Hell

Some religions believe the truest nature of hell is the absence of the Beloved. Satan's crime was not his desire for man's reverence; it was his jealousy for God's attention. This is perhaps the worst case of sibling rivalry ever recorded.

Hell happens when we don't work together for peace, when we don't care about others, when we don't understand what suffering there is in this world.

Hell is not an easy topic to discuss since I have never been there-- at least not in the physical sense.

Hell: A world in which everybody agrees with me.

Maybe there isnt´t a hell anywhere- but this doesn´t mean everywhere´s heaven!

Other people? Or really just ourselves? Must we believe in some transdimensional world of torture, all brimstone and pitchforks?

And why would the Devil punish us for being bad, when he himself embodies evil? Wouldn't he sidle up with a cold beer and say »thank you«?

It should be said that before the existance of a devil, or anti-God, the underworld of death was not seen as a negative place. Every God had a part to play in nature, and was vital to humanity's existance. Dualism, Good vs. Evil, has led to Us vs. Them. Who wants to be Them?

A wealthy farmer went to church one Sunday. After services he said to the priest, »Father, that was a damned good sermon you gave, damned good!«
»I'm happy you liked it,« said the priest. »But I wish you wouldn't use those terms in expressing yourself.«
»I can't help it,« said the rich farmer. »I still think it was a damned good sermon. In fact, I liked it so much I put a hundred dollar bill in the collection basket.«
»The hell you did?!« replied the priest.