are viewed that change.
For example, as a Catholic who went to school during the early 1970s and early 1980s, I was never taught that heaven was exclusive to only those who held the same beliefs as I do. In fact, one of my favorite prayers on this subject is attributed to Rabia Basri (female Muslim saint and Sufi mystic):
O God! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell
and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise.
But if I worship You for Your Own sake,
grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.
I see heaven is a gift available to anyone - whether they believe in god or not.
Referring back to the Basri prayer, I believe that we "worship" god not by prayers or by going to church, or even in believing that god exists...but we worship god by taking care of others. So trying to avoid hell or to get into heaven (to my way of thinking) is self-centered. I am focused on myself and what I (might) get out of it.
But if I try to take care of those in need (the hungry, the cold, the lonely, the sick, the poor, etc.) I am other-centered. And that is how I believe god would like me to act. Because if I am only focused on myself, I may not see those in need around me.
And you are correct, I can not verify that there is a heaven or a hell. But if avoiding hell and hoping to get into heaven are not my goals, then that shouldn't matter.
Thank you again - wishing you well and peace!
Tim
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