What do Christians think of this atheist's view concerning heaven?

Question

As an atheist, a few things prevent me from believing. First God can't really threaten me. I never fall to threats. As for heaven. I have no desire for a life after this one. My reason being I have never loved or been loved by anyone in this life. Therefore there would be no one for me in the next life. I simply would not want to be there. The only thing I could ever perceive to change me is someone that actually had God in their heart, and managed to share that love with me. In case you're wondering, just as an absolute and trusted friend. Actual love such as between a husband and wife is way beyond any hopes or expectations for me. I got dumped to the curb when I was 9 and my mother remarried. Alone ever since and explains much about the way I am. Never loved, rarely friends. And even then, I maintain distance. Only one person in my life got past those barriers. And only very briefly. And they are welcome to return. And as I say just take off their shoes and stroll barefoot through my mind. But, no way I can relate to an unseen God. Until, I get a better relationship with at least one person in the here and now. As is I lack the capacity to believe.

Answer 1

They fear it.

One thing I do know, you can improve THIS life.  Forge some new relationships, keep active in your spare time.  Sounds like you hit some speed bumps, but tomorrow is a new day.  Good luck.

Answer 2

A bumped up lie, like part of some greasebag US preachers sermon, every atheist I ever met was a hoot and on top of that they thought the idea of an afterlife as a hilarious concept.

This maudlin whine can only have been concocted by a christian hand.  Such dishonesty, I dunno how you guys sleep at night.

Answer 3

You can't say there won't be anyone for you in Heaven. Marriages here don't continue in Heaven. ' Til Death do you Part ' you stay together til Death and then it's over with. There won't be marriage etc in Heaven.

Jesus loves you... You don't need to experience the love of a person to appreciate Jesus' love. He loves you unconditionally, no matter what. If you take Jesus into your heart, accept him as your savior, repent, get baptized, and go on and be obedient to God.. I would be willing to bet that God will put someone into your life for you to love.

You sound down on yourself.. Lack of self confidence isn't an appealing attribute. Build your confidence, take Jesus into your heart and you will be more appealing!

Answer 4

interesting..

I simply would rather cease to exist than to exist for an eternity.

An eternity of existence sounds like h**l to me. How can you value something if you cannot lose it?

Answer 5

I am a Christian, and love God with all my heart. I am a resprctor of no man, but have to say I find this question intelligent and interesting. Unfortunately, many people proclaiming to be atheists are just people with no beliefs and no education. A true athiest has done their research and have a legitimate reason to not believe.

This is my honest opinion on the Q...

One who does not know God or love Him, cannot fear Him, so, this statement you made is understandable.

First, people lose sight that God is a title. His Name is Jesus, and because He is the Almighty Creator, our GOD, He does not need to lower Himself to threats. The devil makes us feel we can put ourselves higher than all things, because we dont fully know or understand, and then we think God uses scare tactics. Unfortunately, radical Christians do this, and that is wrong. God is not about threats, just judgment, like life itself- we always pay for wrongdoings, whether it be a crime or action of immorality.

That is a fact of life.

If you have never loved or felt you've been loved, I can also understand why you feel the way you do towards God and Heaven. Because without love, there is no light, and without light there is no hope, and without hope, there is no dream. If there is nothing to live for here, why would you want to keep going? I get there. I have been there, so I can relate. But, I had a desire to seek, because I DID want that love, and more. And I did find it. The love you seek cannot be quenched on earth- it is a spiritual love that I cannot explain, only testify about. Much of this world has been lost in self righteousness and selfishness, and they use religion as a tool. But, God is about relationship (with Him) and most have turned away from God because of so-called Christians. God is about love and forgiveness, humblism and joy, peace and strength, trust and compassion, understanding and structure, power and hope. There are people out there who display God's traits, the Fruits of the Spirit, from His Holy Spirit. I know, because again, I was you. I understand what you are feeling and saying. Now, I am on the other side of the fence, and tell you to keep seeking God, thorugh God, not through a any one person. One can lead you to truth, but, go directly to the source. Just because you dont believe doesnt mean God wont hear you. People dont realize- we dont choose God- He chooses us. Me writing this, is telling me that He is reaching out to you.

I did not know unconditional love until I had my son. I did not find true love until I met my husband. And together, we found a phenominal love- in Jesus. That love is beyond any human love. And to share that with a person is incredible. But, if you seek God first, He will fill your heart with what it needs- He knows more of what it needs than we do.

No one says you have to understand God right now, but, reach out to Him, because He is reaching out to you. Trust in something unseen- that is called faith. You WILL NOT regret it.

Dont get love to get God...get God to get love.

Email me if you'd like.

Answer 6

You won't have the choice to just cease to exist.

Everyone will live forever.  But the question is, where?

There is only heaven and h**l.  There is no third option.  

That's not an idle threat.  That is truth.

The truth is that death brings immediate heaven or h**l, depending only on whether you believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this life or not.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this: The truth is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal h**l is by believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe this and you are saved!

Please pray now: "Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and You rose from the dead. Thank You for eternal life!" You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die. :)

Answer 7

I feel bad for you. All is not lost though. You may not realize it, but you have the holly Ghost within you. Try to pray and let God help you. Even if you don't believe, he is still there. Just try. It will change your life.

Answer 8

Lots of people have hard times in their lives.. it should just be more of a reason to turn to God.

Instead, too many people want to blame Him.

Answer 9

It sounds to me like you are wanting to believe in God.  So, it's there. I think you know he's there but you're pissed at him right now.  But when things go bad, it's supposed to make you stronger and wiser.  It's not that you are not seeing God, it's that you are seeing him in a bad way.  And when you choose to go to him, he'll be there for you.  Just try not to wait too long to do it.

Answer 10

You actually were always loved.

John 3

16  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

As far as threats, if someone one warns you that the ice is unsafe or there is a fire in your house and you will meet with disaster, is that a threat?   But just so you get the idea, this man was given a vision of h**l and told to go tell others so some might be saved, I hear it is a best selling book too.

23 minutes in h**l

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

Now as a Christian we are unworthy of heaven but God has forgiven those that ask and repent.  I look forward to heaven myself. As far as heaven though Don Piper was declared dead in a head on car crash and talks about what he saw  A Baptist Minister came upon the crash and felt that he had to pray for the "dead guy", a very strange thing for a Baptist!  So he got in the crushed car (the body was still crushed in the car) and started to pray and then sang the hymn "What a friend we have in Jesus" and when he got to the part that says "because we do not take everything to God in prayer" Don started to sing along.  Apparently the minister had some problems convincing the ambulance and police that "the dead guy is singing".  Here are some links.

http://www.90minutesinheaven.com/

http://www.haventoday.com/prevbroadcast/...

http://www.haventoday.com/prevbroadcast/...

"God exist whether or not men may choose to believe in Him. The reason why many people do not believe in God is not so much that it is intellectually impossible to believe in God, but because belief in God forces that thoughtful person to face the fact that he is accountable to such a God." - Robert A. Laidlaw

So are you willing to look?

JRR Tolkien and others debated and C.S. Lewis and finally C.S. Lewis had this to say about his conversion.

"That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape?"

C.S Lewis was looking for an escape and thought God a myth and yet was angry with God according to his own writings.  Alister McGrath and Lee Stroebel were atheists and both now have ministries.  

Case for Christ - Lee Strobel

http://resources.family.org/product/bp64...

Case for Faith - Lee Strobel

http://bookstore.fotf.ca/default.aspx?pr...

C.S. Lewis - "Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it."

It is not that you lack the capacity, you lack the will.  May you someday soon be willing to look at what God's love and forgiveness offers.

Todd

Answer 11

I am sorry you have experienced tribulation in your life in regards to personal relationships.  I too have had problems througout my 38 years and have suffered from mental anguish related to failed relationships.  It is understandable that you feel the way you do.  I would be more than happy to share with you what God has done in my life to turn it around and make me a happy person.

I thank God every day for changing my life.

If you want to talk just PM me, I would be more than happy to chat via email or voice.