As regular readers know, I take an interest not only in science, but in the evolution of science. Back before Newton proposed the bold theory that the force holding us to the ground was the same thing that guided the heavenly bodies, everyone knew that the grave matter of original sin was what kept man down from heaven. Look up the etymologies of “grave”, “engrave” and “gravity” for yourself. In brief, they all mean to push (or cut) down.
Theologically, up was toward sinlessness, and down toward maximum sin. Therefore heaven had to be up, and hell had to be down. In order for a man (like Jesus) to rise bodily toward heaven, he merely had to be completely without sin.
Angels are without sin, and therefore immune to this force.
Given this earlier definition of gravity, one can see that Saint Peter has a cushy post as a gatekeeper. Anyone who died burdened with sin could not have reached his lofty post. The exception is Catholics who received last rites from an Earthly priest, and then had to be sorted out. Talk about passing the buck*!
* The buck in this phrase refers to the leadership token of a buck-knife, not a dollar!
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