I’m not sure of the point of Ray Wolbrecht’s column in your July 19 edition, but he writes that the only way to get to heaven is to love God, obey His Commands, and accept the gift of His redemption through His only Son, Jesus Christ. I’m reminded of a joke I heard when I lived in Idaho.
A man arrives at the pearly gates of heaven and St. Peter asks: “What religion?” The man responds “Methodist.” After looking at his list, St. Peter tells him to “go to Room 20, but be very quiet when you pass Room 5.” St. Peter asks a second man “What religion?” He replies “Presbyterian” and is told to go to Room 10, but be very quiet when passing Room 5. When asked for his religion, a third man replies: “I understand there being different rooms for different denominations, but why must I be quiet when I pass Room 5?” St. Peter tells him: “The Mormons are in Room 5, and they think they’re the only ones here.” That joke could pertain to any religion that insists theirs is the only true way.
I attend church regularly, but know for a fact that IF there is a heaven/an afterlife, I want to be reunited with my Muslim and Jewish friends, as well as all the delightful agnostics and atheists I’ve known over the years. And maybe Ray is wrong that “oblivion is not a choice.” I like to think that it is more important how well we treat our fellow inhabitants of this planet and the earth itself during our lifetimes than worry about what happens after we die.
Pamala Nelson
Buda
