Is there heaven or hell?

Posted on May 3, 2008

I received this email from a friend, on the the death of one of Nigeria’s leading academic. I believe its content is relevant to all. Happy reading

Greetings to you all,

In the past few days, I have received mails expressing
a combination of shock, surprise, grief and distress
over the death of our beloved Prof JadesolA Akande.

She was indeed a rare gem, a woman of many distinct distinctions. A
woman of valor, a woman of mettle.

We shall all “miss” her for different and collective
reasons. Indeed, an icon has “fallen”.

The question now is; Where is Prof Akande? Is she in
heaven or hell? Do not be shocked at this question and
do not be afraid to express your mind.

If she is in heaven (and I believe most of us will
assume that she is, based on her commitment to Justice
and the Rule of Law, combined with her self-less
service to humanity), then there is no need to weep or
cry. we should all rejoice that she is now with God.

If a friend tells you that he or she just won visa
lottery to the US, what will you do? Will you start
crying or you will rejoice with the friend.

Similarly, for those who believe she is in heaven,
there is cause to rejoice for the things she did went
well with her and we should cherish the richness of
her soul and company while with us and treasure the
fond memories.

If however she is now in Hell-fire (a place of
perpetual torment) then we should weep and mourn. We
should.

Those of us who believe that bad people go to
hell-fire will immediately discard the thought of our
beloved Prof Akande in a place like that. God forbid
they say.

But then, who are those there for I am yet to see an
Obituary column where the advertiser wished the
deceased were in Hell-fire irrespective of the
atrocities committed while on earth. Even our corrupt
and callous leaders are not denied the joy of Heaven
when they die as can be seen in the Obituary columns.

Who then goes to Hell-fire and for how long? If it is
forever, what sense does it make and what joy can a
father derive from burning his child forever in fire?
What father is there even that can tolerate seeing the
hand of his child burnt?

If I show you my burnt hands and you ask what
happened; how will you see my father if I tell you he
is responsible – irrespective of what I may have done?

Remember please that FOREVER is not 10 years, neither
is it 100 years. It is not a 1,000 years nor a million
years. It is not even a billion years. It is FOREVER.

Is it in line with Justice? Does it show love and
affection (qualities we all believe are Godly)? Is it
reasonable? If a man starts to sin from the very day
he is born until he dies at 70 or 80 years, will it be
just to burn him FOREVER?

It is ironical that wickedness, crime and other vices
have not reduced despite centuries of teaching that
bad people will go to Hell-fire. There is even an
alarming increase in wickedness, corruption and the
like. Our corrupt leaders, do they not attend
religious groups and receive blessings from religious
leaders while on the throne? The bad people we have
all aroud are most of them not members of different
religious groups?

Is it not obvious then that whatever the purpose of
teaching Hell-fire has been defeated and that people
should serve God not out of fear of Hell-fire but out
of LOVE?

Let us put our thinking caps on and start asking
questions. Let us banish the era of fear and misery
about the dead for one day we shall all pay the
ultimate price. Death is our creditor and can ask for
his debt whenever he likes.

Let us start asking questions. Let us rise, if need be
above our religions and seek satisfying answers. Let
us keep on seeking for then alone shall we find.

Please feel free to share your views with me. You may
not need to focus on our dear Prof but on the subject
matter. This is not about religion, it is about DEATH,
one subject that affects us all. We need satisfying
answers. Yes we do.

One a final note, I will share with you the experience
of a man of faith who lost his wife in death. When a
friend said “Sorry about the loss of your wife,” He
was quick to respond: “She is not lost. I know where
to find her”. May we know where to find our dear Prof
by asking questions NOW while we still may.

Your UNEMOTIONAL comments will be appreciated.

Regards,

‘Segun
— SOLA ALAMUTU advofcate@yahoo.com