Suppose that there is a Heaven...

I really like the way in which Alex is asking these important questions. I would like to ask one that is similar and in line with his current questions.

If there is anything missing in heaven, that effects your personality, would it change or alter you as an entity?

So an example is, you like violence and it is your pleasure in life, since you repented for your sins and was granted access to heaven, do you get to keep this aspect of your personality?

Or do you drastically change? Does all the negative, depressed, anger, anxiety, ect, all cease upon entry?

when you said "anything missing in heaven", were you referring to environmental things, such as cars, tv, radios, etc.? Or were you referring to things that are part of a person, such as eyes, ears, reproductive organs?

I think that even here on earth, when a person go through different experiences and physical changes, his/her personality changes as well, and to me, that is a change (even if it's a very small change) in who that person was before.

Liking violence as in liking aggressive activities such as football, boxing, and so on, or liking violence as in wanting to beat the crap out of other people and killing?

I once took this course on neuro-psychology, and one of the interesting things I learned from the class was that there is a part in the brain (called the Amygdala) of humans and some animals that processes memory and emotional reactions (conditioned fear and anxiety).

Well, there was a research that was done on cats where the researchers removed this part of their brain, and they let the cat walked across cages of big apes. They found that these cats showed no fear! (The title of this textbook is "Fundamental principle of neuropsychology" by Kolb and Whishaw, 5th edition).

So back to your question. Well, if a person enters "heaven" where he/she doesn't have an Amygdalla, then it seems logical that he/she no longer have fear or anxiety. I mean, it's already possible with cats here on earth :shocked:.

PS: Here is an article on this part of the brain relating to fear

It's not like you have a choice in the matter.

If you were in a state of spiritual bliss, I hardly think that any physical pleasures would be neccessary or even satisfying.

When you come right down to it, all the things you described are temporary and fleeting.

All of the above, each have their issues. Take tattoos for example, will I get to keep them, would they be imprinted onto my soul?

If not can souls get tattoos or would that just be another thing that gets written off because you'll be in this trance catatonic state of endless bliss and not care about anything?

Yep, physical deformities or losses tend to make the person in certain ways. Which brings up another point in the bible it states that no person with deformities is allowed into heaven. Heh, but another thing that a majority of christians gloss over these days.

Yeah like boxing or mixed martial arts wouldn't be a venue for entertainment in heaven because of the violence.

Okay, well if this aspect of the brain were removed, then perhaps all things of the brain could be removed as well? I'm just having a hard time with understanding just what type of being would you be if at all? If heaven is a true thing then all the things we have in this world would be completely moot and forgotten as if they never happened. But if that is the case then why even have it?

^_^ If you could take a way or modify any 1 "characteristics of heaven" from the above 12, which would it be, in order to make it more appealing?

I like the symbolic representation of heaven as given by Lewis in "The Great Divorce". (good book and a quick read). I also like Luther's take on the whole no alcohol thing, the quote is something like, "We know God loves us because he gave us beer." Leave it to some celibate monks shut off from the world to really refine the art of brewing...
So alcohol is in
Also, many religions accept sex as good (and not just for procreation). Really, how pissed would the Muslims be to get to paradise with their 16 virgins and find they have no package. Or the vikings traveling to Valhalla with their woman to find the same. also in the Eden account in Genesis, note that A&E had sex before the fall (and the two became one flesh).
So sex is in
Again with food... Food in Eden, pre-fall of man. And really, what are we to make the booze out of if we don't have food stuff to use? and what good is wine without cheese, beer without pizza, etc...
So food is in

I'm in! So pretty much it's safe to say that Luther's Heaven is the same as earth minus the pain and suffering and death?

So how long will it take before you have your fill? Sounds a very shallow narrow view of a place we attempt to imagine. I dont think an eternity of fillet steak is my idea of a higher plane.

As I dont find the necessity for a god in heaven my eternity might just be different to yours. The spirit you find in heaven may just be very similar to you and a kindred spirit may be your reward. Logic is a very good guide to what is possible here or in heaven.

but as you pointed out... That would get real boring after a short while, especially if the spirit I find in heaven is similar to me. and logic is good and all, until you want to hear a joke, play ball, or need a hug.

Time would be of no consequence and maybe after a while you might just move on.

lol, After a while?? what is that if time is no consequence?