why exactly do the call it "good news"?

Question

before christianity, there was no hell, and everybody went to heaven. and then they come along, say most of the world is going to burn in eternal hellfire, and this is supposed to be good news? am i the only one who thinks wtf?

"I don't know what planet you came from, but there has always been a hell and everybody did not go to heaven."

i suppose if you believe in mithraism this is true.

"but if there wasn't a hell, then where did all the heathens go when they died?"

wtf? as the bible says, "the dust shall return to dust, and the spirit shall return to G-d who have it."

people were expected to good because it was right, not because they feared hell. and guess what... jews, atheists, wiccans, etc are all pretty damn nice people.

"G-d who GAVE it"****

"Sort of. I'm not sure I agree that everyone went to heaven before Christianity. "

this is true of course, if christianity is correct, until 2000 years ago every soul was burned in hell, and most of them since then have done so too. but thats only true of christianity is true, and judging by its gaping plot holes and the utter evilness of a god who could possibly conceive of torturing his "children" for eternity, i am not hedging my bets on the truth of christianity.

Answer 1

lol... couldn't help but laugh.

Answer 2

There was no hell before Christianitiy? I knew that there wasn't much emphasis on it in Old Testament Jewish law, but if there wasn't a hell, then where did all the heathens go when they died?

Anyway, the good news is supposed to be that, despite the fact that there's a burning lake of fire, you can escape it! 'Course, you have to question whether you'll accept the fact that there's an invisible ocean of liquid flame somewhere under the earth's crust, waiting to endlessly consume every soul that doesn't believe in Jesus. Personally, I think it's kind of ridiculous. That's cool, though, if people want to believe it.

And no, you're not the only one who thinks wtf...:P

Answer 3

It's good news because you don't have to sacrifice cows anymore with the priests. It's good news because someone was finally a good enough sacrifice for you.

Most Christains are wrong on the burning forever and ever in hell. Hell means gehenna in most places in the Greek. Gehenna is where the Israeli's burn their trash. It burns and then it's gone. The burning forever and ever is a Greek myth and has something to do with Hades. Unfortunately, this is a false doctrine that crept into the Christain religion. God says the wages of sin is death not eternal life, the gift of God is eternal life.

Answer 4

So in error are you. Check out Egypt and other of that time. Hell has been around much longer than christianity. The Good news is there is a free ticket out. Dis obediance got us thrown out obedience gets us back in. How simple is that. Look around at the creation what do you see. Really look. Was their a creator and if there was then does He have the right to judge. That is the real thrust behind the evolution religion (theory) no creator no accountabilty.

Answer 5

First thing first, Matt 7:13 says Broad is the way which leads to destruction and MANY there be that goes into it, but narrow is the Way that leads to life and FEW there be that find it" Now if God the second member of the God head died for you to be saved why would it be hard to "find it" "John 14:15 says "IF" You love me keep my commandments, Matt 7:21 says not everyone that says unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of God BUT HE WHO DOES... If you love Him enough to be in obey Him you will be there but if not you won't its very simple, In Rev 21:7 says and in many other places "He that overcometh shall inherit... Now the fire of hell is eternal in its effect, but in the same book of Rev 20:6 says in hell is the second "DEATH" the everlasting part it the "EFFECTS" of hell not hell itself, because in the next chapter God creates A new earth and new heaven [the sky not God's kingdom is created, its called heavens too] hay visit www.itiswritten.com for free bible lessons, and visit a Seventh Day Adventist church in your area on Saturday and keep commandment number 4 that deals with the seventh day sabbath, did you know nowhere is sunday called the sabbath, and God did not make it holy so you can't keep it holy, the papcy, that is the catholic church is why sunday is a day of worship God made no such change, talk to me also [e-mail]

Answer 6

Nobody went to Heaven before Christianity. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. So, it's good news that by believing in Him, you too can spend eternity with God (Heaven), instead of spending eternity cold and lonely without God (Hell).

Answer 7

Well if people did go to hell, they did it before and after Christianity. What humans say about it has very little to do with it. But yes I agree with you. Sort of. I'm not sure I agree that everyone went to heaven before Christianity.

Answer 8

Gospel = good news, the "good news" is that you don't have to burn in hell, here is the message of Christ......

Other than that, your right. It goes with the general scare tactic of follow us or burn. It's persuasion by fear, and it works. just like conning older people to pay money for medical problems or burials.

There are tons of good People who follow what they believe because it is the right thing to do. But, some churches really do preach a "Follow Me or else", and there are many who follow just so they don't go to Hell. Just like playing a game to not lose. Not exactly the right approach.

Answer 9

Christianity is called good news because we no longer have to worry about getting into heaven on a merit system (how many could actually get in based on what they have done in thier lives?). The Lord took our punishment by his death on the cross. The book of Isaiah 53:5 says, ""But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his decendents? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken." Isaiah goes on to say in 53:12 "For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

The good news is that we do not have to atone for our own sins, because we have one who did this for us. The good news is that our Lord is coming back! Our wonderful Jewish messiah will be back to rule on his throne in Jerusalem. The book of Revelation says in chapter 21:3, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes . There will be no more mourning or crying of pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
We have good news of God's kingdom that will be established. What a glorious hope!

Answer 10

i see your point, i was baptized roman cathlic. heres the deal:
there is, as you proboly know, different types of "cathlics"
and the kind of morbid, silly, rules and stories that your talking
about lol is the roman cath0lic stuff. methodists, lutherns, pentecostals, and piscapaleains actually don't go into detail with all that stuff, i stopped getting into that detail-stuff, b/c i found
it contridictory as well. i think as long as you get the message right, no matter what religion you are,i think youre ahead of most
people.
As an aside, I actually find the Jewish religion really intersting and
and with risk of sounding like a "fan", i take alot of the message
there in my daily adventures

Answer 11

I don't know what planet you came from, but there has always been a hell and everybody did not go to heaven.