Question for all those who believe all unbelievers will burn in Hell forever.
God is described as all powerful, all knowing, eternal and all-encompassing, the Alpha and the Omega.
Given all this, why is this being so ticked off by people who don't believe in Him and willing to make them suffer for all eternity? Makes Him sound kind of petty to me.
2007-01-06 11:48:42 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I couldn't agree with you more! I've said this all along. God is not so egotistical that He is hurt if you don't believe in Him. If He wanted everyone to believe in Him, then He should have given a lot of irrefutable evidence of His existence.
While I do believe in God, I feel that God cares more about how you treat others, and that you live out your full potential, than he cares about whether or not you believe in Him. I think that for some people, believing in God raises their spirituality and makes them a better person. But for some, it may even do the opposite. For example, Buddhists tend to be very compassionate and peaceful people, and they don't believe in God. I'm not going to dare to claim that they are doing something wrong. I believe that at certain stages in the spiritual journey, belief in God may actually be an impediment, even if He really exists.
What God cares about is that you are kind, helpful, loving, and peaceful.
2007-01-06 11:53:59 · answer #1 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I'm a Christian. I don't believe that non-believers will burn in Hell, but I hope one day they could believe. I don't see how God could be "so ticked off" by non-believers. After all, God's allowance for free will is central to Christian beliefs. It's what allows for faith and choice. A petty god is not one I could make time for. My God, he ain't like that.
I always hate it when people use religion as an excuse to attack other people's choices. Vengeance, anger, and disapproval aren't handed out when you're baptized, I promise. According to my beliefs, we are to use love to draw others, not fear and hatred. And we are supposed to be an example of good things, not judgment. Perhaps if a few more people felt this way, something great might get done. It's in the Bible "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I don't have any room to pick up rocks, and please believe that many others feel the same as myself.
2007-01-06 20:01:03 · answer #2 · answered by Evalina Shezadreema 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am really not sure what it is you are looking for in this question but, I do not assume anything first of all, and secondly, I really do not think God "needs" us I would think that it is the other way around, and I also believe that it's not God who actually punish us, we do these things to our selves, it's called "Free Will".
I do not think that God is petty as you have put it, No just very, very, self serving.
Thou should not put no one before me........
I do not go to church every Sunday to confess my sins or anything like that but, I do believe in an higher power, we have to because if there is nothing but, this "Hell whole" we are living in now Then the big question should be "What's it all for"........
2007-01-06 19:59:35 · answer #3 · answered by Lil Angel 68 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't need us to believe. He is doing just fine without us. You need to believe. Tell me, have you never in all your life done anything wrong? Never, said or did something to harm another. Never stole money from a kid at school, or punched someone in the face just for laughs. Well, you are a sinner then. Unless you live by not just the 10 commandments but all the old Jewish laws of the OT, then you are a sinner. Sinners will not be going to Heaven, I don't care how cute and adorable you are to your mother. Heaven is perfection and only Jesus is perfection. Sinners need Jesus to forgive them of sin and lead the way to Heaven. God is not petty, If He were we would all be hell bound. But He provided a way to Heaven, you just don't want to give up your favourite sin. Well, ask Jesus to help you.
2007-01-06 19:57:00 · answer #4 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The truth is we have FREE WILL. It is MAN that has revised and altered the truth for a variety of reasons, some of which date back in history and continue to have applications today.
Free will is proven by the choice/action - consequence cycle. We create our own "HELL"...... We continue to have CHOICE even when anothers actions are intrusive to us. In the most dire of circumstances we always have free will/choice, where we take it...is up to us............
Don't hate the hater, love the hater.....then change is possible =)
2007-01-06 20:50:54 · answer #5 · answered by Lavida rose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all petty- God's love is a free gift to us all and we have the freedom to choose that gift or deny it. To deny it is not everlasting life in God's kingdom called heaven. Denial is denying God and his love and everlastinglife. Who wouldnt want that?!
We have the choice and only one lifetime to make it. If we dont and we die here on earth not accepting Jesus and repenting, it will be too late and those that did not accept Jesus as their savior will be thrown into the lake of fire. The Holy Bible has all the answers and God's guidance. Please read it and see for yourself!
God Bless You!
2007-01-06 19:56:16 · answer #6 · answered by yeppers 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am glad to see you say the Alpha and Omega . . . . .this will help answer your question.
He isn't making people suffer. We did that all on our own. He wants to provide, love and protect you. YOU have to believe.
YOU have to decide
YOU have to accept him
YOU have to turn from evil
YOU have to do these things . . . . . .
He isn't ticked off that people don't believe he loves us so much he sent his son to die so Satan wouldn't win.
We allowed sin into our lives, we have free will. Our choices are what determines our suffering.
Petty is not believing b/c you can't see him. Petty is humans thinking that they are more powerful than the one who created them. Petty is expecting him to do everything and you don't even believe.
God Bless
2007-01-06 19:56:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
What I find interesting about these questions is (quite selfishly) believers relate it back to themselves. The answers you'll get back will be along the lines of:
"He gave us freewill etc..he wants us to choose to love him"...and will quote something from the bible (like that counts as proof)
2007-01-06 19:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by Adam L 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Excellent question! I love it!
How true!
My answer would be that God DOES NOT require our belief. Of course not. Beliefs are just "things." Beliefs are subject to death just as anything else. They come and go.
But then again I'm not an angry Christian.
2007-01-06 19:53:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good question. He or she must be a rather egocentric god. If a god didn't believe I existed I wouldn't feel hurt.
2007-01-06 20:11:45 · answer #10 · answered by kicking_back 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋