As a follow-up question to "Does anyone make it to Hell?:"
Again assuming again that God exists, if God is so compassionate, and loves everyone in an overwhelmingly, practically incomprehensible way, and unconditionally at that, when faced with Him upon death, how could anyone possibly turn away from that? Even assuming that there are some people who are incredibly evil, and *don't* have some sort of mental illness, how is it even possible to *want* to turn God away at that point? I just can't even begin to think that's possible. My point is not to convert atheists, but more to examine again the idea of how anyone could possibly pick Hell over Heaven. During life here on earth, it takes a lot of confidence and trust to believe in God without seeing Him -- some don't see enough evidence in His existence. But when actually faced with Him? How could someone even begin to want to be without God?
2006-06-30 06:51:51 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Assuming that there is also a Heaven and Hell.
2006-06-30 06:56:35 · update #1
This is being taken the wrong way -- or at least not as I intended it. I'm not preaching about the awesomeness of God. The Higher Intelligence could be anyone, even multiple gods!
This is how I'm coming across, "How can you be so blind as to accept God? He's wonderful!" but it's not what I mean! I'm saying that I think it's completely impossible to, when faced with reality, not come to grips with some Higher Intelligence's existence. Assuming that God exists and is all-powerful, how could His actual presence before a person not change that person's mind on the spot? I'm almost contradicting the validity of the existence of Hell, which some of you rightly targetted. That's at the heart of the issue I suppose. I'm saying that for those who won't be swayed by any "evidence" of a God on Earth, how could looking God in the face and knowing His love and power allow anyone to think differently? It just doesn't seem possible!
2006-06-30 07:08:50 · update #2
Your assumptions clearly indicate that you're a Religious person despite respecting those who aren't by stating that you assume there is a God or Hevaven/Hell. Since your assumptions aren't proven than I suggest you look at freedom of choice to be your answer. Society and Humanity guide, rule, and judge you in the here and now. Your risks and rewards are in the here and now. Anything beyond that is pure conjecture.
2006-06-30 07:06:51 · answer #1 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Too begin with, by the time that you die you have already made your final choice either for or against God. So when you die, that is it!! You just lie in you grave, you know nothing, you see nothing, you go nowhere, you do nothing, you think nothing, you have nothing to do with anyone or anything. YOU WAIT for judgment day, and that is all that you can do, your case in the heavenly court is over. Whether you go to heaven or you are destroyed in "the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up,..."(Malachi 4:1) this is entirely up to you. If you would be saved then OBEY GOD, if not the do nothing more then you are doing now. No I did not just pass judgment on you, you passed it upon yourself "Again assuming again that God exists,...", this tells me that you do not believe in God, or His Son Jesus Christ. But one day you will have to stand before Him and give an account of yourself, alone, without a mediator, all by your lonesome. Good luck, You Are Going to need it.
2006-06-30 07:13:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont see why anyone would unless they just didnt believe in God or Hell. I know of someone who doesnt believe in Hell but believes in Heaven. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them,"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures,nor the power of God" May God Bless you
2006-06-30 06:59:16 · answer #3 · answered by cindy j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just me,. but god set things in motion for man to carry out. man chose to sin and so here we are. god told man when you die you will go back to where you come from,, the earth or ground . he did not say you will burn in hell of fire. when did he change his mind, well he didnt. most people think because you have been good, when you die you go to heaven,,soryy but the resurarection has not begun yet.it is not that simple.when you die ,you are in the grave of the earth until you are faced with him to be judged.even most good people wont make to the heavenly kingdom. and so to speak, heaven is a spiritual world not of people, just spirits,, god is not a man or woman. as for hell, fire, it just a symbolic sign of destruction and everlasting , mean you will be gone forever. not though of at all. but then again, just me. some people dont understand what they read .
2006-06-30 07:05:17 · answer #4 · answered by cletus_fraley 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of people on here have told me, they hate God and would not accept Him as He is because He's a hypocrit. they've said that even if heaven is real, they don't want to go there.
and I tend to agree with them. if you can't get along with God down here, you'll probably like Him even less up close. if you hate narrow-minded Christians, why would you want to be surrounded by them for a million years?
God is virtuous and holy, and He is so holy He cannot tolerate evil. point blank. He cannot coexist with sin. we can't walk around earth, disobeying God, ignoring His voice, polluting ourselves with things of this world, and expect to take it all to heaven. the whole point of heaven is that there won't be any sin there.
2006-06-30 07:01:41 · answer #5 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A very passionate question! Being a Christian, of course I relate to what you're saying. You have to remember though, that the bible tells us the things of God are spiritually discerned. If you are a believer in Christ, you have the spirit of God and can see things and understand things that others, who do not have that spirit...cannot possibly understand.
The bible tells us that men do not want to "come to the light" because their deeds are evil. Wanting not to believe in God...or anything God has said in His word....is a way of assuring oneself there is going to be no judgment for anything one has done in life. Unfortunately, disbelief does not negate the truth of all God has said. It will all happen, exactly as the bible tells us. We cannot choose for another to believe that, however, so I understand your anguish.
2006-06-30 06:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are basing everything on the remote possibility that a heaven and hell actually exist. You can't imagine anyone choosing one over the other and yet you never consider the obvious....neither one exists.
2006-06-30 06:57:01 · answer #7 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God allows us the decision of how we will respond to God. The results of our decision, whether that is eternity with God or without God, is completely based upon our choice on how we will respond to the love of God for us in Jesus Christ.
2006-06-30 06:57:21 · answer #8 · answered by christian_mennonite_pacifist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When death comes it is to late to accept or reject Jesus Christ. Your decision must be made while living here on earth.
The decision that we make determines where we spend eternity. God full fills and respects the decision you made for your self.
2006-06-30 07:01:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will...your question begins with the concept of "original sin"...adam and eve walked with God, and they still chose to try and become 'like God'...that is, rebellion; to become God or more than God.
2006-06-30 06:56:21 · answer #10 · answered by Jillfull 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋