I don’t believe it (or the rest) either: the wrathful, vengeful, genocidal god of the old testament (who would not measure up to any sensible notion of good or moral) fatally discredits the religion to me. The passage is compelling, though. By likening everyone (& yourself) to Jesus, it demands we treat them accordingly (like a golden rule by proxy). It, moreover, indicates passive inaction (possibly including monasticism) is not enough, thus demanding positive engagement with the world.

As for rejecting the idea of hell, it’s interesting to compare for reference the older Zoroastrian/Mazdayasna tradition that inspired/originated many of those ideas (duality of good & evil, god & devil, free will, divine justice, heaven & hell, guardian angel, archangels, immaculately conceived savior who resurrects the dead, final judgement) & was in some sense more benevolent & coherent about them. They did not consider hell eternal: impure souls in the dark underworld are purified & reunited with the divine, a good god wouldn’t allow eternal suffering, and when asha ultimately prevails over druj, hell ceases to exist & the universe is restored to a pure state.

Digression: surprises in Mazdayasna changed the negative impression Christianity gave me of religion. For example, they don’t consider belief a condition for a good afterlife, either: only good deeds for the right reasons (uphold truth, order, justice, no expectation of reward) seem to matter. I think it’s fascinating that ancient people can & have imagined better than the primitive savages the old testament led me to think they were. It disappoints me that their benevolent ideas struggle to survive.