The Great Divorce: Heaven or Hell says C S Lewis
Captivating Story for Fable Lovers!
I love a good debate! So even though, I say unashamedly that I am a C. S. Lewis fan, I think this book – ‘The Great Divorce’ – has caused such a stir from since it was written up to today because it presupposes on an age old topic that has preoccupied many: HEAVEN and HELL.
The book begins forthwith with C. S. Lewis waiting in queue with other passengers (inhabitants of a grey town) who fight their way onto a bus going somewhere. It is animated by his account of the happenings leading up to the arrival of the bus at the bus station, during the bus ride that appears to give one an aerial view of the town on take-off and on arrival at the destination (the Shadow of the Valley of Life).
On arrival, C. S. Lewis realizes with surprise that the passengers are all ghosts who were offered an excursion out of Hell (the grey town) and a chance on arrival at the plain (Valley of the Shadow of Life) to go to the mountain (Heaven) and meet Joy and Love Himself (God) at their own choosing.
In order to get from the plain to the mountain, however, each ghost is sent someone from their past to help them overcome the difficulties that they will encounter along the way and make the journey easier for them.
As a privileged onlooker, C.S. Lewis hears each ghost’s past, witnesses the choices they make and has a Teacher who offers explanations and insights into what he is observing and the greater significance of it all.
What's on the Other Side?
The Beginning of Heaven and Hell
Do you believe that HEAVEN or HELL starts right here on earth for us?
This was my 1st C.S. Lewis book that started me on to road to becoming a C. S. Lewis fan :)
Which Will It Be?
What’s Really Behind the Heaven & Hell Story? The Deeper Meaning
C.S. Lewis has many profound revelations, but four (4) of his most insightful ones are that:
- 1. Hell and Heaven are both self-choices.
- 2. Hell is a state of mind whereas Heaven is not a state of mind but reality itself.
- 3. Hell and Heaven both begin before death and stretch retroactively back into the earthly past of both the damned and the saved.
- 4. Heaven and Hell are so diametrically divergent to each other that there is no merging of them at all whatsoever. We must choose one or the other - Heaven or Hell; not both.
This book is exceptionally stimulating reading! And just to make sure that no one gets worked up over the issue, I leave you with C. S. Lewis’ warning to those who venture to read it, “I beg readers to remember that this is a fantasy. It has of course – or I intend it to have – a moral. But the trans-mortal conditions are solely an imaginative supposal: they are not even a guess or a speculation at what may actually await us”.
So find the moral and give less attention to the details of this allegory of Heaven or Hell or... is it the truth? :)
Between Heaven & Hell
Do you believe in the 'in-between' place called PURGATORY?
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Angels - The Heavenly Hosts
BIBLE Revelations about Heaven and Hell
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell” Matthew 10:28
“How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You sail the seas and cross whole countries to win one convert; and when you succeed, you make him twice as deserving of going to hell as you yourselves are!” Matthew 23:15
“Then the two prophets heard a loud voice say to them from heaven, “Come up here!” As their enemies watched, they went up into heaven in a cloud” Revelations 11:12.
“When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” Revelations 8:1.
Related
What, in your opinion, will be the greatest surprise for us concerning Heaven and Hell?
AUTHOR@norma-holt: Thanks for visiting and sharing your opinion, skiesgreen. Have a blessed week.
That they exist! I have full memory of my reincarnation and passage to new life and can assure you these are religious tricks for power and control. I don't know the book but would probably steer clear of it. For me heaven is the way to get people in and hell is the lock on the door keeping them there. In my opinion everyone who ever lived is back in their bodies and being judged by the Spirit, thus the overpopulation of the earth today. Prophecies state that those who are wicked will be given to the sword and threatening people with hell is the ultimate form of terror.
@Heidi Vincent: Thank you for that, God Bless.
- AUTHOR
@Dave Lynch: Thanks davdlynch! Strangely, though, in relation to persons with physical problems and defects, some like Helen Keller have counted their 'disability' their blessing because it many times resulted in heightened senses and gifts elsewhere. So although many of us would opt for 'normal', God usually compensates/blesses them in other ways that our physical eyes cannot comprehend.
This is great, the possible choice C.S. Lewis proposes that we have about Heaven and Hell.I just wonder about people born with some physical problem or defect who experience a little of hell here on earth. Thanks for this review.
- AUTHOR
@esmonaco: You're welcome esmonaco! You will definitely enjoy it. Have a blessed week.
This sounds like a very interesting read, Thaknks so much for the review :)
- AUTHOR
@puppy-love: You're welcome, quiz_queen! It's well worth the read. Thanks for visiting and have a blessed week.
Interesting, I had not heard of this book before reading your review, thanks!
- AUTHOR
@georgepmoola2: Thanks georgepmoola! Have a blessed week.
Good lens.
- AUTHOR
@GeorgeneMBramlage: Cercis, his analogies are wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I was captivated by him from the time I read my first book from him - Screwtape letters. They would have had to expel me from the class, if he was my in-the-flesh teacher, because I would have been going back to class long after I was promoted to a higher class. LOL!!! Thanks for visiting and sharing. Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@GrammieOlivia: Thanks grammieo! Dust it off and start reading. What are you waiting for? Thanks for visiting and sharing. Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@Kim Milai: Thanks for visiting and sharing, kimmilai! Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@Merrci: Ha ha, Merrci! I urge you to move it up your list. You'll enjoy every single page. Thanks for visiting and sharing with us what your surprise will be. Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@Brite-Ideas: Thanks for your visit and wonderful sharing Brite-Ideas! You will thoroughly enjoy eading this book. It is intriguing from beginning to end. Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@Wednesday-Elf: Good question, Wednesday_Elf! No they are more like angels. In fact, C.S. Lewis describes them as Bright people. Thanks for visiting and do check it out. Have a blessed week.
- AUTHOR
@junecampbell: You will most definitely enjoy reading this book, nightcats, when you get it from the library! Thanks for sharing what your greatest surprise will be. Thanks for visiting and sharing. Have a blessed week.
Great review! Aren't the analogies of C. S. Lewis wonderful? I am in awe of his intelligence and probing mind. Imagine having him for an in-the-flesh teacher :-)
Fantastic review, I have not read all of his books yet, but this one is on my shelf, so it's time to dust it off and give it a read. Thanks for this nudge!
I believe hell is a state of mind. I'll have to read this. I feel that God is like the sun and hell is when you decide to turn away and face the shadow.
I think the realization that there is one. I've been wanting to read this. Now you've convinced me I should move it up the list! Great review.
I have to read this, sounds like a book I would thoroughly enjoy - right up my alley - actually I agree with C.S. Lewis on all 4 points - it's pretty much how I think myself - the journey is a choice and there is no hell, only the hell we self inflict ...which leads to me the words we hear in the catholic church...'just say the word and you/I shall be healed' - all we have to do is choose, decide, believe, ..it's our own self inflicted hell, or it's our own heaven...entirely based on our own free will, and free thinking. Wonderful review.
Is the person from the 'ghosts' past also a ghost? Sounds intriguing. Will have to check it out.
I have never heard of this book before, but it fascinates me. I am going to see if my library has it. Now as for the answer to the question you pose here, the greatest surprise (to me) would be to find that either one exists as anything other than a concept or a state of mind.
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