The subject of Perfection In Heaven has been crossing my path recently, most likely via a podcast (Atheists Talk (iTunes link) by Minnesota Atheists, Ask an Atheist, the Atheist Community of Austin‘s Atheist Experience or Non-Prophets (iTunes link), or FFRF‘s Freethought Radio).
This is the proposition that
(a) we are fallen, imperfect beings unworthy of God’s love,
(b) if we accept [insert appropriate deity of choice], we will be given God’s grace despite our unworthiness, and
(c) get into heaven, where
(d) we will become perfect beings.
Of course, proposition (d) is in direct contradiction with proposition (a). That is, if we are fundamentally flawed, then when we become perfected, we will not be ourselves. So the “person” who gets to heaven is not the person we were—it is not us.
I had a dream last night that involved my father, mother, and I. We were going on vacation. And when I woke up, I realized that neither of them acted nor looked like my parents…but in the dream (as it is with dreams), they were my parents. With all that that entailed—except for the few things that were left out to comport with the dream-parents.
So I got to thinking: maybe that’s what it’s like in heaven. We’re just duped into thinking that the people around us are the people we think they are and, similarly, that we are the person we think we were. Memories get conveniently changed.
In any case, it’s a strange proposition that reminded me both how strange dreams are and how strange religion is. And how closely they resemble each other.
