From: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: C. S. Lewis and his mystery bus trip
Date: 13 Apr 92 22:23:07 GMT
Reply-To: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com
Distribution: talk
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA


	An occasional social custom in the US is to organize a weekend
mystery bus trip.  A mystery bus is a bus chartered by an appointed
member of a social group for a trip to some undisclosed point of
interest.  The logistics of of renting, driving, and returning the bus
are all done by the appointed member in advance so as to not burden
the riders with bothersome details.  This is just as well because of
the traditionally large amount of alcoholic beverages enjoyed by the
riders on the trip.  Part of the fun of the trip is guessing where the
destination point is located.  Kept secret, it's location may also be
a matter of dread if it might not exactly be what the riders had in
mind.  An example of this is the occasional news report about a police
sting operation where wanted criminals are awarded a free mystery bus
trip; it turns out to be a one way journey to the local jail.

	The typical talk.religion.misc reader can easily see where
this discussion is going.  The mystery bus is the conveyance to the
afterlife; the choice and nature of the destination is uncertain,
although most expect it to be a one way trip.  The bus driver knows
the route but refuses details until it's too late.

	The Christian apologist C. S. Lewis wrote a fascinating
novella about this particular mystery bus.  The story is entitled _The
Great Divorce_ and was written about 1946.  I will not spoil the
reader's fun by divulging the plot details; however, I would make two
comments:

	First, the fate of each individual is decided solely by that
individual.  Instead of going into a long and boring expository, Lewis
crisply states that those on the heaven bound bus are the ones who say
to God: "Thy Will be done"; those on the less pleasurable path are the
ones whose rejection of God has caused God to say to them: "Thy will
be done!" and so it is.

	Second, Lewis offers the view that residence in Hell is not
necessarially permanent.  This idea is repeated in other works
including the 1970s SF novel _Inferno_ by Niven and Pournelle.
Indeed, the offer of an ultimate rescue is one exacting an incredible
individual cost, yet results in an even more incredible reward.
Furthermore, this offer doesn't necessary contradict the Bible saying
"The damned will reside in Hell for Eternity" (or somesuch wording).
If divine salvation is truely stronger than Hell, then even the damned
may gain it, although at a cost far higher than would be paid by a
living individual.  For if this final salvation may be gained, then
the damned are no longer damned but saved; as such they are no longer
held in separation from God.

	It's a rough road though.  See the book for details.

 [The above opinions expressed are my own; not necessarily held by others.]
      == Steven J. Edwards           Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
      == (508) 294-3484              300 Concord Road         MS 820A ==
      == sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com     Billerica, MA 01821          USA ==
"That Government which Governs the Least, Governs Best." -- Thomas Jefferson