Christians: are you aware that your hell-warnings sound a lot like you _wish_ atheists to burn in hell ?

Question

Your religion invented the Hell-concept. At least that's how I see it. To me it's not a real thing, it's imaginary. You warn me for something imaginary. That truly sounds like wishful thinking to me.

I know that for you it is a real concept. But can you at least understand that to me it sounds like you almost wish it were true that people like me will burn forever?

Answer 1

actually the egyptians and others had a hell like place in fact it was those descriptions used by early painters or artists to create the scene.

I for one do not think atheist will burn.. I think it is outter darkness that they may abide in but I may be wrong there and I would not wish it on anyone and so in order that you might weigh information out with a better sense of the truth I offer you this.

The entire Bible circles arround a little known scripture which one would think would play a way more important part in the teachings of today. OT God says the reason He created man was to be His friend. So God's home is heaven. He wants His friends to live with him there so all that is left is to know who is His Friend and some of the obvious qualifications His home would have to have in order to be a place where His friends would like to spend eternity.

First off God already had robot types who did as they were programed b4 Man was created. God wanted friends who wanted to be His friend just as you who were made in His image would want this quality in a friend. This can be backed up in scripture but for now lets just accept it as true. Therefor a choice has to be made and although he would like us all to choose Him we do not have to.
Heaven would not be a place that His friends would like if it were filled with monsterous types who continually pursue evil. The place that has those is called earth and you may like it here. I do not, perhaps cuz I know there is a better place waiting.

I think that pretty much wrapps it up accept God did not expend as much energy to creat a great place for those who chose not to be His friends. Don't know exactly what Hell is but the descriptions in the Bible lead me to believe that there is more than one environment. You do have a choice you can sit in the cheap seats if you like, but why anyone would is beyond me accept maybe pride might get in ones way, you know the old "I did it my way" thing. Maybe hell is spending hours listening to Frank in darkness.

Answer 2

Mark, you bring up an excellent point here. And the sad fact is that with written text it's often hard to convey the tone of the voice or what the real intent is of a message.

I see your viewpoint and I can totally understand why this would be offensive, especially if it's something you don't believe in.

But you should know that if you look carefully on this website, there are a lot of great things and great questions on the Christian faith, it's just that too many of the users get too overzealous and don't realize that their strategy is failing miserably.

I hope you don't take this offensively, but my reason for sharing is not to tell you that you are going to hell, but just the opposite, to hopefully convince you of a better alternative.

If I see a person step out onto the street and might get run over because they do not see an oncoming truck, I feel I should do whatever is possible to prevent them from being hurt.

Because I don't wish a person to come to harm, I will do whatever is realistic to talk them out of harm. Even if they don't believe in it. But just so you know, I realize that the biggest mistake I can make is to push, because that will only backfire.

So, yes I do understand why the hell-warnings are tiresome at best, and downright offensive bordering on the "I'm better than you are". But I hope by sharing this, you understand why this keeps happening.

Answer 3

Actually, the hellish afterlife was around long before Christianity came around. The reason so many Christians refer to Hell is because it is something which Jesus spoke about, moreso than He did about Heaven. We mention it as a means of warning, sort of like that sign that says, "Bridge out". If you disregard it, think it to be false when it is not, you are likely to go in a direction that you would find most unpleasant. From what you wrote here, I get the impression that you do not consider anything said by Christians to be real. That is a shame, since a lot of what we say is verifiable. As for wishful thinking, I would disagree. For me, this world is the only Hell I would know. I hope that would be the case for you as well. However, if it is not, then this might be the only Heaven you will ever know.

Answer 4

Seeing some of the answers on yahoo Q&A I can see why you'd think that. A sincere christian shouldn't wish anyone to go to hell, I don't. I think some of them just get fed up with all the negativity here and start lashing out, and that gives people the idea that when someone mentions avoiding hell that they also mean I want to see you burn in hell. Sorry if some of us has offended anyone. I hope the best for you all.

Answer 5

First, let me correct a few things here.

The core teaching of Christianity is not hell, but love. Jesus taught us that we were to love God first, and then love our neighbors as ourselves.

We, as Christians, don't get to decide who goes to hell and who doesn't. The ultimate judge is Jesus Christ. Each of us has the choice over whether or not we choose Christ or not.

In John 3:16, Christ said he came to sacrifice himself so that none of us would perish. Christ said all we had to do was believe in him. We have a choice.

Tolerance has absolutely nothing to do with agreeing with others. It's about respecting the beliefs of others whether you agree with them or not.

I will be the first to admit that there are plenty of Christians who don't respect the beliefs of others. A lot of it I think has to do with the fact only 11 percent of Americans read their Bible daily. The rest who claim to be Christian don't. How can you know what to really believe if you don't read it?

There are plenty of Christians and non Christians alike, that for whatever reason, are so angry and hurt inside that they will say hateful things to others to make themselves feel better.


As a Christian, I believe that each of us will stand before Christ to give an accounting of our lives. This is biblical. You can read about it in the book of Revelations.

Christians didn't invent anything. Jesus's apostle John wrote about it.

Atheists aren't even mentioned in the Bible.

It's perfectly acceptable to reject Christians, as well as Christianity. Jesus and Christianity are two totally separate things.

The question here isn't are you accepting or rejecting Christianity; the question is, are you accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ?

Again, two totally different things.

I don't want to see anyone burn in hell. The Bible says God's ways are not our ways. He loves us all.

The bottom line is will we choose to love him?

Answer 6

We don't want any one to go to hell, but we believe that if we don't warn you of hell, you won't know about it. We are commanded by God, to tell everyone about Jesus and their need for salvation. To me hell is a horrible place. I believe in evil. Gosh wouldn't you hate to find out it wasn't imaginary. Why would someone tell an unbeliever about Jesus, when we know we are going to get ridiculed and teased and called insane, idiots, brainwashed. Do you think we like it? Well we don't, we do it because we believe our Lord wants everyone to have salvation. If we walk away with you believing and others have laughed and made jokes as our expense, then we did what Christ wanted, you to be saved. Would it have been worth a little discomfort to save your life.....the answer is yes. It is worth it. If I have to tell 500 people in my life and only one gets saved, is it worth it, when people call me bible thumper and holy roller, yes, you are worth it. Your life is worth saving. Christ is the only way.

Answer 7

We don't want anyone to burn in hell, but if we can't get you to understand the consequences of your not being in Christ, then we have to tell you the truth, and this is the truth. Hell is very real it is not made up. We were all unbelievers at one time just like all of you, but we finally saw the light. And that light is, and was JESUS CHRIST, and you all can to,all are welcome to come to him, he will turn no one away just believe it and see for yourselves.

Answer 8

I agree. They don't have any other tactic to use but that one. But if they actually read their Bibles, they would see very clearly that only God is the judge of what happens to anyone, so it is not their place at all to say anything, period.

Answer 9

I think that if you truly undestood our "concept" of hell, you would see that it is not wishful thinking, but a real concern that Christian have for people who shun God and His Son.

Answer 10

the thing about it is , how do u know its imaginary? just because u haven't seen it?
u don't see the wind but u know its there, right?
how can u doubt something that most ppl believe in?
if u have ever bothered to pick up the bible and read it then u would know that way over 2000 yrs ago there are things in the bible that are happening today how do u explain those?
how do u explain healings?
how do u explain some ppl are just evil and others aren't?
how do u explain your conscience know when u do something wrong?
how can u say its not real when evidence is that it is real