HEAVEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27048, 25 May 1953, Page 12

HEAVEN

Sir, —I suggest that no human being believes the Bible is wholly and literally true whatever some may profess. Take, for instance, St. Matthew, chaper 25, verses 31 to 46, briefly these verses deal with two classes of people. One class were sympathetic and charitable; they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, etc., just as millions are doing today. The others simply did not do this, many, probably, through mere thoughtlessness. Nothing worse than this is recorded against them, yet while to the former class is given the loving invitation, “Come, ye blessed of* my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” upon the latter is pronounced the dreadful sentence. “Depart from me, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” In the last verse of the chapter this is called “everlasting punishment.’’— Yours, etc;, GEORGE INGRAM. May 23, 1953. Sir,—The grange medley of opinions on this subject produced by your correspondents shows the result of private interpretation of the Bible, or “every man his own Pope.” The fact is, there would be no Bible today if the Church founded by Jesus Christ had not collected, certified and preserved the books that form our Bible. That Church is authorised by our Lord to teach in His Name, and we all need her authoritative interpretation of Scriptures to correct our individual opinions. The Catholic Church’s Interpretation of the Bible gives clear teaching on.heaven and hell, and purgatory for those who are not fit for heaven —Yours, etc., G. F. SEWARD. May 23. 1953.

Sir, —Bibte students accept only the literal truth of the Bible. But are people so blind that they cannot see they are immortal now, spirits functioning in a material body, and that their future state when they leave this earth will be determined by their spiritual evolution, for spiritual law is the arbiter, automatic, immutable? Our spiritual stature comes from the quality of our hearts' and minds, not by being steeped in dogma, whether we be Christian, Confucian, Buddhist, for the law is universal. It is absurd to claim that heaven is only for Christians. What of the countless souls who lived before Jesus, and all the children of God who have dwelt on the other planets of this universe? Surely there are many planes in heaven, and that the so-called hell is also a state (place if you like) inhabited by the unenlightened, whose evolution is more crude.—Yours, etc., R.H.D. May 23, 1953. Sir,— Everyone who thinks must carry on a search for reality. Christ says, “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.” This is a non-temporal kingdom, and seems to be what we are in search of. During the last hundred years philosophers have been telling us that this world, ’limited by time and space, also exists in our consciousness, and it exists nowhere else. Lord Rutherford started the scientists off to prove that the things we see, hear and smell are only vibrations, which impinge on our consciousness "giving the impression of reality. Of this Christ said, “The Prince of this world is a liar and the father of it.” It would seem that it is the philosopher and the scientist who are going to lead us into this brave new world which we call the kingdom of heaven.—Yours, etc., INQUIRER.

Belfast, May 23, 1953. Sir,—About this subject Jesus said: “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” Also, “Our Father (which) art in Heaven,” making the location of both within ourselves. “I and my Father are One.” Those who realise this will allow the universal creative spirit (which is life, love, truth, and all goodness) to operate through them for their benefit by means of prayer and constructive thinking. “Bible Student” wishes the following explained: “I go to prepare a place for you.” Through the resurrection and miraculous works He accomplished Jesus established Himself in the heart* of mankind. He suggested we should follow His example, and showed the way to a place of attainment, to which all may aspire, who practise the principles of His teaching, and apply them to everyday life. When this is carried out faithfully, we acquire a peaceful state of mind and happiness, which is known as “Heaven.’>—Yours, etc., WAKE UP. May 24. 1953.