Heaven and Hell - Case Study Example

Liberty Theological Seminary Heaven and Hell A Paper Submitted to Dr Gene L Jeffries In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the THEO 530 Gary M Good November 2007 Heaven and Hell Thesis Statement “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 The idea that there is life after death spent in either a good place or bad place is a universal theme across the globe. Despite religious differences, close examination of each religion reveals the good vs. evil theme (with rare exceptions). Heaven and Hell are referred to by many different names. This paper will explore the differing beliefs about Heaven and Hell and their similarities. Table of Contents Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Heaven and Hell Around the World----------------------------------------------------- 5 Christianity---------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- 5 Judaism------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Islam--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Hinduism----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7 A Common Theme-----------------------------------------------------------------------8 In Limbo-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 The Rare Exception-------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 A Philosophical Approach------------------------------------------------------------------10 Hell as Punishment---------------------------------------------------------------------10 Heaven as a Reward--------------------------------------------------------------------12 Will Most People go to Heaven?-----------------------------------------------------13 Conclusion-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 1. Introduction Shortly before the death of Johnny Cash, a popular country music artist, he recorded a song with his friends. It is the last recording before his death and is telling about what was on his mind. The song is called “Meet Me in Heaven”1 and it is telling of how he believed: "Meet Me In Heaven" We saw houses falling from the sky Where the mountains lean down to the sand We saw blackbirds circling round an old castle keep And I stood on the cliff and held your hand We walked troubles brooding wind swept hills And we loved and we laughed the pain away At the end of the journey, when our last song is sung Will you meet me in Heaven someday [Chorus] Cant be sure of hows its going to be When we walk into the light across the bar But Ill know you and youll know me Out there beyond the stars Weve seen the secret things revealed by God And we heard what the angels had to say Should you go first, or if you follow me Will you meet me in Heaven someday Living in a mansion on the streets of gold At the corner of Grace and Rapture Way In sweet ecstasy while the ages roll Will you meet me in Heaven someday In sweet ecstasy while the ages roll Will you meet in Heaven someday Around the globe there are differing beliefs about what will happen when someone dies. As with Johnny Cash, many people have firm beliefs about where they will go when they die. We can be sure that Johnny Cash was comforted by this song as were his friends who joined him in recording this song. This paper will examine the world wide belief in good vs. evil that is commonly known in Christian circles as Heaven and Hell. It is easy to surmise that there was once one universal belief in Heaven and Hell that changed over time in different regions of the world. It is also interesting to note that most people are told of the end of the story before the beginning. Children and adults alike are well versed in what will happen or where they will go when they die. It is this belief, or knowledge, that steers their behavior in life. Basically, they know the last chapter and spend all their lives building the rest of the book. 2. Heaven and Hell Around the World A. Christianity Christianity shares its roots with Judaism. From Judaism Christianity developed a belief that upon death they would face judgment. They would stand before the gates of heaven and be judged. Their lives would be evaluated and they would be allowed to enter Heaven, sent to Hell, or stay in limbo. So, what were they expecting? Heaven, from a Christian perspective, is described as a place where: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.” Rev. 7:16 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 Christians believe that they will dwell with God in Heaven when they die. In essence, death is just a passing from one existence to another. Entrance into Heaven is conditional. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ and are a ‘sinner’ then there is that other option: Hell. Christians believe that Hell is a terrible place to be sent. Scripture backs up that belief. In the words of Jonathan Edwards, a puritan evangelical, “Their foot shall slide in due time”2 Edwards was quoting Deuteronomy 32:35 and was referring to the punishment that the Israelites were exposed to. Edwards was famous for talking slowly with effect that had his audience moaning and crying. Edwards told of how quickly the sinners would be dealt with: “There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men’s hands can’t be strong when God rises up: the strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it.3” Hell, from the Christian perspective, is associated with smoke, black darkness, pain, fire and brimstone. In Christianity, if you don’t have the right relationship with Christ then you could end up where “the worm never dies, and their fire is never quenched4” “How will you spend your eternity – Smoking or Non Smoking ?”5 B. Judaism As stated earlier, Judaism shares its roots with Christianity. Judaism teaches that the Sabbath is a preview of Heaven.6 Each week Jews celebrate the Sabbath with renewed energy believing they are getting a taste of things to come (Heaven). At death Jews believe that “righteous souls await the resurrection in the Heavenly Garden of Eden or hidden under the Divine Throne.”7 Judaism views Hell as a dark place much like a locked cemetery with strong gates. Judaism referrs to this place as ‘Sheol’ where they are met by an “insatiable beast with spreading jaws”8 It is in Sheol that Jews are cut off from their family and from God. But Judaism also teaches that God reigns over Sheol and that he has the ability to release one from the grasp of Hell. C. Islam Many people don’t realize that Islam has its roots in Judaism and Christianity. Islam branches off with the arrival of the prophet Mohammad and the Koran around the seventh century. It has its roots in the city of Mecca (Saudi Arabia). Islam is a mixture of the Judeo-Christian traditions and Bedouin culture of the Arabian peninsula. Muslims look forward everyday to the time when they will be with God. Muslims believe that they will be individually judged and sentenced accordingly to the happiness of Eden or the sorrows of a fiery Hell. Muslims also believe that there will be a period of time that they will spend between death and resurrection. This period is called ‘barzakh’9. There is a marked difference between the sojourn of a righteous soul and the soul of an infidel. The righteous will have an easy death and a pleasant wait while the infidel’s soul will be torn from his body and will suffer while awaiting the date to enter Hell. D. Hinduism Put bluntly, Hinduism is a catch-all term for religious practices found throughout Asia. For Hindus, Heaven is the “perennial object of myth, ritual practice, and philosophical speculation10” Heaven is full of sky gods (Indra, Surya, and Agni). These gods represent the thunder, the sun, and fire. Hindus believe that the world is in continuous upheaval that includes birth and death. A person’s station in life is dependent on his Karma (actions in previous lives). Hindus believe that their ultimate goal is to be released to join the infinite spirit (brahma). A most desired death includes joining your ancestors in the sky (so long as they have won their battle with Karma). The Hindus’ version of Hell consists of a cold, dark, underworld. Those ritually unprepared or morally unworthy can be sent to this Hell. The Hindus believe that where you go depends solely on the individual. If you choose to be unprepared then you must expect to die and be reborn to try again to work out the bad deeds of your previous lives (karma). E. A Common Theme Heaven and Hell are described with very humanly understandable characteristics. When comparing each religion the description of Heaven (good) and Hell (evil) one notices that there are more similarities than differences. It is clear that whatever the religion there is a common theme of heaven and hell. Most notable is the idea that an individual is responsible for their own destiny. Christians choose between accepting Christ and forgiveness of sins or to not acknowledge Christ. Jews choose either honoring the Sabbath (preview of Heaven) or wallowing in the locked cemetery. Muslims choose between being righteous or an infidel. Hindus can choose to join the infinite spirit or be reborn to deal with your karma. The Christian example given in 1 Peter 5:8-10 echos in each religion in their own way: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil goes around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you." (1 Peter 5:8-10) F. In Limbo Although briefly mentioned in other parts of this paper being in ‘limbo’ deserves some attention of its own. In ‘limbo’ refers to the state of being between earthly life and Heaven. It is better understood as ‘marking time’ or ‘waiting’. Pope John Paul II explained that “Heaven is not a physical place among the clouds’.11 It has been suggested that Heaven is actually an alternate state of being. Limbo became an issue in the Christian church when questions were asked about such things as baptism. Getting into Heaven requires baptism. But, what about those who are awaiting baptism or die before being baptized? How about people who have not heard about God, Heaven and Hell? And, how about Moses and Abraham? It seems that ‘limbo’ is the perfect weigh station to future ascension to Heaven. The Christian church’s answer was ‘limbo’. Thomas Aquinas endorsed ‘limbo’ as did other scholars of his time. The Church never gave ‘limbo’ the official go ahead but ‘limbo’ was adopted along with the relaxation of the strict standards to get into Heaven. “A merciful Creator , it is said, would never condemn an innocent soul on the basis of legal technicalities.”12 Perhaps ‘limbo’ can be thought of as a half way house between Heaven and earth. Traditional prayers include those for the “suffering souls in pergatory”13 For those suffering souls it must be torture to see the light at both ends of the tunnel (Heaven’s light and the fiery light of Hell burning). So, for Catholic’s its purgatory. For Zoroastrians the soul lingers at the head of the dead for three days14. Three days of ‘limbo’ while the soul is prey to demons. Zoroastrians keep a fire lit during those days to ward off the demons. An older Judeo-Christian version of ‘limbo’ was called Hades-Sheol. This place was thought of as a gathering place for the dead. Some believe the birth and death of Christ eliminated the need for Hades-Sheol. This version of ‘limbo’ was gradually removed from Christian traditions. G. The Rare Exception Worthy of note is the rare exception to the good vs. evil (Heaven vs. Hell) theme found around the world. Native American culture does not have a heaven per se. Native Americans focus on the earth, sky, and four directions. The stars, sun, and moon play a significant role in Native American culture. It is believed that Christianity influenced some aspects of Indian observances such as the Ghost Dance and the Religion of Handsome Lake. This religion shows similarities to Christianity that are not found in other aspects of Indian culture. Handsome Lake includes the idea of paradise, return of the dead, and “restoration of tribal life.”15 3. A Philosophical Approach A. Hell as Punishment In each religion examined Hell (cold dark underworld, Sheol, place for infidels, fiery brimstone) is recognized as the least desirable option available. To accept Hell as an option one must accept an afterlife as a possibility. Some do believe that when you die there is no afterlife. Your spirit (soul, etc) dies with you. Like any other animal people die and decompose. Although not a popular belief it is one worthy of mention because it helps explain the dilemma that everyday people face. When you choose to believe in God you also choose the possibility of being judged and sentenced to either Heaven or Hell. Punishment is the option that can be chosen in any of the above mentioned religions. Religion plays a big part in social functioning. Society has rules. You break a rule and society will punish you. If you commit a crime then you will go to jail. Religion acts to keep people in check. They have a reason to behave or follow social norms. Those who truly belief and practice their religion are provided with rules to follow and take them seriously. Thus, they are less apt to violate other social norms (laws). They believe themselves accountable on a higher level. Religion offers the idea that when you wrong (of any kind) you are defying God. The punishment model consists of four different theses16: 1. The punishment thesis: the purpose of hell is to punish those whose earthly lives and behaviors warrant it. 2. The no escape thesis: it is metaphysically impossible to get out of hell once one has been consigned there. 3. The Anti-Universalism thesis: some people will be consigned to hell. 4. The eternal existence thesis: hell is a place of unending conscious existence. A good question that arises when punishment is the issue has to do with levels of wrongdoing. How wrong do you have to be to get a one way pass to Hell? Are there levels of wrongdoing? Can some wrong be forgiven while other wrongs are just unforgivable? Christianity may already have the answer to this question. When Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land he was not allowed to enter. He handed the Israelites off to Joshua and Caleb. Moses had taken a man’s life (Egyptian guard) and thus forfeited his opportunity to enter the Promised Land. Know one knows for sure whether or not Moses made it to Heaven or whether he sits in Hell. Most believe that God forgave him and gave him a ticket to Heaven. Again the question arises: can one be infinitely bad? Are there degrees of punishment? Of, course these questions have no absolute answers. God must have a little lea way when he judges people. One can’t imagine that a child who stole a piece of candy would be meted out the same sentence as a mass murderer. The idea that God might have sentencing guidelines (like a judge in a court of law) is an intriguing one. B. Heaven as a Reward It is intriguing to imagine the rewards one receives for following the righteous path in the earthly life. A good argument would be that the rewards of Heaven are always better than the punishments of Hell. The real answer is that nobody knows for sure except those who end up in Heaven. Unfortunately, for the philosophical scholars, those who went to Heaven are not available anymore on earth for an interview. Christian doctrine teaches that “through the saving work of Jesus Christ, the broken relationship between God and human is restored”17. Believing Christians are rewarded with Heaven upon death. Heaven as a reward is found in many cultures. In China ‘Tiando’ (way of Heaven) shows up in a variety of traditions. Tiando is also associated with sacrifices and divination (not currently practiced). Daoist legends tell of the eight immortals who use yoga and alchemy travel to Heaven.18 Heaven shows up in Confucian teachings about the will of Heaven. C. Will Most People Go to Heaven? This is a good Question! In a survey conducted for Adweek19 that question was asked. 57% of the respondents answered that most people will go to Heaven. 10% answered that most people will go to Hell. The 33% of the respondents chose ‘neither’ as their answer. Interestingly, 61% of women thought that most people would go to Heaven while only 49% of their male counter parts thought the same. The role of religion is to provide certainty, security, and understanding to people who would otherwise face uncertainty. For those who do not believe in Heaven and Hell: “Skeptics, Humanists, Atheists, Agnostics, etc. generally accept that there is no afterlife. After death is personal annihilation. After death, our influence lives on only in our children and in other lives that we have touched”20 4. Conclusion We live in a complicated world. Religion, and the concept of Heaven vs. Hell, has provided a social structure which has guided people for many years. This structure has helped guide the behavior of individuals causing them to choose good over evil, light over darkness, and Heaven over Hell. Religion has provided a belief in the hereafter that has calmed the worried, sick, and dying. Believing that one will go to Heaven or Hell has provided answers to many who had questions. Perhaps relief in knowing you will go to Heaven and that those who persist in doing wrong will go to Hell. Johnny Cash’s simple song sung with friends provided comfort to them all. He found comfort in knowing that he would meet his friends in Heaven. The idea of Heaven and Hell and good vs. evil is present around the globe. It can be found in many religions to include those in such far away places as China and India. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all share the same routes but developed their own version of Heaven, Hell, and the state of limbo. Hinduism’s version of Heaven and Hell are found in their sky gods and their cold dark underworld. The state of being in ‘limbo’ has had on again, off again, acceptance around the globe. Hades-Sheol is shared by Judaism and Christianity of old. Some Catholics believe in purgatory while their Zoroastrian counter parts believe that the soul lingers around the head of a body for three days (in limbo). For those who worry about those that have not been baptized, or who don’t have any knowledge of God, the state of limbo provides answers as well as comfort. It is nice to think of the rewards of Heaven but chilling to think of the punishment of Hell. What is most comforting is knowing that your life is not over when you die on earth.. 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(Cover story)." National Catholic Reporter 37, no. 32 (June 15, 2001): 13. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 26, 2007). Missionary Baptist Resource Center. “The Chief of the Fallen Angels” Retrieved November 27, 2007 From http://www.thebaptist.org/Lucifer.htm Murphy, Cullen. "THE GREAT IN-BETWEEN." Atlantic Monthly (10727825) 289, no. 6 (June 2002): 12-14. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 26, 2007). Religious Tolerance. “Beliefs of Specific Christian Groups About the Afterlife” 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007 From http://www.religioustolerance.org/heav_hel.htm The Interactive Bible. “A Five Sense Experience!”. 2007-11-26. Retrieved From http://www.bible.ca/su-heaven-hell-photogallery.htm#answer Zaleski, Carol. “Heaven”. Encyclopaedia Brittannica Online (2007). November 26, 2007. http://search.eb.com/eb/article-260263 Zaleski, Carol. “Hell”. Encyclopaedia Brittannica Online (2007). November 26, 2007. Appendix A. A 5 Sense Experience! Hell Heaven Not A Pretty Place Touch: Pain from burning fire Taste: Dry mouth, extreme thirst, blood from gnashing teeth Smell: Rotting garbage-Gehenna; rotten eggs-brimstone Sight: smoke-fire; corruption-gehenna or black darkness Sound: Moaning, weeping, crying, screaming Better than Dreams no hunger, thirst or heat, death or pain, morning or crying: Rev 7:16; 21:4 beyond all we could ask for or even think of: Eph 3:20 as a great reward: Mt 5:11 present suffering not worthy to be compared with future glory: Rom 8:18 eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison: 2 Cor 4:17,18 surpassing riches of His grace towards us: Eph 2:7 Read More