I just asked Christians and Muslims if they really feel that the people who go to hell according to their religion really deserve it.
One of the answers was the following:
"The problem is that there are only two places: Heaven, and not-Heaven. Heaven is God's home. Would YOU allow just anyone into your home? Or would you only invite friends? Why on EARTH would you invite someone who professes hatred for you in?"
I must say there is some truth in it (although I don't hate God, but just believe he doesn't exist). As an atheist I don't believe in any afterlife, so I accept the thought that I will cease to be when I will die. But seriously I don't understand why I should deserve to be tortured eternally.
There were also answers that said we all deserve hell and only God/Jesus could save us from it. Is this not an extremly negative idea of man? I knew before of the belief of original sin, but can this sin be so terrible that people deserve eternal punishment for it?
2006-11-19 07:17:44 · 7 answers · asked by Elly 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know what the Bible says, but I would like to know your feelings about this, if you are able to at least have a feeling that is from your heart and not from your book.
2006-11-19 07:23:27 · update #1
Go ask the Mormons they will hook you up with a great false teaching about degrees of heaven. You can't be a little sinful. Like you can't be a pregnant. You are in sin or you aren't No unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God.. One little patch of filth makes you dirty.. Jim
2006-11-19 07:46:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ilika,Very few people understand the bible or their own religions. The essence of your being is unconditional love,you have unity with God in this love within your own heart. You are the life of the body.you lived before you had this body and you will live after it is Gone. Do not listen to fools who do not know their own religion and claim they (and you) are sinners. Listen to your own heart not your head. Pray directly to God please send me a teacher. He will. Ilika, God assures me that NONE will be lost an in the end we will all merge into unity with him,as a raindrop merges into the sea. All this stuff of heaven & hell,torture & paradise was but a way of communicating with an ignorant people. Pray directly to God for a teacher to show you the way,there are a multitude of saints on earth "NOW" that have the power to baptize with spirit & with fire. From love With love To love.
2006-11-19 15:43:07 · answer #2 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you truly believe there is no God...Then you truly believe there is no hell. Those that know God know that he is righteous and merciful. I do not spend great deal of time concerning myself with whether or not God is righteous or merciful. God created the world for his purpose with plan of salvation which involved dieing in our place that is extreme mercy and love. The punishment that you speak of is a seperation from God and is your choice not God's. God gives you free will and that free will allows you the choice to accept death or choose life. It is not God's choice it is yours.God would prefer that all accept his death as payment for your sins. But he allows you to choose. You seem to want to blame God for allowing you a choice. Without the atonement provided by God which was his suffering and death there is no choice we all fall short as sinners and perish. The eternal punishment you speak of is not all together clear you seem to think you understand it without so much as taking the time to know God. I can assure you I know God very well and I do not pretend to understand many things and you seem to understand this even better than me. Which to me is amazing that one who doesn't know him could have such spiritual understanding. I know him well and yet he chose to reveal this to you and you don't even believe he exist? God provided a way for all of us sinners that we all can have eternal life. Hell is a grave and that grave will be thrown into the firey lake those who do not acept the atonement he provided will burn and will be suffering and it is compared to burning we all know that the Bible has refered to burning with lust which can not be quinched. We also know that spirit does not burn physically. Understand tht if you seperate yourself from God it is YOU who chooses this not God. Now if this punishment you choose is punishment it is YOU not God who chooses it. God provided life for you at great price and suffering in YOUR place and provides for you an opportunity for eternal paradice....Now if you choose not to accept it and later you realize you have missed it and this causes you suffering YOU choose to blame God? I invite you to come to know god personally not judge him but give yourself to him and come to know him and allow him to show you how wonderfull he is. You need to come to know God and he will reveal the truth to you. Come to him in humility as a sinner not judging him but knowing your place and his and see if he is good.
2006-11-19 15:59:51 · answer #3 · answered by djmantx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many otherworlds that exist but that are not recognized in Christianity. There are many places to visit after your death in this world.
2006-11-19 15:21:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't believe that there's just those two vacation spots. The spirit world extends in that infinite space in between those two.
2006-11-19 15:20:45 · answer #5 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
you need to put your suggestion in the box for the creator. I am pretty sure HE has it all under control....but He might listen
2006-11-19 15:19:25 · answer #6 · answered by maybe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BIBLE IS DEFINITE..
HEAVEN OR HELL.
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
2006-11-19 15:19:59 · answer #7 · answered by cork 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋