IN THEORY:

Tom Wright, Bishop of Durham in the Church of England, argues in his new book, “Surprised by Hope,” that heaven isn’t what most people think it is. He said the afterlife will be mostly like a long sleep until the Messiah returns. “Jesus’ resurrection marks the beginning of a restoration that he will complete upon his return,” Wright told Time. “Part of this will be the resurrection of all the dead, who will ‘awake,’ be embodied and participate in the renewal.” How would you best describe heaven, or the afterlife?

Anthropologists observe that a civilization projects its highest cultural value as its perception of Heaven. Warrior societies envision it as an eternal battlefield, while more pacific people imagine a peaceful abode. Others envisage a paradise of sensuality, while for others Heaven appeals more to the cerebral faculty.

Jewish culture, whose highest value is learning, foresees a union of the soul with God’s truth, a basking in His wisdom and an eternity spent poring over sacred texts, engaging in discussion, ever seeking answers and never quite reaching them — even in Heaven!

I visualize Heaven as a vast library, composed of ancient tomes, rare manuscripts, stately folios, incunabula and first editions, which I can check out at will and for which, owing to God’s infinite mercy, there are no overdue fines.

Rabbi Mark Miller

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

What can we say with surety about heaven? We know that those in heaven will see God as he is (cf. 1 John 3:2); that is, in his essence. St. Thomas Aquinas, explaining the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:24, says: “In heaven, the essence of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost shall be seen: This is given to the clean of heart alone and is the highest bliss.” In John 14:21, we read, “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” These passages show that the blessed will see God face-to-face.

St. Thomas also says that the desire of the saints cannot be altogether frustrated. The common desire of the saints is to see God in his essence, as the following Scripture texts indicate. Exodus 33:13 says, “Show me thy glory;” Psalm 80:19 says, “Show thy face and we shall be saved;” and John 14:8 reads, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” He concludes that the saints will therefore see God in his essence.

I think heaven will be a fun place to be. The awesomeness of the beatific vision is indescribable. The things that bother us the most will not be in heaven, a place of eternal happiness. This means no suffering, hurt feelings, hunger, lack of love or longing for anything or anyone else. As to the specifics of heaven, that is, what heaven’s inhabitants will do on a daily or eternal basis, no one really knows. However, it is clear to me that no one in heaven will desire anything else, as God is all in all.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

I believe heaven is the life we are living right now. It doesn’t exist in the future or in our speculation about the future. Unfortunately, because we are continually distracted by and entangled in our fears and hopes, we miss the perfection that is shown to us in each moment, which includes ugliness and beauty, depression and happiness. Because we do not see the impermanence and transience of either these states or ourselves, we remain insecure, and we suffer.

I believe the Buddha gave the best answer when asked about heaven. His answer has since been called, “the thunderous silence of the Buddha.” He would not respond to the question of whether there is an afterlife. His efforts were always directed toward finding the cause of and solution to suffering. Devoted to this kind of life, what need is there to dream of an afterlife? How could our dream compare with this wondrous life we usually miss?

The purpose of all religious life is to go to heaven. But where is heaven? And when is it? Will we realize heaven in our future if we are not seeing it now? We can’t rely on the best answers of Bishop Tom Wright or the Buddha. Fortunately or unfortunately, we have to do our own spiritual work, which is a continual turning away from our dreaming, scheming and hoping mind toward the heaven of this day.

Rev. Carol Aguilar

Zen Center of Orange County, Costa Mesa