That reminds me of when i was in the lower 6th at my public(boarding) school and we were having the customary weekly R.E class with the school chaplain.
He told us this tale about the people in heaven and hell both being given very long spoons to eat with and how the people in heaven managed to eat because
they used their spoons to feed each other whereas those in hell experienced eternal hunger.
We were asked to write an essay on it. I being , as i am even now ,somewhat cynical when it comes to religion wrote this rather vehement essay in essence saying that the story was ridiculous- being bad doesn't make you stupid i pointed out.

It had not crossed my mind to look at the tale from a more abstract angle.