I don’t believe in hell.?

Question

I don’t believe that anybody should root in hell for an eternity regardless of what they have done. I’m not saying that I approve of murderers, rapist, and child molesters. I just think if theirs any kind of god at all he wouldn’t make anybody root forever in hell. It’s a bit much don’t you think? I do believe that murderers and rapist deserve to be punished, but only in the real world. I don’t see these people as evil I think there mentally sick. I’m sure there is a place for them in the after live but not an eternity of hell. What kind of person does this make me? Does this mean I’m atheist, because you can’t believe in god if you don’t believe in the whole picture? Does this make me a bad person for believe that god has a bigger heart than what most people read about and think? I really would like to know what your opinion is, but before you judge me just remember one thing. This is how I feel and it can’t be helped.

sorry I meant rot.

Okay so I’m reading some of the answers and some of you are saying that it doesn’t matter what I think that it’s all in god’s hands. If it doesn’t matter what I think and I have no say am I born a slave?

Answer 1

I'm with you, I do not believe in "hell-fire" that most religions teach either.

Webster’s Dictionary says that the English word “hell” is equal to the Hebrew word Sheol and the Greek word Hades.

English translators of the Authorized Version, or King James Version, translated Sheol 31 times as “hell,” 31 times as “grave,” and 3 times as “pit.” The Catholic Douay Version translated Sheol 64 times as “hell.” In the Christian Greek Scriptures “New Testament”, the King James Version translated Hades as “hell” each of the 10 times it occurs..

The question is: What kind of place is Sheol, or Hades? The fact that the King James Version translates the one Hebrew word Sheol three different ways shows that hell, grave and pit mean one and the same thing. And if hell means the common grave of mankind, it could not at the same time mean a place of fiery torture. Well, then, do Sheol and Hades mean the grave, or do they mean a place of torture?

Acts 2:31 uses Hades. Notice, too, that Jesus Christ was in Hades, or hell. Are we to believe that God tormented Christ in a hell of fire? Of course not! Jesus was simply in his grave.

Good people go to the Bible hell. For example, the good man Job, who was suffering a great deal, prayed to God: “O that in Sheol [grave, King James Version; hell, Douay Version] you would conceal me, . . . that you would set a time limit for me and remember me!” (Job 14:13) Now think: If Sheol means a place of fire and torment, would Job wish to go and spend his time there until God remembered him? Clearly, Job wanted to die and go to the grave that his sufferings might end.

In all the places where Sheol occurs in the Bible it is never associated with life, activity or torment. Rather, it is often linked with death and inactivity. For example, think about Ecclesiastes 9:10, which reads: “All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol [grave, King James Version; hell, Douay Version], the place to which you are going.” So the answer becomes very clear. Sheol and Hades refer not to a place of torment but to the common grave of mankind. (Psalm 139:8) Good people as well as bad people go to the Bible hell.

Can people get out of hell? What did Jonah mean by “out of the belly of hell”? Well, that fish’s belly was surely not a place of fiery torment. But it could have become Jonah’s grave.

WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT DEATH

Jesus Christ spoke about the condition of the dead. He did so with regard to Lazarus, a man whom he knew well and who had died. Jesus told his disciples: “Lazarus our friend has gone to rest.” The disciples thought that Jesus meant that Lazarus was resting in sleep, recovering from an illness. They were wrong. Jesus explained: “Lazarus has died.” (John 11:11-14) Notice that Jesus compared death to rest and sleep. Lazarus was neither in heaven nor in a burning hell. He was not meeting angels or ancestors. Lazarus was not being reborn as another human. He was at rest in death, as though in a deep sleep without dreams. Other scriptures also compare death to sleep. For example, when the disciple Stephen was stoned to death, the Bible says that he “fell asleep.” (Acts 7:60) Similarly, the apostle Paul wrote about some in his day who had “fallen asleep” in death. 1 Corinthians 15:6.

Answer 2

I am undecided of what religion I am as well. But I used to be a Christian. What I have learned from the many books I have read is this: God is infamous. He has no magnitude.

The fact that people try to personify God and give him a gender is part of the problem. Ever notice the "pictures" of him look like the Greek god Zeus or the Roman god Neptune??

Anyway...I'm with you, I don't think that people deserve to rot in hell, either...I think that hell was a place invented so that people would follow the pathetic religion out of fear. So that they would follow, thinking that if they didn't become mindless sheep lead by an imaginary god, they would suffer for eternity in a place so vile, so horrible, it led people to believe such things. (And if that offends anyone, I apologize, I'm never good at sugar-coating anything).

Answer 3

I missed the question. Is it "Is there a Hell?" Yes, New Jersey. Ha! Just kidding! Wonder how many down thumbs I'll get for that...?

Anyways, there's no more reason to believe there's a Hell than to believe there's a Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, or a house of gods on top of Mount Olympus. These myths and beliefs have their usefulness, in certain circumstances, but, as you've discovered, many don't hold up to close scrutiny and examination. Hell is supposed to help prevent people from doing bad things, but as you pointed out, eternal punishment just doesn't seem right. I applaud your decision to examine what must be core beliefs to some and express your honest opinion about it. Good luck with it!

Answer 4

I also do not believe in a Fiery hell of torment.

Jeremiah 7:30-31 states ‘For the sons of Judah have done what is bad in my eyes,’ is the utterance of Jehovah. ‘They have set their disgusting things in the house upon which my name has been called, in order to defile it. And they have built the high places of To′pheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hin′nom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart.’

If burning children is disgusting in God's eyes why would he create such a place where people are burned? Actually he didn't. Religious leaders created that idea to sow fear and convert people.

Also,He would not do it especially as the bible described him “God is love.”—1 John 4:8, 16. Notice that it didnt say God has love but He is Love himself.

“Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!”—Job 34:10.

Also, the wages sin pays is death (Romans 6:23) So when those criminals die, they paid for the sins...we all sin, and all punishment is death. The difference is,those who have committed grave acts do not have the privilege to be resurrected back to life....they just cease to exist.

but again only God knows the heart of person, so he will the judge not I....as a criminal may be repentant of his crimes, a merciful and loving God will surely forgive him.

Your belief means you're on the right track.

Answer 5

This does NOT make you a bad person, and it doesn't make you an atheist. Everyone, including myself, has their own version of religion that they subscribe to. Some follow the written words to the tee, others follow the main concepts. I think the main concepts in the bible were of love and compassion, not revenge or spitefulness. You seem to be going for the former, which I think is pretty awesome. Of course, you should make up for the wrong done in life, but eternity for having an affair, or stealing a candy bar? It doesn't seem like something the God I know would do...

Answer 6

I think Paganism, Buddhism, Jehovah's Witness, Taoism Atheism. But you believe in God so I'm not sure what you would be called. I believe in Hell, but not in the way people describe it to be. Like people draw God as a man with a beard and on a cloud. That's BS. God is genderless. God is something that should not be talked about as often as we do so I should shut up now...

Answer 7

Suppose you had a very serious illness, and you went to the doctor and asked him to treat it. Then suppose he gave you a prescription that would cure your illness—but you refused to take it. Who would be to blame if you failed to get better—the doctor, or you? I think you know the answer.

In the same way, the whole human race has a very serious spiritual "illness." It is a disease of our souls that the Bible calls sin. It is so serious, in fact, that it has put us on the road to eternal separation from God—which is what the Bible calls hell.

But listen: God loves us—and because He loves us, He has provided the remedy for our spiritual disease. The remedy is Jesus Christ, who took the punishment we deserve when He died on the cross for us. This is why the Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Yes—salvation is a free gift!

But what if we refuse it? What if we fail to accept the remedy God has provided? Who, then, is to blame if we continue on the road away from God? The answer is clear: We are. In other words, God doesn't send us to hell; we send ourselves. Don't gamble with your soul, but by faith accept Christ so you can know—beyond doubt—that you will go to be with Him in heaven forever.

Answer 8

Ok first there is a hell and the faster you get that the easier the rest will be, its not a bad mean God punishing the innocent its a loving God keeping evil away from his children that he loves. And they're people that sacrifice children to demons and drink there blood because the devil told them to, are these people evil? yes they are. There are the evil and the lost, the lost will be spared but the evil will be no more.

Answer 9

I don't have anything against you. And I do understand you. But see their is a time and their are some places in this world where there is no punishment. You could be in some places in Africa, and rape a young girl, or murder someone, and there is no punishment. But you see, God sees the heart of man. And it is evil. It is sinful. But God Himself says in His word that He is not willing that ANY should parish. But people reject God. Openly reject Him. This is the issue. He wants good things for us, and if we won't accept those good things, and reject Him. Then He will reject us at the judgement seat. The question is then posed to you. Are you rejecting God. Because it isn't about heaven or Hell. It is about God. He wants you to love Him. He wants you to do good things. Just like a father would. Is that so bad that you have to reject Him. Tell me something. If you were a millionaire had two kids one never listened to you, and I mean NEVER, and cursed you to yout face, and walked out on you, never said they loved you, never talked to you, never answered you when you talked to them... Just ingored you your whole life. The other one stayed by your side, told you they loved you, was there with you till your death waiting by your bedside. Then the other one came to you right before you were about to die and asked you for your fortune. Would you give it to them? Do you expect God to give it to you? Will God give you that fortune, or have you treated him like the first child treated his father?

Answer 10

Many people don't believe in the Death sentence, but guess what? It is a reality.

For the most part, Allah doesn't condemn anyone to eternal damnation. Almost everyone is redemable. I would need to research, but I think only the most vile of humans considered unredemable, would spend eternity in hell and even have their soul destroyed, making them non-existant.

Most redeeming begins with "There is no god, but Allah..."

Answer 11

I don't think your an atheist. But its what you think that matters! Personally, I don't see how one could not believe in Hell if they believe in God. I know its a horrible thing to swallow! But Hell is a fact! Its a place that mortals cannot see. Like another deminsion. Same with heaven. Being a "TRUE" Christian is very wonderful! There is no earthly pleasure that can compare with being a child of God. Of course making a committment to Christ is not at all easy! But once you become a child of God; there is peace that defys all understanding!