If the worst thing about Hell is total absence from God... does that really sound that bad?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah.vj8bUfR_2EVG9Qhqxmf7zy6IX?qid=20060810090123AAPvE3l

Thanks to the asker here for inspiring some interesting answers. So, really, if atheists are already absent from God and don't believe in him, if there was really a hell, they would basically live their lives as normal and still be absent from God?

I would assume that if we're in hell, our soul is still supplied? If not, then we'd have nothing to exist on and then it's just nothing.

Answer 1

Good point. But, if you're going by what the bible says, it also tells eveyone there will be pain and gnashing of teeth, which don't sound too good.
But that's just how people are scared into believeing.
I'm an atheist.

Answer 2

Dear Selnyk,

You, like many people, are mistaken to think that God is totally absent from Hell. God is omnipresent, and that includes hell. The big distinction is that the blessings of His presence are withheld there, but don't think that God and His justice will be absent. His blessings are a gift; His justice is part of who He is. You are mistaken also to think that atheists are already absent from God. In this life God gives grace to both the just and the unjust, such as rain for drinking, crops, etc., but in hell even the many blessings that you now receive daily would be gone. That would be a terrible thing, if you can imagine it.

Answer 3

The answer to the question depends on whether the person contemplating it wishes to live beyond this brief life in the flesh. If one wishes to live on, then certainly personality annihilation(hell/absence from God) probably doesn't sound too keen. You could probably have some interesting times here on earth if you were not concerned about the afterlife, but the downside would be that when it's over, it's OVER - done, finished, kaput. Immortality sounds much more enticing to me than a few brief years of debauchery.

Answer 4

But they wouldn't be absent from God just by not believing in him. I don't think an atheist would go to hell just for being atheist either; but if one were to go to hell, the absence of God is the absence of existence, so what they always thought would happen will.

Answer 5

I think you are not reading God's Word but trying to believe that hell is not such place. Check out these verse and see if it not a bad place. Luke 16: 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, Mark 9: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Matthew 24: 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Revelation 20: 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Revelation 20: 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20: 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Answer 6

being absent and disconnected from God is one of the things you'll get while your in hell but your missing many more details there will also be endless burning, they say sulfur smells like rotten eggs so thats what hell will be smelling like, and then the demons that are around will be playing tricks with your mind, they will torment you according to what you did on earth. you will see ways to get out but it'll only be a mirage. and while all this is happening you will feel worms eating you up. the bible says that your body will be dead here on earth but your spirit will have full conscieceness in heaven as well as in hell. and the bible says that helll will be way worse for those who ones were in the truth and then turned their back on it. so God says is better to no have known at all then to know and turn your back.

Answer 7

Your choosing to not have God as a part of your life here on earth is a privilege given by freewill. When you are in hell for eternity with out choice I think that will be so much worse. The word talks in the New Testament about the rich man in hell, begging for a drop of water for his parched tongue. He also wanted his family still alive to be told of the truth and where he was at. He didn't want them to be in constant torment.

So not only was he able to see heaven over the chasm of death, into Abraham's bosom(heaven), He felt pain and remorse. He worried about his brothers. He could see what he lacked and what he chose when he chose to go to hell.

I couldn't imagine being on the side of hell looking into paradise, knowing i could be there, simply by faith. Seeing Jesus and him having no part of me. That makes me hurt inside here today.

Answer 8

See, the thing is that if God isn't a sadist, he's not going to rake you across the coals.
I think that the torment comes when you get to the judgment seat and see him there. After the big oops, you'll get to talk things out with him and he'll send you to the eternal reward that fits you best.

Answer 9

"if atheists are already absent from God and don't believe in him.."
Minor point: Athiests aren't absent from God. They just don't believe in Him.


His Word says all will see Him, all will declare He is Lord and then most will be sent out apart from Him.

That's a bad day at the office, if you ask me.

Answer 10

Whether you choose to believe in something or not does not automatically negate it's existence. For example, I may choose not to believe in gravity, but if it ceased to exist tomorrow, I would certainly feel the effects of it!

It's the same way with God.