Hell hath no...

...anything, actually, because it doesn't exist. Not according to the christian bible, anyway.

No, really.

Fred Clark has been doing a wonderful series on the doctrine of hell, where it came from, how it slithered its way into christian culture, and why it's a particularly nasty worldview. In order:

1. Team Hell Gets Loud
2. The epistemology of Team Hell
3. Should I not be concerned?
4. Rob Bell vs. Team Hell (cont'd)
5. The Paradox of Pitchforks, a devilish problem
6. That chair doesn’t belong in this play
7. The Missiological Case for Hell
   

I'll update this list if he continues to write on the subject. The notion that hoping or believing that bad, awful, torturous things will happen to people is counter to christian principles should not be radical. Sadly, this isn't the case.

If you're a christian and you've been grappling with the fear that people you care about might endure an eternity of suffering at the hands of the god you believe to be the embodiment of love, take heart. Let it go. Live in love.

If you're not christian, but you've got loved ones who've been urging you (whether out of concern or malice) that your wicked ways will mean that you burn forever let them know that it's ok. They can stop worrying. God loved the Ninevites just as much as god loved anyone else. If you love each other, things will be ok.

To anyone who identifies as christian, as I do, you can stop hoping for pain and suffering. You can stop delighting in torment. You can stop fearing separation and loneliness. We can feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked and visit the sick.

We can let go of hell and hold on to love.

Japan

Relief and aid:

Google peoplefinder tool. They also have crisis response information up.

Things to consider as you donate. It breaks down what's best, when, how to tell who's reputable, and where to report sites that pop up asking for donations that seem to be fraudulent.

Yes, Japan is asking for aid - the Gizmodo article about texting the redcross was updated.

Shelterbox: people are going to need shelter more than just about anything else.

Redcross: that page allows you to specify where you want your donation to go. You can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.

Doctors without borders: they're generally some of the first folks on the scene at disasters such as this, and they always need help and donations

Save The Children has set up a fund specifically for earthquake/tsunami relief.

International medical Corps: you can also text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10.

Huffpo has a roundup of other aid links.



News:

CNN: video round up and live blog.

Shakesville: roundup and open thread.

Streaming video. (Japanese)

MSNBC coverage.



Science:

NOAA: Modeling of the earthquake and tsunami. There's a larger version of the video at Gizmodo.

BBC: What happened at Fukushima Daiichi.

Big think has more information on the nuclear plant incident, including a video

EERI: history of Japan's recorded earthquakes

USGS: how earthquakes work (for kids) - also information for adults.

More information on what causes tsunamis.