WW MAY 1, WHAT IF THERE IS NO HELL?

I think the conversations and sermons we have and hear about regarding Heaven and Hell are speculative in fact and strongly based on belief. I think back in far gone "ole" days when man first became cognizant of his/her surroundings a sense of fear or fright developed regarding the vast unknown, which included just about everything. This extended to any concept of life after earthly death. I suggest the concept of Heaven developed many centuries later and subsequently became today's standard reward/punishment scenario.

It has been a concern of mine for some time, that on the one hand God is viewed as unspeakably kind and loving, and on the other hand allows us to be consigned to a Hell of unspeakable horror upon our death if we do not conform to some ill defined minimum level of acknowledgement and love. During our time on earth we are exposed to an overwhelming variety of guidelines for conforming to God's wishes. We allocate to God a harsh sense of justice, with punishment being infinitely greater than sins we commit in a finite lifetime. If an earthly father imposed such punishment upon his children, he would be charged and convicted of child abuse.

Religion is primarily a belief based concept and we can, and do, build our faith, to a significant extent, on moral concepts developed over many centuries. I think pastor Rob Bell has taken his turn at raising questions regarding some of these concepts. As for myself, I have nothing to add.

Henry Jones