Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: hwt@.bnr.ca (Henry Troup) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: demons and such Message-ID: Date: 12 Feb 90 09:17:25 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd. Lines: 59 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu from: (NETNORTH) X-Envelope-to: hwt@bnr.CA Sent to me for posting/sending to moderator: Mr. Troup: I understand your feeling of skepticism about devils, etc., but it's just too easy to attempt to throw it all out by saying it came from Persian mythology. I cannot assure you of their existence by saying that I have con- versed with one. I can however refer you to a cousin of mine in Costa Rica, who is often involved in exorcisms. Please don't sneer and suggest that because I haven't personally spoken with one, that others have not or that I'm just saying that because Rita is my cousin, etc. Rita has authored a book about her experiences, but right now it is only available in Spanish. She's getting it translated into English, but I don't know when it will be available. I can get you the title, if you like. It slips my mind right now, though. As for your other question about hellfire and brimstone. I've checked and there doesn't seem to be much specific reference to open flames in Hell except for the NT parable Jesus told, where Lazarus is asked for a drop of water to cool the burning (in Hell) man's tounge. Lazarus can't do him any favors, and when the man wishes to return to earth to warn his brethren, he is reminded that they've had plenty of warning and a dead man won't sway them. This parable seems to me to have been used as an example by repentence preachers, which got out of hand. Pointy-eared and -tailed devils are of course artists conceptions. And the media have taken this and mocked Christianity because the lil' fellows were just too "cute" not to caricature (sp?). What the Bible refers to as Hell is the gnawing knowledge that the sinner is eternally (think about how long that is!) separated from God's goodness. It's terrible spiritual burning ache - a void which cannot ever be filled for the sinner. The only thing in this life which can approach that feeling is losing an *extremely* close family member or friend. This is especially hard to handle for the atheist, because s/he believes s/he will *never* see that person again. The Christian realizes that although the hurt is there, if the friend/relative was a Christian, then they be reunited someday. As I said, if you can imagine what it would be like to live without *any* joy *whatever* in your life, you will get an idea of what Biblical Hell is referring to. (I don't know who to send this to to post it, since the group is moderated. Please do me a favor and post it to the net. Thank you!) -Tim Hoogasian at rcapener@cc.utah.edu ========================================================================= #define DISCLAIMER "The views expressed blah, blah, blah..." ========================================================================= -- Henry Troup - BNR owns but does not share my opinions ..utgpu!bnr-vpa!bnr-fos!hwt%bmerh490 or HWT@BNR.CA