Once again, excellent. One might even say you have entered the world of parables
Religions are often embraced for comfort. In a confusing world, religion can provide simple and definitive answers to the most troubling questions. Hell, I think, is such an answer. The irony in this story is that simple answers are for children, for the young who haven’t developed the faculties of critical thinking. Kevin is young yet has the innate ability to explore beyond Sunday school theology. (I wonder if this is a compulsion some are born with? Some born only to embrace the simple, others to wrestle with the complicated, and others that see the complicated as simple. ?)
Personally, I reached a deeper more wholistic and enriching faith by challenging the simple precepts that many cling to for comfort. But that’s me. And I’m even younger than Kevin and definitely no angel. 😉
Thanks Jan! So much to say. I actually wrote a masters thesis on hell in the New Testament (fun times, let me tell you) and as you say, I think the best way to understand hell is to watch it develop over time and ask what work it preforms for the people who invoke it. This story was inspired by a quote (variously attributed or misattributed; no one seems sure or no one wants credit) by some Catholic saint or theologian. It seems that someone else was putting the screws on them, wanting to make sure they believed in hell and get them to say that it exists. And purportedly, the revered figure said: "Well, of course hell exists." And then (perhaps in a whisper) they added "... it's just that there isn't anyone in there."
Glad you like Kevin as much as I do. He might be back!
Once again, excellent. One might even say you have entered the world of parables
Religions are often embraced for comfort. In a confusing world, religion can provide simple and definitive answers to the most troubling questions. Hell, I think, is such an answer. The irony in this story is that simple answers are for children, for the young who haven’t developed the faculties of critical thinking. Kevin is young yet has the innate ability to explore beyond Sunday school theology. (I wonder if this is a compulsion some are born with? Some born only to embrace the simple, others to wrestle with the complicated, and others that see the complicated as simple. ?)
Personally, I reached a deeper more wholistic and enriching faith by challenging the simple precepts that many cling to for comfort. But that’s me. And I’m even younger than Kevin and definitely no angel. 😉
Thanks Jan! So much to say. I actually wrote a masters thesis on hell in the New Testament (fun times, let me tell you) and as you say, I think the best way to understand hell is to watch it develop over time and ask what work it preforms for the people who invoke it. This story was inspired by a quote (variously attributed or misattributed; no one seems sure or no one wants credit) by some Catholic saint or theologian. It seems that someone else was putting the screws on them, wanting to make sure they believed in hell and get them to say that it exists. And purportedly, the revered figure said: "Well, of course hell exists." And then (perhaps in a whisper) they added "... it's just that there isn't anyone in there."
Glad you like Kevin as much as I do. He might be back!
I was nearly denied confirmation for not believing in hell. I left anyway 😄
I'm so sorry to hear that! You and me can hang out with Kevin. Everyone else is crazy :)
😂