Quotes, thoughts, movies, song lyrics, blogs, articles, scientific articles, theologians, philosophers, artists, authors all have written or posted something significant about Heaven. I capitalized it because I believe it to be a place. As my Dad would say, anywho...here's the fast list about what I have learned about Heaven from the Internet, be it true or false, an opinion or a feeling, a song or an article...here we go:
1. Life, as we know it, is not the "real" one - we were made for heaven (the creation account in Genesis wasn't meant to be taken seriously?)
2. Heaven is a place on earth (according to Melissa Etheridge's song).
3. Many of us derive a mental picture of Heaven from what we see in the movies or on television (oh, for sure).
4. Heaven is what many of us hold deep in our souls, which is a feeling that after death, we are really going somewhere (I sure hope so!).
5. The Jewish faith focuses on life in the here and now, opposed to heaven (pretty good lesson for all of us to learn, if you ask me).
6. Shows on television like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer have approximately 10 million people tuning in for "church" each week (and you thought your church was big). Joel Osteen's church pulls in approximately 70 million per year in revenue (that's some pretty big cheese).
7. Mitch Ablom's book and version of heaven sounds like a family reunion (plenty of people could view this as the opposite of Heaven).
8. The Dalai Lama laughed hard at Barbara Walter's question in an interview, "Are you a God?" (I really like that guy...and in case you're wondering, he considers himself a teacher). The Dalai Lama, in case you are wondering, as well, views heaven as not the end goal to achieve, but rather passing through a place. (Did I mention, I really like this guy?).
9. The 72 virgin promise for jihadists doesn't come from the Quran, but other texts which quote Muhammad (you learn something new every day).
10. In Islam, 72 means countless. (Like I said, you learn something new every day).
11. The definition of Faith is different for just about everyone, just as each of us defines Heaven (the irony, of course, is that claiming the unprovable (i.e., affirming the unprovable tenet of divine non-existence is also an act of faith).
12. I think scientists forget that their job is to explain "how" and not "why" (which is also a good science lesson for all of us).
13. When the astronauts quoted from Genesis as they looked over earth, from space for the first time, is still one of the most awesome moments (my opinion).
14. Upwards of 18 million Americans have claimed to have had a near death experience (I am not among them, but I have had moments of the unexplained, and I think that counts for something).
15. Atheists or skeptics of Heaven, in my view, at one point in their lives (maybe the end), will pray (my opinion).
16. There are people who are living in hell today (Literally, watch the news).
17. 90% of Americans believe in heaven (which is comforting considering the option).
So, you see...there are so many thoughts on the subject of Heaven, and probably so many of you are more qualified than I am to quote scripture. I don't claim to be an expert on any of the above, I am not a "Bible thumper", my faith is my own. I don't pass judgement on the views of others. I believe that love is unconditional or it's not really love. I believe the definition of Faith is different for each and every one of us, and I simply cannot define mine for you other than to state it is the belief of something unprovable, yet believed and is as real to me, yet unseen, and can be likened to the feeling of the wind as it blows through my hair...I cannot see it, yet I can feel it, I know it is real and it is present.
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