Who's In Charge of Hell?
The Law of Religion - Ch.12
Most people today laugh at the idea of a bunch of gods dictating what happens on earth. It’s considered mythology or fairy tale. But what makes it more likely that there’s one all-powerful god?
In many ways it actually seems less likely.
In fact, it’s so hard to believe that most people who think they believe in one god don’t actually just believe in one god. They believe in another god by a different name… the devil, or evil god.
Why do people say they believe in one all-powerful god and also the existence of hell?
If god were good, why would he create hell?
He’s the creator, meaning he made me the person I am. How can he then, if he is good, turn around and eternally damn me? He is responsible for the man I am. He’s the creator of everything.
“But he gave you free will”
How can you say he gave you free will and turn around and thank god for anything that happens to you?
If you had free will, there would be no reason to thank him. If you have to thank him, you’re implying he interferes in daily life and impacts your actions.
Wouldn’t a good, all-powerful god who you can pray to for rain, health and even help winning your basketball tournament be able to easily send you to heaven? Well the it seems either he’s not good or he’s not all-powerful.
Dualism and Evil god
Believing in hell seems to be a belief that there’s another higher-power besides god. And a power as strong as god could only be… another god. Now, suddenly we enter the realm of dualism.
There was a series of religions for a long time in the Middle East and other regions that were dualistic. They believed there was a good god and a bad god and they were constantly fighting. Some believed good-god created the soul and bad-god created the body. These religions died out over the first few centuries of the Christian Era.
Why then do we gravitate towards this belief in heaven and hell?
It’s easier.
The existence of a good-god and a bad-god makes it easier to rationalize the good god. We live in a world where millions of children are trafficked every year, kids are killed in schools, and natural disasters devastate entire countries. How could a good god allow that to happen?
It must be a competing bad god. ‘Another god who is as strong as good god’ is a very convenient way to keep faith in good god when disaster and suffering appear. But then the next good question is on what grounds do the gods of good and evil fight? What natural laws govern their battles?
“So, monotheism explains order, but is mystified by evil. Dualism explains evil, but is puzzled by order. There is one logical way of solving the riddle: to argue that there is a single omnipotent God who created the entire universe - and He’s evil. But nobody in history has had the stomach for such a belief” (Sapiens, 246).
Personally, I’m not certain how I feel about this argument. It definitely makes me uncomfortable and I think that’s a good thing. It’s a Jewish principle to question everything. It’s considered necessary to study the Torah properly.
So I ask you, my dear Big Nerds. What do you think of this argument?
Question of The Day
Is there one god, two gods or many gods? If there’s one god, is he good?
Your Friend,
Noah “BigNerd” Sochaczevski
The topic of free will is probably one of my favorites. I even made a video about it for a philosophy class. (Shamless plug: https://youtu.be/YUW7Ocmfln8?si=0fBz54x_K5xY_Kc4)
I don’t think libertarian free will and determinism are opposite to each other but orthogonal. I believe I can thank God for everything because life has a way of granting what I ask for; it's truly a blessing. If something undesirable enters my life, I interpret it as a reflection of my inner alignment and use it as an opportunity to refine my desires. Understanding this principle allows me to consciously shift towards experiences that bring me joy. However, I acknowledge that dwelling in negative energies can attract more of the same. I am thankful to myself for all that I am and thankful to God/laws of the Universe/higher power for all that I have and surrounds me. I view situations not in terms of good or bad, but rather through the lens of love or fear. The idea of a benevolent deity governing the soul and a malevolent one shaping the body is a fascinating perspective I hadn't considered before, but it resonates with me. I find parallels in how chakras are aligned, with lower ones associated with the physical realm and higher ones linked to spirituality. This isn't to imply that lower energies are negative, but rather that they represent a different aspect of our existence.