Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell are only states of mind.  They don't physically exist as places of reward and punishment in the Judeo-Christian sense.  The idea of sinners being punished eternally is only a concept used by those with authority to keep rebellion at bay, and by extension keeping their power.  Law and order are the real winners of this concept. 

The relentless threat of damnation in the Bible has been used to pacify a wide range of people, including most of the indigenous in lands that Europeans once colonized.  Despite the use of “eternity” as a sentence in some religions, the U.S. law system never uses this strong word when sentences are cast, though some do last longer than a lifetime.  The judgment of the Judeo-Christian God, thankfully, is outside our legal concept of justice.  That way, at least some of us get a second chance.  

Hell only exists as a figurative place where the mind is tormented by its actions and desires, whether it be from shame, guilt, envy, etc.  Emotional pain can be just as bad as physical pain, if not worse since it can last longer.  Many people have sins that will haunt them for the rest of their lives, so let's hope one lifetime is enough to learn from them.  Others aren't so lucky.  Only the truly damned will keep making the same mistakes over and over, which can seem eternal since they never quit the habits that brought them back to Earth.    

In the east, religions like Buddhism teach that reincarnation will happen if a person has not learned their life lessons.  They will keep getting sent back to Earth until they do, which may seem like a more subtle demonstration of God’s judgment.  Otherwise, there would be no point to morality at all.  Essentially this idea paints Earth as the real Hell since most of us were apparently sent back to learn the lessons we didn’t in our previous lives.  

I don't think it’s a stretch to say that Earth also has portals to heaven.  Just as hell is an emotional state of mind, heaven is a place in the mind that makes you feel so euphoric that it's indescribable.  And like hell, the reality of heaven is relative to the believer.  People who don't value religious euphoria may find heaven in being with their loved ones, listening to music, traveling, or creating art.  I feel a tiny bit of heaven's reach when I do all these things.  I don't believe in the popular fantasy that the righteous get to see those pearly gates on clouds, inviting them into the land of angels.  Maybe some will if they believe in it strongly enough.  

When I die, if it is truly heaven I'm going to, I would like to travel the universe and see the sites, with some super cosmic music giving me an eargasm.  And I’d like to reunite with my family after I reach the edge of the universe, before being sent back to learn the lessons I failed.