After working for hours and hours on my presentation, here I am again, this time with a better understanding of angels and devils and how they fit into the Renaissance Period.. Anyone who hasn't done their project yet, this blog seems to make a whole lot more since afterwards, so don't wait to start researching!
In class on Tuesday, when we were examining Paradise Lost, someone mentioned how there are many people and sects of religion out there who don't believe in Hell, and some people also have trouble with the idea of how a loving God could have created a Hell, and put people (or in this case fallen angels) into such a place. I couldn't help but try to rationalize it for myself.
I believe in Hell, and I believe in a loving God, who is willing to forgive us for not acting always in his name. We as humans are given the chance to repent, as Doctor Faustus was up until his last breath. I don't believe that God gives up on anyone, nor do I believe that he wants there to be a need for Hell. However, he is the one who makes the decisions, who can read peoples thoughts, and is the only being that can truly know what is in our hearts. He made us and gave us the free will to do as we want, how else could there be so much bad in the world?
All I could think of in class was the fact that nowhere in the Bible or from what we read in Paradise Lost (which is fiction), nowhere does it say that Satan/Lucifer ever tried to repent. Perhaps Hell exists for people who are in denial of God, and even when they know he exists, until they recognize that he is the way to heaven, to eternal happiness, until that time, they will be in Hell. Perhaps Satan is just so delusioned and full of self-righteousness that he does not recognize that he also has the chance to repent.
Maybe one day there will be no need for Hell. As far as religion today goes, it serves its purpose as a place to instill fear into Christians and non-Christians. God needs a place like this, because evil is so "fun" and tempting. God does not tempt; he shows and he loves.
Hell is like the Surgeon General's warning label on alcohol and cigarettes. Evil may be tempting, but you know the possible consequences before you partake.
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I really like this post, Amy. I completely agree with all that you're saying. I had questions running through my mind too when we talked in class about the fact that God ETERNALLY punishes Satan in hell and how everyone was wondering how this goes along with the fact that God is a just, forgiving God. Well, you hit the nail on the head when you said that Satan never asked for repentance. If Satan had felt remorse for his actions and asked God to forgive him (rather than rallying against him) then the Lord would have shown mercy on his soul. God IS a loving God, but sometimes we have to recognize our own sin and ask God to cleanse us of it before He shows us His mercies. Anyways, I just wanted to comment on your post—first of all because we have to haha and second of all because I really like what you said and agree with your analysis.
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