I do not believe in hell, Hell, or H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS.
Just thought I’d mention, because the number of times I’ve heard or read “I’m going to Hell” lately is starting to make me think I needed to say this on my blog so the world stops throwing it in my face.
I do, however, believe in alternate universes.
The lunchtime poll which I expect no one to take/do: Do you believe in Hell? Based on faith or fact? If fact, please provide details for or against.
something i wrote on this awhile back, after pondering this very subject:
i’ve been contemplating the fate of horrible people, because as someone who doesn’t believe in hell, i have been perplexed by the idea that the despots of the ages do not face fiery consequences for their despicable actions. however, just because i don’t believe in hell does not mean i don’t believe in consequence. consequence is the same as karma, essentially. reaping and sowing: this is how we learn, and through learning we become enlightened.
what happens to the Hitlers of the world upon death? instead of them going to some Dantean infernal hell, they instead go to a place of coventry, where they are unable to interact with anyone (except perhaps those on their own level) and experience total separation from God. however, they have the capacity to end their separation and should they choose to do so, will. this may or may not be the time karmic consequences are encountered.
i don’t believe in sin. i don’t feel God needs sin in order to justify his God-ness or to keep us in line; that kind of thinking presumes God is human and not God, needing to apply human type laws in order for us to learn how to be closer to God. HUMANS need that, God does not. God knows when we get there, we get there. God simply is. “sin” in the broadest sense of the word is simply action or non action which draws you closer to or farther from God, and deals solely in proximity. sin ultimately has no good or bad connotation; sin is directional.
so Hitler, when he did die, did not go to “hell” per se, but rather to the back of the proverbial enlightenment line, replete with all manner of despicable personalities also occupying that place in the line. he has a long way to go before he reaches God, but that was and is his choice.
Crys, that is incredibly insightful! I’m more of an enlightenment / karma thinker myself, so this makes a lot of sense to me.
I live in Hell, so if any of these people are truly “going to Hell”, and are FUN, give ‘em my number.
thankssomuch
Tug, do you really live in the town called Hell? Or, just figuratively? Because if literally then that explains a few things…
I tend to think either:
a) there’s no hell
or
b) it’s kind of fun, because it’s always portrayed that way in the media (Deconstructing Harry, “Only the Good Die Young.”
I hope there’s a heaven, though, because the idea of nothingness after death is kind of depressing. Or restful, depending on your perspective.
And you know what Sartre says…l’enfer c’est les autres ;)
I’m not religious; I do not think there is a hell. :)
I do not believe in Hell. But I like to say, “I’m going straight to hell” because I think if there was a Hell, it would be where all the cool people are.
It’s all a bunch of hooey. Prayers are just wishes without falling stars - or maybe it’s the reverse. If you pray for something, people think you’re OK. If you wish strongly for something, you’re superstitious and breaking a commandment. Loada BS, if you ask me. Probably if you ask this God figure, too, depending on which version you get - the happy Sunday School God that loves you and all his children, or the vengeful jealous God that smites.
Bearette - If it does exist I hope it’s fun. But I’m not even agnostic about the idea. I am a Hell-atheist. Love your J-PS reference!
Spénce - Hear, hear.
Molly - Do I get to be in the cool people hell?
K - Such a good analysis of the entire ecclesiastic situation. LOVE IT.
Poppy, you should know me at least well enough to know my short answer. If somebody were interested in my prose on the subject, perhaps I will write about it someday.