Heaven

[asterroc]

I don't know which bothers me more: religious people saying that so-and-so will never get to Heaven because they aren't of their religion, or smug assurance that the soul of so-and-so will or did see the light and turn from their religion to the proper one and thus *will* be in Heaven. Along with the latter is the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead. In this practice, the living vicariously baptize the dead, regardless of the religion and wishes of the dead person while living, and then supposedly God then gives the dead soul the opportunity to accept the Gospel of Christ. *Grr*

Comments

[sammka.livejournal.com]

*nods* it is sort of weird.

A possible way around this that I just thought of: perhaps value understanding others' beliefs, and also respecting other people in general? Thus when someone wants to do something based on a belief that conflicts with yours, you can understand and respect their decision as long as it doesn't infringe on anyone else (since, of course, you have to respect those who may be harmed as well).

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

I think what it comes down to in the end is that I respect others beliefs and their right to practice them as long as practicing their beliefs doesn't interfere with anyone else practicing their beliefs. Of course, then we go to the fuzzy definition of the word "interfere" - the Danish cartoonist interfered with Islamic beliefs, but sharia law interferes with the Western belief in freedom of expression - so I'm not sure that I've solved anything. The way I rank things is which action ends up being "more interfering," which again, is a value judgement that can't be objectively determined.

[(Anonymous)]

My personal disgust with the idea of baptisms for the dead is not because of what it means to the dead person or their relatives. Rather, it's because of what the baptism process means for those performing it. In their eyes, they're erasing the subject's prior faith for something new. Holocaust victims, in particular, and many others, in general, died specifically because of their beliefs. Many had the option of turning their back on their faith but chose not to because of the strength of their beliefs. To dishonor that sacrifice, regardless of whether or not you agree with it, is, I think, tasteless, in the least.