and not waste what we’ve been given in the false hope we might get something better later.

The one thing we have not broached is the concept of cremation. That’s a little scary even to me as an adult, but we don’t believe in the modern American burial tradition. Here’s hoping at the time of the next major death we have better options for natural burials.

PP here. My dad wants to be cremated, so we'll need to have that conversation at some point (hopefully a long time from now) with my kids. Not sure how to go about that either. I do like the idea of being buried in one of those sacks to become fertilizer for a tree or something. I saw it at the new Smithsonian Arts and Sciences Museum and it was a nice circle-of-life kind of idea.

[Anonymous]

This is hilarious. It's like asking "As a non-Christian, why do you breathe the air the Christian God created?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't understand what this post is trying to get at.

I am not a christian. I don't talk about heaven typically.

As for how the idea of a christian heaven affects me - well that could be a novel. Unfortunately lots of people act in terrible ways based on ideas about heaven and hell. So of course it affects me, as a person who has to share earth with them.

It's about the "angry athiest" poster being back again. Best to ignore.

DP. I had hoped the angry atheist had given up trashing religion forum threads for a similarly disturbing hobby like, I dunno, pulling the wings off flies. I’m sorry to see her back.

Are you an angry religious person? Sure sounds like it. ANyone can be angry

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious. It's like asking "As a non-Christian, why do you breathe the air the Christian God created?"

Or like asking if you are female, why do you think about or discuss the impact of men on the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious. It's like asking "As a non-Christian, why do you breathe the air the Christian God created?"

Analogy fail and pretty dumb. The correct analogy would be asking why a non-Christian would come online to discuss Christian creation beliefs, or why a cis man would come online to discuss what it's like to be a woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious. It's like asking "As a non-Christian, why do you breathe the air the Christian God created?"

Analogy fail and pretty dumb. The correct analogy would be asking why a non-Christian would come online to discuss Christian creation beliefs, or why a cis man would come online to discuss what it's like to be a woman.

Can’t things be discussed in an academic way without believing? Can’t a Christian professor teach mythology?