Growing up in the Catholic tradition, we were taught that if you committed any of the deadly sins “wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony”, that you would burn in “Hell” for eternity. There you would suffer for your sins and live in the lake of eternal fire with Satan the fallen angel and the demons and the other sinners. This never resonated with me. Growing up and studying the bible I see there are so many inconsistencies and especially when comparing the fearing God of the Old Testament to the Loving God of the New Testament. The Old Testament God flooded the earth and killed off all of mankind except for Noah and his family, while the New Testament was a God of love and one of the main themes was forgiveness. So if we are taught God will forgive our sins, then why are we also taught that we will burn in Hell if we sin? And can a loving God in the New Testament be the same God that killed all of mankind in the great flood?
It simply doesn’t make any sense. How could a God who created the universe and all of mankind and who represents unconditional love make his people suffer in hell for eternity? I believe there may be many parts of the Bible that are true, but anything added in about Hell I believe was a man-made creation. And the purpose for this was to instill fear and control into the human population. The Christianity church put together the New Testament in the early days after the Roman Emperor Constantine formed the First Council if Nicaea. They say the books were “Divinely” inspired when they were put together but I believe man had a hand in removing certain literature, and adding in certain verses to keep the people under control. And I also believe the Roman politicians had a major part in its creation. Yes what did the Roman politicians know about the newly appointed Roman faith Christianity? I can’t imagine a whole lot.
Back in December of 2013 there was an article floating around that turned out to be a spoof of a speech by Pope Francis. But everything I read in the article I feel could be the Pope’s actual views and I am very much in alignment personally with the entire speech. I have a friend who lives in Italy and she says that she listens to Pope Francis on the radio and he has said everything that was printed in that article. Just not all at once and during the same speech. And I believe she is right.
Here is sample of what was written which you can view at…. http://diversitychronicle.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/pope-francis-condemns-racism-and-declares-that-all-religions-are-true-at-historic-third-vatican-council/
“Through humility, soul searching, and prayerful contemplation we have gained a new understanding of certain dogmas. The church no longer believes in a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God. God is not a judge but a friend and a lover of humanity. God seeks not to condemn but only to embrace. Like the fable of Adam and Eve, we see hell as a literary device. Hell is merely a metaphor for the isolated soul, which like all souls ultimately will be united in love with God” Pope Francis declared.”
So I must say that every part of my soul tells me that Hell does not exist. I do believe there is evil in the world and I do believe there could even be fallen angels or maybe even a Satan, demons, and other non-physical entities that torture and torment the human soul. Some have even described these entities as the “Archons”. But not a “Hell” in the biblical and literal sense.
God, Creator, Source does not judge us when we die to suffer in Hell. He created us and loves us unconditionally. And as a strong believer of Karma as well as re-incarnation, it does not fit into the absolute perfect Divine Plan.
Peace!
JD
