Much of religious thinking has been and is very much like the prodigal son. We look forward to getting out, getting away, reaching the after life benefits; however, when we leave home, looking for that which already IS, we miss the existent realities. The Kingdom IS NOW. Heaven isn't some later destination. We are ALL IMMORTAL NOW. 

Those who are following the ancient Pharisaical model  still demand that one jumps through hoops A through Z in order to get to heaven, be a citizen of the Kingdom, and enjoy the good-God life. And of course if one doesn't do "certain things" (each denomination has their list of "things") it's off to an eternal hell. Why would a benevolent Creator set up such a tension-filled all or none course to be run?

Maybe he didn't?  :-)

Could it be that misinformed religious leaders along with control freak emperors and Pope's decided life society could be better controlled if the "threat of hell" was kept before the minds of people? You know, a weekly dose of "turn or burn" would surely heap enough guilt and doubt on the populace that they'd at least give a second thought before embarking on some evil activity.

And if one were Catholic there was CONFESSION as a control switch as well.

Can you hear what I'm communicating. A religion that speaks of a future tense (heaven and hell) and doesn't live and enjoy (or not) those benefits here and now is contradicting the very person they say that they're following- Jesus, who became the Christos. For it was he to whom it's reported as having said "the Kingdom is at hand- it is NOW baby" (a little paraphrase there). One religion prepares for the future (good or bad) , while the other religion LIVES it NOW. One accepts what IS, while the other is trying to create it. One is enjoying the benefits of the ship that's moored at the docks while the other is waiting for the ship to come in.

Quit putting the Kingdom life off into another era. See eternal life as NOW.  Are you game?  :-)

About the Author:

As a spiritual-futurist, I interpret current events in light of possible macro-universal forces at play leading up to 2012, but not limited to it.

Author: Ernie Fitzpatrick