Don't 'go to Hell"

A comment on an internet blog struck me as powerful in its implications. “There’s an evil I feel certain about. A person who purposely impedes another’s spiritual growth.” I can put this statement another way. Attempting to put a person’s soul in Hell is the greatest evil. How can one tell when this occurs? Why would a sane human being risk the consequences of perpetrating such an evil? Well, it’s happened over and over again in the course of history. It’s happening now. Think of a person who deliberately deceives another person - to achieve power, to foster an idea, however perverted, to selfishly provide a pleasure to one’s self, to prevent enquiry or religious devotion. Does Rev. Wright of "God damn America, the land of the slave," fame come to mind? Or do the family members who hid the murderer of 4 policeman in Seattle come to mind? Also, think about these scenarios.

A bailout out impedes personal responsibility.
An abortion impedes the growth of a human embryo.
A change in a word from Christmas to Holiday impedes knowledge of Christmas’ meaning.
An excuse for not studying and learning impedes an education.
A denial of God impedes the search for answers to life’s journey
A disrespect for authority or property impedes moral living.
An abuse of a person impedes self-respect.

Our culture seems to discourage spiritual growth. Proselytizing one’s religion with enthusiasm is ridiculed or interpreted as fanaticism or extremism. But the opposite is the dangerous condition. Promoting agnosticism, atheism, mysticism, specious spiritualism, etc. are moral hazards, evils. They propagate ignorance and lukewarm living which impede spiritual growth.

Every world religion encourages spiritual growth. Each faith system provides a place for reward or punishment. ‘Go to Hell’ is not a directive devoutly to be wished upon any person.