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Perpetual Bliss

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:57 pm
by _JAK
Nehor stated under “Positives of the Church”:

“The whole getting to live in perpetual bliss in the end is my favorite plus.”

Would this be a “positive”? We all look forward to vacations. Suppose we had perpetual vacation with absolutely nothing to do, no work, no goals, no challenge to intellect – would we like that?

I’m skeptical. It reminds me of a television show in the 1960s titled The Twilight Zone, a program created by Rod Serling.

One show had a man, a dreadful man, die at the first of the show (30 minutes). He expects to go to hell, but when he arrives, he finds a beautiful place with all the comforts one could imagine. Plenty of food, drink, entertainment, etc.

Convinced there has been a mistake, he begins to enjoy all that’s there for him.

It’s “perpetual bliss” as Nehor describes.

As time passes, he becomes increasingly unhappy. He asks to be deprived of food so he can feel hunger and appreciate the food. He refuses to eat, but remains well satisfied and comfortably full. He can't become hungry.

He is told that hunger is not good and only good is here. He asks to feel cold, chilled to the bone in order to appreciate comfort. He is told that cold, chilled to the bone is not good and only good is here.

The show continues with this frustration for him and at the end of the show, he becomes aware that no work, no challenge, nothing for the mind, no sickness, no sorrow, etc. – all that is not heaven.

He discovers that “perpetual bliss” without end is really hell.

Rod Serling received considerable criticism for the broadcast. It made people think, and really contemplate what it might be like to have nothing for which to look forward.

Would people who believe in a “heaven” like it forever?

JAK

Re: Perpetual Bliss

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:07 pm
by _It occurs to me . . .
JAK wrote:Nehor stated under “Positives of the Church”:

“The whole getting to live in perpetual bliss in the end is my favorite plus.”

Would this be a “positive”? We all look forward to vacations. Suppose we had perpetual vacation with absolutely nothing to do, no work, no goals, no challenge to intellect – would we like that?

I’m skeptical. It reminds me of a television show in the 1960s titled The Twilight Zone, a program created by Rod Serling.

One show had a man, a dreadful man, die at the first of the show (30 minutes). He expects to go to hell, but when he arrives, he finds a beautiful place with all the comforts one could imagine. Plenty of food, drink, entertainment, etc.

Convinced there has been a mistake, he begins to enjoy all that’s there for him.

It’s “perpetual bliss” as Nehor describes.

As time passes, he becomes increasingly unhappy. He asks to be deprived of food so he can feel hunger and appreciate the food. He refuses to eat, but remains well satisfied and comfortably full. He can't become hungry.

He is told that hunger is not good and only good is here. He asks to feel cold, chilled to the bone in order to appreciate comfort. He is told that cold, chilled to the bone is not good and only good is here.

The show continues with this frustration for him and at the end of the show, he becomes aware that no work, no challenge, nothing for the mind, no sickness, no sorrow, etc. – all that is not heaven.

He discovers that “perpetual bliss” without end is really hell.

Rod Serling received considerable criticism for the broadcast. It made people think, and really contemplate what it might be like to have nothing for which to look forward.

Would people who believe in a “heaven” like it forever?

JAK


JAK, you beat me to it. When I read that comment by Nehor, the same thoughts went through my head. PERPETUAL BLISS?? I think perpetual anything would be hell. "There must needs be opposition in all things".

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:10 pm
by _Moniker
Hmm... this is a toughie for me. Can I choose my "bliss"? If so, then yah, I'd be okay with it. I imagine it to be a bit like X, LSD, and a few cold showers every once in a while. I could do that.

But, the harps and angels I could do without, I think....

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:24 pm
by _asbestosman
This kiss

It's perpetual bliss ;)

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:32 pm
by _Jersey Girl
No JAK,

I don't want that. The more I think about "man's" idea of heaven, the more convinced I am that it's not where I want to be. I think that what drives the human spirit (or at least my own) is the ability to impact others, striving toward a goal, working hard to acheive it and the "high" that comes when you have. The opportunity to heal a hurt place in someone or lift someone up. Without the "down" places how will I appreciate the "ups"? The only think that I think lends "bliss" to the human spirit is the building up of each other. If there is perpetual bliss, what need is there to build? What about art? One thing that separates human beings from animals is artistic expression. How can we appreciate the addition of color, form and line if there is no contrast between that and the drabness of the world?

According to the Bible, there is no sea in the eternities. How awful would that be for me never to see the ocean again? And what good is an ocean without waves? How can we appreciate the changes in nature in a place where nothing changes? How can we live in a place where there hypothetically IS no nature when that's what we've loved and lived in all along?

I want skinned knees and tears. I want to feel sorrow so that when the joy comes, I appreciate it. I want to be sick only to feel well again. I want to have a mountain to move so I can work hard to move it and feel satisfied when I do. I want storms to appreciate the sunshine. Sunsets that turn to darkness and back to sunrise again. I want problems to solve and people to comfort. I want fires that burn down forests so I can see the reforestation of natural places. I want to lose people so I remember to appreciate people. I want babies to cry so I can rock them. I want rough places in life so I can appreciate the smooth places. I want things to wear out so I can make them new again.

I don't want to feel satisfied forever. I want to want forever.

I want a chance to change something.

Jersey Girl

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:34 pm
by _SUAS
You can't know happiness if you have never been sad, you can't know pleasure if you've never known pain.
Life is like a rollercoaster, there are no ups without the downs, no sunset without the sunrise.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:36 pm
by _charity
JAK, that was a great Twilight Zone.

You didn't give the ending the full impact. All along you think this man has gone to heaven. He does, too. When he finally becomes completely unhappy (because when he tries to gamble he always knows he is going to win) he tells St. Peter that he has decided he doesn't want to be in heaven.

St. Peter, asks, "What makes you think you are in heaven?"

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:43 pm
by _bcspace
Once one has perpetual bliss, would one want anything else?

Didn't a profound wizard once say......"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."?

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:49 pm
by _Imwashingmypirate
asbestosman wrote:This kiss

It's perpetual bliss ;)


Dang got cache'd. When I first saw this thread I thought imediately of a song which I think it might be what you are refering to. I cannot view it in my country.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:58 pm
by _The Nehor
If by perpetual bliss you mean perpetual inactivity then I can see the flaw.

By perpetual bliss I mean entering a society/culture of perfect beings who understand each other and work together to create and expand, the power to make your wishes reality, a pure love for all who dwell with you and beyond and their love returning to you, and free pie.