>>Skeets, I will use my "rape her"-like mind to attempt to answer these questions: 1. Hence the song, "dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones." The Old Testament has very vague ideas about an after-life and the concept is not a major tenet of Judaism.<<
although, ezekiel 37 seems pretty clear in what it teaches (that this life isn't the only opportunity to learn about and receive salvation), assuming it is actually inspired, and meant literally and not figuratively. i'm not sure how it could have meaning figuratively, but that might be my deficit and not the text's. having said that, it ought to be considered seriously as it turns upside down the current concept that god condemns the ignorant in this life.
remember, ancient israel was never even offered spiritual salvation (there were very few exceptions like moses, king david, etc...). is ancient israel lot forever? ezekiel 37 states the answer to be no and tells why. they will be resurrected, yet future, and then they will be taught about and offered salvation for the first time in their next life. this is contrary to most traditional christian teachings, but it reveals a level of fairness in god that almost all traditional christian churches deny.
>>2. There are hints of Jesus talking about others ascending to Heaven in The New Testament (telling the thief on the cross that he will be with him in Heaven), but most scholars agree that these were later additions after Paul turned Jesus into God.<<
actually, he said the thief would be in paradise, not heaven, and the timing of said entrance into paradise can't be made out from that verse alone. in the context of the other scriptures, it seems to me that the comma goes after the "today" and not before as the punctuation was inserted into the text much later. after all, jesus didn't go to paradise (of any form) that day - he died and was put in a tomb for the next three days.
>>In the early oral tradition of The Q Source, Jesus mostly talked about rewards on Earth, though not necessarily in one's current life, but after the establishment of The Kingdom of God. He did mention "rewards in heaven," but did not define them. It sounded to me more like building up a credit balance with God rather than going to heaven.<<
i think that is exactly right. my son's reward for being good is in Toys R Us (at this moment), but that doesn't imply he will actually ave to go to toys r us to get his reward. In fact, he may never go into Toys R Us in order to get his reward - i could bring it to him and give him his reward at home. remember that when jesus returns to earth (2nd coming), he says our reward is with him. iow, our reward is currently in heaven until jesus brings it with him back to earth during his second coming.
again, the scriptures regarding jesus' second coming (both old and new testament) show jesus back on earth establishing god's kingdom here on earth - yu know laying with the lions and beating swords into plow shares and all.... that is the crux of the lord's prayer, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth..." nowhere does it say, "we shall go to the kingdom elsewhere..."
>>3. Satan seems to be referred to more often as the Lord of this Earth, not the Poobah of Hell. Hell is a very late concept and is derived from Sheol, a burial place. Somehow, Sheol and Hades got mixed up when Alexander The Grape's gang took over Palestine. However, the Greek Hades was more of a boring place than a place of punishment.<<
revelations does speak of a jail of sorts that will be imposed yet future. however, that is for evil spirits, not for humans.
it is bizarre how powerful the lemming effect is. i see it in stock investing, religion, politics, diet and i'm probably missing a few others. it seems people's ability to think critically is severely limited when enough peer pressure is applied via ongoing human traditions - as fake, phone and harmful as they may be.
>>4. "Burn my belly with napalm jelly
And cleanse my village with a torch full of fire.
Diddy Wop. Diddy Wop." The Fugs. I think the Church invented Hell to keep the peasants in line. "Gimme your money or I'll excommunicate you and you will burn forever." Those who are unreconciled to God just seem to cease to exist on death and there is even hope for them.
Hell is a great concept for scaring people, sort of like Bush's Terrorist Threats, but on steroids. But, as Blood, Sweat and Tears sang: "I don't believe in Heaven and I pray there is no Hell."<<
i think you are probably right, but how come so many people fall for this unsupported idea? i mean - billions. it is bizarre that so many have gotten it so wrong. this isn't a trivial matter, either, as it portrays god in a very bad light. i like the BST quote.
very few churches seem to be able to move beyond this concept and, in fact, actively fight it as heresy of some kind. the ones that have moved beyond it have some seriously bizarre teachings in other areas.
bizarro world. |
