by Hannah Curtis

Created on: July 12, 2008

The term heaven is a loaded word, and has many connected associations. It can allude to either to the Biblical idea of paradise, or to an expression describing a state of being. It plays an important part in many commonly used phrases; for example something/someone can be described "as heaven", a fortuitous coincidence or happening can be said to be "heaven sent", or one may have an experience and say "it felt like heaven".

This frequent employment of the word clearly shows that we as a society are fully aware of the connotations connected to it. Concepts such as transcendence, to be lifted out of one's self, holiness, celestial, eternity, and beauty are all associated. However the debate remains whether heaven is merely just a figment of imagination, a nice idea, a state of mind or being, or whether it actually exists somewhere as a place.

The phrase "a state of being" can be used to describe how one feels within themselves. So someone can be in a state of happiness or sadness, in which they remain consciously grounded. It can also describe when someone is taken out of themselves onto another plain. Physically they remain grounded, however in their mind they are taken up on a new level of state of being. This is commonly referred to as being "in a seventh heaven" or "on cloud nine".

Keeping this in mind I believe it could be said that inhabitants of heaven are in a mutual state of being, in that they are all on the same wavelength. They are there due to a mutual love and respect of God and are all in a similar state of Grace, their sins having been forgiven. However I do not believe that the description "a state of being" is entirely accurate when applied to the overall concept of heaven.

Although it is dangerous and slightly ridiculous to use the word logic when attempting to discuss the transcendent realm, I will still do so. As it has been established there is a person, soul or spiritual being involved with the term a state of being. Therefore if heaven is in fact a state of being, it would logically follow that somewhere in the transcendent realm there are millions of spiritual beings who are all in a similar state of being, but who are not in a particular place, heaven not actually existing as an entity. This is illogical in my opinion. It is simpler and more logical to think of heaven and purgatory and hell as being separate places where the souls, angels and demons are divided up, and where there is in each place, one state of being which connects everyone there.

Heaven is traditionally seen to be the home to the Godhead, the Holy family, the saints, angels, and the faithful who ascend there after death. Its description within scriptures has associations to what we would call a real place. Jesus calls it a kingdom, headed by him as king until the end times. Mary is our queen, and the angels, souls and saints are adoring subjects. There exists a hierarchical society and a boundary is given as gates surround the celestial home.

Thus I believe that after discussing what is meant by a state of being, it makes more sense to say that heaven is a real place rather than a state of being.

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