Impetus to Religion

Imaginings are real, but they are not what they purport to be. If anything, they are speech. They take a certain kind of listening: "What do you mean by that?" So it is with near death experiences (NDEs). Their diversity tells us that they are not literal. They may be imaginary, but we would not want to be locked into an ongoing hallucination of punishment that seems more real than this experience. Please note that I am NOT saying that they are not real. I am saying that they reveal - speak of - a deeper reality.

NDEs probably account for the formation of religion. The revelation of hell and a way to escape it inspires personal reformation and evangelistic action: "You. Do. Not. Want. To. Go. There. -- You. Do. Want. To. Do. This." I have to wonder if the burning bush which was not consumed and the frightful flames the Jews saw at Mt. Horeb had anything to do with visions of hellfire. Each of those fires were God, and salvation was offered by the Law. Many NDEs appear to be iterations of the same.

I hope that somewhere in this I say something you can understand. We go to hell for holding onto darkness when light is offered: "And just as Moses lifted the darkness by the light of life, this is how you should glorify* (lift up) the Son of Man" (John 3:14 Alexander). Moses lifted the darkness by the Torah,  the "Light of Life." That was for the body. Jesus is the Spirit, the inner man. He is the Law for us, our Torah — PROVISION FOR RECONCILIATION TO PEACE WITH GOD. I.e., Jesus is our sacrifice, our escape from wrath to serenity IF WE WILL TAKE IT.

Our Altar, our connection point with God, is Jesus within us - a chimney that goes nowhere but to God within. Take it or leave it. Baby, don't leave it!! Jesus is our believing and living like God: moral, with integrity, fidelity, love, mercy, grace, and care. Of ourselves, all we all have nothing but bad karma coming. There is no buying our way out. We MUST have loan forgiveness for our wasting of GOD's life, for we cannot come up with it! There is a reason His name is Jesus: God Saving. Thank God He paid!