Theoretical philosophical question here, not a serious inquiry or an expression of desire.
Presuppose that God exists and that there is a “heaven” after death if you’ve acted well enough in your lifetime. If Heaven is better than Earth without the same trials and tribulations and sufferings, would murdering an innocent person to speed along their journey to a better world or to relieve them of the burdens of physical existence (think of Thanos from The Avengers) be considered wrong?
I would argue yes, it would be, because it violates that person’s will, it causes the pain of separation for that person’s loved ones, it robs society of their contributions, and it robs them of their Earthly life which must be highly significant/important in some way, otherwise I don’t think we’d all be here on this planet and I don’t think we’d have evolved a sense of morality. It just seems fundamentally wrong on an instinctual level. Furthermore, unless someone is being a direct threat to ourselves or others, I don’t think we have a right to take away that which was given by God.
Additionally, assuming they’re conscious in some way after death, would being murdered be considered bad by the victim? Would they feel truly harmed? If near death experience accounts are to be believed, they generally feel cheated of a life and experience with the people they love, but it’s ultimately made “okay” by the loving warm light they report encountering. Part of me hopes this is true, but another part of me feels like my sense of justice and right and wrong is shaken if they experience nothing but bliss after death if they’re murdered.
Thoughts? Do you agree or disagree?