If religious exclusivism is the primary barrier to world peace, then the judgmental nature (who's in and who's out both here on earth and in eternity) of religion simply supports the problem. We have all heard sermons on sin and punishment (hell in particular). The concepts of Judgment and Tribulation (from Revelations) has been used literally to "scare the hell out of us." No one wants to go to hell! (at least no sane person!) Right?
But how do we reconcile Hell and Judgment with the Truth of God's identity as "Love?"
Yet, if we dig and explore this essential theology we will discover that the Christ teachings on Hell and Judgment are crucial. The Christian understandings of Hell and Judgment help us to understand our own hearts, help us to live at peace in the world and teach us the Love of God.
To many of us this sounds backward. So, lets explore it.
- Do you have a story of encountering someone for whom "Judgment and Hell" was a real problem to joining the Christian Way? Why was it so difficult for them to accept?
- Is it personally difficult for you to reconcile these concepts with a Loving God? Why?
- How do you reconcile these teachings with a Loving God?
- What is sin? (seems unrelated, but we have to understand "sin" in order for God to have a base line from which to Judge humanity.)
