SUPERNATURAL ENTITIES & PLACES

From the commendable view that the entities in Nature

Deserve all our awe and reverence one began to consider

The sun, moon and planets too as Beings Supernatural.

Likewise, one assigned divinity to Fire, Air, Water and Wind.

One felt that all these deserved appeasement and worship.

Thus emerged in the framework  of all  religions

Other supernatural beings too: Most of them imaginary,

Like angels, spirits, and such which were/are  revered and feared.

Forces of Nature  pictured this way that cause much havoc

Are hurricanes,  volcanoes, earthquakes, and tornados.

Thus humans conclude that there are in the  vast Cosmos

Many  good and evil forces: That, aside from a benign God

There are manifestations of the  anti-god or Devil too.

ETHICS, HEAVEN, AND HELL

Another aspect of religions refers to conduct, good and bad.

It spells out ethical and unethical modes of behavior.

One imagines here what will happen post-mortem:

That will depend on the judgment  of the Almighty

Who formulated moral and immoral acts for humanity.

Joyful Heaven is reserved for those who have acted good in life,

Painful Hell for those who have been  really bad in life.

Good and bad in this context are linked not only to ethics,

But also determined by belief and unbelief in some God.

The faithful of a religion go to that religion’s Heaven,

While those sans faith will be shoved into its Hell.

For many of faith, expectation of post-mortem rewards

Prompts ethical behavior,  while fear of hell stops them

From mischiefs great and small during their lives.

Expectation of reward and fear of eternal punishment

Guide millions of  religious people in their behavior in life

Not unlike what happens with small children.