Why would God do this!!??

Question

Why would he create infinite punishment for finite sins?

God is perfectly just, and yet he sentences the imperfect humans he created to infinite suffering in hell for finite sins. Clearly, a limited offense does not warrant unlimited punishment. God's sentencing of the imperfect humans to an eternity in hell for a mere mortal lifetime of sin is infinitely injust. The absurdity of this infinite punishment appears even greater when we consider that the ultimate source of the human's imperfection is the God who created them. A perfectly just God who sentences his imperfect creation to infinite punishment for finite sins is impossible.

Credit to Chad Docterman for the question.

Greta, so you are saying Satan is a Creator also? Can you then prove he is not the Creator of the universe and all else that is?

Nice way to skirt around the taxing question, comingofage03...tell me, WHY bother 'answering' a question no-one asked??

So, what you're saying, Dale, is that someone who only lived 20 years, yet did not accept christ, would suffer ETERNAL punishment? Would you care to redefine "JUST" for me? Eternal torture, for 20 years of being good, but not believing in somethings existance. And you WORSHIP that kind of "justice"???

Can't fault you there, Eliziam. Yes, I know the translation is corrupt. Lots of examples of that in the "words of God", the bible.

Answer 1

Assuming for an insane moment that Biblegod were to actually exist:

Regardless of the rationalizations of the fundies the fact remains that if God created us and is all-knowing, then he created us knowing we would be imperfect. By definition, he HAD to know that Adam and Eve would fall, and what the results of that would be. If he really wanted us to be "perfect" (an indefinable state), then he could simply create us as "perfect" and not put himself or everyone else through the song-and-dance of "falling" and redemption.

God is the one who created hell...by defninition, if nothing else. One wonders what kind of a monster he would have to be to even contemplate such a place, but there it is. He then creates fallible human beings and sentences trhose beings to eternal suffering in his created hell for the "crime" of being fallible. Then he goes through a dramatic performance for the sole purpose of showing just how powerful he is, and offers a "Get Out Of Hell Free Card" in the form of a demand for constant ego-stroking and grovelling on the part of those who want to get into his exclusive club and not burn forever.

This is not just, it is not merciful, and it is not loving. These are acts I would expect of a primitive tyrant. If this is indeed how it is, then this God does not deserve worship.

Answer 2

Indeed. I had a discussion about this with a friend once. An infinite punishment is cruel and unusual, not to mention ridiculous. A punishment is supposed to have an end so that you may have the chance to learn from what you've done. Even life imprisonment is finite; it ends when you die, obviously. But punishment that lasts for an eternity doesn't "teach" you anything; it's more like torture. I agree with you, the whole concept is impossible anyway, but if it WAS possible, then there's no justification for it.

Answer 3

The problem with this question is that you're taking one major part of a religion and disregarding the essential component that goes with it. Using one of the more common Christian doctrines (because it's the closest to the assumptions you've made), here's the counterargument.

God exists; God is just; God judges humans; humans are imperfect; God is perfect. When humans die, God judges the souls of the dead and sends them either to paradise (Heaven) or eternal torment (Hell). Death is the punishment for sin (as everyone sins and everyone dies). The infinite punishment (Hell) is not meted out based upon whether or not a person has sinned (since, of course, everyone has), but whether or not the person has been a mostly-faithful follower of God and tried to live a good life.

Because humans have free will, the decision of whether or not to be sent to Heaven or Hell actually rests with humanity, not with God. Essentially, God provides a way out. Therefore, God is just.

Good question, though. :-)

Answer 4

I urge you to truly examine the scriptures with an accurate translation that has not been altered by translators' personal opinions. Hellfire is not a true Biblical teaching. And you are right to question it.
If you research the actual Greek & Hebrew words that were rendered 'hellfire' in many commonly used translations, the Greek & Hebrew words ('Sheol' & 'Hades') literally translate 'pit' & 'grave', not as anything associated with fire or suffering. Also used is the Greek work 'Gehenna', mostly used in the book of Revelation - this one's literal translation is 'eternal destruction', or death with no hope of resurrection, again the actual word itself having nothing to do with fire or suffering.
Rather than question God, maybe the question should lie with the accuracy of religious teachings that claim to be based on the Bible.
Again, you are right to question. Keep thinking, research further into the Bible, pray, you will find your answers......

Answer 5

You're far from the first person to ponder this notion. Part of the problem is that your question is sort of incorrectly worded. There's only one sin that sends anyone to hell as far as I know of what Christ said. So, there's not finite sins that send anyone to hell. It's one lifelong sin.

Second, your question shows a lack of studying scripture and a lack of understanding of some of the basic knowlege regarding the nature of God. All too often us humans love to make God in the image of man and that's what you do in your question when you replace man's ideas of perfectly just for God's.

Finally, just a technical item, but it's not an infinite punishment; it's an eternal one.

Reply to questioner:

You assume he went to hell, but nothing of the example says he must go there. Only God can place him there. I know not the man's life short of the facts you told me which is far too little to put him in hell. The situation you present plays on man's mercy and emotions and pity; how could a loving God send simple, ignorant Tommy to hell? Maybe God didn't... Would one change their belief in Christ if they found out 20 year old Tommy was in Heaven? If Christ is right, most would probably still not.

How he came to disbelief, why he sustained it, what was truly in his heart regarding God, that's what matters, not some simple basic data of age of death and a simple "yea" or "nay" on Christ. What matters to God are things no man can know about another and it is why only God could condemn anyone to hell.

One final thing... I don't worship "THAT" kind of justice. I worship perfect justice which would not necessarily condemn him to hell. To assume God would is too assume way way way too much, imo.

Point is, you, or anyone, could not submit any person, real or imaginary, that I could declare was undeniably in hell.

Answer 6

It is not God's desire that any person should suffer an eternity in hell. The Bible says, "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Hell was prepared originally for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). However, God will not force anyone to go to heaven. If a person willfully refuses to repent of sin and turn to God, with faith in Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of the world, God has no alternative. Justice demands that those who disregard and reject God's loving offer of pardon will pay the penalty for their own sins forever in hell.

Has this question caused you to delay making a choice to follow God? Choose eternal life now! The Bible says, "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Answer 7

You are not "sentenced" to hell for your sins by God. You make the choice to go to hell by denying the free gift of salvation God has provided through the sacrificial death of His Son, Christ Jesus.

It's like we're lost in the woods, and there are two paths; one leading to a way out of the woods (salvation), and the other leading to a dead end where all things that go there die (hell), and me telling you that this way is life and the other is death. I will not force you to come with me. The choice is yours. Humans love to blame God, and it's usually the ones who claim He doesn't exist, or the ones who want to do as they want and not be held responsible for their own actions and choices.

Answer 8

Yes, God did create us all, and we are all sinners. And yes, he has sentenced all sinners to eternal punishment. But God is just. He sent his only son Jesus Christ to Earth, so that he could die and therefore take the blame for our sins. So whoever believes in him and asks for forgiveness of their wrong doings will live with him forever in heaven.

Answer 9

He created places for prepared people. Heaven and hell. Then he gave them the absolute freedom of choice to choose which of those destinations they preferred to spend eternity in. Seems to me that someone hostile to God would not like it if they wound up in heaven.

Answer 10

Hey, why focus on the negative. . ."mercy" by far is used more in the Bible than the word "justice". I believe that God is infinitely merciful--and that s/he can see that what we do is the result of many complicated factors. (We're not living in a "just" world to begin with, are we!)