Christians have expressed their belief that the bible is indirectly the word of God himself. In the bible, Hell is described thus...
"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:30).
"and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
(bad news if you've ever told a lie...)
the place of eternal punishment and torment, far from God's presence (Thessalonians 1:9).
My opinion is that I will not worship someone who has created hell.
2006-09-05 22:15:40 · 25 answers · asked by Nick H 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is not an attack of Christianity - I simply seek to understand people's motivations behind worship. The question can apply to any religion which uses the concept of hell. I choose Christianity only as it is what I know best, as I was forced to hear Christian preachings in my youth, against my will.
I don't see it necessary to worship anyone. I have no proof of a creator or facilitator of life. If there is a creator who wants to be worshipped, would it not be helpful if they made their presence known to me directly?... rather than through a book, which quite honestly preaches bigotry, ignorance and hate...(try reading chapters such as deuteronomy and you'll see what I mean)...
If christians followed the bible's teachings, then homosexuals would be beaten to death in public, and rape victims would be obliged by god to marry their attackers.
I'm not making this up.
"We've had this book analysed and it reads like the ramblings of a drugged horse"
2006-09-05 22:42:05 · update #1
They will never give you a straight forward answer.
2006-09-05 22:17:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
God created us - but it is us who have created Hell! We've done it here, on Earth - where we live. We kill, maime, torture, rape, mutilate, torment, bully, antagonize, frighten and generally do whatever we can to scare, annoy or destroy the self esteem of those we share the planet with. Why? - because we are AFRAID of those people who have a belief or a possession that we do not have or do not understand! Who needs God's 'hell' when we do a very good job of putting everyone else down and making the World a thoroughly unhappy place while we are alive. If you don't believe and don't intend to follow / worship God - then don't attack the people who do. I guess you are happier to believe that when you die - that's it. Personally, I would like to believe that if we all do our best to follow the most basic and fundamental moral code that is the 10 commandments, then the world will be a happier place - as to what comes next - have you ever counted the number of beliefs out there??? Only one of them will be proved right - who knows if it will be the Christians (of whom, I am one!) Incidentally, I believe the word of God was documented as well as the scholars of the time were able to do - but as to what we now have...- ... the translated, translation of an interpretation of what was originally written? It's a little far off the original for my liking! How many different versions of the Bible can there be- that can still be classed as 'the word of God'?!!!!
2006-09-05 22:45:25 · answer #2 · answered by pyronaught2000 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
why do religions deserve respect? I do not respect belief systems that are exclusive, threaten violence on non believers (if sometimes posthumously) and are almost always inconsistent and sometimes incoherent.
Religions are a social phenomena, all societies invent them at some part of their history - and guess what is really odd - they don't invent the same religion - the prevalent religions are those that were in favour at the time the owners became powerful and spread forcibly by them - the US is Christian because the Brits/Spanish/french were christian, turkey is Islamic -because the Persians/Egyptians were Islamic etc etc.
And religions are self protective so they apply all the methods of self preservation - carrot/stick etc etc. (interestingly some religions have had to have these bolted on to an original idea -when the leaders/owners realised they were in danger of losing power. Look at Christianity in the US - orthodox Christianity in the UK is on the downturn - US Christianity has gone all fundamental or they would do the same)
2006-09-05 22:38:27 · answer #3 · answered by dust 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
More than seeking a genuine answer, the intent behind this question seems to be to criticize Christianity. What you are asking is not true just for Christianity, but for all religions. Almost all religions have a concept of hell so whats your point really ?
I dont know why it is so fashionable these days in the West to severely criticize Christianity alone disproportionately. You could not get away with ctiticizing Islam, Hinduism, or Sikhism similarly without some "minority community getting hurt".
By the way, I am not Christian. I am a Hindu living in the UK but I feel Christianity also deserves respect like any other religion.
2006-09-05 22:28:23 · answer #4 · answered by Balaji S 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Here's the straightforward answer that you're not expecting.
The word translated as hell (don't forget the Bible was not written originally in English) means "separation from God". I haven't got time here to prove this, but I can if necessary.
Matthew 25:30 as quoted above describes (in archaic language, try using a modern translation) the condition of those who are separated from God.
The lake of fire in Revelation is written in Apocalyptic language and is symbolic for the judgement of God upon those who may continue to reject him even after being confronted with all truth and the revelation of his real nature - love. For most people, this will happen after they die.
Thessalonians 1:9 again mentions the agony of people who are separated from God.
Therefore Hell is not a created place, it is the chosen condition of mankind. Surprisingly enough, these references to Hell actually apply to our world, right now. Mankind chose to reject God as told in the symbolic story of Adam and Eve, and have lived in Hell ever since. So Hell, or separation from God, is the condition of the world right now, and that's why it's in such a mess.
2006-09-05 22:35:01 · answer #5 · answered by Rude 4 U 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This may be the most reason I worship my God who is the creator of all so that He will keep me away from eternal distruction.......
all the verses you quoted are in the bible and the God is able to do what He wants because He is God
you and I are living with the limited knowledge, you can never say that you knew are true untill this age and you will never be sure that what you knew at your age 99 (if you can make it) is true enough...
so when you talk about God you better on the safer side not to offend God but to obay and serve him.
I wish you that you will know the truth one day then you will come back to Christ... but please don't wait before it is too late, I am not converting you to be a christian but to convert your thoughts on God from what you blieve and forced to believe because of the present circumstances, listen it is not to shock you but to notify you that the future circumstance on the world is going to be worst and worst then before and what the bible says will happen with out fail....
God bless you......
2006-09-05 23:06:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Has nothing to do with fear!
When Satan excercised his free will and decided against God Isaiah14:12-15 Ezekiel 28:15.he drew a third of the angels with him.
Revelation12:4For millions of years perhaps before man the angelic conflict was raging between the angels who were with satan and the ones who chose for God.
Satan and the fallen angels were sentenced to the lake of fire Mathew25:41 this will be carried out at the end of time Revelation 20.
It was satan's arrogance in trying to over throw God which brought this sentence on himself and the fallen angels.
2006-09-06 02:03:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As society has evolved, I believe the bible was created to evolve with us, too. If the literal meanings don't exist, then maybe literal consequenses don't either!
Like ANY religion bad things are threatened if you don't do as you should, likewise good things are promised if you do! I don't like the system of thinking that bad is in this world because of God. He gave each and every one of us free will; he doesn't make us do anything!
Just because the little human people say they're fighting a God's crusade, that doesn't mean that He likes the idea!
It's like killing your boss because he won't give you a raise: "But I did it for you Honey, so that you could buy that big house!" Nah...not a good way to be! Your wife didn't want you to kill anybody, let alone in her name!
In case you didn't realise...we're probably in Hell, anyway!
2006-09-05 22:38:36 · answer #8 · answered by Huckleberry Finn 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hell is eternal separation from God. Those who reject God will be separated from him, because that is what they have chosen. If you didn't want to be with somebody, you wouldn't want to spend time in their presence.
Hell was created as a courtesy, so to speak, for the rebels like Satan.
In any case, why not choose to follow Christ and his way? That will offer you a guarantee that you won't be going to hell.
Oh, and if you choose not to worship the creator of everything, including hell, who will you worship? Someone who never created anything?
2006-09-05 22:25:53 · answer #9 · answered by Ian H 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This worship is through love and also "fear" which is the "fear of God".
This "fear" is more like how a son fears his father when he is disobedient.
Some thing applies here. When we are disobedient, God gets unhappy, and teaches us right from wrong.
Now, in learning to fear God, we learn to experience His ultimate love.
God loves you.
You said :"My opinion is that I will not worship someone who has created hell".
Well then, if you dont want to worship someone who has created hell, then why dont you worship the person who lovingly created you?
Who is He? GOD.
By the way, you said : "Christians have expressed their belief that the bible is indirectly the word of God himself"
Correction - the Bible IS the word of God. Not indirectly or directly or whatever. It IS.
Thanks :)
2006-09-05 22:21:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Son i suggest you take a long look at John 3:16, Romans 10:9, and Matt 11:30, and I John 1:7
2006-09-05 22:33:35 · answer #11 · answered by KREAL1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋