God As All in All

Alan Watts

“The vision of God-as-all might be used as a rationalization for indulgence in total wickedness, as so many Christians seem to fear. But fire is not untrue, or something to be abolished, because it can be used to burn people alive. What is really feared is that, if God is all in all, the wicked will not get their just desserts; someone may lose the satisfaction of knowing that evildoers are going to be boiled in oil and devoured by spiders forever and ever. At this point it becomes more and more difficult to separate the wicked from the moralists who want to see them properly judged.”

The Gospel According to Zen, page 112

(A very fervent Catholic friend argued that if there was no Hell - it wouldn't be fair! To me, Hell sounds more like an idea human beings would come up with, than something God would create (like a world that is 'fair'). If there are people in hell then God is still maintaining their existence - in which case, all hope is not lost. Hell or not, our obligation is the same. If we live our lives knowing God as a God of mercy, gentleness and forgiveness, for us and for all others, the existence (or not) of Hell becomes a moot point.)