This article was originally written for a Pastor who wished to silence me on this issue yet have me remain in his church. It was last revised in January before my conversion. Well, I had hoped to do more on this and hone it, and I will yet, but as of the writing of it (Jan 2005) I had not been settled on death, but be assured, the dead sleep, for "David is not ascended into the heavens" and "I will raise him up at the last day" but my focus is more on "hell" than on death.
If I wait till its perfect, it might take forever and I want to get this out now, so with only one part drafted:
Reconstructing Death and Hell
by Paul StringiniI have examined the apologetics materials defending the traditional doctrine hell (eternal life of punishment). I don’t follow a tradition or traditions, except that tradition which is written in black and white, in the Bible. I am not daunted by the fact that there is a traditional doctrine of eternal torture; even one that dates back to the time of Jesus and the apostles; (indeed, even further than that). I am not at all enamored with what any of the so-called successors of the apostles had to say about the scriptures, I don’t need any man to teach me; because I have the spirit of the living God in me.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even contradicting the lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction (apoleia). And many will follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
If the Great men of the Modern Era, Preachers and Theologians, agree that the scriptures are void by their tradition; if nearly all of the Protestant and Catholic Scholars declare it true; if the Early Church Fathers call a grand council; I cannot agree. Why should the word of a man who knew a scripture author, be more authoritative than the very Words of the Scriptures?
There are places where freedom of conscience does not reign, seminaries and churches are their names. You cannot even speak of this subject in some churches. I believe there are two main reasons for this. 1. A desire by elders to avoid having to recite lame answers to difficult scriptural and philosophical questions which the established doctrine of hell raises. 2. The fact that most Christians (of any stripe) already doubt this doctrine in their hearts, even while affirming it with their tongues, I know this is true, they feel it is false, because of the spirit of God which is in them. I will show by the scriptures that the traditions do not fulfill the scriptures any better than the novel ideas which the apologists reject. I will also show how there are some ideas which are clearly taught by the scriptures which make the tradition void. I will show how the novel wisdom used to defend the old tradition is not wise.