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 more unjust than this punishment. The absurd injustice of this infinite punishment is even greater when we consider that the ultimate source of human imperfection is the God who created them.
A perfectly just God who sentences his imperfect creation to infinite punishment for finite sins is impossible
2006-08-26 12:39:51 · 23 answers · asked by Atheist 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are some truly whacked out people here. I agree with you 100%. No sane parent would punish their child for the rest of his life over spilling his juice at the table...so if imperfect finite goofballs like us can figure that one out, then surly a perfect infinite God could too.
2006-08-26 12:52:44 · answer #1 · answered by Jedi Baptist 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The flaw in your analysis is that sin in finite and limited. Sin is the intentional choice to do wrong and place yourself outside of God's grace. You look at sin as if it was a single event, like a crime, for which there should be a specific punishment commensurate with the gravity of the sin. Most of the damned do not go to Hell because of one single sin. A lifetime of sin is a lifetime refusal to live in harmony with God. If you've lived your earthly life without any care to be in God's grace then you have made your own choice through the sum of your life, in which case, why would He grant you eternal life with Him when you die. God did not create man with imperfection either. Man chose to estrange himself from God and therefore created the imperfection of original sin by his own choices, not by God's failure. God does not inflict an eternity of pain and punishment, people chose that course.
You're an atheist, so why be so fixated on God and the justice of sin and punishment?
2006-08-26 20:00:55 · answer #2 · answered by John 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
True, God is perfectly just, but god is also infinitely just too. God did not create imperfect humans, but rather humans chose to sin, thus making themselves imperfect.
If something is perfect for eternity past or perfect from its inception, then it will remain perfect forever after or until in becomes imperfect. Humans at their creation were perfect--without sin. At the point were humans sinned, they became imperfect, a status that cannot be changed for eternity. God, being infinitely just, in order to maintain his justice has to punish sins eternally. If he didn't punish sin eternally, then in he would be going soft, and not maintain his infinite justice. Rather than wanting humans to suffer eternally, God made an infinite sacrifice (himself) in order to pay the debt that humans owed to him. In doing so, he maintained his justice, and redeemed human kind in the process.
2006-08-26 19:54:04 · answer #3 · answered by The1andOnlyMule 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Puniushment for sin is not the result of an action but an inaction. The inaction is not genuine sorrow for the sin whatever it is and a denial of responsibilty. If the greatest sinner of all time were to fell genuine sorrow the second before his/her death he/she would be forgiven. Some people think that this means go out and do what you want and then ask for forgiveness on your death bed. The problem is God knows if your sorrow is because you feel real remorse or simply a trick. I suggest you look up John Calvin' work on the subject. While his writings are certainly not Scripture they do provide a clear explanation.
2006-08-26 19:53:31 · answer #4 · answered by alcavy609 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, this is an unusually provocative question. I guess the way my personal theology wiggles around it is in being not all that certain that the Greek concept of hell that Christianity has adopted is accurate. Perhaps those who reject God are simply destroyed once and for all. I haven't studied this out completely--but I do know that some of what is commonly accepted is not as supportable as might be thought.
My understanding is that we are born with two problems: a nature that sins, which was passed down from our ancestors. And we are dead--disconnected from God, because of that nature. So unless we do something about those two things, that is how we remain--sinning and dead, with no hope of redeeming ourselves. God, in his mercy, made a way to deal with both conditions: paid for the sin, and offers us new life.
It seems to me that if people, in their pride, basically tell God they'd like to make up their own morality, rule their own lives, and worship their flesh...he honors them by not overriding their wishes like a controlling parent. He's made huge overtures to reveal who his is and enormous sacrifice to demonstrate his good will, and to make a possible way out of our condition. If we don't want that, the only alternative is destruction. Imagine living eternally in sin...imagine what abuse and corruption humanity could cook up given enough time. No thanks!
2006-08-26 20:57:36 · answer #5 · answered by marshwiggle 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sinning against an infinite God demands infinite punishment
2006-08-26 19:48:50 · answer #6 · answered by beek 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds reasonable in theory doesnt it? Heres the problem.....
God has given you this life in order to do many things, believe in him, follow him, love others, teach others about him......
He makes a very reasonable demand that if you give up the life you wouldve otherwise lived (which is evil) and live a life devoted to him, he has great things in store for you.
You also make the assumption that sins are somehow finite and vanish after we die. Not true. A great illustration is when Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" sees the spirits that lived for themselves, they all have these chains and weights attached to them. these are like your sins, they dont just go away, they stick to you and every careless word youve ever spoken is written in Heaven and waiting to be disclosed to everyone who ever lived!
That is what Jesus came here for, to rid you of that chain of sins so u dont have to carry it around in the next life!
God is eternal, us human spirits are eternal, sins are eternal, the rewards are eternal and so is the punishment!
2006-08-26 19:52:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here is the concept as I see it. If you can't learn to play nice you don't get invited over any more.
In other words this life is a pre-requisite for eternity. If you don't meet the entrance requirements then you are not going to be able to handle it. Would it be paradise if there was sin?
When we are judged we will go through a cleansing fire and if we have built our lives on flammable material then we will be completely consumed by the flames.
2006-08-26 19:47:23 · answer #8 · answered by Makemeaspark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No sin can be seen as infinite since it's an offence to an Infinite Person, this is what makes sin so horrible.
There's a difference in striking your neighbour and striking the President.
Therefore an infinite offence demands an infinite punishment.
Hope this helps.
2006-08-26 19:45:45 · answer #9 · answered by zorro 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of Bible scholars actually believe the punishment of hell is finite, and the soul will eventually cease to exist. I'm a little confused about that, but that view is out there. Here's a link to one popular proponent of it:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/books/bk-ged/death23.asp
2006-08-26 19:47:32 · answer #10 · answered by ©2007 answers by missy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋