The books I index always weasel their way into my life somehow. My most recent project, which was sort of a book about everything, but also about how American culture is black culture and was also sort of a cultural history focusing on poetry and music... anyway... it's got me listening to a lot of Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield. It's one of the better things a book has ever done for me. And once it comes out, I'll pimp it, because it was a GREAT book. One of the better things I've worked on.
So, we're heading out to see Kung Fu Hustle in about 10 minutes, but I thought I'd log some thoughts on hell before that. It's just so OUTSIZE a punishment, except for people like Hitler and genocidists and rapers, etc. For people who just didn't make up their mind about specific religious beliefs, it seems kinda ridiculous. And it seems that culturally we have this idea of the Devil sitting around poking us with pitchforks and giggling while our flesh burns for eternity, but really in the Christian paradigm it's a good and gracious God who designs Hell and burns us forever because we didn't commit hard enough to knowing a really specific and flawed version of him made up by dudes. So... um, pretty much done with that. Whatever I believe in, whatever it is, it's bigger and more magical and creative and a lot less petty. I guess pettiness is a lot of my problem with Christianity these days. So many plain dumb technicalities that get you hung up, when really the mystery should be what consumes you. Tiny categories of unforgivable sin, and weird Catch 22s... like that people who never hear the gospel get judged by their conscience (which seems relatively fair) while if you DO hear the gospel, you're wrecked if you don't believe it, no matter what shitty way it was presented to you. And at least in our culture, it is going to be presented to you shittily... on the 700 Club or a billboard or whatever way people can avoid actually engaging with your mess and your contradictions and your actual goodness.
Plus science is amazing.
Love you, Internet!
2 comments:
Well...all kinds of different hells. Many people would say hell is separation from God. Some people would push that a step further and then say that therefore we're in hell now and we can get out of it when we die if we're all cool and shit. Then you could push it a bit farther and decide that if you aren't cool and shit you must stay in hell, which in this context might mean reincarnation. However, I think most Christians would say that anybody who believes that is going to hell.
I like science. Although I'm a fan of the giant turtle too. Also this random guy in Australia or Tasmania or somewhere who has a theory that the universe is shaped like a donut. That's a good one.
As you know, I am verifiably pro-donut. My belly is shaped like a donut. My belly may be the universe, or hell, depending who you ask.
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