sure as hell...

I have a self-willed son. It seems like he's always arguing with what I tell him to do, always wants to do it his own way, always has to question my wisdom and authority. It's tiresome and I've had enough. I went down to the courthouse and filed the proper paperwork. He is officially disowned. I kicked him out of my home last night, he is now - and will for the rest of his life be - separated from me. I expect more of my children.

What?!

Sounds too extreme?

And yet you have no problem accepting the idea that God would send a self-willed human being to spend ETERNITY burning and suffering in the fires of Hell??
Oh... that's different?

I see...

You know, I don't get too heated about many topics, at least I try not to. I try to remain objective and clear headed and I will try my utmost to remain so throughout with blog, but I should mention at the outset - this really chaps my ass!
"Of course it does!" you might say "the whole idea of Hell is a very unpleasant one and something that we all would like to do away with, but without it there is no consequence for sin! And you just want to dismiss it so that you can justify living the way you want to live without fear of the eternal price tag!"

Okay... (me taking a deep cleansing breath).

There are several reasons why I know that the idea of Hell, as a literal place where us unbelievers go to suffer for all eternity for our self-willed rebellion, is bull shit. I will try to explain as concisely as possible why this whole concept is an irrational doctrine motivated and sustained entirely by fear.

1) It's easy ( perhaps for some) to think of psychopaths, child molesters, rapists, the Hitler's of the world burning in Hell. We feel justified sending them to suffer for their wrongdoings. Easy for some to choose to see the world in the stark contrast of black and white. But the world is not black and white. Nothing in fact is black and white. Choose if you will to disagree but what about the individual who lives a good life, giving to those around them, compassionate, humble and loving who happens to be a Buddhist? Perhaps you can feel justified sending them to burn in Hell... but really? "Well..." you say "It's unfortunate and God desires that none should perish but... it's the choice that they made".
I see...
What about your friends and family members who aren't Christians? You're okay with the idea of them burning in Hell for eternity simply because they have different ideas about truth? "Well, of course I'm not okay with it! I wish that they would just believe the way I do... but they've made their choice and God's judgement is righteous."
I understand now...
The world is black and white and it doesn't matter how you live, or how much good you do in the world. Don't say the prayer, burn in hell. Don't believe and blindly accept every word of the Bible and the interpretations that I have developed and come to accept, burn in hell. Not that I'm judging or anything, but... burn in hell.

While I am incapable of embracing this mind frame, and don't understand how any human being can be OK with it, I understand that many of you do and are able - somehow - to justify resigning YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS to such a fate. This isn't even the main point, just a side note. But even if it was really the way God operated, that is his prerogative and we have no right to even speak such things, let alone use them to motivate unbelievers! How morbid is that?!

second,

2) You mean to tell me, the same God who created everything in and beyond this universe, the complex systems of natural laws and the organisms, the incredible human machine, the interconnectedness of ecosystems, the list goes on and on and on... this same God cant come up with a more creative way of dealing with man's self will than, "sorry... you had your hundred years to figure this shit out. Now you get to burn in Hell for eternity! Sucks to be you!" I think not.
This is why I believe that our experience here on Earth is a learning process that for most of us lasts more than just one lifetime. When we return home we have the opportunity to look back, assess the life we lived as human and then do it again, avoiding the same potholes. If I, being a mere human can think of a more efficient, compassionate, productive way that guarantees a 100% success rate, I'm sure God can think of something!

lastly...

3) I understand why the concept of Hell exists. Its like raising a child. without discipline, they don't learn to "do right". But there comes a time when the threat is no longer necessary. Bottom line, if you're a spiritual child who needs the idea of Hell to keep you on the straight and narrow then by all means, do what you gotta do. I would hope that at some point, you mature enough to seek good for good's sake, God for God's sake, Truth for Truth's sake, love for Love's sake...  not because the alternative is too scary to face.

This is cowardice, the most vile of human tendencies.

I have a Christian friend who's asked me on several occasions, "but what if you're wrong man? I don't know about you but, I'd rather just believe in the Bible knowing that just in case, I'll be safe then risk it."
Well... I just have one thing to say about that. If this is how you see it, then you are a believer out of fear, not love. This statement does NOT come from faith, but from fear.

If you feel this way, then your belief is an insurance policy. This is not faith. This is not love, and I want no part of it. If I die and face God and discover that He is actually the God of the Christians and only the Christians (which I doubt), then I will stand before Him in honesty, and He will know that I sought with courage and an open heart, eyes wide open and that I refused to bow to fear even when that doctrine was placed like a gun to my head. And I will be honored to stand before Him as a human being, who refused to devalue the life inside of another, even though they saw the world through different eyes.

Any decision made in fear will be the wrong decision. Have the balls to love one another no matter what your big book says. You say "fear is the beginning of wisdom!" Perhaps...
 but it sure as hell isn't the end!