Re: An Afterlife?
A profound question, and one not answered easily.
If there is such a thing as an after-life - and I really don't believe this is so - then all sorts of things have to be considered..
My Granny was a frail old lady in her mid-70's, and she had great trouble just moving around her room. Getting downstairs and upstairs was a problem even with two of us to help her.
Now, if I went to heaven, would she be there to greet me? Would she still be the fail old lady with no teeth? Would she be destined to spend eternity in this way? I wouldn't be able to recognise her if she was a young Victorian lass, and she wouldn't be 'my granny'.
Wouldn't I get bored in heaven? Oh, it would be lovely to walk through unspoilt woods, to play golf on pristine courses, to bathe beside beautiful beaches, to ski on perfect slopes, to fish on the banks of a pastured river.
.... but, how long could I do this before I became bored with it all?
The bible tells us that we would sit at the feet of the Almighty and sing hymns of his greatness. I really would be fed up with his by lunchtime.
Many of my best friends have been cats and dogs. They were sometimes 'naughty' by human standards, but they were never evil or bad. A priest once told me that animals were not allowed into heaven because they had no souls - only humans had souls. I thought then, and continue to think how unfair that is.
If I went to heaven, would I be allowed to use the occasional swear word? Could I tell a rude joke? Would it be permissible to give a wolf whistle to a pretty angel sitting on a cloud? Would I be sent to hell if I passed wind?
You know something? It sounds a lot more fun down in the other place, and that's probably where I'm going anyway!