Hell, Heaven, Afterlife

Question:

This may be the wrong place. I reject a burning hell or a tortured afterlife, the trinity godhead. I believe as Martha said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Trying to find my place, Mormons and JW' s for me miss the mark. Thank you.

Comment:

As you suggest, a discussion of the Unity overall theology is somewhat beyond the purview of this Bible service. There is much information on the unity.org website, which I assume you've explored. I don't know if you're near a Unity center, but that would certainly be the best place to turn next. Finding a spiritual home is more than just an intellectual exercise; it involves a high degree of emotional comfort and a sense that you are with like-minded, and like-hearted, people.

I can certainly say that we would agree with your rejection of "a burning hell or a tortured afterlife." We believe that the suffering of hell is the result of our mistaken fear that we are separated from the Divine. That painful state of consciousness is something we experience here in this mortal experience. So the potential for experiencing hell is within us, as is the potential for experiencing the uplifted spiritual consciousness that Jesus Christ describes as "the kingdom of heaven." We often find ourselves struggling somewhere in between, tempted to blame our situation on external circumstances—including the judgment of an angry God. The Truth is that, as expressions of that God, we create 'heaven' or 'hell' according to the beliefs we hold and the choices we make.

I wish you much joy and satisfaction in finding your place, whether that be in Unity or elsewhere.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed