Thanks for refreshing my memory of Richard Bach. Read J L Seagull way back there but had forgotten Bach's name. Spent an hour or so last night googling around on him and also reading other passages from Illusions and Illusions 2. Quite interesting. I learned that he refers to God as "the IS" which is kind of cool being mercifully shorter than "I AM THAT I AM" or the derivative "the Great I AM" while still viewing God as something that has always existed-- just IS, thus without creation or beginning.
<<But that's one of my main objections to most faiths such as christians or muslims who firmly believe you will burn in hell for eternity if you are not one of "them", yet any murderer can just get "saved" in the nick of time, and enter the pearly gates>>
Anyone who believes they can do whatever they want and cry 'sorry' on their deathbed will be sorely disappointed, imo, and I can't believe any kind of church leader would espouse that. And even if if they did, I have conviction that God knows exactly who is truly repentant and who isn't.
And again, I can't stress enough, that any particular religion or denomination of a religion, may not be accurately reflecting the wishes of God.
As for Berkowitz being forgiven and all, he still can't escape punishment. He'll still live out his life in prison and may even have some work left to do in the next level of existence, if there is one. He committed murder, the one sin for which no restitution can be made in this physical realm. A human life can't be returned like, say, stolen property.
Do you remember Karla Faye Tucker? Executed in Texas in the late 90s, I think. She was also a drug fueled serial killer like Berkowitz and went through a near identical conversion process. Unfortunately, ugh, she was in a death penalty state whereas Berkowitz will be able to live a useful life of prison ministry. Her situation is an interesting read and bunches of folks appealed to then Gov. Bush for commutation. People from both sides of the aisle, too. Pat Robertson spent much personal effort trying to change Bush's mind and arguing hers was one of the most complete and genuine conversions he had seen. When Bush went ahead with it, Robertson actually went on television calling Bush a 'man who utterly lacked compassion.'
I watched it all closely, studied her interviews, and was honestly heartsick and angry when she was still put to death. Now I can see Bush actually had no choice given the laws of the state as well as the 'separation of church and state' concept we all believe in. How can a state make religious conversion grounds for commutation, if one thinks about. How unfair would that be to other death row inmates who became model citizens without any kind or religious experience. The problem wasn't Bush, it was in the death penalty itself.
This is such a ramble. Sorry. |
