Is Heaven and Hell a choice?

[Divine Wind]

The concepts put forth in this book dove-tail with my own beliefs. The idea that someone can eternally damned to Hell doesn't jive with the concept of a merciful, all-loving God. The only thing that fits would be that we condemn ourselves. Therefore, we also release ourselves.

'Love Wins': Pastor's book kindles firestorm over hell - USATODAY.com

Talk about hellfire! One of the nation's rock-star-popular young pastors, Rob Bell, 40, has stuck a pitchfork in how Christians talk about damnation.
Bell's new book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, has provoked weeks of fierce infighting among pastors, theologians and anyone else who scans the Christian blogosphere where critics rage that he's a hipster heretic.

In Love Wins, which arrives in stores Tuesday, Bell claims:

• Heaven and hell are choices we make and live with right now. "God gives us what we want," including the freedom to live apart from God (hell) or turn God's way (heaven).

• Death doesn't cut off the ability to repent. In his Bible, Bell sees no "infinite, eternal torment for things (people) did in their few finite years of life."

• Jesus makes salvation possible even for people who never know his name. "We have to allow for mystery," for people who "drink from the rock" of faith "without knowing who or what it was."

• Churches that don't allow for this are "misguided and toxic."

This column expounds on the concept:

Should believers fear Hell and God? - USATODAY.com

Not what Jesus meant
Nearly every reference to "hell" that comes from the lips of Jesus is a mistranslation.
The word translated as hell by the King James Bible is the word "Gehenna," literally "the valley of the sons of Hinnom." This notorious valley on the south side of Jerusalem was once the site of pagan sacrifices, including child sacrifice, and had been cursed by the prophets of Israel. By Jesus' day, it served as the garbage dump. It was a foul, noxious place where dogs roamed and fires burned. Jesus seized upon this vivid imagery in his sermons. He urged people to repent (literally "change your mind"), lest they end up in Gehenna (i.e. the garbage dump).
He could just as easily have told them to repent or they would wind up throwing away their lives.
Rob Bell makes the case that turning Jesus into a purveyor of hell-fire and brimstone religion stands his gospel on its head. After all, Jesus taught that God was loving and merciful — more loving and merciful, he insisted, than a human parent.
Equally fundamental to Christian, Jewish and Muslim beliefs about God is that God is a God of justice. A bedrock principal of justice is that the punishment must fit the crime. We don't impose the death penalty for speeding tickets.

 

[Sky Dancer]

In my tradition, heaven and hell are temporary realms, and neither is to be aspired to.

We go for enlightenment, not heaven.

 

[Divine Wind]

In my tradition, heaven and hell are temporary realms, and neither is to be aspired to.

We go for enlightenment, not heaven.

Unless a person believes heaven is enlightenment and hell is ignorance.

Kinda puts a new spin on that whole "Tree of Knowledge" thing.

 

[Avatar4321]

Of course it's a choice.

 

[uscitizen]

Naah it is not a choice. Dead is dead, end of game.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Once one is taught the way it is a choice as to whether they stay or return to the way or wander off on their own. God does not force anyone one way or the other. Claiming that because he is a forgiving God that he won't send anyone to permanent death is foolish.

As to Heaven and Hell? There is no fiery Hell of damnation, never has been never will be one. When you are dead you are dead. No knowledge no sense nothing. The Bible calls it like as if you were asleep.

And Heaven? Only 144000 go to that place, everyone else is reborn into a perfect body with no disease or sickness and they live under God's Kingdom on a restored Earth. The 144000 are those that will aid Jesus as he rules Earth for God.

 

[emilynghiem]

The key is choosing the path of forgiveness and correction
instead of judgment and punishment as a consequence for retribution.

The same choices in life that lead to peace and justice, healing and harmony,
are the same choices that would lead to heaven or heavenly peace on earth.

The same choices in life that lead to war and suffering
are the same in terms of hell, on earth or beyond.

Heaven and hell, or peace vs. suffering, are the consequences of actions.
In a way, it is reward and punishment, but on all humanity collectively.
If anyone suffers, we all suffer on some level.
Where we work to prevent or correct problems, we all benefit on the whole.

We learn by conscience, trial and error, cause and effect
to seek what is going to set us free from past wrongs and injustice
and what is going to bring sustainable solutions for the greater good of humanity.

 

[Lonestar_logic]

Yes it's a choice.