Is there free will in heaven? If so, does that mean there's sin in heaven? Lucifer sinned in heaven (pride), so apparently heaven isn't inherently sinless. But if there's sin, how do you get forgiveness? Why would you bother, since you're already in heaven? What happens if you don't seek forgiveness? What happens to the person(s) you may have sinned against? Their heavenly vacation has been spoiled.
If there's not sin in heaven, that means we're there (eventually) with our same souls and our same bodies, but no free will? From which part of of body or our soul was that removed? And does that mean we're just mindless automatons wandering around heaven thinking only what god wants us to think?
I suspect some Xians may say you retain the ability to sin in heaven, but lack all desire to do so. But desire isn't a prerequisite for sin. People sin without knowledge or desire to do so all the time.
All reasonable questions. There are so many problems with religious thought, and particularly the mythical afterlife, when you actually seriously contemplate the claims.
Do dogs go to Heaven?
Only pets, not wild animals?
If only humans go to Heaven, how far back? Homo erectus? Australopithecus?
Only people who lived after Jesus? Not Abraham, Moses or Elijah, then.
Which “you” will be in Heaven? Senile you with dementia? Midlife-crisis you?
Of course whenever anyone claims to have answers to any of these questions, we must recognize that not only do they not, they cannot. No matter how confident they are in their belief, no matter what anecdotes they might tell, no matter what scripture they cite, they cannot know it.
I think it's unavoidable that you can either believe these things or you can understand them. You can't do both. To understand means realizing how bizarre and nonsensical the whole thing is. To believe means keeping your intellectual distance, not looking too closely, and certainly not thinking about it too deeply.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
Don't think too hard, least of all about things of which god or Jesus would disapprove.
https://quranx.com/114.1-6
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The Sovereign of mankind.
The God of mankind
From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -
From among the jinn and mankind."
Doubts are evil, the whispers of the devil. Silence them.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Unquestioning faith is a virtue.
https://quranx.com/Hadith/Muslim/USC-MSA/Book-1/Hadith-244
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) observed:
The Satan comes to everyone. of you and says: Who created this and that? till he questions: Who created your Lord? When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts).
Questions are of the devil.
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
https://quranx.com/Hadith/Nasai/Reference/Hadith-3434
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has forgiven my Ummah for what is whispered to them or what enters their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it.'"
Thoughtcrimes are forgiven only if you silence them.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Accept people whose faith is weak, shun those who doubt.
https://quranx.com/Hadith/Muslim/USC-MSA/Book-1/Hadith-244/
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) observed:
The Satan comes to everyone of you and says: Who created this and that? till he questions: Who created your Lord? When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in Allah and keep away (from such idle thoughts).
Anyone who tries to use basic logic on you is of Satan.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Unquestioning belief; don't think for yourself.
Believers are not encouraged to think, they're encouraged to limit their thinking at the threat of social ostracism and existential peril. Their religion makes ignorance and incuriosity a virtue.
