Reply #23: Much of what many believe about heaven and hell... [View All]

[pelagius]

...comes more from Dante than it does the Bible! The Bible is not as explict about the afterlife as many would like to believe. Most of what we "know" about heaven from the text is taking from a particular type of Near Eastern literary tradition called an "apocalypse" that was understood by its readers to be vivid imagery and not literal descriptions.

On the general issue, I believe its a sin for any so-called Christian to put him or herself in the place of the Almighty God and pronounce judgement on a particular soul.