To accept that it is a metaphor, there would need to be something real (hell) which is being described. For it to be true, this must be an accurate portrayal of hell.
Given that there is no evidence that any kind of afterlife exists, it is all just a little horror story. Some people enjoy imagining the worst thing ever.
The carrots and sticks used on the flocks are intended to achieve more than just making them nicer to each other. There’s the matters of tithes and obedience to religious and secular authority. It works best when the sheep want to give you the wool and the meat.
Also, the ‘be nice’ part refers to people in the group, not outsiders. Abrahamic religions encourage violent competition with unbelievers. For example, “Love thy neighbour as thyself” sounds pretty good by itself. When read in context however, it only applies to “the children of thy people”. Lev. 19:18
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January 10th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
How much of this is metaphor? How much is true? How much is just trying to scare people into being nice?
January 16th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Huh? I don’t know if you get it, Souldier…
May 1st, 2007 at 11:26 am
To accept that it is a metaphor, there would need to be something real (hell) which is being described. For it to be true, this must be an accurate portrayal of hell.
Given that there is no evidence that any kind of afterlife exists, it is all just a little horror story. Some people enjoy imagining the worst thing ever.
The carrots and sticks used on the flocks are intended to achieve more than just making them nicer to each other. There’s the matters of tithes and obedience to religious and secular authority. It works best when the sheep want to give you the wool and the meat.
Also, the ‘be nice’ part refers to people in the group, not outsiders. Abrahamic religions encourage violent competition with unbelievers. For example, “Love thy neighbour as thyself” sounds pretty good by itself. When read in context however, it only applies to “the children of thy people”. Lev. 19:18