Just finishing reading “Love Wins” by Rob Bell. He’s the pastor who is speaking around the country about heaven and hell and God. That’s not as interesting as the other pastor who read it and commented on Facebook and had a parishioner read his post and get him fired. I get curious when things like that happen, so rather than have an opinion that’s not based on anything I know about, I decided to get educated and read it. I posted some excerpts on Facebook and had friends say they just couldn’t even relate to the idea that some people even still THOUGHT there was a hell. I like to stay informed. Who DOES believe in the concept that there’s this loving God, but only until we do something he doesn’t like, then he’s going to punish us for all eternity? I don’t know. I don’t hang out with people that may have those kinds of beliefs. Maybe I should go sit in on a local fundamentalist church service. But it makes me too nervous, even thinking about it, so maybe I won’t. Is it important to even think about what other people think? I’m interested, because when I’m informed about other opinions and beliefs, it helps me be compassionate and understanding. It helps me feel educated. Over the past years I’ve come to understand that I have some pretty set ideas about other beliefs and people and haven’t done the work to stay flexible and fluid. I catch myself saying, “Christians don’t ______” or “All New Age people _______” What? That’s not fair at all! I get so mad when people lump me into a category without recognizing my individuality. Then I realize I do that to others. Not ALL Republicans are ______ and not all Democrats are _______. People are people, as varied as flowers in the garden or leaves on the trees. I’m learning, albeit slowly, and not focusing on LEARNING, per se, just working with keeping my breath relaxed and my viewpoints open to whatever is there, without judgment. That’s it - no judgment, just the ISness of it all. I try to remain open to all possibilities, but in the end, I guess I don’t believe in hell - it just doesn’t make any good sense to me, nor does it fit in with what I believe we are, in what I believe the bigger picture is (we’re all connected, all One, and when we die we become that 100% with the All and start our next adventure - it’s not an all-or-nothing proposition at all - it’s vast and endless and really really big!).
Aw hell - does anybody REALLY know ANYTHING, anyway? All we’ve got are our thoughts and our feelings and our opinions. I know my beliefs and opinions change slightly every moment of the day, and that’s just fine with me. I think once we think we really KNOW something for sure, we become fixed in concrete and I don’t EVER think THAT’S a good idea, do you? Hmmm....