BELIEF
Hell and Other Options
How to avoid eternal damnation
Ever wonder where you were before you were born?
Wait, don’t answer yet. Let’s back up.
By the time most of us were old enough to be asked a question like this, it was too late. We had already been told what was what, what to expect, and what to believe.
More to the point of the title that got you to read this far, let’s think a moment about where we go after our bodies stop breathing.
Where do we go?
Some sort of hell if we are bad, or some sort of heaven if we are good. Right?
This, or some variation thereof, is a popular belief that is introduced into people’s minds via dramatic stories told by well-meaning people at some point in life.
Usually, very early in life. Before a person’s frontal lobe has developed fully. Which has been reported to be at about the age of 26.
We didn’t have a chance.
This is where belief and common sense and science and religion and yakkity yak yak, blah, blah, blah comes in.
Or not.
If we were lucky, an inclusive secular view, curiosity, and permission to question without fear of retribution were allowed as our frontal lobes were forming. I do digress, as perhaps that belongs in another story.
Either way, we don’t know (though perhaps do believe) where we go when we die. Duh, we have to die to do the research in order to prove the hypothesis.
None of us will find out for sure what’s what until we are there, dead.
There was a mention earlier on about how we can avoid eternal damnation. Let’s go there now.
Keep in mind that whether or not damnation is really waiting for us is beside the point of this exercise.
How to Avoid the Risks of Eternal Damnation — Things to Consider while Still on Earth:
- Don’t believe in eternal damnation. No Hell, No Damnation. Whew!
- Oh dang! Then the above means: No Heaven, no Eternal Life in the Clouds. You will find out if this list is wrong eventually. If this is not OK with you, that’s fine. No one is asking you to stop believing. When you die let’s hope you are not disappointed.
- Be kind, use common sense and reason because it’s the thing to do. Think about this: Is only using kindness, common sense, reason, and belief just to avoid eternal damnation actually kind, sensible, and reasonable?
- Live your life, and try to treat others the way you want them to treat you. BTW, this gem was not created by nor is it owned by any religion.
- We don’t know what waits for us on the other side. So, a ‘what, me worry?’ attitude begins to sound pretty good.
- Make the most of your time on our little blue orb that spins around the sun. It’s not easy, but one thing we know for sure is — we are here now.
Now, back to that first question… Ever wonder where you were before you were born?
Yes, I do wonder. But I can’t say I know because I don’t remember where I was before I was born. That’s the point.
Perhaps, that’s where we go when our bodies stop breathing.
Thanks for reading! Here’s more from Ellen Anne Chong:
