Is there really a God, and if so, what is He (She? It?) actually like? Is
there really an afterlife, or is the belief in one mere superstitious,
primitive, childish, wishful thinking? Is there actually one scrap of
scientific evidence either for or against the possibility or probabil-
probability of an afterlife? And if there is an afterlife, is there really such a
thing as eternal punishment for unrepentant sinners, as many or-
orthodox Christians and Moslems believe? And if there is, is God un-
unwilling or unable to relieve the sufferings of those in Hell? Is it true,
as St. Augustine said, that God could save everyone, if He wanted
to, and the reason He doesn't is that He will not? Could a kind God
really allow such a horrible thing as Hell, or is the belief that it is
horrible due to the fallen nature of Man, as some orthodox religion-
religionists claim? After all, there are those like Jonathan Edwards who
found the idea of Hell, not horrible, but beautiful! (Before his con-
conversion, he found it horrible, but after his conversion, he found it
"sweet/')