If God were really merciful, then no one would be eternally punished. If hell is really full of pain and toture and stuff, then at some point, every soul will repent and want to go live with God.
I suspect this is the reason Catholics invented the concept of Purgatory.
2006-07-25 04:48:17 · 24 answers · asked by Steven S 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God is really merciful. Hell is eternal seperation from Him. God doesn't send anyone there. It is a place people choose to go. They, in their life on earth, choose to exclude God from their lives opting to ignore, insult and reject Him. When they die, they receive what their lives have demonstrated that they want, eternal seperation from Him.
What will you choose? You have all of the information. God is probably not going to appear to you personally to tell you what to do. But it is your choice. Will you accept His gift of eternal life given to you through Jesus Christ or will you say, "No. I think I am alright without Him."
And know that whatever you choose, God will honor your choice.
2006-07-25 04:58:19 · answer #1 · answered by Bud 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is merciful and just. He doesn't want any to perish. He wants all to have a chance to be saved. But if they breathe their last breath before making that choice it is over and their soul will be in eternity forever. If everyone knew the moment they were going to die or that the Rapture would happen we could live like we dared until that appointed time. But we don't and if we get caught short it is eternal damnation in hell. Eternal means forever and ever and ever and ever without any means of getting out. I think God is very patient. More patient than we deserve. Don't wait because no matter what you might think or desire that is the way it will be. Jesus loves you and is giving you a chance right now. Why not let Him into your heart now and avoid the indecision. Now you can't say you haven't been told. If you wait it is your fault and you will have all eternity in hell to regret your decision.
2006-07-25 12:39:36 · answer #2 · answered by racam_us 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those condemned to Hell weren't put there because God is mean or angry, but because they put themselves there.
Those who do not repent, who reject God, condemn themselves to Hell. It is their own fault. This is why God calls all of us to repent and run to Him so that we might be saved. His mercy is so infinite and vast that He is looking for anything He can do to save us. We have to make the choice and repent, just like we also make the choice to reject Him and then suffer the consequences.
Purgatory is not an invention. It is a reality.
Purgatory is a word derived from the word "purge", which means to cleanse. There are numerous indications in the bible where praying for the dead was practiced and taught. Ask yourself, if there were no purgatory, then why the need to pray for the dead?
It means that a lot of people die in a state of sin, but were doing the best they could to love God. They must be purified before they can enter Heaven.
Remember: you have to be perfect to enter Heaven (which none of us are). If there was no purgatory, most of us would end up in Hell because we aren't perfect.
Purgatory is an act of God's great mercy.
God bless.
2006-07-25 11:59:37 · answer #3 · answered by Danny H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People in hell can't be saved because there is no life after death, there is no hell, and there is no God to be merciful or not on their behalf in this mythical realm. These are all concepts common to primitive religions arising from desert peoples in the Middle East at the end of the Stone Age. These people didn't know about China or about the Western Hemisphere; they didn't even know the world was round. It seems perfectly irrational for someone to take seriously myths from such primitive sources.
2006-07-25 11:56:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is merciful to everyone. God showed all the people in Hell mercy more than once or twice in their lives. But they chose the wide path that leads to destruction. In esence God doesn't condemn people to Hell, people comdemn themselves. It's not up to God whether we go to Heaven or Hell, it's up to us.
Once a soul has enter Hell there is no turning back. Heaven and Hell are for an eternity. That means forever. And there will be no redemption in Hell.
2006-07-25 12:08:55 · answer #5 · answered by Lacksnothing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
However you choose to say it, it still is the same thing, a place of constant torment that all unbelievers go to no matter how good they are. Hell is the place that Christians do not go to because of their faith in Jesus. Though, the Bible presents clear teachings on hell it seems to be a doctrine that isn't always agreed on. There are those that feel that God is only love and would never send one of his creations to a place like hell. How is that showing love? Then there are those that feel God is only wrath and wants to send anyone there at the drop of a hat. Didn't Jesus refer to hell more than anything else in His earthly ministry? Another point of view that a lot of people hold is that hell exists and people go there, but we shouldn't talk about it because we don't want to scare people away. Isn't it better to attract people to church rather than scare them into church? Finally, we have the fire and brimstone pulpit pounders that constantly preach hell because they want to scare people into salvation. BE GOOD OR ELSE!
2006-07-25 11:51:06 · answer #6 · answered by Betsy B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People choose how they live in the here and now...not after they croak. So choosing a hellish life of deceit, conceit, hatred, thievry, and predjuice will surely damn you in the HERE AND NOW. You will ultimately be punished by humanity if you choose to be a criminal. God (if there is one) can't save you from that. In other words all the Hellish stuff is used as a method to Control you into living the kind of life you should lead in the HERE AND NOW! Only you can save yourself from the wrath of society/the law. Heretics were burned at the stake for saying that EVERYONE CAN BE/WILL BE SAVED. Suggest you check out WWW.UUA.ORG for more on this herasy stuff. PEACE!
2006-07-25 11:56:30 · answer #7 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Choose this day who will you serve either God or mammon.
You have freewill. God is merciful but has given you the option to choose salvation here on Earth. If you wait and not choose the free gift of salvation then it is too late. Catholics invented hell? Catholics don't believe that Jesus is God therefore their doctrine of beliefs is way off base. I believe you are misinformed.
+T+
2006-07-25 11:56:12 · answer #8 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it would help to view "hell" not as a stereotypical location but as whether or not you are in God's presence.
[In fact, this definition has existed in Christian thought for centuries and makes much more sense to me.]
God embodies certain ideals, including love and community and holiness. When we're in his presence, we can't help but see ourselves as we really are -- not just any positive parts but all of our flaws, insecurities, rebellions, and selfishness.
We also know that real community (i.e., where people are not afraid of each other, and feel they can be completely open and vulnerable, etc. -- imagine the most beautiful relationship you can!) is literally terrifying for people who refuse to act in selfless ways... they have to depend on the kindness of others, they have to be willing to expose all their good and bad, and so forth.
So, in regards to "who is in hell" (or, "not in God's presence"):
People will respond to being in God's presence in two ways: They will either accept knowledge of their own flaws and selfishness/pride and throw themselves at God's feet because they desire him, find him beautiful and worth everything they have, etc.; or they will run away from him in fear/hate because they cannot accept their own selfishness and flaws.
Those who run are now in isolation; they are not joining the eternal community of "heaven." They have placed themselves in hell.
So the thing here is that, yes, logically people COULD choose to leave hell... but they've already seen God in totality and still have rejected him or feared/despised him.
There's no "further knowledge" that could change the decision of their heart.
2006-07-25 12:04:05 · answer #9 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
each religion would have their own thoughts on this , so i can only give you mine
i am spiritualist and as such i don't believe in eternal damnation but a place where you can learn and heal and grow
and in your own time decide if you wish to move on up ( so to speak lol )
our faults are human faults , our soul is perfect .. and its my belief that when we pass , we see our actions in a different light to when we were in this physical world
although we would still retain some of our human personality which would make it slightly more difficult for some to see the results of their actions .. i don't feel this would be an eternal blindness however
2006-07-25 11:52:20 · answer #10 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋