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

[(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.