Posted by finelinebob on September 9, 2006, at 1:22:07
In reply to What is Heaven like?What does it look like?, posted by Clemence on September 8, 2006, at 15:38:35
> CAN ANYONE PROVIDE ME WITH ANY ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS??
Ultimately, the one who will provide you with those answers is you.
Dinah covered the big picture. There's no agreement in Christianity on what Heaven is or what it looks like or when you'll go there or when it will come here.
Any university affiliated with a religion will probably have theology classes, but they may not be what you are looking for. If you want religious education, then talk to a pastor at your church. Most churches run some sort of religious education program for adults, and it's nothing to be shy or embarassed about. My brother, who was married in a Catholic ceremony and was raising his kids "in the Church" had never been baptized himself, never done any of those things Catholic children do as they progress through their religious education. So, he decided to stop being a hypocrite (since he made his kids do it) and went through the same classes as an adult. I'll be taking my meeting's "Quakerism 101" class this fall myself, and I'm 44. I know someone who, as an adult, converted to each of the three branches of Judaism.
So if it's a religious education you want, turn to the church you go to. If you don't attend church right now, is there one that your family has gone to? Or, go to Beliefnet.com and try out their Belief-o-Matic -- it's a personality quiz that tries to match your beliefs with what religion might be best suited for you. Because there can be a difference there between what you are taught and what you believe.
One last thought -- I can see some people thinking that Dinah's comment about "what brings you comfort?" as simple or shallow, but it's quite the opposite. Look inside, FEEL inside, for what brings you comfort when you think about these things. You don't need a religious education to have faith or to know what's right, if you look for it with honesty and humility and love.
Be well,
flb
poster:finelinebob
thread:684269
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20060614/msgs/684390.html