Hello Gentle Reader
My apologies for not blogging yesterday. I had nothing really to blog about, so I had decided not to blog at all. When there is nothing to write then there is no need to make something up. Who really would want to hear the very mundane, the very uninteresting, the very personal, and pathetic details of a mundane nobodies life? Personally I would not. I mean what is one such as myself supposed to say, like a day like yesterday. Am I supposed to report, how many items of food I had consumed? How many times I had to use the lavatory? My observations on the weather? My study on my animals behaviours? Tell quirky stories of no real literary merit? Talk about my people watching and the thoughts that I had about other people? – Quite frankly I find all that to be quite a bore really, and would rather not talk about any of those things, because well I either did not do one of those things, or do not record them. However, I do have something to write about in the early hours of Friday morning. Why am I up so late? Who can say, all I know is I will most likely be up early the next day regardless of if I want to be or not. That’s a fact of life – or at least a fact of my life.
I watched an interesting program on the television. Believe it or not; as much as I spew hatred and nasty comments at the junk that people watch on television these days, I do still watch some television, though I much prefer to read or watch a movie, or better yet sleep (that’s right I don’t live much of a life!). Nonetheless tonight on the history channel, there was a documentary program about hell. The program was called “Gates of Hell,” fitting I know. It’s more or less about six locations on earth that are believed and rumoured to be portals or gates into the very vast, dismal, abyss like space or void, where torment, torture, suffering, and the most grisly kind of pain is experienced. I decided that I would write a blog about what I thought not about the program, but rather what I thought about the entire concept of “hell,” or “hades,” or “the underworld,” or “the afterlife,” and so and so forth. I have decided to turn my cynical eye and vicious tongue to this paranormal phenomenon and cultural icon, and to give my own opinion on it.
First and foremost, seeing as every culture, every religion, every civilization had a different name or title for the (parallel) world called “Hell,” you’ll noticed that their maybe a single letter in italics in brackets such as (G) Underworld – that means Greek Underworld – as in the Greek’s view of the world of the underworld; or (E) Afterlife – this means Egyptian Afterlife. This will help differentiate the different views and different interpretations and perceptions of the idea and the supposed existing “world,” of hell.
Even in today’s modern world – a world of technological advances, medical development, scientific progressions, general life upgrading; anyone would be surprised to learn that in today’s day and age, that mythology and faith are still quite evident in daily life; that is with some people. There has always been a need or desire for human beings – who are sentient beings; to have a reason to life or to have something to look forward to after life is over and death begins; that is to say if death begins at all. The idea that the suffering of life and the desire to do good deeds has always prompted people to make sure that there is something to look forward to after life itself. There must be a reason that good people suffer alongside the wicked and the evil. There must be a reason, why the terrible tyrants, the infidelity of heretics, the diabolical dictators, the crooked bankers, the slithery snakes of thieves (!) why is it they all get away with their crimes. So it is the human need and the human desire that there must be some form of retribution for the injustice of the world. If not what is the point of believing in doing the good and doing justice, and living a righteous and courteous way of living? If crime is what really is going to make life’s most material needs be met, then wouldn’t everyone be committing some act of crime? Would the streets not be running red with the foul smell of murder lingering in the air over past transgressions? Would the houses not be filled with people hoarding and greedily holding on to their treasures from others, and the people they once considered “friends,” – even family? Would there no longer be food for all to eat, only those with the money – or the very strong willed form of persuasion that just happens to involve violence? My thoughts of this matter would be yes.
Yet people need the idea – even if it is utopian and so overly rose coloured with optimism; that the wicked people of the world will pay for their transgressions. The good will repent, they will be given rewards (72 virgins being one of the perks as someone happened to state), they will live in an eternity of happiness, peace and good fortune. While the real people who lived impure and infidel lives, will suffer and they will burn in the eternities of hell and will forever pay for their sins, and all that they have to answer for.
This idea is not new by any means. In ancient times, a civilization really cannot thrive without law. Law is necessary. Law is what keeps everyone and everything intact. The law is what makes sure that everyone is doing their part at making life an respectable place. However what point is it in having a law if there is no real punishments for the crimes done. But the earthly crime’s and punishment’s is just one thing is it not? Why not scare people (and children) into the absolute good behaviour (and if they mess up then they can repent and confess). This way they will forever fear of doing something really bad, for the sake of their eternal souls and the damnation it could bring.
In (G) Underworld for instance, there were many forms of how one would live the rest of their eternal life. In the pit of Tartarus – which originally housed or better put was the prison of the Titans (the Greek gods before the Olympian Gods); is now a place where the damned souls of the evil souls are damned. Erebus or the land of the dead is where everyday people (or neutral souls) are sent – there they are ruled over by Hades (the Olympian God of the Underworld). The Elysium Islands/Fields is where the truly heroic and vitreous people go. Reading this, there is a pretty easy set of a way to place it. In Greek mythology there are three levels (depending on which source, or website or book or what historians, classical literature and mythologists say) where the three (general) levels of human nature are split up: The virtuous/.heroic, the natural or common man, and the evil and dastardly people.
The (E) Afterlife is much the same way. The Ancient Egyptians had elaborate and complex views and beliefs in death – I have yet (personally) to hear a culture that does not have that same trait. Mummification, a term that is known quiet well. The pulp years come to my mind when I think of world mummification and Egypt. The idea of curses, searing hot sands brutal and barbaric sun, and a landscape so desolate and pointless, only fools would bother living there. Well not to mention cures of mummies, ancient tombs of booby traps, riches beyond one’s wildest dreams, and well preserved people that resemble beef jerky – or rather jerky in general.
(E) Afterlife originally thought of two life forces: the Ka and the Ba were part of every human being. Well the later (Ba) was actually thought to be only to belong to the pharaoh. However over time everyone learned that they had these two spiritual and religious soul(s) that would allow them to travel into the lush (E) Afterlife. Before that however (I mean before the aspect that everyone had the two requirements to enter that lush paradise and pastors of the land of the dead) people (the commoners) died they went into a bleak non-existent state – basically their life was meaningless, and their death was meaningless, and they were made simply to serve the pharaoh, until it was agreed upon that they all had the necessary souls to move into the (E) Afterlife. However in order for a common person to make it into the lush pastoral fields of the (E) Afterlife, they needed to pass a few tests. The famous test, as everyone knows it to be is, the test of the heart of the person being weighted to that of a feather of Ma’at (an Egyptian goddess of justice, order, law, morality/ethics et cetera) if the person’s heart was heavier than the feather, the demon/deity Ammit consumes the heart and the persons soul becomes restless forever.
What do these two ancient cultures and their beliefs in death, the soul, and heaven and hell have to do with modern times? Simple they are the general view that all cultures and religions, ancient and modern, all have views on death and the eternal salvation and damnation of the souls. Part of it is the human desire and expectation to have justice served on those that deserve to rot in hell, and others deserve the eternal paradise that is promised to all. This however, is more or less uninteresting to me. People’s desire for justice I find personally is artificial and boring. Something of a complete bore, and a waste of my time. For I think personally, the desire for justice for many is a desire for legal vengeance, and retribution.
However the world even today is riddled with aspects of hell. In the book or poem or whatever it is Dantes: “Inferno,” or rather “The Divine Comedy,” is the depiction of hell. Dante Alighieri split hell up into nine circles or spheres. Those circles or spheres each corresponded to some form of sin or transgression. Circle one: Limbo (more or less a very soft place. Unbaptized and virtuous pagans. Basically these people didn’t accept god or Jesus Christ in their lives. God hates them, but instead of burning them and ripping them apart because they lived good lives, and pulling their intestines out of their anus’s God makes them stay in a world between heaven and hell.) The next circle is the second circle corresponding to: Lust (this place is where all the bad bitches and whores and concubines who are blown about to and fro in a violent storm). The Third Circle is: Gluttony (this is where the gluttonous pigs will forever be drenched in rain, stuck in mud and filth. A life consumed by sustenance and a need for it, and refusal to share with all Gods people pissed God off, so he decided to throw them into the third circle of hell.) The Fourth Circle’s sin is: Greed (These are the people that desired to achieve more out of life and enjoy that to themselves. These people are punished for wanting more or only the best out of life. They are bound face down. Apparently God does not appreciate ambition). The fifth circle; can you believe there are nine of these (?) is: Anger (here those that experience the natural feeling of anger, are condemned in the river of Styx – which should be noted is a river in the (G) Underworld – which is a boiling river of blood.) The sixth circle is for: Heretics (People who speak their minds are not welcome in heaven or paradise. They are destroyed encased in tombs of flames!)
The seventh ring (along with the following ones) is an interesting circle of hell from the looks of it. According to Dante the seventh circle is the circle of violence. However this circle of violence is split up into three rings. The first ring is for the circle of the violent against others and property. The second ring is the ring against those who have committed suicide (violent against themselves) – poor bastards are turned into thorny bushes and trees and are fed on by the Harpies (another bit of Greek mythology in their). The last ring is the ring against God or nature which for the purpose of this we shall say sodomy! Basically you have sex with the same sex, or oral sex, or sex with an animal, you are impure and boy oh boy is God really pissed off at you! The land is a scolding and sweltering desert, where one is forced to wander, sit, and roam – for eternity!
The eight circle is another interesting circle. Much like the seventh circle of violence the eighth circle of fraud is split into ten different rings. Instead of going into details will make a quick list.
The First Ring: pimps and seducers – these poor damned souls, are marched in two lines and whipped by demons.
The Second Ring: Flatters – These poor damned souls, are placed in human feces – Dante has resorted to toilet humour and he did so well!
The Third Ring: Simony – for those who do not know what simony is (I confess I didn’t) it is paying for a clerical or church position. These naughty people, are placed in holes in the ground and have flames placed on their soles of their feat.
The Fourth Ring: Deals with false prophets – these people have their heads twisted around, because they can’t look forwards towards God.
The Fifth Ring: This is a place for corrupt politicians – these deserving bastards, are placed in a pit of pitch or tar or something that is sticky and dark like their deals.
The Sixth Ring: Hypocrites – these people are the people who are forced in lead cloaks. Personally God should be amongst these people.
The Seventh Ring: Thieves – These criminals are chased and bitten by snakes and lizards.
The Eighth Ring: Is for those that give false advice or false counsellors. Not sure what this punishment is here. Obviously Dante is getting tired of writing this poem.
The Ninth Ring: Is for those that create discord – basically they are all chopped up and regenerate before being chopped up again.
The Tenth Ring: For the false people as in impersonators counterfeiters – these people are given every disease imaginable.
Finally once and for all we meet the final circle of hell. What could be so bad, that one would end up here? Apparently treachery. Personally myself I thought violence was a good one – at least in the murder sense; but God disagrees – or rather Dante does. It appears that in this circle of hell which is split up into four more rings which are split into: treachery of kindred; traits of political reasons; traitors to their guests; and traitors to their lords. It is here that all the traitors are locked in ice not fire, but ice – but that is according to Dante’s “Divine Comedy.” Which I don’t find Divine or really all that funny – but ironic that a loving god would create evil, and a free will, and throw people he created into the dark world below.
My opinion on the abstract belief in hell is quite simple. Hell has been around for years, as long as people have been around, the desire and need to have something to believe in after we die, to reward us for our righteous and often painful lives, is what we hope for. While we also hope for those that live unrighteous lives, will be punished. That is all that hell is. It is the artificial need and desire for people, to have justice both in life and in death. As I had stated personally I find this desire for justice quite boring and utopian and wishful thinking. But some people really need it to pacify them, and to make their lives have some form of meaning, rather than accepting the inevitable fact that there is no meaning to life – well at least no divine one. However people can always create some form of meaning to their lives. But others choose to have some other meaning to life. A sense that it cannot be happening that death truly is the period to the run on sentence to life or the last chapter the novel of a life. How cliché of me to say. Seeing a this blog was all about civilizations (or mankind’s civilizations) obsession with death, justice, hell, morality, and all that fun stuff, I thought the following quote from the poem “The Wasteland,” by T.S. Elliot was fitting for not only this Blog but this month:
“April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.”
T. S. Elliot Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature 1948, poem “The Wasteland,”
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Reader
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and wrong.*
M. Mary
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