Fall Of The Rebel Angels from Wikipedia

People like to speculate as to whether there is a heaven or hell, and what it will be like to be in heaven or hell if these places exist.

Frankly, I can’t see myself in either heaven or hell since those who assert that these are actual physical places describe them as realms where nothing ever changes.

Certainly the ideas passed down to us from medieval times about heaven and hell leave something to be desired, for both seem to be prisons. In one you are, supposedly, allowed to be horrifically tortured for eternity (and this by a God that is pure love) and in the other you just sit around playing a harp.

Yet, what if heaven, no matter what realm we are in – physical or non-physical – is a feeling of connection with God and hell is a feeling of alienation from God? Certainly some people experience heaven on this earth as they feel the love of God unfolding their lives in peace, joy and harmony while others, like those in Iraq, are clearly experiencing hell.

But also consider this: what if you get a life review after you die and you feel all the emotions you elicited in other people? So if you gave them joy, you feel their joy, but if you gave them pain, you feel the depth of their pain?

What if, after you die, hell is feeling how much you hurt others? Or how much you could have done to alleviate suffering and spread joy on the earth? What if hell is the regret of missed opportunity? [Read more →]