Is God really so black and white in His evaluation of people? Can He not see gradations and shades of gray? Why wouldn't there be different levels of both heaven and hell? Especially hell, because it just seems evil of God to put me, a Hindu who doesn't even squish spiders, in the same burning torment as He puts a serial killer.
2006-06-23 03:12:56 · 33 answers · asked by Heron By The Sea 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Heron,
There are many of us Christians who believe that there are different levels of Heaven and Hell. Certainly God sees gradations. I get a little fed up with those who have the "one straight Heaven and one straight Hell" attitude. God sees the different opportunities, circumstances, etc. that people have. He knows exactly where each individual fits.
2006-06-23 16:06:07 · answer #1 · answered by Brigid O' Somebody 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, things really are that black and white. The grey area is a spot created by humanity because we are to much of a coward to face the truth. We cannot be perfect no matter how much we try. That is why salvation through Christ is the only path to perfection and God. If you refuse to accept his sacrifice and love, then that tells him that you do not wish to be with him, so you will be cast into eternal separation from God (modern views of what hell is are Dark Age creations of man's mind, not biblical fact). Hell is eternal separation from God, not burning torment.
2006-06-23 03:19:11 · answer #2 · answered by zharantan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very simple christians are big headed, there is a god but he or she doesnt care what religion you are(if god does only the jewish are going to heaven) it is a matter of your own soul, how you treated your fellow man treated youself and what you did with your life that really matters.
God doesnt care what you name him, or what day you say thanks, or how you do. All of those are just traditions of your culture aka religion. Have a kind heart a strong touch care for others and the mother earth and you will be fine. In the end we will all meet in heaven and laugh about these silly arguements we had over what to call god
2006-06-23 03:22:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different levels? Is that like a piece of heaven, or a piece of hell?
There is no middle ground because there is only good and evil.
You can't be both.
There is only right and wrong.
Let's say I take a test in school, and I get the answer close, but not right. How would you grade my answer? Would it be fair to the students who got the answer right, to give me credit as well?
2006-06-23 03:17:31 · answer #4 · answered by Nep-Tunes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Heron,
Well, it depends on what you compare Christianity to.
In the Old Testament, the relationship between God and Israel is commonly compared to a marriage -- it's a permanent commitment between two beings to honor and love the other.
This motif is carried over in the New Testament. The relationship between Jesus and the church (i.e., the "nation" of believers) is compared to that of a husband and wife.
When you look at it like that, well, you're either "married" or "not married," right?
I know my spouse would really hate overhearing me say to someone, "Well, it's not really like I'm married or not married to her, there's really a lot of shades of gray here in regards to whether we REALLY have a relationship..."
I could say literally there'd be "hell to pay" if I did that. :)
Viewing heaven as a reward for how well one "behaves" leads to the sort of problems that you're describing in your question and is why I don't think it reflects the Biblical model. Viewing it as a relationship with God sheds a completely different light on the matter.
Heaven, in that case, means "being in God's presence." Hell would mean "not being in God's presence."
People get to choose whether they want to be with God in that committed relationship, and God's presence / lack of it has a definite impact on one's existence.
2006-06-23 03:28:18 · answer #5 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Kuran it says; one will be punished no more than the sins he committed. So this must mean different levels for hell.
For heaven, I'm not sure. I remember reading about three kinds of people in Kuran, in just one place though.
It was like good, bad and the leaders of good or leaders of existence.. Please don't rely on what I say and research it yourself.
Good luck
Sorry I skipped the part "according to Christianity", I'll leave the answer anyway.
2006-06-23 03:22:12 · answer #6 · answered by virgo77 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But you as a Hindu deny the true existence of one God and worship a false idol. That's a hefty sin, my friend.
Furthermore, God does not operate on a moral relativism. That is a human invention to justify what someone once thought was unjustifiable. It is used to shift morality to the necessity of the person without moral integrity.
2006-06-23 03:17:07 · answer #7 · answered by velvet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Religions do have a middle ground called Purgatory. Also in bible there is a description of a Man's (forgot who) visit to Hell. In this visit he describe Hell in Layers based on crime. It could be assumed that Heaven may have similar levels
2006-06-23 03:17:06 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah it doesn't make sense to me either. I asked once would a good kind hearted non believer still go to Hell even if they was sorry for they're sins, and apparently he would still go to Hell. How does that make sense? I think Hell is made up. Someone was telling me Hell just means grave in the ground u sees to exist.
2006-06-23 03:22:26 · answer #9 · answered by xoɟ ʍous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Christians like to threaten and scare people with "believe exactly what I believe or you're going to HELL! Wahahahaha!"
I think it pisses them off that some of us don't believe what they believe, and hey, no one can force us to! I dont' believe in God but if there is one, I'm sure he would be open-minded and a lot more intelligent than these ignorant pushy types on here.
2006-06-23 03:17:46 · answer #10 · answered by ontario ashley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋