What Happens to Heaven/Hell When the Earth Ends
I recently read and tried to understand a science article about the distant future when the sun burns all its energy, explodes and scorches the earth. The end of the earth theories interest me because of the religious concept of burning in hell or living in a heavenly paradise for "eternity."
As if a burned up earth is not depressing enough, this article explained that science fiction-like concepts of escaping to another galaxy are becoming increasing unlikely. This is because the universe is expanding and if there are plans to reach a hospitable planet in another solar system it either is out of reach or will be before humans can reach it.
I don't know where heaven and hell are located. I've read they are in the spiritual world but to me that still has to be somewhere. If they are within our solar system they will be fried like earth. If they are in some other system they will drift away, only to be fried by some other sun with it burns out. If hell is located in the center of the earth as some say the Bible claims it will no doubt be gone like heaven. Perhaps when critics of my blog tell me I am doomed to hell for eternity they should recognize hell may not be up and running for eternity. It might be better to say I am doomed to hell for "the foreseeable future."
I think heaven and hell will be talked about a lot in the near future because Bart Ehrman's book on the topic has just been released. He books are big sellers. Sometimes they confront conventional wisdom. One, Forgery and Counter Forgery about Biblical authors was so controversial it generated three books to counter what he wrote. Sales of books that followed sold even better.
I haven't read his latest book on heaven and hell but will do so soon. He gave a brief video lecture on the topic where he explained text in the Bible has Jesus saying he did not believe in a hell. He thought instead sinners faced annihilation. This was similar to Jewish thinking early chapters of the Old Testament.
Annihilation, however, did not remain popular with those who wrote other parts of the Bible nor with some Christians today. The reason, Ehrman says, is because if lacks justice. Justice is not served by simply annihilation--justice requires sinners be punished in hell.
A recent poll shows more in the U.S. believe in a literal hell than in a literal heaven. Even though hell serves justice in some minds, eternal suffering may not be carried out in hell. Something else in the spiritual realm needs to be invented.
So, is heaven or hell a place, location, time, or dimension? Quantum mechanics clearly admits the possibilities of more than five dimensions, and / or paralel universes. Within or without the brane. Strings or not.
ReplyDeleteJust a question.
little helper May 7, 2020 at 7:45 PM
Delete“So, is heaven or hell a place, location, time, or dimension?”
Quantum’s, dimensions, parallel universes, branes and strings. Oh My! Here’s a p-braned answer all in jest:
A brane is said to be a physical object of higher dimensions than a zero dimension brane point particle. A “string” is a one dimensional brane while a p-brane is a two dimensional brane. Each p-brane in spacetime is a p+1 dimensional volume and is termed a “worldvolume”. For the purpose of this adventure of ideas it is a worldvolume of one-dimensional strings. Some believe there is a Heaven worldvolume and a Hell worldvolume. Perhaps a photonic Heaven of light worldvolume and a dark matter, dark energy worldvolume of Hell. A third worldvolume may be formed by the asymmetrical intersection of the two*. The “human” string elements in the resulting worldvolume might be considered uncommitted angel-devils or devil-angels. Each is dipolar and oscillation by degree occurs between its two poles, devil or angel. Religion applies a rubric, a scoring guide, to the oscillations. There is a variable central tendency of values influenced by a field of functions i.e. a prevailing human string culture. Death is the cessation of vibration, a collapse to a zero dimension point particle. Only then is its final value determined based on the post-mortem application of a religious rubric. Where is the resting place of the point particle and whats next? It can settle in peace objectively immortal in the third worldvolume or by some mysterious osmotic process end up in either the Heaven or Hell p-brane where presumably it is resurrected into stringdom to enjoy or suffer a final judgement. ;-)
*Asymmetry as a function of energy density and volume of matter. Heaven accounts for 75% of the energy density and 15% of the volume of matter in the third p-brane compared with the more rarefied Hell component of 25% and 85% respectively.
Ardy B -- That's deeeep. Your brought up the dark holes and dark energy. I haven't heard any preachers say that is hell but maybe it's coming.
ReplyDeleteJon Lindgren May 8, 2020 at 2:49 PM
DeleteYup got carried away. Got to get out more. I was impressed by little helpers post mentioning some pretty esoteric terms from cosmology and applaud his interest. According to my understanding and experience with Christianity we are at a crossroads of sorts between glory and damnation so I spun a tale. I thought of hell as dark and burning cold rather than a fiery lava pit. Burning cold is familiar to most North Dakotans. It is interesting that 85% of the matter in the known universe doesn’t seem to interact with light. Cheers.
Ardy B -- When Christians bring up quantum physics they, or some of them, cannot resist the temptation to claim its unconventional reference to time and space is some kind of endorsement of the spiritual world. I mentioned that once to my friend at NDSU who was Chair of Physics before retiring. He happens to be an atheists. He said he had heard of such Christians and thought it was hilarious.
DeleteEven a flatlander, (one who lives in a two dimensional world) can sense the third dimension when it's shadow passes over.
DeleteIt is a good thing your friend retired at his stage of development, and arrogance.
There is a formula to determine the conditions and temp of when hell freezes over.
Ever watchful for the opportunity to give Ardy the occasion to applaud such surprising interest.
re. additional dimensions and parallel universes; Everything I have read in science journals and have seen presented by physicists indicate probable intelligence in those dimensions and universes. Why would a seated prof. think it is so funny? Does atheism preclude no life in them? Is that the scientific approach? I didn't make any claims. Only presented a question.
DeletePerhaps I was wrong in using the term "flat lander". ( a term used by scientists) Perhaps; "flat liners" would be more accurate.
little helper May 8, 2020 at 7:31 PM
Delete“Ever watchful for the opportunity to give Ardy the occasion to applaud such surprising interest.”
Watch now, here it comes again: I was impressed by little helper’s post mentioning some pretty esoteric terms from cosmology and applaud his interest.
It is rare indeed to find someone more arrogant than a surly LCMS clergyman. You’ll have to look elsewhere preacher.
Ardy; In truth; We have been on this subject years before you showed up. New to you, but a re-hash of an old topic.
DeleteWhen Jon re-introduces old topics, old responses are sure to follow. Such is the case here.
What in the world gives you the impression I am clergy? Knowledge? I'm not threatened by your knowledge, why would you challenge- even be surprised by mine?
I'm just an old shriveled accordion player who learned to read at a young age.
Some people visualize music, others hear it. There is a clinical term for that, and it is not "blind". Put that in your lectionary and smoke it.
Ardy; Although I humbly have a ThsD, I've never considered titles or letters a true indication of much.
DeleteArdy @ 4;34; Why the term "arrogant? I simply posited questions.
DeleteStrange someone who appears to be so factual , be so careless in making assumptions of someone he does not know, or his qualifications. Do I detect a strong odor of anger and frustration? (just another question.)