Quote by Madeleine L'Engle
I cannot believe that God wants punishment to go on interminably any more than does a loving parent. The entire purpose of loving punishment is to teach, and it lasts only as long as is needed for the lesson. And the lesson is always love.
Summary
This quote suggests that the idea of eternal punishment contradicts the belief in a loving God. It argues that just as a loving parent's punishment is meant to be instructive and temporary, so too would God's punishment be. The intended purpose of punishment, according to the quote, is to teach a lesson rooted in love. Therefore, it implies that the concept of eternal punishment goes against the notion of a compassionate and nurturing Higher Power.