Mt. Fuji from around Tokyo
Freedom Making Evil or Performing Virtue
How evil or vice came to exist and influence human beings is a critical issue, since none is free from such an influence.
According to Swedenborg who observed the spirit world or the afterlife while living in this world in the 18th century, evil was generated from freedom human beings were enjoying. Based on freedom, men could choose good or bad. But men gradually came to choose small goodness or virtue than great goodness or virtue. In this trend, men came to finally choose evil than any small virtue. Good or bad is also an issue in the spirit world or the afterlife, since there are many evil spirits and demons there.
The hell is not the place where bad men are punished in their afterlife, but bad men prefer to go to the hell since they cannot bear receiving bright light in Heaven. The hell is the place built by souls of evil men in the afterworld. Following freedom, they choose to build and live in the hell.
But when the God created the spirit world, there was no hell. However, when the God created the material world from the spirit energy, He gave freedom to men who would live there. And, men chose evil rather than virtue in living in the material world as they tried to satisfy their lives in the material world.
In the material world, men used his freedom to satisfy themselves which had material bodies. When they were hungry, they had to feed themselves to go on living in the material world. For them to further live, they would give priority to themselves first than others. If they had enough foods, they could give some of them to others, but they still chose to feed themselves first. They acted as if they had been a god who had power to make themselves or others live in the material world.
Or they might choose to give all the foods they had to others from their love to those in hunger. But, they chose to give only part of the foods to others. First, they gave a half of the foods to others. But, next time, the chose to give one quarter of foods. Further, next time, they gave eighth part. And, finally they stopped giving any part to others. They gradually chose smaller goodness and eventually evil in the material world for their love to themselves.
In the spirit world, they need not to feed themselves. Love from the God makes them live. But, in the material world, they can feed themselves and others as if they were a god. And, for love to themselves, they came to practice smaller and smaller goodness to others to make themselves even more happy.
And when such men as behaved like a god or practiced evil in the material world died and entered into the spirit world or the afterworld, they became evil spirits or demons under the control of Satan who was against the God. And, more and more evil spirits gathered in the spirit world, the hell was formed. In this way, this material world is connected to the spirit world.
From wrong execution of their freedom in this material world, men came to build and live in the hell in the spirit world or the afterlife. In other words, from right execution of freedom, men can live near Heaven in the spirit world or the afterlife.
Therefore, knowledge of religion or even teachings of Christ Jesus alone cannot make men accepted in Heaven. How they executed their freedom or how they behaved in this world decides whether they can enter into Heaven of fall into the hell. So, faith based on knowledge alone is not enough, but good actions are needed for men to be accepted in Heaven.
Therefore, love that makes men execute their freedom in a right way is greater than faith.
++++ ++++ ++++John 10, King James Version
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.