Hmm, suppose it makes sense that no one actually understands the point I'm making, that has nothing to do with the self immolating mans beliefs or faith, but that of the ability to train the mind body connection to endure the pain response and reinterpret it's signals to a state where it is a sensation to be experience, than a pain to be endured.

I believe/think/theorize it's a proof that pain IS an illusion, (A very convincing and unpleasant one most of the time) and so we don't have to fear it's coming, merely know it is nothing that can be overcome with the right training and a mind that is in control of it's ability to reinterpret the typical response and feeling to pain to one instead of sensation that merely informs what the signals are sending, rather than experience it's unpleasant side designed to help react quickly and appropriately to pain, and is useful in it's longterm gain in terms of learning quickly not to let oneself get injured, but can have hindrance in situations where the cause of pain is beyond avoiding, and instead must be endured, and enduring pain without the unpleasant side effects is something that is possible to overcome in medication, meditation, hypnotism and placebo/faith healing.

In summery, I believe pain is a convincing illusion that has it's purpose, but is not always useful to be forced to endure it for long, it is a signal that the brain interprets, and so can be a hinderance or a help, and such signals can be reinterpreted in numerous ways, so threats of eternal pain for failure in choosing the correct faith is something that just seems absurd when you know pain is the worry of those that have intentions on surviving, maintaining and living in a fragile and temporary body vessel, and it only actually exists through the process of the bodies electric signals to the mind and how the mind has learned to interpret such signals. Assuming it is the "spirit" that gets sent to hell to be tortured and punished, and it is mind and body that interpret and experience pain, it doesn't seem like there is much to worry about.

Anyway, end of completely and utterly useless thoughts and theories on pain and it's purpose in life and an afterlife, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts, I know it's much of a muchness to debate the purpose of pain in an afterlife that may or (more likely) may not exist, but I think it's important to understand, pain is not an evil thing and has no useful function outside of keeping a body vessel undamaged as possible through its shelf life. With death, comes the end of the vessels usefulness, and if a spirit really exists and takes a completely different from the corporeal planes, I don't see how a pain system would function or be at all useful to that incorporeal form if it's never at risk of losing its vessels form and function...

Godot, now I sound crazy don't I.