Reductio ad Absurd um:
Telling a religious person that they are wrong is pointless. Instead follow them in there hopes and dreams and illustrate the conclusions. What are the ramifications of eternal life?
Eternal paradise is an individual concept, obviously. But it is always based on the epitome, the peak of happiness in his or her life. If that moment were stretched on into eternity, it would become mundane, meaningless. If it were a single moment stretched to eternity, it would still seem like only a moment.
No matter how varied and imaginative your activities, they are all based on the same governing rules that define the universe, if for no other reason than your mind isn’t capable of experiencing anything else. It is a product of the universe, and as such, is wholly endemic to it, and dependent on it for all experience, function, and even imagination. Say there is suddenly no such thing as gravity, and you can float and fly as you please. This is still based in reality though, because it is only in comparison with a concept, a rule of the universe.
Unfortunately for the religious concept of eternal life, the human mind is geared to operate on the concept of change, of cause/effect, the passing of experiences defines time, and the pace of time. The untrained human mind is trapped between the conscious realization of the unknowable future, and the animalistic tendency toward self-preservation. It naturally tends to seek constancy and eternity as a comfort from the unknown.
Once constancy is found, though, the mind tires of it. There is no change introduced, and the mind stagnates and submits to entropy. The whole world appears from the mind’s perspective to freeze up and lose motion, focus, and meaning. When faced with true eternity the untrained mind begins to understand, and recoils in fear.
I believe that no matter the state of eternity, whether it be heaven or hell, after a billion trillion years of unchanging constancy, the mind will be reduced to a wisp of neutral gray emotionlessness, beyond even the pain of watching all your hopes, dreams, fears, loves, ideas, knowledge; your very existence become meaningless and inconsequential in the infinite halls of heaven or hell.
Eternal life is an individual concept that is incompatible with individuality.
