Quote from: Robyn on June 11, 2007, 03:12:11 PM
In A Course in Miracles, Jesus (the narrator) says that there is no sin and therefore no hell, no damnation.
The only problem is that most of us don't believe it yet.
Whenever - in all of time - we all realize it, time will stop and the dream will be over. We will all be home.
Robyn
Wow. That makes this [arguably completely silly] topic totally worthwhile, to me anyway. Thanks for redeeming it.
Quote from: Tink on June 10, 2007, 09:56:28 PM
Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." >
Geez, what, or whose, God does this stuff? Assuming it's God doing the casting. I kinda sorta understand God, in His Function as Central Casting, casts the devil in this dramatic role, it's a goody, but what beast and whose false prophet?
Quote from: Tink on June 10, 2007, 09:56:28 PM
Salvation is having one's sins atoned for and receiving the gift of eternal life.
Though throughout this life we work out our salvation. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. 
Why is eternal life a gift and not 'a given'? Is this eternal life idea about a return to source ('home' in Robyn's post)? If so, what warrants this eternal punishment option? (Is it at all related to bad apples from forbidden trees?)
As I asked above, are both options 'touched by God', or not? "Eternal damnation" is the kind of idea that, to me, would appear to originate from a suspect source. It might be a very entertaining story, but I'm not sure it's the most helpful story.
tmw
by contrast here is another old story:
(MENG-PO: Underworld Goddess of Forgetfulness and Amnesia)
MENG-PO, often known simply as Lady Meng ('Dream'), is the Buddhist Goddess who dishes out the Bittersweet Broth of Oblivion. This is a mystic brew made from herbs and pond water which she prepares for the souls of the dead.
She is waiting for you at the Ninth Chinese Hell in FENG-DU, where your soul will be ready to leave the recycling centre and head for the reincarnation door. One sip of her Five-Flavored Tea of Forgetfulness and you will lose all memory of who you were. This ensures that when you are reborn you can start with a clean slate.
The only thing that passes from one incarnation to the next is Karma, which is why no-one remembers their past lives. This amnesia is supposed to be an act of mercy. It may not seem fair to lose the wisdom and knowledge you accumulate during your life — but on the other hand
it does prevent cheating.There is no known antidote to Lady Meng's potion. Only BUDDHA 'himself' managed to shake off the effects — after meditation revealed to him his previous lives.
Having read the gory details of what happens to you in FENG-DU every time you die, we're very happy to forget the whole thing.
tmw
