「上天堂」有甚麼好？

[clement]

「『異端』可否上天堂？」固然可問，但進一步的問題是：「上天堂」有甚麼好？

對於一個不信者來說，他可以如何領會或者體驗「上天堂」的意義／價值／好處／作用……呢？

進一步問，永生是如何的？永生可欲求嗎？永生我們為何要關心？


其實，我不懂得如何回答。如果我說，永生不重要，重要的主要是「天國在地上／心中」，某個意義上，我還是沒有回答甚至迴避了「死後生命」的意義問題。如果說，與上帝合一，才是重要，但這是否必定假定永生或者死後生命呢？或者說，所謂「永生」，說穿了是否僅僅是「與上帝合一」？所謂「永生」只不過是一種神話學式的說法，如果實存地說，只須說「與上帝合一」就夠了？


大家認為呢？

[筆是大遲]

聖經的遠象好像不是上天堂喎，而係在新天新地裡重演創造的原意：作為神的形像(代表)管理大地和眾活物。新耶路撒冷由天而降，人子同眾天使由天降臨....。我唔想上天堂，假如天堂與「地」無關係，我係度幾開心，仲想等埋人子一齊黎玩tim。:haha:

[Ming Yuen Yee]

聖經的遠象好像不是上天堂喎，而係在新天新地裡重演創造的原意：作為神的形像(代表)管理大地和眾活物。新耶路撒冷由天而降，人子同眾天使由天降臨....。我唔想上天堂，假如天堂與「地」無關係，我係度幾開心，仲想等埋人子一齊黎玩tim。:haha:
Exactly, given the historical development within Christianity (and the popular and literary imagination), the notion of "heaven" is quite embarrassing (to say the least) to mention to Christians or non-Christians alike. I remember reading a news report that the majority of clergy in the US don't even mention heaven any more.

Of course, the deeper problem is whether eternal life is possible (at least conceivable) and desirable.

[clement]

Exactly, given the historical development within Christianity (and the popular and literary imagination), the notion of "heaven" is quite embarrassing (to say the least) to mention to Christians or non-Christians alike. I remember reading a news report that the majority of clergy in the US don't even mention heaven any more.

Of course, the deeper problem is whether eternal life is possible (at least conceivable) and desirable.

是的，問題應朝往「死後生命」這個方向來思考。但相同的問題群仍然存在呀：「死後生命」是如何的？有甚麼好？……………

[維記wei_kei]

在教會中，很多時不是先強調天堂，而是先強調地獄，如不想見到家人／同性戀者／異教徒／......下地獄，要向她／他傳福音云云。強調救人靈魂，不用下地獄受苦，過於上天堂，才是勉勵信徒傳福音的動力所在，所以在相當意義下，天堂是以地獄作referential framework或起步點來作出想像和投射的。

[Ming Yuen Yee]

是的，問題應朝往「死後生命」這個方向來思考。但相同的問題群仍然存在呀：「死後生命」是如何的？有甚麼好？……………

Personally, I would say I couldn't care less about the afterlife. This worldly life on earth is enough of a misery (or at least a challenge). Chinese people think that 「未知生，焉知死」 which is consistent with our faith that we should leave the final judgment and everything afterwards to God (if we do believe in Him at all).

To me "salvation" is about the here and now, not the thereafter. Perhaps because it does not make good marketing sense that some preachers no longer talk about heaven. People demand immediate, visible, consumable "returns" or rewards. They want to have a happy life now!