Heaven and Hell

Let’s assume for the moment that God exists, Christ is risen, and Christianity is true as described in the Bible.  I could mark every sentence with (allegedly), but let’s just take that as read.

The main tenet of Christianity, as I understand it, is that humans are fallen creatures with a sinful nature.  Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit and are banished from the garden.  Humanity rises up and grows wicked and self-indulgent, and the earth is flooded, wiping everyone out.  Finally, Jesus is born, lives a perfect sinless life, and then dies as payment, saving us all from damnation, and instead granting us access to the kingdom of heaven.

The main point is that Jesus died for our sins.  We are sinners, destined for hell (or, at best, we are nobodies who will simply be annihilated and forever separated from God).  But if we are “saved”, then we are granted access to a glorious afterlife.

Heaven sounds pretty awesome, and I want to go.  How do I get there?  As it happens, there is some disagreement on this point. 

Some believe it is based on “works”, or the good things you have done in your life.  Do good things and be a good person, and you’ll go to heaven.  If you do something bad, say you’re sorry.  Note that in this case, there is some wiggle room for atheists to still get in.  Faith isn’t required.

That all sounds well and good.  God grants good people a place in heaven, and sends bad people to hell.  It’s very comforting, and we can rest assured that someone who goes on a murderous rampage before turning the gun on themselves is burning, while dear old granny is playing badminton with Jesus.

But being a good person all the time is hard.  People sin.  Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron follow a script where they get people to admit that they’ve lied, stolen, blasphemed, and looked on someone with lust, therefore committing adultery.  Everyone has broken some commandment or another, and therefore we’re ALL doomed to hell.  But we have a savior!  Jesus died and paid for our sins, and all we have to do is ask him for forgiveness, and we are saved and can go to heaven.

So, the big rhetorical question:  What are we being saved FROM, exactly?  God created a system where the default position is damnation for everyone (why?), and only those who believe in him get in.  Even if we’re BAD PEOPLE who sin (which we are), we can still get a free pass through Jesus.  The whole point of Jesus’ crucifixion was precisely to wash away the sins of humanity (except, it should be noted, the sin of not believing.  That’s the only unforgiveable sin, as I understand it).  This is no longer justice, and is no longer moral.  This is a loophole that allows us to have hope of getting into heaven without having to hold ourselves to an actual heavenly standard.  Even murderers and rapists and child abusers can still get into heaven, so long as they repent and accept Jesus at some point in their lives.

Now, the next question:  Why does God require a blood sacrifice?  Why did Jesus have to die as payment for our sins?

And finally:  How are some hours of torture and a few days of death (followed by a promotion to King of Heaven) an adequate payment for everyone’s collective sins?  If I sin, all I have to do is remind God that he sent is only begotten son to die for me, and I’m forgiven?  Forgive my confusion, but this makes no sense to me. 

Not only does this all not make sense to me, but I’m not convinced that it makes sense to ANYONE.  It’s just kind of hand-waved away, with statements like “God doesn’t send people to hell, you choose that for yourself”, and, of course “The Lord works in mysterious ways.”  And I’m not trying to commit the “argument from ignorance” fallacy and therefore claiming this is therefore wrong.  But if someone came to my door and told me I needed to start going to church and changing my lifestyle, and this is the only reason they can give, I’m going to have some questions.

So what evidence is there that this is the real, true story and should be listened to?  That will have to be a future post.