There is a tremendous amount of work I've never read. My point was that this issue is trifling at best.
==In your opinion which you are free to have. I am also free to disagree.
When a man is oppressed, his concern about Heaven isn't how boring it might be, or whether his favorite animal might be there.
==I don't know anyone who thinks heaven can or will be boring with or without pets or certain people (since most of us have relatives who die lost). Heaven is heaven because it is in the presence of God not because of the people, angels, or other creatures who may (or may not) be there. My point in this discussion has been twofold. First, the Bible is clear that animals have spirits. Second, life beyond physical death is
possible for them in the plan of God. I don't know
for certain that it is a reality, I am just saying it is a possibility
. It would be nice to have them there. But if God, in His perfect wisdom has not ordained that to be, then I will not miss them.
Btw, when Christians are oppressed they do not sit around chatting on discussion boards (etc). However that does not mean chatting on a discussion board is bad or wrong. In the same way, discussing this issue is not wrong. Even if we agree with your assumption that Christians under oppression do not consider things like life beyond death for their pets (which, btw, I do not agree with) that does not mean such considerations are wrong. The writings you depend on from church history are only a small portion of Christians who have lived. You don't know what they were or were not concerned about. You also must realize the people you are reading from church history did not write down everything. Therefore I do not agree with your assumptions about Christians under persecution not thinking about these type things.
When life is boiled down to its most basic people don't have the luxury to think about many things philosophical, historical, or theological. They focus on the basics. However that does
not mean these things never crossed their minds.
For now, but Congress will soon fix that.
==True.
He basically doesn't want Christians to think Heaven is boring. Now tell me, why would a Christian think that Heaven sounds boring unless his life here were good and he was in love with it?
==Having read the book I don't think that is the point. The point Alcorn is trying to refute, if we could use that term, is the idea that heaven is other worldly or full of ghosts (etc). He is arguing that heaven is a real, physical place, maybe far more real than earth. He is arguing against the view of heaven that has people floating on clouds, playing harps, and singing all day. Alcorn is certainly right to argue against such unBiblical notions of heaven. For the Word of God tells us that our main occupation in heaven will be work (serving Him).
You should probably read the book before making such statements. It is out in paperback now and can probably even be found at your local public library.
I'm not saying I agree with 100% of Alcorn's understanding on heaven, but I think he makes a good effort to show (from Scripture) that heaven is a real place.
