Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 2 views

    Doctrine of Divine Retribution

    Uploaded by

    kamranhameed1

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Doctrine of Divine Retribution

    Uploaded by

    kamranhameed1
    2 views1 page

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    2 views1 page

    Doctrine of Divine Retribution

    Uploaded by

    kamranhameed1

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    Doctrine of Divine Retribution:

    In today's terminology "Doctrine of Divine Retribution" may be summarized as "What


    goes around that comes around," or "As You Saw So Shall You Reap." The rewards and
    the punishment are the matters of this life. A good example to which is that of my "bad"
    smoking habit. Now if I get sick because of it, it is my fault. However, after I die, I will
    not have to deal with my sickness, and hence no suffering. It is a good theory, but
    according to the Abrahamic, and many other religions it holds less grounds.

    Abrahamic and many other religions do believe in life after death. The idea of heaven and
    hell is not a new idea. However, some religions believe that heaven and hell is here, on
    earth. When we die, if we have done good deeds, we will "Return" as good beings. No
    one has seen death and returned to tell the tale. There have been accounts where people
    have made such claims, but nothing is proven or certain. All we know about heaven and
    hell; life and death; and life after death is from what we have been told and what we
    have read.

    Ishtar and Gilgamesh:

    Now this is where I am baffled, perhaps Dr. Robertson may help me on this one.
    Although, I was able to locate the Ishtar's advice to Gilgamesh in the textbook (p. 215);
    however, despite my many efforts I could not find it in any of the translations of the
    twelve tablets.

    The only account, of Gilgamesh's meeting with Ishtar, in the tablets is on Tablets VI and
    XII (XII is a controversial tablet among scholars). However, Tablet VI provides no
    account of Ishtar giving such advice (or am I missing something here). Tablet VI narrates
    the story of how Ishtar tried to lure Gilgamesh, and how Gilgamesh refuses Ishtar by
    telling her the fates of her ex-husbands (great lessons - a must read for every man :-D );
    in addition, Ishtar going to her father and asking to release the Bull of Heaven.

    "When Gilgamesh placed his crown on his head,


    a princess Ishtar raised her eyes to the beauty of Gilgamesh.
    "Come along, Gilgamesh, be you my husband,
    to me grant your lusciousness.'"

    Gilgamesh after telling Ishtar what he would do for her, he asks;

    "Where are your bridegrooms that you keep forever"

    The story goes on, but still no advice on life after death. Perhaps may be on Tablet XII,
    but I did not see it there either. So the question arises, where is this advice come from?
    Although, I must say, it is a good one, if we really think about it.

    Especially,

    "Let a wife rejoice in thy bosom


    For this is the mission of man"

    This centuries old advice would make ladies of this class smile. Didn't it? I bet it did :-)

    Kamran

    You might also like