Last Things

          This is not a happy subject, but death is a popular subject for religious
    and athiest. Consider that the world is over populated by people and
    the means to provide for these people is depleting. Death, therefore,
    becomes essential to a balanced population.
          Death, according to Christian teaching is the universal judgement of
    God; it is a punishment due to Adam's sin which can lead to further probation
    in the after life. "It is appointed to men once to die and after that comes
    judgement."(Hebrews 9:27). Baptism is necessary for salvation according to
    Jesus, "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit he cannot
    enter into the kingdom of God."
          This presents a very crule theology where the unbaptised go to hell.
    People have been dieing and will continue to die without baptism. How can
    a good God allow this? Saint Thomas Aquinas postulated a "Limbo" for
    those who have suffered death, because of original sin, but are between
    Heaven and Hell. The Council of Trent declared that the infants put to the
    sword by King Herod were baptised in their martyr's blood.+
          A vigorous interpretation of this doctrine of baptism could be aplied to
    planned parenthood. A general baptism could be given for the unborn.
    The dead would rise before the general judgement of God's mercy at the
    resurrection(Luke 20:36). To say that a just God would condemb to Hell
    the unborn or invincebly ignorant is a contradiction of the term justice.
    Death is a fact of life and we the people must learn to accept it.

    =+=