God Is Not Stupid . . .
I try to impart this idea to my kids whenever possible; beating out of them the insanely stupid [exp. deleted that they have picked up from friends, family, the media, the internet, and (dear Lord I hope not) their churches.
I’m currently teaching Dante’s Inferno so this has come up a lot, and I have to address things as if I were not a Christian. But still, some things are just logically stupid.
Par exampla:
No, God would not just let you into heaven because you said a “magic prayer of repentence” on your deathbed. He would know if you were serious. He’s a pretty bright guy. (Stop watching “Dogma”)
No, you wouldn’t just be drinking 40s and smoking splifs with your homies in hell. It wouldn’t be a “good time” because “all of your friends are there” too. It would be painfull. Hell is about punishment. Not fun. If you are having fun in the afterlife, there is another name for that: heaven.
No, you would not “get used to” the punishment of hell. That’s the point. It’s “hell.”
No, your dislike of the idea does not change anything. If Hell exists, it exists. The universe will not realign to better fit your desires.
Yes, and appropriate answer to “go to hell” is “lead the way.”
( etc. etc.)
I love my job, but I love the fact that for the first time some of these kids are re-evaluating their ideas about the topic. Even the sunday school groupies. Paradigms are being shifted. Maybe for good.
Or maybe my East Coast, Plymouth Brethren roots are starting to show again. . .
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