About hell?

Question

Many people on this forum tell me I will go to hell because I question the existence of God. This is creepy. Not because I'm afraid of hell, but because I'm afraid of the people who believe people deserve to go to hell for trying to understand the world around them and reaching their own conclusions. You freak me out. You freak me out even more when you say people like Ghandi are in hell.

My question is why do we deserve this in your minds. "Because God said so" is an invalid argument from my perspective even if he did exist. Might, even infinite might, cannot make right. Evangelicals, I ask you to explain your logic.

If you cannot, I must assume that the level of hate I see is purely a product of your hate for those who are not like you. So, do I deserve to go to hell for asking hard questions, and if so, why?

But WHY does God send people to hell for asking hard questions or believing in a different God?

Jake Frasier, your sarcasm is refreshing.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlgoK26_GeV7HZsPogVbHI3sy6IX?qid=20070114205710AABr0wv

Esther, you have not answered the important question. Does God's might make right?

KKingS, I think you have the right idea. Chef Bob, you really, really need to reread the question.

EyeLovesJesus, your sugar-coated refusal to answer the question of whether or not God's might makes right is creepy and weird. Yes, I'm sure he loves me so much that he'll send me to hell for an eternity for asking hard questions.

Answer 1

I am Christian. That is interesting, and I have wondered the same thing. I find that in the majority of the religion, there is no room for questioning/doubt. I also wonder why other Christians tell me I will go to hell for not getting baptized. For some of them I guess it's an all or nothing approach.

Answer 2

I don't think that just asking hard questions means that you will go to hell, however continued denial of God(not questioning but denial) hardens a person's heart and akes it hard for them to change their position in the future, so repentance is harder. You can question God even up until you are on your deathbed, and then accept Jesus Christ as your savior and still go to heaven. It isn't up to me or anyone else on earth to tell you that you are going to hell, that is between you and God. I would like to say that I don't hate anyone who asks questions about christianity or God, even if they don't belive at all, because I think that talking about God is productive. If it doesn't help you, maybe someone who reads it will get something out of it. Keep the questions coming!

And for KkingS, baptism does not get you into heaven, only belief in Jesus Christ will get you there. If you don't feel in your spirit that you should get baptized, then don't worry about it.

Answer 3

This will take just a little bit of explaining, so bear will me.

We, at least i and Commander and several others, don't hate anyone, except Satan. I love being around people that are different from me.

About hell, its a complicated issue. Jesus actually spoke of hell more than heaven in the NT (19 times). He describes it as eternal agony, more or less. I've always struggles with this as a Christian. But as hard as it is to take seriously, i've come to believe that its true. Now, i believe God is a perfect and just God. He is also loving, but in these times we tend to up-play the love part and downplay the eternal righteous and perfect part.

So, in the Bible, i bet you're familiar with what happened to Adam and Eve; sin began and all that. Well, the thinking now is that everyone has a predisposition to sin. And so everyone has sinned at one time or another. If God is perfect and just, He knows that somebody has to pay for all that sin we commit. Now, it should be us, paying in hell for eternity. But that's where Jesus comes in. I'm sure people have told you this b4 so i'll super condense it....

Jesus came down and became human. He was tempted like us, but he didnt sin. Which made him the perfect sacrifice. He willingly laid down his life for us. And this paid for all our sins, ever. All we have to do is accept it. To me that makes sense. I mean, you can't give somebody a gift, and them reject it, and them still get the gift. (I hope that made sense!) Its the same way with Jesus.

Now, why can't good deeds get you into heaven? Because God's standard is perfection, and the best person in the world (except Jesus) has sinned at one time or another. And that sin separates us from God, and makes us deserving of hell. But like i said, Jesus came and shed his blood so we didnt have to, and offered us a way to heaven. Hope this helped!
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Answer 4

God will actually send about 95% of the human race to Hell. This includes many people who think they are going to Heaven.
God has very little patience for self-righteous people, and if truth be known he has very little patience for much of anything else.
Many times since creating the human race he has regretted it.
All those people who are telling you you will go to Hell, likely you will see them there.
If you are a basically good and respectful person -- and you are one of the few to make it to Heaven it won't be because you believe in the right religious doctrine, or for any other reason, except on God's own whim.
Just ignore the church people. They know nothing.

Answer 5

As unbelievable as this seems, it is only the unmaleable and recalcitrant go. Most people on Earth get bowed down by one thing or other and one time or other. We all have our trials to endure. I'm my own worst enemy. As for Christ, he is a better friend than he is an enemy, and his punishment is a reflection of the degree of love he has for us. If we end up in hell, we damn well deserve it. And it will be due our own stubbornness and not anything or anyone else. God is shouting. There are many spiritually deaf and blind people around.

Answer 6

No, of course you don't deserve to go to hell for asking a question. If not for asking questions and seeking something more, I would never have come to a place in life where I put my faith in Jesus Christ.

The Bible says if you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved. If you don't you're going to hell.

I don't hate you or anyone else because they are not like me. I share the gospel because I love people and want as many as possible to NOT go to hell.

Answer 7

Dear Mr., The people who telly uo you will go to hell because you question the existence of God are misguided. The reason people go to hell is sin. Sin is not falling to belive, Sin is transgression of the law (ten Commandments). IN other words, if you and I have Lied, stolen, lusted coveted, used Gods name in vain ect, then we have sinned against him and transgressed His law. The BIble says that the we are an "enemy of God through our wicked works." Eveen if you did belive in God, but failed to keep the morally perfect standard God has set, then you would still face the consequences (hell) on Judgement day. The good news however, is that Christ died for us allowing us to be reconcilled to God. when he died he took the punishemnt upon himself of every sinful human being. The promise, is that if you wil repent 9turn from sin) and trust in Christ as Lord and savior, you will be forgiven and granted the gift of everlasting life. How can you know this is true? The BIble promises that anyone who follows the comand to repent and trust in christ will be loved of God, and God will reveal himself to them, and change them into a new creature witth new desires, and grant them eternal life. In addition, the Holy spirit dwells within belivers as a wittness. I knwo this is true, because I have repented and trusted in christ Jesus. I was a skeptic, was confroted by Gods law (Ten Commandments) and His Holiness, and I have repented and trusted in Christ. I was changed from a cynic, into a beliver and apsolte of Jesus. Many misrepresent the Gospel give it an appearance of hatred, but in reality, its the Most Kind and lovng act God as made toward Man kind.
God Bless
Apostle

Answer 8

Catholic here:

No, you will not go to Hell for asking questions. Asking questions is what you're supposed to do. It's how you learn.

What CAN send you to Hell? Rejection of God's mercy and forgiveness. Everybody is trying to find their way, trying to understand, and God knows this. We each are on our own path, and God wants us to rely on Him so that He can show us the way, guiding and directing and teaching - even protecting at times. It's because He wants us to know His love, His grace. In the end, He is the final judge, not anyone here, and certainly not for asking questions.

Answer 9

i find that certain people who follow christianity have some need to feel "righteous" with the "word" of god. being pagan, i find it annoying and rather small minded myself. the only way to deal with those small minority of christians is to leave them to their own devices and ignore their rude and insensitive and rather unchristlike behavior.

they are ususally misinformed about their own bible, judgemental and relatively ignorant about the world. their tunnelvision is about the most gruesome part of their spiritual belief. they cannot argue their points without a book reference or their own "irrefutable" claims of logical reasoning, which usually include such epitaths as, "you will know when you die." or "i feel terrible that you will burn in hell" and such drivel.

i think most christians are probably a little more enlightenment driven and i applaud their choice as a path (although i do not follow it, i did at one time). any religion site, however, is bound to bring out fundementalists, evangelicals, and your basic, run of the mill, fanatic.

here i do not find them offensive (the last ones mentioned) but find them rather humerous, even when i am attacked by a comment or two. it is out in the real world when they attempt to scare my son or approach me in mass that i feel a little angered. for this reason i have no bumper stickers on my car or wear no items of clothing that signify my spiritual path. i don't need violent "so called christians" rushing up to me and yelling.

keep asking hard questions and people will answer and discover answers of their own, don't let a few crazies mess up your time. the answer is in the question, is what many buddhists and taoists have said, and i have found this true. some times when you ask you find new answers for yourself.

Answer 10

All people are accountable to God whether they have “heard about Him” or not. The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him (Romans 1:21-23). Apart from God's grace, God would give us over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. This He does for those who reject Him (Romans 1:24-32).
In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This verse teaches an important principle: everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known.
The problem is, “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their own heart, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell.