2007-01-15 19:24:10 · 20 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A great majority of Christians (as you can probably tell from all the answers you got!) believe hell is fair, because it's mentioned in the Bible. And a proportion of those even go so far as to judge who's going above and who's going below. It's a sad fact that many people are completely turned off Christianity because they feel they are being judged.
However, some Christians, like myself, are universalists, which means we might accept that hell could exist, but don't believe people will go there forever. Or that our punishment is here on earth - accepting the consequences for all our actions, in this life. Apparently universalism was pretty common in early Christianity, but perhaps there aren't as many prominent, outspoken advocates for it as there are for eternal damnation, today.
I'm not sure why heaven and hell are preached about so often; they're not the key to the Christian faith. Anyway, if you're really interested in finding more, there's an article on Wikipedia. Though I think this was more of an opinion question... :)
2007-01-15 20:38:09 · answer #1 · answered by Ros 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Statistically, it would be nearly impossible to find anything that is not believed by at least some Christians.
Traditionally, hell was not viewed as a punishment, but a spiritual condition. You don't 'go to hell' because you violated some law or broke some commandment. Hell is simply the unrepentent state made permanent. Those who 'burn in hell' are actually tormented by the presence of God. Salvation is not a get-out-of-jail-free card or fire insurance - it is an ontological union with God.
2007-01-15 19:37:55 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, or in a cave on Mars, you can look around you and see wicked people, craven and outwardly evil that are deserving of whatever punishment they receive. Not everyone, and perhaps not even most of the people, but enough that you see them every day and their presence makes hell seem merciful. I will not waste my time to illustrate this point. Evil is all around. TAKE A LOOK.
You should maybe go into a seedier area somewhere and see a real crack/meth-house. If those people are not on a fast track to hell, then who is? Look after your own soul, it's all you've got.
2007-01-15 19:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by great gig in the sky 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you planted a seed and expected in a few years time to see a nice rose bush but got some weeds instead, as a gardener what do you do?
Anyway hell or eventual judgement is not for us to decide.
2007-01-15 20:22:22 · answer #4 · answered by JasonLee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It says in the bible how we should live our lives. If we choose not to live our lives the way God commands us, then why shouldn't hell be a fair punishment for the very beings that he created? The thing is, God doesn't WANT you to go to hell, he wants you to CHOOSE to love him, and go to heaven. If he forced you to love him and want to go to heaven, that would undermine the point of faith and having free will. He doesn't want you to come to him as a brain-washed drone as some would like to believe that Christians are, he wants you to come to him of your own free will. The downside to this is, if you don't choose to, you go to hell, and take personal responsibility for everything you've ever done in this life. It seems unfair, but after all he created us. (remember you asked for a Christians opinion, before you get all bent out of shape over the answer)
2007-01-15 19:34:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hell is a palce of torment, The lake of fire is the place of punishment, Hell will give up the dead & Death & Hell will be cast in the lake of fire. Rev.20:14
2007-01-15 22:45:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Job 8:3 "Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?"
I believe people create their own destinies through their choices. They have brought their own destruction upon themselves and have their own blood on their heads.
Read II Peter 2 which not only applies to wicked false teachers but to all who practice those same sins and know better; "....even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.... the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ...2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;"
Sounds quite familiar these days doesn't it?
2007-01-15 19:59:55 · answer #7 · answered by Lovin' Mary's Lamb 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When Adam and Eve sinned it was like taking hold of the cord and pulling it from the wall of life, The wadges that is the end results of sin is death,now Jesus Christ the second member of The Godhead paid that price, He died the second death as described in Rev. 20:14 not by fire but He was torn apart from the Father and paid for your sins, now "IF" you do not accept the conditions upon which life is offered you than YOU must pay for your own sins but that is your choice, God is just rendering to each the choice that person makes and yes that is very fair, God does NOT force He allows us to make free choice of course the end results depends upon which choice we make, find out more free bible lessons www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com God bless talk to me also wgr88@yahoo.com
2007-01-15 19:33:24 · answer #8 · answered by wgr88 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes - Hell is fair punishment because anyone who is outside of Christ (unbelievers; those who aren't saved by God's grace) are sent there for all eternity because of their unbelief, rebellion and defiance against God.
Matthew 10:28 - And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 13:41,42 - The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 - and shall cast them into a funrace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
2007-01-15 19:35:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes in fact there are millions of us. Hell was created for satan and the fallen... not man. If a person winds up in hell it was by their own choice... their choice to deny the free gift of salvation that has been offered to everyone who will come to him.
Hell is the total and eternal seperation from God and all that he endows on us, love,compassion, joy, peace... ect.
Make your choice wisely friend. You will only pass this way once.
God bless you will be keeping you in prayer.
2007-01-15 19:32:38 · answer #10 · answered by PreacherTim63(SFECU) 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋