More ramblings... on heaven

[btcarl]

I had a really good conversation with Jeff last night about political theory and the virtues of justice and mercy. His basic question was whether mercy should have anything to do with the actions of the state. As we are wont to do, we ended up on some pretty fun tangents. My question? Whether or not there will be armor and weapons in the

Comments

[btcarl]

and I love you :)

Yeah, it's the "Am I just asking questions that most people would ridicule as angels-dancing-on-the-head-of-a-pin questions?" worry that bothers me some. But like I said, "will there be armor and weapons in Heaven?" is a fun version of "assuming that human authority if a result of the Fall (an assumption I don't necessarily agree with, but which some people advance), does this mean that there won't be human authority in Heaven?"

As for libraries... of course there will be libraries! There are few things more noble or more ennobling. And besides... where else are we gonna put all the blessed Bibles?

And I'm not as far into Dante as I'd like to be... that Fr. Martin book took up all my time for more than a week and a half. I think Dante is next :)

interesting...

[musicallyjames]

having not read the weight of glory, i humbly comment simply because i recently finished the great divorce, and while it is not 'Catholic' doctrine, you did cite it as one of your greatest influences. that said, i find the debate interesting because lewis discusses heaven through the Spirits, and seems to imply that if one's focus is on material things, weapons, libraries etc. then he/sher is in danger of losing his/her focus on God. that is a minor point that i can't seem to develop right now in my tired head. but a more solid one, again simply drawing from the great divorce, and not the bible etc., Lewis writes "'But they aren't distinguished--no more than anyone else. "Don't you understand? The Glory flows into everyone, and back from everyone: like light and mirrors. But the light's the thing.'" which to me seems as if he is implying the absence of a heirarchy. anyway, i'm really tired, and came across your journal through katy's... this is james meinert if you didn't get that yet. and have a great day.

james

Re: interesting...

[btcarl]

You are right that there is a certain equality in Heaven--everyone is glorified in God, and all the goodness found there ultimately has its origin in God. But, I think the Great Divorce itself reflects a notion of a certain kind of hierarchy in heaven--Lewis talks about the spirits being on a journey (and different spirits are at different points on this journey), and people like the woman with the train of followers are pointed out at as very special individuals from whom the light of God shines forth most especially.