A venture into religion

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I am not one to discuss religion on these boards very often, but I have been thinking about something a lot recently and was looking for some discussion.

If after the final judgement we are placed into a kingdom where we will spend the rest of eternity, what happens to those that do not reach exaltation?

From my understanding, which may be flawed, only those that receive exaltation will have the ability to participate in future creation or become like God if you prefer.

What then do those that do not receive exaltation, but are judged to be in the Telestial, Terrestial, and Celestial without exaltation do for eternity? I have heard it described by Sunday school teachers that the real hell is knowing that you could have achieved more. However that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I am sure there would be disappointment in oneself for not having the faith to gain exaltation, but it also does not seem like the judgement of a loving God to give out a reward of say the Terrestial kingdom (which to my understanding has the presence of Jesus) with the understanding that it is a place to be disappointed for all of eternity.

[ERCougar]

I am not one to discuss religion on these boards very often, but I have been thinking about something a lot recently and was looking for some discussion.

If after the final judgement we are placed into a kingdom where we will spend the rest of eternity, what happens to those that do not reach exaltation?

From my understanding, which may be flawed, only those that receive exaltation will have the ability to participate in future creation or become like God if you prefer.

What then do those that do not receive exaltation, but are judged to be in the Telestial, Terrestial, and Celestial without exaltation do for eternity? I have heard it described by Sunday school teachers that the real hell is knowing that you could have achieved more. However that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I am sure there would be disappointment in oneself for not having the faith to gain exaltation, but it also does not seem like the judgement of a loving God to give out a reward of say the Terrestial kingdom (which to my understanding has the presence of Jesus) with the understanding that it is a place to be disappointed for all of eternity.

This is a really interesting question that I've thought a lot about. Here's my resolution to the issue (realizing that I'm way off in my own little doctrinal corner on this):

In the eternities, there are three different types of people. The telestial kingdom describes those who are basically pleasure-oriented. I don't mean that derisively, as it describes me most of the time, but these are people who are just content looking out for their own happiness. God gives them what they're looking for--pleasure. The terrestrial kingdom describes good people who have found the joy of giving to others. The telestial people aren't really interested in it, because they don't really get what everyone's so excited about. The celestial kingdom are those who have found the joy of giving, but are also interested in exaltation. The terrestrial people aren't real interested in this, as they're pretty content with the joy of giving and getting along. Thus, everyone's fairly content where they are, and God has given everyone exactly what they're looking for.

So basically, I just don't accept this "dissappointed with my eternal reward" stuff.

[Surfah]

This is my own belief but I believe God is merciful enough to allow all of his children to continue to progress should they choose to. Meaning I don't believe that being designated to one Kingdom means you'll spend the rest of eternity there.

But I do think the idea of disappointment is legitimate and I am sure the guilt would feel like some sort of personal hell. However, I also believe that we will be placed according to the desires of our hearts and not necessarily completely based on our merits.

Or so I'd like to think. It certainly makes me feel better thinking this way.

[ERCougar]

This is my own belief but I believe God is merciful enough to allow all of his children to continue to progress should they choose to. Meaning I don't believe that being designated to one Kingdom means you'll spend the rest of eternity there.

I agree with this thought as well, although I'm probably even more in my own doctrinal corner on this notion.

[RobinFinderson]

I was looking through my old CB posts from years ago (trying to find an applicable one for the porn discussion) when I came across this gem which is applicable to this thread. Enjoy (note the assistance of the CB swear filter):

I think most of us are going to hades... and we will be a lot happier there.

Mormons present an interesting picture of hades. It is a lot like earth here, except you will have all the time you want to go hiking and camping, and to read all of the books that you didn't have time to get around to here on earth, and you will get to play and watch as much football as you want, and you will be able to eat all of the good food you want (even though you won't NEED to, since you will have a ressurected body).

Hades sounds like heaven to me.

On the other hand you have the Celestial Kingdom-- an eternity of working hard for the benefit of spiritual children, most of whom don't even believe in you, or who use their belief as an excuse to abuse each other. You have lots of meetings to attend, and you are eternally working your butt off, and you never get a break. NEVER. You are constantly answering prayers, and having to deal with issues of your many celestial wives, and after a while it just seems like an eternity of hometeaching, except you are assigned 500 billion homes to visit.

So Heaven sounds like Hades.

At some point everyone on this board is going to die and be judged, and they might discover that they get to choose for themselves where they want to end up... and I bet a lot of Cougars will choose that endless football season in the sky.

[ERCougar]

I was looking through my old CB posts from years ago (trying to find an applicable one for the porn discussion) when I came across this gem which is applicable to this thread. Enjoy (note the assistance of the CB swear filter):

I think most of us are going to hades... and we will be a lot happier there.

Mormons present an interesting picture of hades. It is a lot like earth here, except you will have all the time you want to go hiking and camping, and to read all of the books that you didn't have time to get around to here on earth, and you will get to play and watch as much football as you want, and you will be able to eat all of the good food you want (even though you won't NEED to, since you will have a ressurected body).

Hades sounds like heaven to me.

On the other hand you have the Celestial Kingdom-- an eternity of working hard for the benefit of spiritual children, most of whom don't even believe in you, or who use their belief as an excuse to abuse each other. You have lots of meetings to attend, and you are eternally working your butt off, and you never get a break. NEVER. You are constantly answering prayers, and having to deal with issues of your many celestial wives, and after a while it just seems like an eternity of hometeaching, except you are assigned 500 billion homes to visit.

So Heaven sounds like Hades.

At some point everyone on this board is going to die and be judged, and they might discover that they get to choose for themselves where they want to end up... and I bet a lot of Cougars will choose that endless football season in the sky.

LOL...Robin, you have a gift.

This is my conception of things as well. I'm a little afraid of where I'm going to end up. Hopefully, the prospect of eternal sex with my wife will pull me up.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

This is my own belief but I believe God is merciful enough to allow all of his children to continue to progress should they choose to. Meaning I don't believe that being designated to one Kingdom means you'll spend the rest of eternity there.

This sounds very realistic to me. It does not make sense to me that God would set up this plan which allows for progression from our creation-judgement, then all progression would just end.

[RobinFinderson]

LOL...Robin, you have a gift.

This is my conception of things as well. I'm a little afraid of where I'm going to end up. Hopefully, the prospect of eternal sex with my wife will pull me up.

Thanks! In my pitch black shriveled atheist heart, I actually hope the LDS are right... an eternity of earthly pleasures would be right up my alley. (And DDD, by 'right up my alley' I mean it would be something I would appreciate, and not the filth to which I'm sure your mind would immediately leap).