I've been reading the Bible every day for the last four or so years and my simple take is that when Jesus talked about "hellfire", which he vaguely mentions a few times, he's referring to the misery we bring upon ourselves in THIS life.

He did say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," but he didn't say they wouldn't get in. Just that they were making it difficult for themselves. I believe that was allegory, anyway. He loved him some allegory.

It's impossible for me to believe in a God that would send people to hell. That flies in the face of what the New Testament says he is, especially the Book of John.

I suppose there's a slim possibility that some people cease to exist when they die rather than go on, but I don't even subscribe to that. And I certainly don't believe that if you don't accept Jesus as your savior that you're condemning yourself to hell. Again, I think he refers in this case to hell on earth. I can say with conviction that I have experienced this truth.

The most extreme "evil" people most likely have a biological pattern in their brains that fails them. I don't think God sends us to hell for getting a bad number in the biology lottery.

So what motivates us to be good? I think children are born good. I think we are inherently good. When tragedy arises, whenever we don't have time to think, we usually respond well.

It is our nature to be good. We become influenced by outside things and events. Often times, it's real obvious stuff, like booze. This evangelical notion that we are all sinners is crazy. We make mistakes, sometimes huge ones, but we don't exist in a state of constant sin.

Just my two cents! We all find our own way and I loved what you wrote, thanks.