What is so great about becoming a god?

[_Redefined]

If you think it would be lousy to become a god, think about how lousy it would be a goddess.

Bleah!

ONLY as far as Mormonism is considered! ;)

[_The Nehor]

If you think it would be lousy to become a god, think about how lousy it would be a goddess.

Bleah!

Wait....you don't want the end reward but proudly tell us you hold a temple recommend where you make covenants to achieve exactly that.

Whah? Huh? I'm confused. Why?

[_zeezrom]

If you think it would be lousy to become a god, think about how lousy it would be a goddess.

Bleah!

LOL. Maybe Mormon Doctrine has some fine print somewhere that would allow a woman to be a lone, unmarried goddess? That might be pretty cool. Wow... what if we lived on a planet where God was a woman... That would be pretty awesome.

[_The Nehor]

But lets say it was true... why in the world would I want to become a Goddess, as is described in LDS teachings? What, become a wife in some harem, procreate spirits for eternity, have 1/3 of my children be cast off into outer darkness (not a chance), then allow my children to be a part of some cruel plan where most will live in suffering, pain, and sorrow? Are you just kidding me?

Harem? What? What's wrong with sexual partnering there? The reason for exclusiveness is largely gone....jealousy. When you have love enough for a Universe and your love is manifest continually to those you love, what need for jealousy.

Given the choice between burning your children in the glory of your presence or exiling them to someplace more comfortable you would take the former?

The option to keep the kids at home and stifle them from the possibility of growth seems more cruel then letting them endure a short period of suffering and sorrow.

As I have stated many times, the LDS version of the afterlife is my idea of HELL.

You should see hell then. :)

Another point... I think those who like the idea of becoming Gods have some sort of need for power and control and domination, (smile). The whole "blessings of Abraham" speak to men who want power, possessions, glory (women, land, posterity,etc).

Of course men want power and glory. The key is how they seek it. The worst among them seek control, dominion, and use compulsion. The very best seek first for total self-control and power over themselves so they can rule well. This is why I fear callings and positions where I have power over others. It's not that I don't want to lead, it's that I'm worried I'll screw up or let it go to my head.

in my opinion, the true journey to enlightenment is about releasing these ego needs as we live from a place where we no longer care about glory and reward but see us as one; one with each other and one with God (or in my own view, being the pantheist/nature religionist that I am, one with Source).

Yuck. Why would I wish to be absorbed (another word for destroyed)?

The carrot of becoming a God, in my opinion feeds the ego... it promotes that which in my opinion, we want to release and overcome.

I want to destroy my egoistic need for recognition and respect.

[_zeezrom]

When you have love enough for a Universe and your love is manifest continually to those you love, what need for jealousy.

This is where everything unravels. No jealousy in heaven? What other human passion is heaven void of? Nobody has any damn clue what is going on in heaven! We can't make any sense of it at all. If we have to start removing human feelings and passions from the equation, then we really have nothing left. Who would care about heaven if we don't have those things? So why the hell do we even begin to think we know what marital status would be or even think this is important? Why is this such a great "Mormon Revelation" to know so much about heaven and becoming gods?!

[_The Nehor]

This is where everything unravels.

Really?

No jealousy in heaven?

Nope, none?

What other human passion is heaven void of?

Malice, envy, hatred of anything but sin, vengeance, etc.

Nobody has any damn clue what is going on in heaven!

I have some clues, others have more.

We can't make any sense of it at all.

For some of it this is true. For other bits, we can.

If we have to start removing human feelings and passions from the equation, then we really have nothing left.

I'm not sure what this means.

Who would care about heaven if we don't have those things?

I do, I want the love, bliss, joy, companionship, intimacy, and to see the face of God. All passions and emotions.

So why the hell do we even begin to think we know what marital status would be or even think this is important?

Love can be eternal.

Why is this such a great "Mormon Revelation" to know so much about heaven and becoming gods?!

Because knowledge of the way things are is good.

[_zeezrom]

What other human passion is heaven void of?

Malice, envy, hatred of anything but sin, vengeance, etc.

Because knowledge of the way things are is good.

What is love worth if hatred does not exist?

My point is that humans have no way of determining what is good without the bad. Just as a Mormon might say to a Catholic - "your version of heaven doesn't make any sense! Why would I want to live that way for eternity?" They can say the same about our version, where there are only good feelings in a polygamous relationship for eternity.

You will like polygamy because hey, you can't be jealous! You won't feel any pain or sorrow! Well how much sense does that make? Why even exist then?

I'm getting the feeling that Joseph Smith made a mistake by focusing too much on the afterlife.

[_The Nehor]

What is love worth if hatred does not exist?

Oh, it exists. Just not in that place amongst those people. They know the evil; they were here after all. Part of the whole point. They retain the power to choose hatred and because they reject that choice find love.

My point is that humans have no way of determining what is good without the bad. Just as a Mormon might say to a Catholic - "your version of heaven doesn't make any sense! Why would I want to live that way for eternity?" They can say the same about our version, where there are only good feelings in a polygamous relationship for eternity.

I agree but there is no veil added to our minds after this life. I lived a year in what I considered to be hellish circumstances. I can happily compare my current life to that forever without needing to experience it again.

You will like polygamy because hey, you can't be jealous! You won't feel any pain or sorrow! Well how much sense does that make? Why even exist then?

Wait, what? Pain or sorrow can reach them there. In the Book of Moses God weeps.

I'm getting the feeling that Joseph Smith made a mistake by focusing too much on the afterlife.

I disagree.

[_truth dancer]

Nehor,

Your post speaks to the problem with LDS doctrine regarding the afterlife.

It is sort of funny that people think they can understand the eternities because Joseph Smith (or any man for that matter), came up with a story.

If I had to guess, I would say the chance of any human comprehending eternity is akin to an ant grasping the intricacies of the Internet.

Seriously.... you take our little tiny, itsy bitsy glimpse of understanding the universe and god and think this is somehow enough to comprehend eternities? Life? Existence? Really?

It is silliness to argue about a make believe story. The reality is, anyone can make up a story about that which we know nothing. So what? Pretending it is real doesn't make it so, nor does a nice feeling.

Harem? What? What's wrong with sexual partnering there? The reason for exclusiveness is largely gone....jealousy. When you have love enough for a Universe and your love is manifest continually to those you love, what need for jealousy.

My disgust has nothing to do with jealousy.

Given the choice between burning your children in the glory of your presence or exiling them to someplace more comfortable you would take the former?

This is craziness. These are NOT the only two choices except in a silly make believe story created by Joseph Smith. My choice would be to love and nurture my children. (Again, this is all silliness to even discuss).

The option to keep the kids at home and stifle them from the possibility of growth seems more cruel then letting them endure a short period of suffering and sorrow.

Again, what a silly choice. Neither is a good option and neither is an option any decent person would require.

The whole thing is craziness.

[_harmony]

Nehor, I have no intention of allowing Joseph Smith's fantasies to effect my afterlife.