Do Christians Really Believe That Everyone Is Going to Hell Except Them?

Question

I've seen people here ask why everyone hates Christians. One even said, "Why Do Atheists Hate Us? I Respect Them?"

But do Christian really respect people of other faiths? I know they think they do, but do they really? How respectful is it to tell a person of deep religious faith, whether he's Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, or Jew, that his faith is worthless and he's going to hell? What kind of respect is that? It's not respectful at all. It's downright insulting is what it is.

Oh I know, they don't think it's insulting. They think they're saving the person. But even that's insulting, to tell a person that you need to save them from their own worthless religious faith. Do any Christians have any idea how disrepectful and insulting it is to tell a deeply religious person of another faith that God doesn't recognize their faith and that you are going to save them from hell by telling them that their faith is worthless?

Answer 1

It depends on the Christian. I spoke with a bishop about this and he had several interesting things to say.[1] First, the concept that anyone will suffer forever in Hell is a concept that is COMPLETELY ABSENT either from official church doctrine or from the Bible. The Bible never once mentions Hell and Satan only appears a few times in the Bible (once in the book of Job and a few times in the Gospels). The concept that Satan is a fallen angel or that he's the enemy of God is TOTALLY ABSENT FROM THE BIBLE. In the Book of Job, he's more like this mysterious being who just shows up and challenges God to a bet.

In fact, the ancient Hebrews believed that there was a class of angels called Satans or Adversaries (the word Hebrew word Satan just means "adversary") that do work for God that humans don't like. If you read the Old Testament in the original Hebrew, there are lots of references to things like someone going to a forbidden place and how "God sent an Adversary against him.". The word used is actually "satan". So, those passages literally say, "God sent a Satan against him." Death was thought to have been brought by a Satan, for example. God needs people to die, but humans don't like to die, so Satans are adversaries of Man, but servants of God. At least, that's what the ancient Hebrews believed. [2]

Early Christians required people to spend 2 years in intense spiritual training and your teacher, not you, told you when you were a Christian. Back then, all Christians did the equivalent of take orders and become members of the Church. To this day, official Church doctrine is that lay people are merely communicants, as opposed to members.

So, I'll speak of so-called "Christians", because whether or not they're really Christian is in doubt.

Much of the concepts of so-called "Christians" about Satan and Hell come from Milton and Dante, as opposed to from the Bible. But, because many of them have failed to thoroughly read the Bible and just listen to whatever their preachers tell them, they believe that Satan is this archenemy of God and that sinners will burn in Hell eternally if they don't accept Jesus.

According to this bishop, it's God, as opposed to Jesus, who must be accepted and it's merely a matter of accepting Him and going to His Kingdom or not accepting Him and having your soul cease to be. Repenting Satan or fear of Hell are both non-Christian concepts, according to him (the bishop that is).

This same bishop also said that, when Jesus said, "Judge not, lest you yourself be judged," He meant it. Real Christians, according to him, DO NOT JUDGE, period. So, he refuses to be judgemental about other religions.

Now, I personally find that still a little tinsy bit intolerant, because it still sort of implies that I'm not going to be with God, and that that's a fact, but that Christians won't judge me. But... I still find it A LOT nicer than the Fundies.

This bishop also said I could quote him as having said the following:

"Fundamentalism is the worst abomination against Christianity in history."

So... in short, there is a whole spectrum of beliefs out there. Many Christians just think that anyone who's good will go to Heaven. In fact, a lot of the Christians that I know seem to be more concerned with just being good people than who's "getting into Heaven" and who's "going to Hell". It really only seems to be the Fundies who make a big deal about Heaven and Hell.

Answer 2

One must wonder what spirit they are of? I question the real experience and motives of any who use this voice, especially when hell is not the subject. The Holy Spirit tells me that several of these people are not Christian by any measure.

Most who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus are so grateful for the restoration of their minds and the recovery of their sin sick souls that they stand eternally grateful and only desire a similar gift for others.

If you go to Scripture, or look at American preachers the past 200 years, you find that the hell fire sermons were preached to believers and not persons of another "faith"

There are one or two people who take this tack that are in danger of the hell fire for they "preach" but have no call. For them it is written: Lord did we not prophesy in they name... and cast out devils --- And He shall say, depart from me I never knew you.

In the final analysis only God knows who is in and who is out. Every man is judged according to what he does with the light he received in his own age.

Many people following other 'religions' are much more sincere than present day Christians. At a final judgment I think I had rather be a sincere Hindu than an insincere Christian or a Christian who, because of attitude, shut off a heart from God's greatest gift.

For my part I have come to realize that religions of themselves, including Christianity, are not The path. Good and evil are present in all religions in the persons attached to them. If your religion is closer to the truth then it is also closer to being used as a lie. Further I have found that faith is not a set of religious understandings but a human ability, assisted by grace, to touch a living God.

Finally I have to agree with you from another point, because it is God who saves and not the messengers. For my part I shall take great care in my choice of words in the future. I thank you for asking a question which some Christians, myself included, should have asked before this.

Answer 3

well thats one of the main reasons christianity has broken up into multiple sects.

i do not think all christians believe that. I would say more radicals that havent much life experiance. I have noticed a similar trend in other religions.

More frustrating is the refusal to listen to anyones opinion. You have to question then whether or not that makes a decent Christian by their own doctrine.

What i think is more amusing is that these religions all believe in all powerful being. So there is no debate in that..theyre just fighting over how people express their beliefs.

I say be open to those that want to listen to other people and let those that dont believe what they want.

Answer 4

Christians often get so caught up the excitement of God's free gift that they can't understand why everyone isn't excited to hear it. Christians would be better tolerated if they waited until asked about the God of the bible and then when explaining only give what the person asked. Since Christians believe what God has revealed in His word then yes, only believers will be in Heaven. I pray as a Christian that I am wrong and would love to be sitting next to a non-believer and hear them say, "I told you so!"

Answer 5

If you believe something to be right, then things that contradict what you believe to be "right", you must believe they are "wrong". No matter what the subject.

If you don't believe anything is "right", then you have no beliefs at all.
Examples:
A person who believes evolution is "right", must believe the 6 days of creation described in the Bible is wrong.

A person who believes there is no God, must believe that all the people who say there is a God are wrong.

Everyone has a belief. Yes, everyone has some things they believe to be right, true, and correct. By accepting these things, these people automatically state that the things contrary to this view are not right, false and incorrect.

Christians believe the God of the Bible is what he claims to be, the only true and living God. This being said, we believe any other "god" is not-true and non-living. If we don't reject the opposite of our view, then we don't truly believe what we claim to affirm.

Christians believe the only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

If we truly believe this, and I do, then we must believe anyone who rejects Christ is lost. Christians do not rejoice in others being lost, so we teach others, hoping they will accept the gospel unto salvation.

Answer 6

Hell=Grave

Answer 7

Christians believe the bible is the inspired word of God. The bible says there is no salvation other than by faith in Jesus Christ as savior. This infuriates people.

God is the one who has made the way to heaven by His son alone. But no one wants to deal with that. So they hate those who believe what the bible says instead.

Answer 8

Makes Hell seem much more appealing doesn't it?

Especially if Heaven is ruled by the type of God some of them claim he is.

Answer 9

Why do you think religion is involved in so much conflict in the world? It's because everyone thinks that only their group and themselves are correct, and everyone else is wrong. What a complete mess humanity is.

Answer 10

Yup. That sure makes them feel special. They can commit any sin the want, but as long as they repent, they still get the big reward.

Nutty way to run a world, but they think it's cool.