Sentencing (reincarceration) and Idea 74 is 'Heaven and Hell

So today a few things on my mind ..

Sentencing

Once so close

This afternoon I understand that Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce are due for sentencing - there's an understandable knee-jerk reaction that they should be locked up, well I'm certainly not fans of them or their treachery and lying but we should ask what is the advantage of incarceration for either of these two?
To my mind a hefty fine and community service would be a far more sensible punishment and would be a lower cost (this BBC report indicates average cost of each UK prisoners is £34,000 per year) alternative to putting them in prison, why do we see prison as the answer to so many criminal offences it has proved ineffective to date and why do we continue to ape the USA in locking up people who are not a risk to others in society rather than deal with the real problems within the individuals and in society itself?

 Paul Foot remembered

Earlier today I was trying to close a filing cabinet drawer which was obstructed, one of the items making it difficult to close was a folder related to accident I had when knocked from my bicycle by a Police car  -the accident was distressing and remains so added to this my claim for  damages was disputed and a counter claim was raised. Paul Foot a journalist on The Daily Mirror  at the time was supportive and I wonder who now would take similar care.
Private Eye remembers Paul  Foot with an annual prize, learn about Paul here.

Idea 74 is Heaven and Hell

I got the impression that Mr Crofton has less interest and engagement with this idea than many of those he has analysed previously.

Marx described Heaven as 'the carrot used by the wealthy to keep us working hard for little money' and certainly within the Abrahamic tradition there is a tendency to see Heaven and Hell as a method of preserving the Status Quo with that famous promise of 'Jam tomorrow'.
This Alex Santoso resource gives  some nice comparisons between the various religions views on good and bad versions of the afterlife - but what does it mean to you and I living today?

Let's ask ourselves a few questions to try and consider :

What Heaven might be and mean  if we believe on of these religions and 'qualify'

How can it be better than anything we can imagine? -
How do we get there? (Actions in the world that lead us there along with death)
Do animals go there?
What happens in terms of our age and knowledge -  how are people manifest, do we meet relations and old friends.
Can we get out of there (by doing bad things)? Do we have free will there?

and conversely  for Hell

How can it be worse than anything we can imagine? -
How do we get there? (Actions in the world that lead us there along with of course death)
Do animals go there?
What happens in terms of our age and knowledge -  how are people manifest, do we meet relations and old friends.
Can we get out of there (by doing good things)? Do we have free will there?

This on George Ritchie's  NDE (near Death Experience) is perhaps relevant  - Myself I quite like the idea of the Monk living habit wearing afterlife.

And here is some theological judgment around afterlife  from the Roman Catholic leader Pope John Paul II.

It's another difficult one - I have this problem with someone who doesn't believe and leads a really 'good' life being condemned to Hell and  someone living a selfish life not helping anyone and exploiting their position but on their death bed making amends with God and then going to Heaven.

Also youngsters or those who do not have the opportunity of learning of 'God' who don't get a ticket either  .