SERIOUS QUESTION: Does anyone find that religions portray God in a way that makes him seem hypocritical.?

Question

I am an atheist. But this question is not intended for atheists to take "potshots" at the theists. This is a serious question.

I am told that if I do not believe, I will go to Hell. But if God really is ominpotent and infinitely perfect in every way, I do not think He will give people FREE WILL and then send them to HELL when they exercise it. According to the Bible, that is how it is. Does anyone find this hypocritical or unreasonable by our Creator? Do you think the Bible (or Torah or Quran), since it was written by man, maybe has a small flaw but still could be generally useful as a guide?

Isn't it possible that the Bible is not completely accurate? Is any theist willing to admit this possibility? Can't God still exist but some things such as Hell and God's unforgivingness towards atheists be exaggerated? Religious people claim God is perfect and awesome, yet He is also supposed to have flooded his people and, in other religions, advocated war.

Can someone explain please?

Answer 1

As to the Bible, when was the last time God came down to edit His galleries?

Answer 2

If I were laboring under all the MISCONCEPTIONS you related in your question, I'd probably be an atheist too. Firstly, literal hellfire
is not a Bible teaching, the Greek word "hades" and the Hebrew word "sheol" are the original words hell is translated from and both words in their original languages mean grave or pit. God's inspired word, the Bible states in Jeremiah 7:31: "And they have built the high places of Topheth, which in the valley of the son of Hinom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart", so if a loving God would not authorize this agonizing death on a temporary basis how much more would he not relegate persons to an eternity of tormenting fire. Sure Jude 7 in the Bible says, "So too Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, after they in the same manner as the foregoing ones had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use, are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire." Now really
is Sodom and Gomorrah still burning today, of course not, but
the expression was used to illustrate complete annihilation.

My imperfect brain tells me that one who can create and perpetuate a universe can preserve a book (the Bible).as a reliable guide.

Remember God's saving acts through divine warfare is justified.
He alone is the reader of hearts, and if he did not take steps on behalf of the righteous what kind of God would he be. If I had bad, black-hearted and incorrigible tenants I would evict them and that's exactly what the God of heaven and earth is going to
do, EVICT bad tenants.

Answer 3

The arguments about which parts of the Bible are to be taken literally and which metaphorically can go on forever.

I think your own common sense is a good place to start.

How could a loving God think to create a place like Hell, where someone can fry forever, with no release into eternity.

Did Noah really get two of EVERY Species on earth?

Did Jonah really live three days in the belly of a great fish?

The list could go on ......
But then, some of the teachings of those in the Bible are quite inspiring, Jesus being tops I think.
Thomas Jefferson kinda felt this way, and edited his own bible, called "The Jefferson Bible", He took only those parts that dealt with the Life and teachings of Jesus and tossed all the rest. Its about 50 pages and will fit in your pocket.

Some folks consider it some type of sin to question the Bible, I don't, I think it's the intelligent thing to do.

Answer 4

I don't think that God himself is hypocritical. However, I think they way he is portayed in the Bible could be perceived that way. And, I think modern traditional Christianity portrays him that way too.

It's very possible the Bible isn't accurate. And, I (as a Christian) do NOT believe it to be inerrant. That is foolish statement to make. Perhaps, if it was wrote by God himself that'd be different. But, it wasn't.

1. God didn't come to Earth to write a book
2. A lot of the New Testament was wrote by scribes of the apostles. Some books hundreds of years after the fact. A lot of facts can get lost in there!
3. The Old Testament was an oral translation before it was wrote down. Anyone every played telepone?

These are just a few common sense things.

Its shocking how many Christians can't admit to the common sense problems with their beliefs. They leave no room for error. And, when it stares at them in the face...the deny the exsistance. I don't believe God gave us a mind we can't use. To sacrifice your brain for religion is crazy.

I don't rely on a book for my salvation. It is irrelevant.

BTW, the strangest hypocrisy is how Christians portray Jesus as fully God (God reincarnated) when that would be idolotry. I never understood that one...

Answer 5

You make a good point because often times many people do express hell as God's gavel of judgement falling on an unrepentant sinner.
The reality....freewill is exercised by the person and a choice is made by that person to either follow God's way or follow their own way. Those that are condemned, condemn themselves through their unbelief and refusal to accept God's plan for salvation.
Jesus died for the sinner and God's word say's that God would have it that all would come to Him and He has shown immense patience with man throughout man's rebellious history, many just can't accept that.
I know this is a little long but Revelations speaks of a thousand year reign of Christ on earth immediately after His return in which there will be peace during that period. Satan, who was defeated will be released once more at the end of this period and even though Jesus will be readily available, His power evident to everyone and His postion as God and King is well established it says that there will be multitudes that will be swayed by Satan and will fight in a huge massacre in the valley of medigo in Israel. They knew who Jesus was and yet still rejected him, so is the way of the rebellious, they continue in this rejection irregardless of the consequences because they cant accept that God's way is the only way.

Answer 6

If what you believe is so satisfying and great, then why are there so many atheists and agnostics trying to start arguments with people who have faith? Happy people don't walk around looking for people to argue with. It's seems pathetic to me that you can actually ask this question unless there is some doubt about your own beliefs. People like you are always trying to twist your reality around to suit your own needs. If there was not a God, then I would have no conscience. If I had no conscience like the majority of people on the planet have (to some extent) then I would probably be behind bars right now. Where does a persons conscience come from?

Answer 7

(First, I would like to say that I am a Catholic, I go to church every Sunday, and I am very active in my church.)

Of course there is flaws. As you said, the bible was written by man's hand, and the human kind is known for making mistakes. In the ancient times, humanity wasn't much. There was no education, there was nothing to influence them. When Jesus came to this earth, the people found something to believe in. They feared not believing because they didn't understand what that meant anymore. They had free will, but there weren't many who were brave enough to use it. Those who did not believe the same thing were thought to be evil, and they should be sent to hell. This is my theory as to why God will send any person that does not believe in him to hell, because they saw those people as evil.

And, God flooded his people out because there was too much sin and Satan was influencing the people too much. God had to start over (kind of)

Answer 8

No, God gave us free will so that our love for him would be real, not love that comes from knowing nothing else. The bible which was written by man but contains no blatant contradictions. Is it possible that over 1100 years and over twenty authors that could humanly possible. I do not believe that the Bible is inaccurate. Read the book of Revelation at the back of the Bible for the answers about God's wrath and non-believers.

Answer 9

I can see how it could be seen that way, but since I've given my life to Him, I've come to understand a lot better, and I have to admit I'm still learning. I don't claim to have all the answers. The best I can explain it , is that it's a trust thing. I've learned to live by Faith, because it has served me much better than anything ever did before. As for the free will, it makes sense to me that He wants us to come to Him without being forced, not because of the threat of hell, but because of the love He has shown to us in numerous ways. We discipline our children for their own good, to teach them and keep them from getting hurt. If they don't follow our rules, they must pay the consequences and be punished. God just does it on a much greater scale. That's why he flooded the people who refused to obey Him. And wars have always happened, and always will as long as people are determined to defy Him. He wants peace, but if war is necessary for people to be able to worship Him, of course He advocates it. As for the accuracy of the Bible, I just Trust that it is. It was inspired by God, and even though man actually wrote and interpreted it, I believe God guided those who did. I don't concern myself with whether it is accurate to the word. I follow the intent of it, and since people interpret it differently, there's no way everyone can be right every time. That's why it takes a lifetime of studying it to understand it fully. I can read the same verse several times, but then suddenly, I read it and see something totally new in it. That's the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but only if you trust Him enough to allow Him to lead you. I also think God respects your questions if you are sincerely interested in understanding Him better. I can't say whether or not you will go to hell, only God can judge. But all He asks is that you believe. If you believe, and allow Him to, He can answer all your questions.

Answer 10

Why can't you ask something EASY, like "what's the meaning of life"?
Have had interesting conversations with religious/spiritual people of many different backgrounds (FWIW, was raised Lutheran but now consider myself Pagan). Most of the persons of "good will", regardless of their denominational and theological doctrines, shared the following general tenets:
(1) Humans are incapable, in their present state, of fully understanding what on earth Deity (insert chosen name here) *really* wants/intends. Our brains/understandings are too blasted limited. It's like trying to run Windows 98 on a Sinclair computer.
(2) Currently available religious texts are worthy of careful study, but please be aware that human brains can really screw up translations and meanings over the years. Handle and interpret with caution---and compassion.
(3) Deity does love us and has considerable room for forgiveness. Deity also loves justice and fairness. Deity will find some way to reconcile these things in front of us, especially when we look at the contradictory things that do NOT currently make sense. Details pending.
(4) Anybody (including me!) who says they have "ALL the answers" is probably lying....Life is not that simple


(Personally: can I demand that Deity justify actions to me? Sure. If I don't get some coherent explanations about why evil was permitted to walk in the world, I'm *always* going to be wondering about the nature of Deity's goodness, justice, and fairness. How far can I love you, and trust you, under those circumstances....? Any Deity who'd make me able to ask questions, with a big share of curiosity, and then clobber me for it....man, that's ugly.)

Hope you get some lively feedbacks on this question!

Answer 11

The bible was interpretted by man to control each other, God would never banish a good person to hell, God is the sum total of all existence, good and bad. God is perfect in the totality of infinity but as God told Moses, I am becoming that which I am becoming. Meaning that with human and other experience God is evolving. If you havent figured it out humans corrupt everything they touch including, they use "God" to justify all their insane actions.