This blog was named after a long lost blogger pal of mine. It was created so my other blogger pals and I from the Awful Truth can avoid the twitards and have meaningful and intelligent conversations.
WARNING: This is a Twilight, Paris Hilton, Lilo & Kardouchian free no zone. Any posts regarding the aforementioned will be promptly deleted and the poster will be blocked from making any further comments. Thank you for your cooperation.
I think that believing in a fire pit and torture flies in the face of a loving God. Even Judiasm, which frequently refers to a vengeful God, does not believe in the concept of the Hell of Christianity. I agree with Rev. Erik DiVietro, "Christianity is a conversation," he said. "So as we're journeying with these ancient writings, we need to be asking questions. These are good questions, and they need to be part of the dialogue."
That approach mirrors the approach of Jewish scholars as well as my education at the Catholic Theological Union.
The denomination I grew up in was so free-wheeling that we never talked about Hell. The individual was left to decide if it -- and Heaven -- exist or if you made Hell or Heaven on earth through your choices and actions.
If anyone inquired if there was a Hell or Heaven, the minister would say, "I don't know. What do you think?"
What is the point of Hell if one can be bad all one's life and then ask forgiveness and be "saved"?
What is the point, then, of living a good life and doing right? "I was sinking deep in sin . . . whoopee!"
And how come I gotta confess to a human being instead of my God?
You see, once one gets into the concept of a heavenly reward or, conversely, a hellish punishment, one starts to get into ideas such as "what's the point of..." In truth, the life we live arises from the everyday choices of ourselves and others. To live a life of martyrdom and self deprecating sacrifice to "earn" heaven makes no more sense than the wild indulges of the truly selfish and self serving who "deserve" hell. And where does mental illness come into all this? Was Hitler a monster or just the product of a monstrous upbringing and an even greater drug addiction?
I lean more toward the concepts of Buddhism whereby we strive in our everyday choices to make ourselves more worthy of a better life.
He's been in the news talking about his "best friend" and other stuff while promoting his new film "Source Code" which I will predict will take the #1 spot at the box office this weekend.
I think that believing in a fire pit and torture flies in the face of a loving God. Even Judiasm, which frequently refers to a vengeful God, does not believe in the concept of the Hell of Christianity. I agree with Rev. Erik DiVietro, "Christianity is a conversation," he said. "So as we're journeying with these ancient writings, we need to be asking questions. These are good questions, and they need to be part of the dialogue."
ReplyDeleteThat approach mirrors the approach of Jewish scholars as well as my education at the Catholic Theological Union.
The denomination I grew up in was so free-wheeling that we never talked about Hell. The individual was left to decide if it -- and Heaven -- exist or if you made Hell or Heaven on earth through your choices and actions.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone inquired if there was a Hell or Heaven, the minister would say, "I don't know. What do you think?"
What is the point of Hell if one can be bad all one's life and then ask forgiveness and be "saved"?
What is the point, then, of living a good life and doing right? "I was sinking deep in sin . . . whoopee!"
And how come I gotta confess to a human being instead of my God?
And what about "graven images"?
Oh, what a little Protestant am I!
You see, once one gets into the concept of a heavenly reward or, conversely, a hellish punishment, one starts to get into ideas such as "what's the point of..." In truth, the life we live arises from the everyday choices of ourselves and others. To live a life of martyrdom and self deprecating sacrifice to "earn" heaven makes no more sense than the wild indulges of the truly selfish and self serving who "deserve" hell. And where does mental illness come into all this? Was Hitler a monster or just the product of a monstrous upbringing and an even greater drug addiction?
ReplyDeleteI lean more toward the concepts of Buddhism whereby we strive in our everyday choices to make ourselves more worthy of a better life.
Whatever comes next is yet to be known.
I keep it simple; I believe but not in religion....
ReplyDelete"Hell is an outrage on humanity. When you tell me that your deity made you in his image, I reply that he must have been very ugly."
ReplyDelete- Victor Hugo
My momma always told me the quickest way to get into an argument was to talk politics or religion. I always heeded that advice......
ReplyDeleteWell I already got in an argument about politics on Teddy's facebook page, so why not religion too?
ReplyDeleteWhy so serious, Teddy?
Wise counsel Judes....
ReplyDeleteWise counsel Judes....
ReplyDeleteo.k., no more talk 'bout religion or politics. any of my squints have a suggestion for a topic of a new post?
ReplyDeleteand Judes, how did your first day back to work go?
I think we should talk about Jake Gyllenhaal.
ReplyDeleteFancy that.
He's been in the news talking about his "best friend" and other stuff while promoting his new film "Source Code" which I will predict will take the #1 spot at the box office this weekend.