“Gandhi in Hell”
Who Knew?
Let’s explore the tension between “Tribal Religion” and “Internal Truth.” As we navigate the ancient landscape of the Bible—from the official Canon to the secret Gnostic library—we eventually hit a modern wall: Who is “in” and who is “out”?
This post dives into the infamous “Gandhi in Hell” debate to help us decide if we are following a system of labels or a path of transformation.
The Gated Community. We often treat the “Kingdom of God” like a gated community. In my recent look at the Gospel of Thomas, we found a Jesus who says the Kingdom is “inside you and all around you.” Yet, traditional religion often insists on keeping the door locked.
This tension exploded when an art exhibit at Rob Bell’s church featured a quote by Gandhi, prompting a member to leave a note saying: “Reality check: Gandhi’s in hell.”
The Tribal vs. The Transformational Writer Rob Asghar notes that religious leaders often use “us versus them” tribalism to build power:
“Humans have a tribalistic nature... many people enjoy the notion that the ‘out group’ will burn in hell.”
But Rob Bell, in his book Love Wins, argues that this “flat-earth” view of salvation ignores the actual character of God. Bell suggests the biblical message is a “dizzying and confounding mix” that points toward a much more generous reality. Asghar summarizes the conflict perfectly:
“The critics of Bell are modern Pharisees, holding biblical authority up as an idol without caring much for the character of the biblical message.”
The “Inner Kingdom” Connection. If we view Jesus as an Esoteric teacher rather than a tribal recruiter, the question shifts. It’s no longer about whether Gandhi signed the right membership card, but whether he woke up to the divine light.
Asghar concludes that many modern leaders are “traitors to Jesus” because they prefer the safety of a belief system over the risk of actual transformation:
“Jesus didn’t want fans. He wanted participants. He didn’t say, ‘Admire me.’ He said, ‘Follow me.’”
Final Thought & Discussion: If the Kingdom is an internal “Aha!” moment (Gnosis) rather than a border crossing, can anyone truly be “out”? If we take the mystic view seriously, we realize the ultimate truth: There are no others.
What do you think? Is God the gatekeeper of a private club, or the source of a light that shines in everyone, regardless of their “religious” label?
Because Saying #3 is key - I thought I should share the following:
Saying # 3:
In Coptic: ⲀⲖⲖⲀ Ⲧ ⲘⲚ̅ⲦⲈⲢⲞ Ⲥ Ⲙ̅ ⲠⲈⲦⲚ̅ ϨⲞⲨⲚ ⲀⲨⲰ Ⲥ Ⲙ̅ ⲠⲈⲦⲚ̅ ⲂⲀⲖ
Translated;
The Usual: “Rather, the kingdom is inside you and outside you.”
Should Be: “Rather, the Sovereignty- it of your inside and it of your ‘eye’ '“
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Let’s break that down word-by-word:
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ⲀⲖⲖⲀ
Rather,
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Ⲧ ⲘⲚ̅ⲦⲈⲢⲞ
the (mntero) = https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E2%B2%99%E2%B2%9B%E2%B2%A7%E2%B2%89%E2%B2%A3%E2%B2%9F
(1) kingdom, OR
(2) kinghood/reign (=sovereignty)
— the correct contextual meaning is (2) sovereignty
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Ⲥ Ⲙ̅ ⲠⲈⲦⲚ̅ ϨⲞⲨⲚ ⲀⲨⲰ
it of your inside, and
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Ⲥ Ⲙ̅ ⲠⲈⲦⲚ̅ ⲂⲀⲖ
it of your ‘eye’
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Why ‘ⲂⲀⲖ’’ = ‘eye’ and not ‘outside:
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‘ⲂⲀⲖ’, appears 10 times in the text, and of these ‘ⲂⲀⲖ’ was translated
9 times, as ‘eye’ (in #17, #22, #25, #26, #46)
1 time, as ‘outside’ (in #3) — incorrectly so, in my opinion
To confirm:
(1) Go to the “Thomas” text: https://earlywritings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1869
(2) Do a search (CTRL+F) for ‘ⲂⲀⲖ'
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Next: Go the Coptic Dictionary Online (CDO),
(1) search for ‘ⲂⲀⲖ'
— CDO lists 'eye' and other meanings -- but not 'outside'
https://coptic-dictionary.org/results.py?quick_search=%E2%B2%82%E2%B2%80%E2%B2%96
(2) search for ‘outside’
— CDO lists 'ⲂⲞⲖ’ and other words -- but not ‘ⲂⲀⲖ'
https://coptic-dictionary.org/results.py?quick_search=outside
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Then, consider what are the word(s) translated as ‘outside’ in the text
(1) Go back to the ‘Thomas” text: https://earlywritings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1869
(2) search (CTRL+F) for ‘outside’
— one will find the words to be:
‘ⲂⲞⲖ’ -7 times: in #22, #40, #64, #89, #99
‘ⲂⲀⲖ' - once in #3 i.e. the only exception — incorrectly so, IMO
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Thus, IMO, the correct translation reads:
“Rather , the Sovereignty — it of your inside and it of your ‘eye’ '“
Meaning:
We each have sovereignty (= power & duty = agency) over:
(1) our own eyes - we alone can & must decide whether to look left/right/closer/away e.g. when walking, driving,
or re: what's on the tv, social media, etc
(2) our own conception of ideas: interpretations and solutions
(3) our own perception of ideas/concepts made by others
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But is that all?
No. Conceptual Sovereignty is central to the entire ministry
— it is in fact Truth #1
— The (Com)Parables in ‘Thomas” — everyone of them — were designed to showcase this very idea
Matthew 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying:
AS IS: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
In Greek: “Μετανοεῖτε, ἤγγικεν γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.”
SHOULD BE: ‘"Change your perception (= let go of your conceptual shackle),
for the Sovereignty of the Heavens is present, awaiting."
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Here’s an example of conceptual self enshacklement where the solution is simply letting go of one’s conceptual frame :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jBgo7UipqY
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