i want to know why people can believe in hell. Yes, i know?

Question

the bible says it exists. but do yuo really believe that people go to hell that are good people? like, jews, and what not? this question is not ment to offend anybody, i just really want to understand how people can belive in it. that a loving god would let good people suffer for eternity

i am refering to the christain teaching. havnt had 1 person answer my question.

Answer 1

You know I so appreciate your question. It's honest and I was thinking the exact same thing last night. What about people who lead a life that is generally a good life (although I know the bible says there are "none" who are good)...but I mean, they don't kill anyone, they just don't believe in Jesus. Do they go to hell, and why would God send them there?

I believe the bible, so yes I do believe there is a hell. I also believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Therefore, yes....I do believe that any who do not accept Jesus as their savior will be in hell.

That leaves the last part of my dilemma....wondering if that's "fair" that God would do that. I will be honest with you. I have been a bible student for over ten years. I have studied the bible and I have come to know and experience the character of God. It would be impossible for me to call anything that God would ever do "unfair", because I have come to know Him as perfect, holy, just, righteous, merciful, loving, kind, slow to anger, full of wisdom. But I do understand the question....I have mused over it myself. I'm sorry that I don't have an answer for you. Other than to say, I know that God is love. It's hard for us to reconcile hell and a loving God. But I don't need to understand everything. I have come to trust in Him completely.

Answer 2

Like Doug Batchelor, a pastor, once said, " When God punishes the wicked, He does it out of love ... " People choose Hell, and God gives us free will 2 choose Heaven or that. Besides, they don't burn there 4 eternity, just 4 how long they should b punished ( read Psalm 37: 10 & 20, Rev. 20: 9-10 ) Besides, its not like He will laugh at them, but cry 4 them.

Answer 3

Good people shouldn't end up in Hell. Most major world religions believe that to end up in Hell, you must intentionally push God away from your life and never allow Him to be a part of your life.

I'm Catholic, and our church teaches that God is always willing to forgive our sins if we ask. The key is asking. Those who don't seek God's forgiveness won't receive it.

If we're on philosophical questions, your final statement brings up an interesting point, if we change it slightly: why would a loving God let good people suffer right now?

Answer 4

Works do not get ya to heaven. Larry Flynt probably gives money to charity and may be a good person outside of the porn industry, but unless he repents from the industry, he's a gonner. Hell is seperation from God and everything. Imagine being alone for eternity? Faith in Christ is the way, thats what he died for. I too think it is not fair that many good people in heart are lost because they dont believe, but I trust that God's reasoning is beyond my peon mind can concept.

Answer 5

I agree with you... I do not believe this is the case. For one the reason you mentioned, God IS LOVE... this is his greatest attribute and two, the bible is written in Hebrew and Greek and the word that we have chose to translate Sheol and Hades had mythological connotations to it.... the underworld. In actuality, Sheol and Hades, just mean common grave in these languages.

What many have done through the years is weave in superstition and the actual activities of the Canaanites that use to throw their children into fire in Gehenna worship their god Moloch. My second assumption to this, with no warranty of proof, just my two-cents, is that fervent religious leaders started telling their followers this to gain conformance to their policies and persuade them to follow the Bible... the fear tactic.

Just a p.s.--- You lose something in ANY language when you translate from the native tongue to English... but we are so arrogant think that since WE translated it- IT must be right!! Do some research people and quit always listening to what the preacher is telling you from the pulpit on Sunday... he won't be standing with you on judgement day! Why doesn't everyone question what they read (be in the Bible or from their church literature)? Whatever your belief/religion... I would think you would want to know for yourself... I wouldn't want to bank on what someone else told me was so.

Answer 6

Christian teaching is that the "default option" is going to hell and suffering for eternity

Clearly this is not a loving or moral option
they "forgive" god for his barbarity and realize they are "good"

no ... you really cannot believe it if you even begin to think about it logically ... you must toss logic and evidence altogether and have "faith" (alternately known as stupidity).

Answer 7

Define "good". Jesus said that there is none that is good except God. We base our judgment on a human level, not God's level. We all sin, God takes sin very seriously. The only remedy that forgives that sin and allows us to be righteous before God is the willing sacrifice of a perfect being unstained by sin, that person is Christ. He took the penalty due us upon himself. Look at it this way, Hell is being out of the presence of God and all His attributes. Those who are there and will be there, spent there lives saying, "I don't need God, I don't need Jesus, I don't believe in God, I don't believe in Jesus, I don't want God, I don't want Jesus." When they die, God grants their wish. He is no longer in their eternal lives at all.

Answer 8

In the case of ordinary "unbelievers", I think it's basically a cosmic "I told you so!"

After 9/11, my wife said she wished she could believe in hell, so she could comfort herself with the thought that the terrorists were there. I think that in the face of injustice, many people think of eternal punishment for the unjust as a comfort.

Answer 9

no, hell and heaven are just states of being....i think hell is when you stay on earth as a ghost or get reincarnated as a frog or something and heaven is when you go and become one with god when you die..read life and teaching of the masters of the far east for more or go to deeptrancenow.com and ask laura..she's an expert.

Answer 10

Those people don't really believe in a loving God. They believe in the vengeful God of the Old Testament.