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Hinduism's Heaven
What is Hinduism’s heaven? The final oneness is supposed to be like a drop of water falling into the ocean so that there is no more identity of any individual. It is to become nothingness, unrecognizable by anybody, not even by himself, because there is no more self, no more consciousness of being. It is not a hope of happiness or pleasure – just nothingness. One disappears as a person, becoming nothing more than a speck in the universe. What a heaven!!!
The present life for a Hindu is a horror. It is a cycle of existence that, like a wheel, rolls relentlessly on without an end. With each reincarnation a person becomes more deeply involved in a senseless merry-go-round that goes nowhere, accomplishes nothing and from which there is no escape. Even "suicide" is not a solution, because one might be reincarnated as a worm, “rolly polly” or roach. The only thing left for the devoted Hindu is to die to all feelings in hope that he will not be reincarnated.
A person who believes in the transmigration of souls tries to be good, because of his fear of coming back in a lower life in the karmic scale but when he reaches perfection, the end is nothingness. There is no real Heaven for a Hindu -- just “nirvana.” Nirvana is supposed to be the total escape of pain and suffering but it is not as the Christian thinks of escape from all this world’s suffering. Nirvana conveys the thought of "nihilism," or nothingness.
WHAT A WONDERFUL GOAL FOR WHICH TO LIVE AND STRIVE!????
The Christian’s hope is not loss of being and total loss of identity but a place of peace and happiness (Revelation 21:4; 1 Peter 1:3-9). Heaven is, not only a cessation of pain and suffering, but, also, a perfect existence in fellowship with God. But, hope must be based on evidence (Hebrews 11:1) -- particularly, evidence of the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-ff; 1 John 1:1-4). The evidence of eyewitnesses is the basis for our faith and faith is the basis for our hope. For what do Christians hope? It is eternal fellowship with God in perfect existence (Titus 1:2).
So, why are so many people becoming enamored with reincarnation? -- probably because it offers them some comfort for rejecting accountability for their licentious living. However, the belief system doesn’t change reality. And, what a simple choice to make – nothingness or heaven! Of course, the end for those who reject God is not “nothingness.” It is eternal condemnation. – Jim R. Everett
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