Hi Cage –
I'm not sure how to respond as I think differently than you on this issue. I don't think it is possible to even get close to Eden w/o first being prepared in heart,
"And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 3:2
The word for 'repent' in the NT is from the Greek 'metanoeo' – which means 'change of heart', so your idea is quite close to what Christ was preaching – not that that we have to be ascetic athletes or intellectual giants – all that is required is a 'change of heart' ... and the rest follows naturally, and supernaturally, but repentence is usually expressed sentimentally – and sometimes over-sentimentally – sorrow, chest-beating, tears – the whole process of beating ourselves up, which although is part, is also deceptively not all that 'metanoia' is about.
I did a quick search. In the OT 'repent' is from the Hebrew nacham:
1) to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted
The Greek metanoeo:
1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent
2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins
I think that Eden is that place where we feel peace in this world, within ourselves, as well as an overwhelming comfort and serenity even in the midst of hardships. That to me is Eden, and the kingdom of Heaven on earth.
And I tend to agree with that idea – without necessarily discounting others – Eden is an intimate experience of the Divine.
I don't think we have a permanent residence as we will always have our inner demons to overcome...even daily.
Indeed we do, but help is ever at hand – and here we can draw strength – the Father is ever ready to forgive, and the Holy Spirit is ever active in realising that forgiveness, that 'change of heart'.
When I gave up smoking, I used to be offered cigarettes and I would say: "I've given up," and be met with a wave of sympathy, support, admiration, suspicion ... but all of it, positive or negative, reinforced me as a smoker battling with a habit, and I lasted a couple of weeks ... the 2nd time I gave up, (22 years ago) I would say "I don't smoke" and the different order of response was stunning ... it was simply 'nothing' ...
So if we run around crying "I am a sinner, oh forgive me! Oh, what a dreadful person ... " this is not a change of heart, it's just a change of attitude, we're still steeped in what we were...
So if we run around crying "I am saved! I am born again!" ... ditto.
"Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to thee."
John 5:14
"Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee? Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more."
John 8:10-11
D'you see what I'm getting at? No big deal. No tears. No sackcloth and ashes. No baggage ... Don't think about it. Forget it. Just don't do it any more.
There's an old Tommy Cooper joke:
Patient: "Doctor, my arm hurts when I do this."
Doctor: "Well don't do it then."
I'm trying to get at the simplicity of it. Change of heart is profound, you are transformed. You will see the world through new eyes.
As the Buddhist say:
Chop wood, carry water ... even in Eden you have to boil a kettle to make a cup of tea ...
Thomas