In the 2nd of this 3-part series, Daniel Parmeggiani explores the western belief in heaven & hell as we continue our search for the truth about life after death.

In the first part of this series, we explored the “rational,” scientific position that this life is all there is and found that our intrinsic human spirit demands a lot more from our existence. If it’s true that ‘you only live once’, then Macbeth was right when he said that “Life is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” However, if we do go on, the plot thickens and the human story has a chance to provide all the meaning, fairness, connection, safety, and fulfillment we all naturally long for.

So, if death is not the end, what happens after we die?

There are two main belief systems on this subject, the Western belief in Judgment, or the Eastern belief in reincarnation. In Part 2 of this 3 part series, we will take a look at the belief in Heaven and Hell that we, in the Western world, tend to embrace the most.

We respect, watch and participate in sporting events partly because we are assured that there is a level of fairness for all participants. Now imagine a horse race where each horse has a different starting point. In this race, some horses are placed just before the finish line and must walk just a few feet to cross it while others are placed farther back and must gallop much further. Certain horses start out pointing in the wrong direction and for others, the gate never opens and they can’t run at all. When the race is over, only those that finish under a certain time are “saved” while the rest are condemned. What would you think of such an event?

Being judged after our death is akin to such an unfair, ridiculous horse race. In a world where every person is exposed to a unique set of experiences, influences, and circumstances, some of us start out pointed in the wrong direction, while others might be born with a terminal illness without a chance to even get out of the starting gate. Still others are born into the perfect situation and learn all the right things, essentially placing them just short of the finish line.

More than 2.2 billion people in the world consider themselves Christian and believe that after we die, we experience divine judgment and are rewarded with eternal life in Heaven or eternal damnation in Hell. But given that each one of us has a unique set of experiences, fears, struggles and lessons, why should we be judged at all, especially after just one short life?

I’m just going to come out and say that this whole concept of eternal damnation in Hell doesn’t make any sense. Even at 13, when I was attending 7th grade at a Catholic school, I had to object. I thought it completely unfair that a God would judge us in such a way and dish out such a horrible punishment. Then I was taught that this same God loved me and that I was supposed to love him in return. Sorry, but I just can’t love something so mean and terrifying.

When you think about it, eternal Hell is the cruelest idea imaginable. Being endless, it is infinitely worse than life in prison, which is only temporary, plus in prison they don’t typically set you on fire. I would say that sending “sinful” groups of people to endure the fires of Hell for eternity is even worse than what Hitler did. Hitler also judged and found others deserving of condemnation, but Hitler could only arrange temporary suffering for his victims. The idea of a God who is capable of sentencing any being to eternal suffering, without any chance of redemption or escape, has got to be the darkest, vilest concept ever invented, not by Jesus, but by a power-hungry Church hell-bent on scaring and controlling the masses.

Even if we are judged favorably and sent to Heaven, that may not be any better. Anyone who has suffered intensely knows that neither Heaven nor Hell is a place but a state of mind. When I was a tormented soul growing up, it didn’t matter where they put me because I always took my hell with me. My parents could have arranged a permanent stay in Disney World for me and I still would have been grumpy. If you look up in the sky with a powerful telescope and fail to find that place called Heaven, that’s because it is not out there but inside our minds, in the way we perceive things. Perceive yourself and others as flawed and incomplete, and the most gorgeous setting turns into a slum. Learn to see the perfection in all things, and you can find Heaven on earth even in the most dire of circumstances.

The Heaven we seek is not a magical resort up in the clouds surrounded by pearly gates. Rather, Heaven is a blissful state of consciousness born of a healed and wise mind. But to achieve that state of mind, the lessons are many and the curriculum far too long to fit into just one visit to this school called Earth. Next Friday, in the third and final article of this exploration of life after death, we will look into the concept of karma and reincarnation to find out if the deep sense of meaning, fairness, connection, safety, and fulfillment that we all naturally long for can be found there.

Until then, thanks for checking in, and may these truths bring you the perfect happiness, love, and inner peace that you so rightfully deserve.

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Daniel Parmeggiani
28th February 2014

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