Sambodhi 1989 Vol 16

Author(s): Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 77

68
on the Bible says that the souls of the wicked after death "are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.” Moreover he adds: “Besides these two places (heaven and hell) for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgcth non," The Bible sheds very little direct light on this subject. The only passage that can really come into consideration liere is the parable of the rich moud Lazarus. 62 Here Dr. Radhakrishnan clearly states that "The only interprctation of heaven and hell consistent with the teaching and character of Jesus is that they refer to qualitative changes in the souls. Heaven symboliscs the improvement of the soul and hell its opposite. And there are grades in hell, as well as in heaven, many mansions in God's Kingdom, and each man will go to his place in accordance with the strength of his faith and the merit of his life.”63
Dr. Radhakrishnan compares the Christian concept of salvation with the Hindu law of Karma in his book the Heart of Hindustan. He there says that our conduct determines our future. The law of Karma is criticised as being too mechanical and inconsistant with Divine Love. It is true that the problem of the way to salvation has been the cause of a major debate in christian thought through the ages and there being strongly divergent opinions concerning the question as to whether salvation is gained by faith or by works. Essentially, Christianity is a religion of faith. The Christian concept of salvation is in sharp contrast with the doctrine of Karma and absolute individual responsibility as found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism
The reward of the righteous is described as etcrnal life, that is, not merely an endless life, but life in all its fullness without any of the imperfections and disturbances of the present.64 The fullness of this life is enjoyed in communion with God which is really the essence of eternal life.65 They will see God in Jesus Christ face to face, will find full satisfaction in him, will rejoice in him, and will glorify him.
Here, let us sce some few things about Hell ! In connection with the subject 'hell' the Bible certainly uses local terms right along. It calls the place of torment gchenna, a name derived from the Hebrew 'ge' (land or valley) and Hinnom or beney hinnon, that is, Hinnou or Sons of Hinnom. This name was originally applied to a valley south west of Jerusalem. It was a place where wicked idolators sacrificed their children to Moloch by causing them to pass through the fire. Hence it was considered impure and was called in later days "the valley of tophet (spittle)", as an utterly despised region. Fires were constantly burning there to consume the official of Jerusalem. As a result it became a symbol of the place of eternal