Here’s a hypothetical scenario (based on the Christian faith and conceived after watching Heroes last week—three cheers for TV polluting my mind!): Just before you die, you go to confession or somehow purge yourself of sin and thus believe that you’re dying with a pure soul.
You pass away in your sleep and “wake up” in an stereotypical conception of Heaven, clouds underneath with a deep blue sky and bright shining sun overhead. It’s very peaceful, very pleasant and you feel warm and happy.
However, as you travel around amongst the clouds, all of the souls drifting around you are strangers. They look at you and smile as they float by, but you don’t recognize any of their faces. You have family and friends who died before you, but you don’t see them anywhere. All of the people you loved and cherished, those you respected and admired… none of them are there.
Here’s the question: Are you in Heaven or Hell?
The second question would be:
Are all of the people you loved, cherished, respected and admired in Heaven or Hell?
It all depends on whether God is there or not. The thing to do would be to ask Him.