heaven
The comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes" frequently stirs interesting theological questions. What is heaven like? A prayer in our burial office (funeral service, p.481) reads,
"Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love."
The fact that this petition is in our Prayerbook confirms that it's a legitimate theology of the Episcopal Church. So, when do we get there, is it immediate, as in Jesus telling the repentant thief on the next cross, "this day you will be with me in paradise"? Or is it when the trumpet is sounded at the End of Days and all dead and living are called up into the clouds to meet Jesus and be judged? What is true? Pilate again, "What is truth?" I struggle with it, with Truth, but it's fine, because I've found the struggle for Truth to be a main interest of my life.
What is Truth? What is Heaven?
The Episcopal Church teaches (BCP p.382, Proper Preface at the Burial of the Dead),
"Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens."
Anytime I've tried to have conversation about this the response has been, "Oh, we don't want to talk about that," which shuts it down. But there may be a Time in your life when you actually need to talk about it, and what will you have to say? Is Truth what you decide or conclude? Is Truth objective absolute, or is Truth variable?
Is Heaven a physical place or a spiritual place? Is it a shadowy place of, say, shifting spirits, or is it more solid, tangible? Is there sound there? How might I hear, see, or think without a physical brain? Is there interpersonal communication? Is Heaven a place of happiness?
Is Heaven fixed, absolute, or does it vary for each person to accommodate each one's idea of happiness?
Suppose one would be unhappy in a place of eternal life with loved ones, but loved ones couldn't be happy unless you were there, but you couldn't be happy being there with them, how might that be accommodated? Maybe with heaven being perceptions about who and what is around you, different for each one?
Mindful that no amount of faith or belief makes anything True.
For anyone who wonders, C S Lewis' book "The Great Divorce"* is a great place to start seeking. There's an English bishop in the story whose idea of heaven and happiness includes being respected and important, such that he isn't interested in the Heaven that's offered to him, his happiness is in the niche where he finds himself respected and important, which actually is Hell. But it's heaven for him.
In Lewis' book there are others who aren't interested in being in a heaven that includes people whom they know have no business being there. But a separate Heaven isn't being created to accommodate them.
IDK. Neither do you, but what do you think?
RSF&PTL anyway
T89&c