Originally posted by genius
John 3:16,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever beleived in him may not perish but have eternal life"
Does that infer that in Hell you do not live? You are just, in effect, dead?
Genius, I believe that much of the Bible speaks in spiritual metaphor, a kind of symbolic language that has been rendered literal in many cases by scribes and so-called authorities who were themselves far removed from the living master who spoke these words.
"Eternal life" is, I believe, a metaphor for spiritual awakening. It has nothing to do with some resort you go to in some heaven world to spend eternity thumping the backs of others who made it there with you. Nor is this "eternal life" reached simply by investing in Jesus Mutual Funds. It is more properly a poetic expression of the clarity and wisdom and compassion that can arise from seriously dedicating oneself to a spiritual path. "Eternity" refers to the timelessness of the present moment when the mind is calm, free of ego-agendas. "Life" is synonymous with consciousness, clarity, being fully awake. And yes Christ was a demonstration of this, and so in a very real sense he is a guiding light to that reality.
"One and only son" needs to be closely understood. If Christ is representative of maximum human potential -- similar to what the Buddhists call the "Buddha-mind" -- then in effect he is representative of a
principle of reality, much more than being just a "person". Seen that way, "Christ" (as the awakened mind) is indeed the "only son" because this awakened mind is necessarily impersonal, and accessible to all. And obviously, you don't need to be a "Christian" to access that awakened mind if in fact it is inherent to being human. Nor is it necessary to have ever heard of Jesus.
That's how I see it, anyway. 🙂