miracles are always good things ” ( 274 ). While I do not agree that it is just the religious Right who believe miracles are always positive , I do agree that many who would define themselves as religious have such beliefs . In the world of the story , supernatural visitations can have both profoundly negative and profoundly positive effects on people .
However , we see characters on whom these visitations have no effect at all . Ethan Mead , a witness to the angel Rashiel ’ s visitation , believes God has a purpose for him and longs for “ an encounter with the divine to provide him direction ” ( 214 ). However , Rashiel ’ s visitation does not change Ethan either spiritually or physically . He witnesses Neil Fisk ’ s death and descent to Hell , which leads Ethan to a recognition of God ’ s ambivalence : “ He tells people that they can no more expect justice in the afterlife than in the mortal plane ” while encouraging them to worship God , just not “ under a misapprehension ” ( 234 ). Whether one worships God or not seems to have no effect on whether one ends up in heaven or hell . Therefore , the reader is forced to question the benefits of religious faith .
In many ways , “ Hell Is the Absence of God ” is a commentary on Pascal ’ s Wager . In the world of the story , the inhabitants know God exists ; therefore , there is no infinite gain or infinite loss in choosing to believe or not to believe . The infinite gain or infinite loss is situated in the love one has or does not have for God . If one loves God and goes to heaven , then one receives infinite gain . However , if one loves God and goes to hell , as does Neil Fisk , then one experiences infinite loss . There is no “ best bet ” in this world as one cannot trust God to reward the righteous .
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