So there I was the Monday after Thanksgiving break, not all too excited to be back, but looking forward to the much anticipated Christmas Holiday. I have finally found my nitch at this school and come to peace with the bitter cold wind that consumes this city on a daily basis when I encountered Andy Smith’s “How can all those people be destined for eternal damnation?” article (Dec. 2, p.11). For some reason it put a damper on things, not to mention on the holiday spirit, and lit a flame inside me that I didn’t know existed. In short, it thouroughly agitated me. How in this day and age can someone honestly believe that only Christians are welcomed into the gates of heaven, let alone write about it in such a blunt closed-minded manner. As for myself, a practicing Catholic, I don’t understand how people can interpret phrases and stories from the Bible as a first-class ticket to heaven for Christians and a coach seat to hell for everyone else. Although the version Andy Smith refers to may hold traditions that Christians believe and practice, there is no universal law that says all people around the world must obey it or forever be subject to eternal damnation. God is a universal being of faith that is represented by numerous traditions, beliefs, and practices around the world. God, or any other name used to refer to the omnious spirit in the sky, is encompasing of all people. What about Muslim or Buddism or Hebrew faiths? What exactly did you think about when you wrote your article Andy Smith? It doesn’t seem like you anything beyond americanized Christianity was considered. And furthermore, those of Jewish faiths are not banished to hell, if such a place exists. That nice Jewish family will be among all the other nice non-christians in heaven, so don’t worry. Anybody of any religion has a chance at a future in heaven as long as they stay true to their beliefs and live a life of love, respect, and work for the common good of all. Although the Jewish faith is different from Chritianity, a person has no right to assert that they are destined to spend everlasting life in a place of suffering. What an absurd notion! Why is this world encompased in such negativity? People of all faiths will be welcome to the gates of heaven with open arms. It just seems to me that the article was written with an extremely narrow point of view. Furthermore, a true Chritian would not catagorize all other faiths as inferior, as Andy Smith has indirectly done. The article is obviously hypocritical. The problem with Mr. Smith’s article is the fact that he states, “I don’t have faith in anything.” Well then, how in the world can he have any credible insight on who gets into heaven and who gets banished to hell? Although I realize that nobody, not the Pope or Budda or the Dalillama could give an exact answer on the subject, I do know that every religion is working toward the same end by teaching the fundamental beliefs of love, happiness, and faith. As long as people continue to live for the good of all, they will be welcome in heaven no matter what God, or better yet, what religion they worship and practice. So, Andy Smith, I guess I’ll be seeing you in heaven after all.