Phage0070 writes:
The big question that remains here is why did God make people at all? If he isn't going to let any of them into heaven but only fundamentally altered copies somewhat based off of them, why not just make the copies that are fit for heaven in the first place? Why bother with creating beings with the sole intention of them coming to know him, and when they do so annihilating them in favor of a more pleasing replacement?
Good question!
The analogy here could be a grand social event of extended timeframe. Were I invited to such an event, I would do several things. First, it would be proper to know the
host of such an event. Lets say, for example, that my employer invited me to move to a new town. First, it would help if someone whom I actually knew in the company contacted me, as opposed to someone who represented the company but whom i did not know. Second, it would help to know if anyone else whom I knew and/or worked with would also be relocating. Thus, knowing the host, and knowing others who were also attending.
Lastly, what were my alternatives?
In the case of Heaven, or eternal life, would I have the opportunity to enjoy eternal life elsewhere, perhaps a neutral land with no gods or demons present, either of themselves or in some of the people of this land.
If I simply ceased to exist, having no perception of regret, the entire argument becomes irrelevant in the first place.
Thus, this entire thread discussion is based on the premise that we humans will have some sort of option for continued existence in some place, doing something.