Or is it if you believe in him completely and sin he doesn't send you to hell at all but he just punishes you.
Does God punish you for being jealous, insecure, angry etc. or is it severe crimes.
I don't know why but everyday I am afraid to be punished by God even if it a little thing like getting angry.
2006-11-30 16:50:38 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
From what you say I think it is clear that God does not need to punish us. We do a pretty good job of it on our own. And according to some, the place of temporary punishment is not hell, it is purgatory.
2006-11-30 16:53:50 · answer #1 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First you must understand that God isn't a guy or a girl or a person at all. You seem to be familiar with the Judeo-Christian scriptures also known as the bible. In them it is said that god is omnipresent. This means that god is everywhere. That means god is in everything, which means that god IS everything. The native americans refer to the concept of god as the great mystery. This is becasue nobody knows how existence started, where it came from or where it is going. God made everything, god is everything. Who made god. That is a mystery. The great mystery. No scientist can explain this. No priest or rabbi or swami or shaman can either.
So remember god isn't a person, therefore it doesn't punish.
Now, hell is a state of suffering, while heaven is a state of happiness. If you are suffering often you are often in hell. If you are often happy you are often in heaven. Guilt isn't pleasnat. Guilt makes us feel unhappy. If you are doing things in your life that make you feel guilty, your life will feel hellish.
Most people in the world today feel terrible, either mentally physically or emotionally. This is hell. We are all experiencing the repercutions of our own mindless and irresponsible actions. People want to feel physically healthy, yet they don't stop eating things that are unfit for eating. They want to feel at ease and in peace, yet they don't stop competing for money and material possessions and for trying to be superior to the next guy or girl. This lifestyle is stressful and it makes you do things that aren't kind.
Well, I could go on, but to answer your question, no god doesn't punish. And if anybody sends anyone to hell it is our own selves.
There is a lot more to life and god than what has been allowed to appear on the bible and on mainstream media. So let me repeat what Jesus said: Those who seek will find. Don't stop with the bible thinking that that is as far as answers and wisdom go. There's much more out there for those with an open heart and mind. Go and seek. It will help you lose your fear.
2006-12-01 01:17:19 · answer #2 · answered by vipanesq 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you could be asking about, Catholics believe in a realm called "Purgatory"...I don't think that it is exactly Hell, but I know that it is not supposed to be a plesant place to be either. You are supposed to do your time there, kind of like Jail, and when your soul is perfected enough and free from sin you can then enter into heaven. God does not punish you in your day to day life. He will judge your soul after you have died. If bad things happn in this world, it is because bad things just happen in an imperfect world.
2006-12-01 00:55:27 · answer #3 · answered by The Nag 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on your beliefs. If you believe in what most tell you then you'll go to hell, I guess. But there are many religions who are against the eternal damnation for stealing a measily cookie thing.
Personally I believe that it's just like a prison sentence and that it isn't for eternity, but the so called sins you commit and why you commit them alters the time. It's not just an "oh, you stole fourteen cookies and tripped a little old lady so you get three centuries" why you did what you did would also be weighed.
2006-12-01 01:03:40 · answer #4 · answered by spirenteh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see God as a loving father. If you get angry with others, He'll make sure that others will get angry with you too. Kinda like saying, "Do you know now how that feels?" Ditto everything else that you do.
The more severe the crime, the more it will come back to you again.
Sometimes, I think this world is like clockwork -- every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I am sure God has a lot of free time to do other more interesting stuff.
This is my belief. It can be proved wrong. But I chose to believe this because it keeps me doing good and not getting bogged down with "why me?" questions.
2006-12-01 01:01:56 · answer #5 · answered by WaterStrider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to not only believe in Him but repent of your sins as well. God gave us the ticket out of hell by allowing His Son to be sacrificed to cover our sins. He who knew no sin became sin for the world. He took your punishment for you. All you have to do is accept that gift and go and sin no more - just like Jesus told the adulterous woman at the well. Even Christians sin. We aren't perfect because we're saved. We must pray and ask forgiveness the same as everyone else.
2006-12-01 00:57:21 · answer #6 · answered by Pamela 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is one place or the other. You are being too hard on yourself, and God is not like that. Once you believe in him, and trust him and believe what the bible says, you become a child of God. God does not hate his children, he loves them, and forgives them. He wants a relationship with you. His biggest concern is your heart, and so if you are sinning a lot, that could come between you and hinder things that way. No, if you are forgiven, and your name is written in the book of life, you are going to heaven. If you believe that, and have faith, then it is a done deal. He is a very kind God, amazing really.
2006-12-01 00:56:10 · answer #7 · answered by oceansnsunsets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope... If you are going to hell, its because you never accepted Jesus as your Savior. It is the only way to avoid hell. Once you accept God's free gift to man, your sins will be forgiven, past, present and future. That's not a free ticket to get saved and go out and do whatever you want, but rather you should feel compelled to live your life more according to the way God would have you live it. You'll still screw up. We all do. But God forgives... We are only sinners you know...
2006-12-01 00:57:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theres no reason to be afraid. God loves you and knows that you're not perfect. As long as you believe in Jesus Christ you are saved. We have all sinned a fallen short of the glory of God. Even me as a christian, I have sinned and I am forgiven for that sin, but I will still face God for that sin even though I am going to heaven.
2006-12-01 09:46:09 · answer #9 · answered by Michael C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to get into heaven is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and if you are not in heaven when the end comes you are in hell...Jhn 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name...Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh...1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
The only way to be free of your sins is to fall on your face and ask forgivness from Jesus, all sin is the same in Gods eyes...Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
God may punish you, but if you trully believe in Jesus Christ and are always seeking him first and ask for forgivness you will receive forgivness.
2006-12-01 01:11:52 · answer #10 · answered by jme e 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋