The Bible and No Exit by Sartre

How can I connect the Bible with Sartre’s portrayal of Hell in No Exit.

The Bible which happens to be the object of my project contains facts about the real Hell. The place reserved for damned souls; a place which served as a punishment for those who did not or fail to confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Saviour. Found in the real Hell is an everlating darkness and torments.

However, Sartre’s portrayal of Hell is focused on being with other people. The author considers one’s interaction with the Other and the exixtence of the Other as one’s Hell. Since we are humans, and humans are entitled to absolute freedom, this freedom often contradicts with one another. We tend to think, act, and talk in our own way, but we can never limit or dictate what other’s might think, act, and talk. The conflict between humans never cease, it just go round and round.

Hell for Sartre can be experienced here on Earth, and will forever trouble us as long as we live. However, Hell in the Bible can only be felt after death. We have to keep in mind that everyone after life comes before God, and it is because of being in God’s presence that people either suffer eternally, of experiene eternal joy. In other words, both the joy of heaven, and the torment of judgment, is caused by being eternally in the presence of the Almighty, the perfect and unchanging God. (Lamentations 3:22)

Now, will it be possible for me to experience Heaven or Hell on earth? I think that would be a little hard and impossible. I do not actually disagree with Sartre’s understanding of a possible Hell. Truly our existence and absolute freedom affects that of the Other in any way possible. It’s just that I do not accept that fact being considered as Hell. Everything here on earth including us humans and the “freedom’ we have been talking about are all planned by God. All those plans are definitely with a purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And I believe God will not let those things served as our Hell here on earth. The real Hell is a lot more than we think of our problems, emotions, or even experiences.They just serve merely as a challenge or test to our faith and beliefs.

Although the happiest, most memorable, most joyful and loving experiences on earth will pale into insignificance when compared with the bliss brought by the real Heaven, I believe God intends for three things NOW to be my foretaste of Heaven to come: my home, my church, and personal walk with the Lord. I consider myself being in Heaven whenever I am with my family at home. They gave me the love, comfort, peace of mind that I strongly believe no one in earth could ever surpass. My church is always next to my family. There I found true and spiritual friends with the same beliefs, desires, and habits as mine. These people are not just friends, but more like my family. And lastly, my personal relationship with God always reminds me of the things I needed to correct and retain in my life. These things will help me prepare the treasures and mansions prepared for me in Heaven.

Heaven and Hell for me (Final Paper 1)

For so long, I have been thinking of what object to present in class that would best reflect my own understanding of Heaven and Hell. I have tried making paintings and drawings to relate it to something, but it didn’t work. I’ve attempted to even look for a song, but still none satisfied me. So I decided to begin everything by describing first what I believed Heaven and Hell looks like and start asking myself if it’s possible to experience Heaven or Hell here on earth while I am still alive. And the only resource that I found best, and capable of answering all my questions is not the Internet, nor any written articles or even human-inspired books, nothing but the BIBLE.

I believed that the Bible is the only unwavering source of what the Heaven and Hell look like. This book is not just written by ordinary authors. Moreover, it has been divinely inspired by God and the Holy Spirit.Believe it or not, through the Bible, we can describe every little detail of the real Heaven and Hell.

Yes, variety of authors like Dante Alighieri, Plato, Sartre, William Blake and the others might write their own description of Heaven and Hell. Why not? There is nothing wrong with that. They are only humans, and humans are free of expressing one’s feelings and experiences in any form (e.g. song, drama, various literary forms)! But those materials will be simply based on their own opinions. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, what is the book considered to be the most selling book of all times? The book that possesses a certain “magic” that never fades throughout every generation? Still, nothing but the BIBLE.
Having studied some of the famous writers’ descriptions of Heaven or Hell, I was honestly fascinated. The ways they give color to every element found in those places were really amazing. But the fascination of mine remains as it is. It never grew nor fades. Simply because of a certain reason, I have had since I was a kid that foundation of the Heaven and Hell according to the Bible. No matter how many explanations laid out to me, the knowledge instilled to me will remain forever.

Having said all that let me define what Heaven is based on my knowledge about the Bible. Heaven!! The very word whispers peace to my soul. This word as elucidated by the Bible promises us peace, everlasting joy, and fellowship with other believers. GOD himself was the builder and maker of this place. It contains mansions solely prepared for his children (John 14:2). The whole place was furnished with gold, up to the walls down to the floors, there is gold every where. It is deemed to have 12 gates, and each of these is made of pearls. These gates will never be shut at any time for there is no night up there. Everything is wonderful; everythin is made to bring glory and honour to the King. Knowing how wonderful Heaven is, the question will be “Who shall inhabit the Heaven only?” The Bible again shows us that only those who are saved, people who have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their Personal Saviour, are allowed to walk in the light of Heaven.

Above all the magnificence of Heaven, Hell was given color in the Bible as well. Hell is a complete opposite of Heaven. People who did not confess their sins and accept Christ as their Personal Saviour are the ones doomed in Hell. The whole place was covered with darkness, and surrounded not with gold but with a furnace of fire. (Matthew 13:42) Despite of the furnace, there will be no water to sooth the thirst of anyone. Continuous wailing and gnashing of teeth – suffering are prevalent. And immortal creatures which will augment the sufferring and will never die will be on every corner. The torment in Hell is apparently for all eternity, it will never cease.

All these are the things I have believed about Heaven and Hell. These things primarily can only be found and understood with deep appreciation of the Bible. Again, I chose this book simply because this is the only reliable source of what the real Heaven and Hell for me. And nothing or no one can ever be compared to the bliss of the real Heaven and the misery of Hell.

The Look (Le Regard)

Can someone’s look really affect another?

A brief look from a person somehow affects us one way or another. The moment their eyes gaze upon us, we'll be bombarded by various thoughts. As we move, we’ll begin thinking if there’s something wrong with us, with our outfit, our hairdo, and even our smell to the extent! Some of us might even rush to the wash room just to make sure that we are fit to be seen.

How about the look of our crushes? Star idols? Campus’ heartthrobs? Campus’ basketball players? Even a glimpse will make us jump the highest cliff on earth. Admit it, what a wonderful feeling it gives us! It can even brighten our whole day.

The eyes define a person. The look defines another’s acceptance of his/her self. Most of us tend to value the look given by other people. We based our actions, outfits, hairstyle and line of thinking to others’ expression when they see us. Looks not only affects our emotions but definitely limits our freedom. Do we really want that? How come we feel sorry for the slaves in the ancient time, or the prisoners because they are not free? Not free to do what they really want, eat what they want to eat, wear what they want to wear, and say what they want to say. Haven’t we notice we are just like every time we often recognize other people’s look?

Folks, it’s not too late to change our viewpoint. It’s enough to appreciate other people’s look but don’t let them dictate us! If we keep on thinking of which, we’ll never gonna be happy and satisfied in life.