The Modern View Of Hell
It’s hard for me to talk about it because I
don’t accept an idea of Hell. It would require from me to divide people into
good and bad, to decide, what deeds are bad, and to find a degree of this
“badness”. I don’t believe in good and bad at all, at least from “usual” point
of view. Thus I decided to imagine my Hell as School where people who’ve done
some things that I consider “sins” learn how to live for their future lives – I
believe in reincarnation.
And, actually, I think, people can’t be judged for what they’ve
done. They cannot be punished. What about our justice system? I thought
about it. It works for isolating people who might be dangerous for other
people from society, when they have “wrong” perception of the world and
beliefs. Any kind of point of view might be argued and eventually considered
right unless it hurts other people. But if it does – than justice is supposed
to get into work. Then what, actually, is the punishment for? What is
punishment? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines “to punish” as “to cause
undergo pain, loss or suffering for a crime or wrongdoing”. What for? To scare people “what might happen
to you if you do this”. Sounds childish, doesn’t it? OK, this might seem way
too pathetic but… If I know that if I murder somebody and will be sent to
prison for it, I would care much more for people who would suffer because of it
– relatives of the killed, for example – than for myself being in prison. And
court tends to find out how guilty the accused person is not to figure
out what level of punishment does this person deserve but only to define how
dangerous he is and how long will it take to “calm him down”. Although, usually
it doesn’t…
Those were consequences of so called
crime. Maybe, let’s look to the reasons? If person would understand,
what this deed would cause not only for this certain person (in case he gets
caught – awareness of which is very low), but also for other people – he
certainly would think twice before doing something.
Here is the list of
“sins” that are going to be “repaired” in my Hell-School with free
comfortable rooms, delicious 4-day meal and all the comforts – as many as
people – souls – would want them. (I’m following Dante – he described his
“souls” pretty much real.) Actually, I didn’t define them – but I totally agree
with them although I don’t really agree with most of the concepts and with the
main shape of philosophy those are taken from.
1)
Lack
of aesthetics
– not really a sin, so people who have to work on it are going to stay here
only one relative unit of time and learn World Art – paintings, literature,
sculpture, basics of design and develop their own taste if they didn’t have
any. Aesthetics is a highly personal thing, reflective of one's own nature, and
there are universally pleasing and harmonious configurations that should not be
denied.
2) Counterproductive pride - The first word is
important. Basically, psychology, literature and history are going to be main
things taught in 2 time units – they require more time. It will be explained on
examples what might happen if you are too proud of yourself, when pride
becomes much more than just self-respect – which is great – when it becomes a
main thrust for everything you do.
3) Forgetfulness of past
orthodoxies and experiences – one has to have an account of one’s own deed – at least to make
right opinion about oneself and to be able to learn on one’s mistakes – not to
repeat them. To avoid accepting something "new" and
"different," when in reality it's something that was once wisely accepted
but is now presented in a new package. I think, things to learn are about the
same – but also some science to develop memory and logical thinking.
4) Lack of perspective - One must never lose sight of
who and what one is, and what a threat can one’s deeds be. One should always
keep the wider historical and social picture in mind. Lessons taught are
obvious, I think. And souls are here for 4 time units.
5) Herd conformity – peer pressure, striving to
be “as everybody else” – when one doesn’t think with his own mind hoping that
someone else in the group will – and eventually nobody does and everyone
suffers. Even if this doesn’t happen – only personalities are developing the
World, crowd can’t do it. Sciences – all of the above. 5 time units.
6) Self-deceit – a consequence – or a form –
of hypocrisy. Or when one knows that he does wrong but still does it looking
for some excuses for oneself or other people. The only time self-deceit should
be entered into is when it's fun, and with an awareness. But then, it's not
self-deceit!
7) Solipsism – in other words –
selfishness, the theory that nothing exists but self that can be aware of only
its own experiences. One of the main causes of all the “bad things” that exist
in this world. One has to be able to look around and to see what other people
do to him and what kind of reaction follows their deeds.
8) Pretentiousness – claiming or pretending to be
more important, elegant than in truth. It’s not dangerous for environment until
certain point but 8 time units are enough for one to reach the level he
pretended to be on.
9) Ignorance – the summary; the most
dangerous. The level of it is relative. What if someone just didn’t know that
if you stab somebody with a knife he will die? If one is ignorant all of the
above can be listed automatically. I might be given an example – animals who
are ignorant and still they don’t hurt each other. But humans don’t leave only
by instinct. We have an ability to make decisions – but unfortunately we have
uncontrolled right to do it. And ignorance is the worst enemy. 9 time units of
all the sciences is not enough to fight it – but at least to develop a habit of
hard intellectual work.
10) Fun level – basically, just to have fun and do whatever you do being watched
by candid cameras – to find out whether you’re ready to reincarnate or no.
I explained everything pretty briefly, but, I hope,
understandably. The last question that I did not answer: who are the employees
and the teachers? No, not angels. Volunteers. Chosen by Higher Being named God
in this area. Everyone can apply. It’s not punishment. It’s pleasure. It’s not
to make the sinners even worse and more hateful – it’s to make them better.
One thing I forgot to mention: no Heaven or Purgatory – who
deserves it?
19 December 2001