Heaven, Hell and God

Contradiction

Published on August 11, 2004 By olikara In Religion

I am thinking out aloud here.

All the major organised religions believe in the concept of Heaven and Hell. Of course versions of Heaven vary with Christians believing that he/she who reaches heaven will be one with God. The Muslims have their sex with 42 black-eyed virgins, rivers of milk and honey and stuff like that , but then I believe that will also be fun.

But then, isn't God supposed to be an all forgiving divine power? Why should there be a Hell at all, given to believe that hell is one place where you will be flayed alive and then drowned in a tub of boiling water and live still! There could be snakes there too.

I mean when a man lives in this world for an average of say 75 years which is but a blink of God's eye, should the poor chap be punished for eternity for something that God could have prevented him from doing in the first place.

But then conscience is a bastard, it riles you and cusses you for what it did not have the strength to stop you from doing in the first place. I don't know........

Comments (Page 2)

AndyBaker

on Aug 14, 2004

To each his own

I agree. That statement sums it up for me. Also, it will serve us to keep an open mind, else we could become too dogmatic or small-minded, whether as an atheist or as a religionist. After all, anything is possible in the face of the Infinite, especially regarding ultimate issues of existence.

olikara

on Aug 14, 2004

A more interesting view is the thought that people create their own afterlife somehow but those who have done wrong, whether they actively acknowledge it or not, end up having their guilt, even if subconscious, consume them, and create their own punishment.

Lord Shitzu: This is good and what I think it must be like. After all isn't good and bad, sin and holiness all in the mind? I agree
with you.

Western religions never make sense because they were made popular by their ability to control the populace. They're long departed from spiritual organizations, and are rather political ones.

JeremyG: But these religions have often been of solace to the people who inhabited the 'West' in their times of need. And aren't you throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Was it Christ's fault that the bishops/pope('church') exploited his teachings for their own vested interests?

I'm a Christian, but I don't believe in Hell or the devil.

AndyBaker: Neither do I. Something like Lord Shitzu suggested it'a all in the mind. And God has another face. He is the same-Godhead and Satan in one.

If he puts me in hell for using the one gift that sets me apart from the lower animals, well then God can go fuck himself.

Everett Lee:

You accept it because He offers it freely and when you accept it........Heaven is the awesome reward.

TeacherCreature: Nothing comes free!!

AndyBaker

on Aug 15, 2004

Nothing comes free!!

Unless everything is free.

it's all in the mind

Yes, it must be. Our interpretation and experience of life is necessarily in the mind. Does a transcendent Mind exist too? I believe so. The notion that God doesn't exist is all in the mind, in my opinion.

Lord Shitzu

on Aug 17, 2004

The notion that God doesn't exist is all in the mind, in my opinion.

Well, sure, but so is the notion that God does exist >8).

AndyBaker

on Aug 18, 2004

Indeed, Lord. We're both right. And God exists beyond the mind too, or so I believe.

Lord Shitzu

on Aug 19, 2004

And God exists beyond the mind too, or so I believe.

And that's where one of us may be wrong, though we won't know for sure until we've both passed away, if even then.

Though I think the most interesting theories would be those where we were both right, or at least half-right.

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