Rajan Zed| Reno Gazette Journal
One viewpoint: All those who enter heaven will have eternal life, will be full of joy and free from suffering. But do not expect equality in comfort, gifts, joy, position, possessions and rewards in heaven. It depends on the level of faithfulness. But in hell, everyone is equal.
Another viewpoint: As we should be on earth, we are all going to be equal in heaven. No VIP sections or red-carpet treatment for few favored ones. Everyone will be at the same level.
The ancient Katha Upanishad points out:
When all desires that surge in the heart
Are renounced, then mortal becomes immortal.
When all knots that strangle the heart
Are loosened, the mortal becomes immortal.
We asked our panel: Will everyone be treated equally in heaven?
Equality in treatment
Micheal L. Peterson, northwestern Nevada media specialist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Everyone will be treated justly and equally in heaven; however, not everyone will enjoy the same blessings. For example, some will dwell in a kingdom where God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell, while others will not.
As the Savior and Paul after taught, there are multiple kingdoms within our understanding of heaven. Paul was caught up to the third heaven or the Celestial kingdom, the highest where God and Christ make their abode (2 Corinthians 12:2). The Savior said in my Father's house are many mansions (John 14:2), indicating the variety of conditions there. Despite the fact that all of God's children will not all spend eternity in the same kingdom or heaven, each will inherit the glory that they have decided to live and each will be happy with their condition. Each will know of their Father's love for them equally.
That is part of what makes it heaven
Dawn M. Blundell, lead pastor, Epworth United Methodist Church, Fallon
My own faith tradition does not include a lot of detail on this, focusing as it does on following Jesus in the here and now and letting God take care of the rest. United Methodists will have a range of beliefs about heaven, as we do about most things like this.
I am confident, personally, that all the hierarchies and power structures that create the inequalities of this world will have no place in heaven. Heaven is where we are known and understood fully, where we are forgiven and healed completely, where we love ecstatically and are loved absolutely. There is nothing we can do or be that will grant us a special place in heaven, or deprive us of it. It is this place of true freedom that Jesus points us to when he eats with “saint” and “sinner” alike and directs us to do the same.
Of course
Gaia Brown, member, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northern Nevada
While people’s near death experiences give tantalizing glimpses of what post life “heaven” might look like, I don’t think any “soul” has been there long enough to do demographic surveys. Presumably, Heaven equals Happiness equals Equality. What we can seek with certainty is heaven on earth, Beloved Community that we are called to create here and now. Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to this when speaking of the day that people would “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” — to that, I'd add sexual orientation, physical or mental challenges, gender, their country of origin, etc. Indeed, when we draw a wide circle of inclusion, we are compelled to work for world of fairness and equality.
As UUs sing in noted Humanist Felix Adler’s hymn, “Hail the glorious golden city ... justice reigns supreme o’er all.”
Like a wedding
ElizaBeth Webb Beyer, Jewish rabbi
One’s position in the afterlife (Gan Eden) is a direct result of his conduct in this world; one who has not refined himself will not be found worthy of a portion there. The Next World is attained by one’s deeds, measure for measure. There is a difference in the final result based on merit. Yet, everyone is treated equally because their final outcome is the result of their work while here in This World. “This World is like a corridor before the Next World, Prepare yourself in the corridor so that you will enter the Palace” (Pirkey Avot 4:16).
This is like a wedding in a town where family, guests and the poor were invited. Family members sit up front wearing new clothing and danced happily the entire night. Friends sit in the middle of the hall and dance less. In the corner is a special table for the poor.
Treatment will vary
Stephen R. Karcher, presiding priest, Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church
According to Scripture, God doesn’t judge people equally. Nor does he reward them equally. Just as in this life, so in the next, there is no "equal treatment." It’s no secret, the Lord once explained that “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16). Consider the one that loves his enemies, does good, and lends, expecting nothing back. To that one the Lord says, “your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35). Likewise, to the one persecuted on account of Christ, the Lord says, “rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:12).
Clearly, heaven will be wonderful for some, while for others not as much. Even the so-called “righteous” are given a warning: “Be careful not to display your righteousness to be seen by people. Otherwise, you have no reward in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). And so, it’s fair to say that our treatment there will reflect on how we’ve lived here.
Equal opportunities for all
Nancy Lee Cecil, Baha’i teacher
All will not be treated equally in Heaven, though exactly how we do fare will be determined, in advance, through our own self-determination.
Everyone has an equal opportunity during their lifetime to follow the guidelines the Manifestations of God have shared for humanity. Now, more than ever, with the proliferation of information at one’s fingertips, there are no excuses to remain ignorant. The scriptures of every holy book, from the Quran to the Bible to the Kitab-i-Aqdas, explain that the purpose of our lives is not to acquire a host of material goods, but to know and worship God, and to honor Him through service to humanity.
“Heaven” in the Baha’i Faith is simply nearness to God, in this world and the realms beyond. Similarly, spiritual punishment (“hell”) is “… to be veiled from God, to be brutal and ignorant ... to be characterized by dark qualities … these are the greatest punishments and tortures.”
Different rewards in heaven
Bryan Smith, lead pastor, Summit Christian Church, Sparks
First, there is access to heaven through Christ. But then what? Scripture is clear that there are different rewards in heaven. Christ notes this in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:12a, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” He is focused on those that are persecuted for faith in Christ and the greater reward they will receive.
Second, Jesus notes in Revelation 22:12 that He is coming for the end time judgment and his reward is with him. But what is the reward? In 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 the Bible tells us that at the time of judgment our work will be thrown into the fire. The individual will then receive their reward based on what remains.
Heaven is first predicated on how we respond to Christ. The sort of reward we receive is then dependent upon how we live for him in this life.
A perplexity
Kenneth G. Lucey, philosophy/religion professor emeritus, University of Nevada
If it should turn out that in reality there is no afterlife (i.e., no heaven, no hell, no purgatory) then obviously everyone will be treated equally in that everyone will share an afterlife of nonexistence. If traditional Catholic doctrine should be true, then upon death everyone will receive at the divine judgment the fate they deserve, depending upon how they lived their lives.
My only evidence that any of that might be true are the near-death experience anecdotes. From what I have studied there does appear to be anecdotal evidence that some people reincarnate, but I’ve no evidence that all people do so. If it should turn out that some people reincarnate, but others don’t do so, that clearly would not constitute equal treatment of all mortals. On the other hand, if there is some objective standard determining who gets to be reborn, that may equal treatment of a sort.
Different levels
Sherif A. Elfass, member, Northern Nevada Muslim Community
Allah (SWT) created heaven, or paradise, to reward those who believed in Him and did good in this world. However, it was created with different levels (17:21). The variation in levels is directly linked to the disparity in people’s devotion, righteousness and acts of good deeds during their worldly life. The one who dwells in al-Firdous (the highest level of the paradise) will not be like one who dwells in its lower level (55:46-48, 62). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described that people in paradise will see those in higher levels like distant brilliant stars due to their elevated status.
Despite the distinction in treatment according to one's level, there will be fairness and equality among individuals within the same level. Ultimately, the varying levels of paradise serve as a just and rewarding system, reflecting the mercy and wisdom of Allah (SWT) in recompensing each soul according to their deeds and piety.
As below, so above
Toni King, spiritual leader, Unity Center of Reno
Mystical experiences show me heaven is in the eye of the beholder. Heaven is about equality in that we equally draw a heavenly experience conducive to the level of consciousness in which our souls resonate. This reflects Life regardless of the form we are taking: human or spirit. All manmade social systems like those of patriarchy and caste are of the earth-plane alone. While we have all contributed in part in creating and perpetuating humankind’s systems of inequality, we shed human nature upon bodily death.
Still, we take ourselves with us wherever we go. And, vibration can be influenced by the realm we are in. Here we are equally bogged down by the heaviness of third dimension reality; conversely, heaven can lift us higher with its inherent freedoms. In the Absolute, we are all equal extensions of the Heart and Mind that is Creator-Source, both on earth and in heaven.
We receive according to our capacity
Daniel H. Mueggenborg, bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno
God’s love is infinite and eternal for every human being. It is our disposition to that love which allows us to receive it or limit it in varying degrees. Our disposition increases as we respond to the promptings of grace and participate in sanctifying actions of charity, prayer and reception of the Sacraments. Likewise, our disposition decreases as we freely reject such opportunities and choose what is contrary to God’s will.
Therefore, while every soul may be infinitely loved by God, not every soul will be able to receive that love to the same degree because our temporal decisions can have eternal consequences which may affect our ability to fully rejoice in God’s presence.
That is why a life of prayer, cooperation with God’s will, and sacrificial love for God and neighbor leads to a greater capacity to receive God which is the cause of supernatural happiness in heaven.
It depends on your karma
Matthew T. Fisher, resident priest, Reno Buddhist Center
All realms of rebirth are the result of our karma. If we are reborn in a heavenly realm, then the nature of that birth and the experience of it depends on our karma. Karma is a universal law so it treats everyone in the same way, but since our actions differ, the seeds we plant differ, and so the fruits of that karma — like our rebirth — will differ. If we are fortunate to be reborn in one of the heavenly realms, that experience will be conditioned by our individual experience and will be different from every being. Until we can see past our limiting self-delusion, we will continue to go through the cycle of birth/death. We all have an equal opportunity for spiritual growth; the outcome depends on our personal choices and actions.
Are we treated “equally”? Certainly. Do we have the same experience? Certainly not.
Next week’s topic: What are the consequences of falling faith both in God and devil in America?
Faith Forum is a weekly dialogue on religion produced by religious statesman Rajan Zed. Send questions or comments to rajanzed@gmail.com or on Twitter at @rajanzed.
