Heaven
“The bounties and beauty of Heaven are immense, so much so that it is beyond abilities of mankind’s worldly mind to comprehend” says Hilal Plaza in their article about heaven. It is said that nine out of ten people in the United States believe in a “heaven” (ABC News Poll). In general, “heaven” is a physical place and location. “Heaven” is a place where people go once they have died and are said to experience paradise and eternal life. Many different cultures and religions believe in a “heaven” or “higher place” where the believers go once the believers have died or their time is up. The other big discussion is when the believers will go to this “heaven”. There are many different views and opinions on what “heaven” is, where it is, and when it is.
“Heaven” through all religions who have a “heaven”, portray “heaven” as a much greater place than the earth today. Earth has sin, crime, pain, hate and suffering. In “heaven” none of these things are an issue. It’s a place where believers of a “heaven” go once they have died and will have happiness and everything the believers need eternally or for a certain amount of time. Christians believe there will be eternal life there in “heaven” (Bible: John 3:16). In “heaven” many things will also be granted or experienced. In Islam, the believers are said to be granted beautiful virgins, young boys, fruit, water, wine and wealth (The X-Rated Paradise of Islam). A lot of these things may seem to be ill or wrong, but to the Islamic culture these are things that are accepted. Over all, “heaven” is a place where needs are met and paradise is experienced once one has reached “heaven”.
The location of “heaven” is not fully known, but there are many theories of where it is. Referring back to the introduction, “heaven” is a physical place and has a physical location. For many years people have been searching for heaven on Earth, the “Utopia”, their “Shangra-la”, “Nirvana” and the “Paradise lost” (Kevin Williams). No human has been successful in this search. No one actually knows the location of “heaven”. Many believers’ views say it’s in the sky, space or somewhere in the vast universe. One of the most respected Buddhist writers K. Sri Dhammananda, says that Buddhists actually believe “heaven” can be experienced right here on earth in the world itself. There are also some views from the where “heaven” can be a state of mind. How it’s all in one’s mind to feel and have this paradise. With so many different views, there is no real proof of who is right or wrong when it comes to the location of “heaven”.
Time is a very controversial topic when it comes to when “heaven” is or is going to happen. Through many different teachings, “heaven” is said to happen when the world ends. The end of the world is depicted in many ways with different religious calendars, legends and even movies. Through the Mayan culture and legends, the Mayans say the world will come to an end in the year 2012(The Living Prophecy). Also according to the Jewish calendar, the world will end after 6000 years (The 6000 years of Biblical Man). Believers of “heaven” also propose that as believers, they will go to “heaven” when their “king” or “God” returns from “heaven” for them. Another theory is that believers go straight to “heaven” as soon as they die. This relates to the popular saying of when someone dies, “they are up in heaven watching over us as we speak.” When “heaven” is going to happen, is a difficult thing to fully understand because it is in the future, and no human has been to the future to experience or see when “heaven” will occur.
Even though “heaven” is so greatly described of what it is, where it is, and when it is through different beliefs and teachings, “heaven” is a concept that can only be left to the imagination of the human mind. Either scientifically, biblically or some other way proven, there are just too many ways to abundantly comprehend the extent of “heaven”. To each individual human being, what “heaven” is, where and when, is up to their own personal beliefs. The only way to really know what “heaven” is, one must wait for that day or moment, to experience personally if one believes that “heaven” is true.
Works Cited
Goodnews Christian Ministry. "Future Prophecies Yet to Be Fulfilled." Goodnews and Prophecy and Dead Sea Scrolls. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://goodnewspirit.com/futureprophecies.htm>.
K. Sri Dhammananda. "What Buddhists Believe - The Buddhist Concept of Heaven and Hell." Welcome to VietGATE. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://www.viet.net/~anson/ebud/whatbudbeliev/303.htm>.
Sky, Eden. "The Mayan Prophecy of 2012." 13 Moons of Peace* Dreamspell Calendar & 2012 Prophecy. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://www.13moon.com/prophecy page.htm>.
Walters, Barbara. "Heaven -- Where Is It? How Do We Get There? - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Politics, Online News, World News, Feature Stories, Celebrity Interviews and More - ABC News. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://abcnews.go.com/International/Beliefs/story?id=1374010>.
Williams, Kevin. "Heaven - Near-death Experiences." Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://www.near-death.com/experiences/research18.html>.
"The X-RATED PARADISE OF ISLAM." FlexNet, Hawaii's First ISP. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. <http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate/heaven.html>.
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