I used to chant “God is love” like a monk on mushrooms. Now I find myself muttering, “God, please have a basement.”
Not for the gays, the witches, or the ones who forgot to tithe. No, I mean a real gnashing-of-teeth dungeon for the polished piety machines who stuff Bibles in briefcases while voting to starve children and cage compassion.
The worst part? These people actually think they're on God’s side. As if Jesus would high-five a tax cut while stepping over the corpse of the Good Samaritan.
So yeah. Maybe hell doesn’t exist.
But if it did, it would look a lot like Congress on a Thursday—with better air circulation.
I believe there is a hell. The Bible states there is. The book of Revelations tells about it. There are New Testament passages, to tell about Hell. I don’t think we can throw it out. And I agree that if there are professed Christians who aren’t living out Christ in their daily lives, folks who are not doing unto the least of these , God will keep true to his word. The Bible states Vengeance is mine,sayeth the Lord. I think the real gnashing of teeth dungeon exists. That’s why Jesus came and died on the cross.
Hi Susan, I get where you're coming from—truly. A lot of us were handed this image of God as a divine warden running a cosmic teeth-gnashing dungeon. But the trouble is, that image tells us more about empire than it does about Christ.
The Book of Revelation is full of symbols, not blueprints. And “hell” as a flaming torture pit? That’s more Dante and medieval imagination than Jesus. The few times he mentions Gehenna, he’s referencing a literal garbage dump outside Jerusalem where injustice burns and worms don’t quit. It’s a warning, not a map of the afterlife.
Vengeance? Jesus taught the opposite: love your enemies, forgive seventy times seven, and turn the other cheek. The Cross isn’t where God punishes Jesus instead of us—it’s where God exposes the lie of redemptive violence.
Hell isn’t where God sends the wicked.
It’s where the wicked drag themselves, clutching their egos on the way down. Kinda like the Prodigal Son’s older brother—he followed all the rules, but when grace showed up unearned, he couldn’t stomach it. He exiled himself from the party, not because the father rejected him, but because he couldn’t stand the idea that love was bigger than merit.
That’s hell too.
The door’s open.
But some would rather sit outside than share the feast with someone they called unworthy.
No, I don't believe it's just "his thoughts". It's an entirely different THEOLOGY. It is a theology of love, compassion and forgiveness, not of atonement.
Of course you didn't. The "atonement" comment is in response to what Susan Theriault said ("Jesus died for our sins") in the comment you responded to. I apologize if there was confusion about that. I agree with you completely.
Believe what you may, I believe there is heaven and hell right here. Why would it be different? And, I see that what creates hell in the minds and hearts of us is hatred, our belief in separation, hardness of heart, self-glorification, and a vast and harm producing belief in scarcity rather than the reality that we are all connected, nature, humans, the earth, spirit, all.
I have been told, by a Lutheran pastor whom I greatly respect, that there is a Hell but:
1. God intentionally sets a very low bar for entrance into Heaven; and
2. If someone is going to Hell, they really have to work at it.
I do believe that Senatorial and Congressional Republicans, plus Our Great And Glorious Leader DONOLD JOHN TRUMP†, the members of his cabinet, and many of our Republican governors and state legislators have more than adequately done their work to warrant a one-way ticket into Hell.
Their choice. They deliberately CHOSE to worship the AntiChrist Donald Trump, to do Trump's bidding, and to wear Trump's MAGA hat mark of the Beast; and after one makes that decision, there is NO chance of redemption or salvation.
And I hope there are evangelical, MAGA Christians who read this, because I MEAN EVERY WORD OF IT.
Hell and Death was destroyed when Christ descended into it.
BTW, ever wonder why all four gospels name Mary Magdalene as the first to witness the resurrection—and the one Christ personally sends to tell the others? The Greek word for “one who is sent”? Apostle. That’s right: she was the apostle to the apostles.
But of course, the boys didn’t believe her. Because, surprise! She was a woman. A woman with firsthand knowledge, direct revelation, and actual guts. Meanwhile, the disciples were hiding like wet disciples behind locked doors.
Still, somehow Mary got written out of the story while Paul—who never met Jesus during his life, didn’t witness the resurrection, and once literally hunted Jesus’ followers—became Christianity’s PR manager.
I agree with you that they are warranting a one way ticket into hell.
I can’t agree that God set a low bar for heaven because, Christ gave up
His life for us when we confess our sins and repent. Thing is, no one is confessing their sins and repenting and changing! They continue to stonewall and lie. Like Christy Nome. She is arrogant and thinks they don’t have to follow the law. I used her as an example because she is one of the worst offenders when I hear her speak. That’s just my two cents of thought!
There are LOTS of non-evangelical Christians, non-Christians, agnostics and atheists who are leading lives which by any definition would be called "saintly". These people consider other people's feelings and wishes before they act. They actually *apply* the Golden Rule. They are out there doing everything Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46: feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, housing the homeless, welcoming the immigrant, tending to the sick, comforting the dying and the bereaved.
I realize I'm at variance with the evangelical Protestant ethic that states only people who have given their lives over to Jesus in a public profession of faith, said the Sinner's Prayer, have been completely dunked in a baptismal pool in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and believe every word of the Bible is literally true are eligible for Heaven. I'm glad I'm at variance with them: I would never want to be like evangelical Protestants as we see them in America in 2025.
On the other hand, I know what St. James said in the second chapter of his Epistle:
"14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
"18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?[b] 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”[c] and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers[d] and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."
In my book, works DO count for something. Even if someone is not a Protestant, or a Christian, or even a believer -- if they 're doing the work, that counts for something in God's eyes.
We've all seen the religious sociopaths which have become so prevalent among the Christian nationalists and MAGA. There are few things more dangerous than a sociopath who "gets religion" because underneath that veneer of religiosity, they're still sociopaths; and they will justify all the pain, the misery, the cruelty and the wanton sadism they inflict on others as "being appointed agents to implement God's will." Their behavior really does not have anything at all to do with God: these people are SOCIOPATHS, and as such they don't have consciences; and inflicting pain, misery, cruelty and wanton sadism on those unfortunate enough to be around these people is what sociopaths do.
St. Paul described these people in 2 Corinthians 11: "13 Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
I'll put my money on the person who actually does good works before the one who says they have faith -- and then acts like the very Devil.
Yes - that - 2 Peter 2 talks about false teachers and reminds people that satan was once an angel yet was thrown into hell.
The Parable in Luke 16 of Lazarus and the rich man talks of hell. The rich man could have helped Lazarus while he was alive but chose not to. He ended up in hell but could see Lazarus with Peter. The rich man begged Peter to send word back to his brothers to warn them so they would change and not end up in hell.
Many people have had Near Death Experiences and some have experienced “hell”. Obviously they got a second chance. Read their accounts. Even the child in the book “Heaven is for Real” saw the devil but refused to describe the being - it was too horrific.
As far as God saying “Vengeance is Mine”. Believe it. I heard loud and clear as if someone was talking to me while I was walking through a parking lot. I turned around because no one was there. I had been planning how to get revenge on someone who was harming my family’s company. When I realized that loud and clear voice that actually said “Vengeance is Mine and My Vengeance lasts for All Eternity” then was shown a vision of the scene in the movie “Ghost” where the bad guy gets dragged into hell - I said “fine” got it!!!
Will leave it to You!
Shook me up because obviously the Almighty knew what I was planning - it was pretty bad.
God has taken care of things. Anyone who has done anything bad to me has had bad things happen to them. Colton Burpo, the boy from the “Heaven is for Real” book said during an interview that things didn’t work out well for anyone who tried to do bad work to him either.
You have some very good points! Doing the good works before saying one has faith counts. And people are
Masquerading as servants of righteousness. So many contradictions are visible. Only God knows the truth in the heart. It’s a lot to take in. I’m so fed up with the folks who are masquerading as around . The damage false prophets do. Cults, for that matter. And they come of as righteous. I was involved in a cult group, so I know first hand and am put off by the pretenders. I am prejudiced because for 30 years I was involved in a cult. But the wife’s voice didn’t count, the husband is”head of the house” but he’s leading astray. I take all that personally. We don’t know til we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
I was brought up in a Protestant Christian environment.
Whenever I consider Christ's gift of salvation to me, and my distinctive relationship with Him, I come back to the realization that Christ voluntarily suffered an excruciatingly painful death to offer his redemption for my sins. Jesus is my Saviour. I know my path.
However, I am not single-minded or arrogant enough to presume that God, in his divine and infinite wisdom, doesn't have another path for those who may worship in divergent faiths, such as Islam and Judaism.
Recovering Catholic here — deeply skeptical atheist. And I wish that radical rabbi would come back and give them what they have coming. But they’d just call him a radical leftist and send him to El Salvador.
OMG, John - so to speak. The fascists want us to lose our humor, and your headline, while it could be taken literally, also made me laugh, a la Andy Borowitz. Good start to the morning. Thank you!
John, This is a "kick-ass" column today and you are spot on! I don't know how the Republicans you mention, and so many others of their ilk, sleep at night. They are all such slimey liars. It is pathetic.
They are preying on the poor, the disabled, young children and the needy.
They add insult to injury using silly signs to rally around and celebrate their horrible conduct as a win. All in service to one man who is unwell and a narcissist.
Billy Graham once answered the question about whether or not there was actually a Hell. As I recall, he simply said that it would be Hell for anyone who was separated from God.
Thank you again and again for the fine work you do. We live in a world where people are physically afraid to speak up. I realize that you and others who speak out publicly receive threats. Yet, silence cannot be our response to the corruption taking place right in front of our eyes every single day. Each of us will stand before God and give an account of ourselves. Those who are enriching themselves at the expense of the "least of these" should remember that.
Yes there’s time but they don’t seem to be taking advantage of it. There are too many folks going along with Trump’s whims. I have family members professed Christians and friends that are Trump followers. How can they ignore what’s happening? Are they saying Dems are wrong because they believe in abortion, but look at the lawlessness of this administration? How one can justify that I don’t know. It’s beyond me, but I’ll never understand.
It hurts my soul that Republicans have none. If this cruel and heartless bill becomes law, people (including those who voted for and support this horrible excuse for a president) will suffer and die.
And many of his voters who suffer will never admit that trump did anything wrong. They always find someone else to blame. I'll never understand the attraction that Maga's have for trump. It makes no sense. If it is indeed a cult, what are these poor folks getting in return for their devotion?
I woke at 4 this morning thinking about him and his minions and their cruelty. It's never far from my mind. So... hell, karma, what goes around comes around... I'd be satisfied with any of those.
If a pineapple is involved, so be it. (if that doesn't ring a bell it's a reference to the movie Little Nicky)
I do the same thing, and then feel so stupid for having this in my psyche 24/7 because that's what narcissists want. They want to be in everyone's thoughts and vision as that's their entire mission of existence. After a decade of this, I fear I may not be able to rid myself of this. Neuroplasticity take me away......
In Matthew 25:31f Jesus recounts who are those who please god, the ones who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick, imprisoned. The cruelty of those who treat others so badly while professing faith are in hypocrites are they not? If Jesus walked into their church I am rather sure he would be quickly shown the door! Like you while I used to discount eternal punishment if God is love but the evil of our age has me questioning whether that love can cover such as that. Is repentence possible of course, but otherwise like Aleksander I hope that there are consequences. We all need grace but surely such cruelty without confesson and genuine reprentence is beyond the pale. James said that faith without works is dead. Faith is not just private faith is reflected in how we treat others. The old song reflects that they will know we are Christians by our love but when hate is preached from the pulpit, will they? John says how can you say you love God whom you have not seen when you do not love your brother or sister that you have? I have to believe that love does not cover criminal behavior and that is what so many of these people are engaged in.
I'm currently struggling with the fact that everything we think we know about God comes from the human imagination, and therefore, it could all be BS; hopeful, BS, but nonetheless, just us afraid of ceasing to exist at death. That said, I sort of believe hell was invented for just the reasons you mentioned. If these evil people do not suffer any consequences for their behavior here, we hope they suffer after death. The fact remains that we really don't know, so I have to do what I can here and now to follow the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, and all the other prophets and work for a better life for the suffering. History shows us that evil people have always existed, so we can't change that fact. We can and must try to limit their damage.
Thank you for another thoughtful piece, John. Like you, I was brought up in the Catholic church. I recall a sermon wherein our parish priest was cajoling our impoverished north woods congregation to be more generous. He cited Matthew 19:24, which is certainly NOT one of Donald Trump's favorites, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
P I know exactly what you mean and how you feel because although I may not feel, I wish there was a hell. I've always said in this last while wherever my entire family is going, I just don't want to go to the same place. So whatever that means if I'm going to hell and they're going to heaven or they're going to, I don't know. But it's very sad and they're holding on. They're just holding on when everything this is getting worse and worse. I'm trying. I'm still trying you know. But they won't let go of it. I don't understand
My God, like your God, is a loving God. I have fed the hungry, ministered to the sick, and given use of my guest room to those who had no bed or roof to shelter and comfort them. These people who profess to be Christians…? I’m betting they’ve never done any of these things.
I used to chant “God is love” like a monk on mushrooms. Now I find myself muttering, “God, please have a basement.”
Not for the gays, the witches, or the ones who forgot to tithe. No, I mean a real gnashing-of-teeth dungeon for the polished piety machines who stuff Bibles in briefcases while voting to starve children and cage compassion.
The worst part? These people actually think they're on God’s side. As if Jesus would high-five a tax cut while stepping over the corpse of the Good Samaritan.
So yeah. Maybe hell doesn’t exist.
But if it did, it would look a lot like Congress on a Thursday—with better air circulation.
—Virgin Monk Boy
No.... not a basement. An oubliette. These people are why oubliettes were invented. We need to put them somewhere they can't get out of.
I had to look up oubliette! Love learning new words! Perfect reply Maria.
I believe there is a hell. The Bible states there is. The book of Revelations tells about it. There are New Testament passages, to tell about Hell. I don’t think we can throw it out. And I agree that if there are professed Christians who aren’t living out Christ in their daily lives, folks who are not doing unto the least of these , God will keep true to his word. The Bible states Vengeance is mine,sayeth the Lord. I think the real gnashing of teeth dungeon exists. That’s why Jesus came and died on the cross.
Hi Susan, I get where you're coming from—truly. A lot of us were handed this image of God as a divine warden running a cosmic teeth-gnashing dungeon. But the trouble is, that image tells us more about empire than it does about Christ.
The Book of Revelation is full of symbols, not blueprints. And “hell” as a flaming torture pit? That’s more Dante and medieval imagination than Jesus. The few times he mentions Gehenna, he’s referencing a literal garbage dump outside Jerusalem where injustice burns and worms don’t quit. It’s a warning, not a map of the afterlife.
Vengeance? Jesus taught the opposite: love your enemies, forgive seventy times seven, and turn the other cheek. The Cross isn’t where God punishes Jesus instead of us—it’s where God exposes the lie of redemptive violence.
Hell isn’t where God sends the wicked.
It’s where the wicked drag themselves, clutching their egos on the way down. Kinda like the Prodigal Son’s older brother—he followed all the rules, but when grace showed up unearned, he couldn’t stomach it. He exiled himself from the party, not because the father rejected him, but because he couldn’t stand the idea that love was bigger than merit.
That’s hell too.
The door’s open.
But some would rather sit outside than share the feast with someone they called unworthy.
Thank you for your very thoughtful response. I appreciate your perspective.
Very well put! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
No, I don't believe it's just "his thoughts". It's an entirely different THEOLOGY. It is a theology of love, compassion and forgiveness, not of atonement.
I said nothing about atonement. Hell doesn't exist as a physical place. It does exist in the minds of those consumed with hate.
Of course you didn't. The "atonement" comment is in response to what Susan Theriault said ("Jesus died for our sins") in the comment you responded to. I apologize if there was confusion about that. I agree with you completely.
That’s a good point that it’s a different theology. Thanks for pointing it out. I appreciate your insight, Susan.
Believe what you may, I believe there is heaven and hell right here. Why would it be different? And, I see that what creates hell in the minds and hearts of us is hatred, our belief in separation, hardness of heart, self-glorification, and a vast and harm producing belief in scarcity rather than the reality that we are all connected, nature, humans, the earth, spirit, all.
I agree with you’
I don’t know who you are but I love your words! Thank you!
Clever and quotable...
I have been told, by a Lutheran pastor whom I greatly respect, that there is a Hell but:
1. God intentionally sets a very low bar for entrance into Heaven; and
2. If someone is going to Hell, they really have to work at it.
I do believe that Senatorial and Congressional Republicans, plus Our Great And Glorious Leader DONOLD JOHN TRUMP†, the members of his cabinet, and many of our Republican governors and state legislators have more than adequately done their work to warrant a one-way ticket into Hell.
Their choice. They deliberately CHOSE to worship the AntiChrist Donald Trump, to do Trump's bidding, and to wear Trump's MAGA hat mark of the Beast; and after one makes that decision, there is NO chance of redemption or salvation.
And I hope there are evangelical, MAGA Christians who read this, because I MEAN EVERY WORD OF IT.
Hell and Death was destroyed when Christ descended into it.
BTW, ever wonder why all four gospels name Mary Magdalene as the first to witness the resurrection—and the one Christ personally sends to tell the others? The Greek word for “one who is sent”? Apostle. That’s right: she was the apostle to the apostles.
But of course, the boys didn’t believe her. Because, surprise! She was a woman. A woman with firsthand knowledge, direct revelation, and actual guts. Meanwhile, the disciples were hiding like wet disciples behind locked doors.
Still, somehow Mary got written out of the story while Paul—who never met Jesus during his life, didn’t witness the resurrection, and once literally hunted Jesus’ followers—became Christianity’s PR manager.
Excellent!!!
I agree with you that they are warranting a one way ticket into hell.
I can’t agree that God set a low bar for heaven because, Christ gave up
His life for us when we confess our sins and repent. Thing is, no one is confessing their sins and repenting and changing! They continue to stonewall and lie. Like Christy Nome. She is arrogant and thinks they don’t have to follow the law. I used her as an example because she is one of the worst offenders when I hear her speak. That’s just my two cents of thought!
Here's why I believe God set a low bar:
There are LOTS of non-evangelical Christians, non-Christians, agnostics and atheists who are leading lives which by any definition would be called "saintly". These people consider other people's feelings and wishes before they act. They actually *apply* the Golden Rule. They are out there doing everything Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46: feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, housing the homeless, welcoming the immigrant, tending to the sick, comforting the dying and the bereaved.
I realize I'm at variance with the evangelical Protestant ethic that states only people who have given their lives over to Jesus in a public profession of faith, said the Sinner's Prayer, have been completely dunked in a baptismal pool in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and believe every word of the Bible is literally true are eligible for Heaven. I'm glad I'm at variance with them: I would never want to be like evangelical Protestants as we see them in America in 2025.
On the other hand, I know what St. James said in the second chapter of his Epistle:
"14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
"18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?[b] 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”[c] and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers[d] and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."
In my book, works DO count for something. Even if someone is not a Protestant, or a Christian, or even a believer -- if they 're doing the work, that counts for something in God's eyes.
We've all seen the religious sociopaths which have become so prevalent among the Christian nationalists and MAGA. There are few things more dangerous than a sociopath who "gets religion" because underneath that veneer of religiosity, they're still sociopaths; and they will justify all the pain, the misery, the cruelty and the wanton sadism they inflict on others as "being appointed agents to implement God's will." Their behavior really does not have anything at all to do with God: these people are SOCIOPATHS, and as such they don't have consciences; and inflicting pain, misery, cruelty and wanton sadism on those unfortunate enough to be around these people is what sociopaths do.
St. Paul described these people in 2 Corinthians 11: "13 Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
I'll put my money on the person who actually does good works before the one who says they have faith -- and then acts like the very Devil.
Yes - that - 2 Peter 2 talks about false teachers and reminds people that satan was once an angel yet was thrown into hell.
The Parable in Luke 16 of Lazarus and the rich man talks of hell. The rich man could have helped Lazarus while he was alive but chose not to. He ended up in hell but could see Lazarus with Peter. The rich man begged Peter to send word back to his brothers to warn them so they would change and not end up in hell.
Many people have had Near Death Experiences and some have experienced “hell”. Obviously they got a second chance. Read their accounts. Even the child in the book “Heaven is for Real” saw the devil but refused to describe the being - it was too horrific.
As far as God saying “Vengeance is Mine”. Believe it. I heard loud and clear as if someone was talking to me while I was walking through a parking lot. I turned around because no one was there. I had been planning how to get revenge on someone who was harming my family’s company. When I realized that loud and clear voice that actually said “Vengeance is Mine and My Vengeance lasts for All Eternity” then was shown a vision of the scene in the movie “Ghost” where the bad guy gets dragged into hell - I said “fine” got it!!!
Will leave it to You!
Shook me up because obviously the Almighty knew what I was planning - it was pretty bad.
God has taken care of things. Anyone who has done anything bad to me has had bad things happen to them. Colton Burpo, the boy from the “Heaven is for Real” book said during an interview that things didn’t work out well for anyone who tried to do bad work to him either.
You have very valid points. I agree. Thank you for sharing.
An excellent comment. Thank you.
You have some very good points! Doing the good works before saying one has faith counts. And people are
Masquerading as servants of righteousness. So many contradictions are visible. Only God knows the truth in the heart. It’s a lot to take in. I’m so fed up with the folks who are masquerading as around . The damage false prophets do. Cults, for that matter. And they come of as righteous. I was involved in a cult group, so I know first hand and am put off by the pretenders. I am prejudiced because for 30 years I was involved in a cult. But the wife’s voice didn’t count, the husband is”head of the house” but he’s leading astray. I take all that personally. We don’t know til we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
Thanks Mark for all your input! I appreciate your thoughts and sharing them with us!
I can only speak of my personal experience.
I was brought up in a Protestant Christian environment.
Whenever I consider Christ's gift of salvation to me, and my distinctive relationship with Him, I come back to the realization that Christ voluntarily suffered an excruciatingly painful death to offer his redemption for my sins. Jesus is my Saviour. I know my path.
However, I am not single-minded or arrogant enough to presume that God, in his divine and infinite wisdom, doesn't have another path for those who may worship in divergent faiths, such as Islam and Judaism.
I agree.
Thanks for your input Alex!
Me too. I pray there is karma if not Hell
😂
Recovering Catholic here — deeply skeptical atheist. And I wish that radical rabbi would come back and give them what they have coming. But they’d just call him a radical leftist and send him to El Salvador.
OMG, John - so to speak. The fascists want us to lose our humor, and your headline, while it could be taken literally, also made me laugh, a la Andy Borowitz. Good start to the morning. Thank you!
John, This is a "kick-ass" column today and you are spot on! I don't know how the Republicans you mention, and so many others of their ilk, sleep at night. They are all such slimey liars. It is pathetic.
They are preying on the poor, the disabled, young children and the needy.
They add insult to injury using silly signs to rally around and celebrate their horrible conduct as a win. All in service to one man who is unwell and a narcissist.
Billy Graham once answered the question about whether or not there was actually a Hell. As I recall, he simply said that it would be Hell for anyone who was separated from God.
Thank you again and again for the fine work you do. We live in a world where people are physically afraid to speak up. I realize that you and others who speak out publicly receive threats. Yet, silence cannot be our response to the corruption taking place right in front of our eyes every single day. Each of us will stand before God and give an account of ourselves. Those who are enriching themselves at the expense of the "least of these" should remember that.
I said to a friend the other day that 47 and his sycophants made me wish I believed in hell.
Yes, I admit these same feelings John. I do hope and pray for repentance also. There is still time to turn around.
Yes there’s time but they don’t seem to be taking advantage of it. There are too many folks going along with Trump’s whims. I have family members professed Christians and friends that are Trump followers. How can they ignore what’s happening? Are they saying Dems are wrong because they believe in abortion, but look at the lawlessness of this administration? How one can justify that I don’t know. It’s beyond me, but I’ll never understand.
Right? Pro-lifers and their death-dealing politicians… 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Whims....that's quite a reframe!
It hurts my soul that Republicans have none. If this cruel and heartless bill becomes law, people (including those who voted for and support this horrible excuse for a president) will suffer and die.
And many of his voters who suffer will never admit that trump did anything wrong. They always find someone else to blame. I'll never understand the attraction that Maga's have for trump. It makes no sense. If it is indeed a cult, what are these poor folks getting in return for their devotion?
You had me at the title.
I woke at 4 this morning thinking about him and his minions and their cruelty. It's never far from my mind. So... hell, karma, what goes around comes around... I'd be satisfied with any of those.
If a pineapple is involved, so be it. (if that doesn't ring a bell it's a reference to the movie Little Nicky)
I'll accept my penance for this.
I do the same thing, and then feel so stupid for having this in my psyche 24/7 because that's what narcissists want. They want to be in everyone's thoughts and vision as that's their entire mission of existence. After a decade of this, I fear I may not be able to rid myself of this. Neuroplasticity take me away......
In Matthew 25:31f Jesus recounts who are those who please god, the ones who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick, imprisoned. The cruelty of those who treat others so badly while professing faith are in hypocrites are they not? If Jesus walked into their church I am rather sure he would be quickly shown the door! Like you while I used to discount eternal punishment if God is love but the evil of our age has me questioning whether that love can cover such as that. Is repentence possible of course, but otherwise like Aleksander I hope that there are consequences. We all need grace but surely such cruelty without confesson and genuine reprentence is beyond the pale. James said that faith without works is dead. Faith is not just private faith is reflected in how we treat others. The old song reflects that they will know we are Christians by our love but when hate is preached from the pulpit, will they? John says how can you say you love God whom you have not seen when you do not love your brother or sister that you have? I have to believe that love does not cover criminal behavior and that is what so many of these people are engaged in.
I'm currently struggling with the fact that everything we think we know about God comes from the human imagination, and therefore, it could all be BS; hopeful, BS, but nonetheless, just us afraid of ceasing to exist at death. That said, I sort of believe hell was invented for just the reasons you mentioned. If these evil people do not suffer any consequences for their behavior here, we hope they suffer after death. The fact remains that we really don't know, so I have to do what I can here and now to follow the teachings of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, and all the other prophets and work for a better life for the suffering. History shows us that evil people have always existed, so we can't change that fact. We can and must try to limit their damage.
Thank you for another thoughtful piece, John. Like you, I was brought up in the Catholic church. I recall a sermon wherein our parish priest was cajoling our impoverished north woods congregation to be more generous. He cited Matthew 19:24, which is certainly NOT one of Donald Trump's favorites, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
P I know exactly what you mean and how you feel because although I may not feel, I wish there was a hell. I've always said in this last while wherever my entire family is going, I just don't want to go to the same place. So whatever that means if I'm going to hell and they're going to heaven or they're going to, I don't know. But it's very sad and they're holding on. They're just holding on when everything this is getting worse and worse. I'm trying. I'm still trying you know. But they won't let go of it. I don't understand
And I agree with you, Peggy!!
My God, like your God, is a loving God. I have fed the hungry, ministered to the sick, and given use of my guest room to those who had no bed or roof to shelter and comfort them. These people who profess to be Christians…? I’m betting they’ve never done any of these things.