why would a loving and benevolent Creator allow such a thing as eternal damnation?

Question

Regardless of the fact that one can argue that a person puts themselves into Hell. What kind of a loving God would allow his creation to suffer for all eternity?

whats the point? It is clearly not as a punishment because no finite existence can equate with an eternal punishment.

So what is the point? Is God sadistic?
I have serious trouble believing in a sadistic creator.

Adam- Their is no justice in punishing someone forever. It is only torture.
There must be a third way between Heaven and Eternal Damnation.

Answer 1

The truth is God doesn't torture us, so that's why eternal life or annihilation are alternative options after we resurrect from the dead. The eternal punishment is when one is blotted out of existed forever.

Answer 2

This is a very good question. If you a re looking for a serious answer and not beig sarcastic, i'd like to answer it.

I used to wonder the same thing. It seems like an oxymoron a loving tormentor. The Bible says "with evil things God cannot be tried" and the hellfire doctrine is something that goes completely against God.
Eccles. 9:5 says, "the dead are concious of nothing at all..." (so if they are concious of nothing, they obviously feel no pain, so why torture?)
The Bible simply states at Romans 6:23 that "the wages sin pays is death"
Take a look at Jer 7:31. After reading give this some thought. If it never came into God's heart, surely he does not have and use such a thing on a larger scale.
Let me ask you, If you are a parent or uncle, would you ever place your childs hand over a fire to punish the child for commiting a wrongdoing? We are made in God's image and "God is Love" (1 Jo 4:8)
Also, think about cremation or even a house fire. Nothing burns forever. Hell is just mankinds common grave

Answer 3

Christianity is simply the outgrowth of Judaism reaching people who enjoy sinning and not following the laws of God... the whole instant forgiveness thing is pure BS. Essentially it all began when a sect called the "godfearers" decided that while they didn't want to be circumcised or stop sinning, they still wanted all of the benefits of getting to heaven. This is the concept of having your cake and eating it too. Now a sect began which claimed that you only had to repent on Sunday and God mystically forgets all about what you did MondaySaturday was born.

Then some Christians realized how F-d up this was, and decided that there should be at least some form of punishment for not obeying god... and they created hell. At first it was a laughable concept, but after more and more gruesome texts were written about burning flesh and anuses full of maggots, the theory caught on like hellfire. Now christians could claim that any amount of inhumane torture they inflicted on non-believers was ok, because even GOD HIMSELF tortures and dehumanizes the very children he created. In this sense of surrogate fathery, the Church of Christianity then seized the reigns of Heaven and Hell, and began convincing its followers that its own hierarchy of corrupt politicians were the deciding factor in the fate of humanity... not God himself. This was the ultimate substitution... we went from "do what God wants and he will be good to you" to "I kind of know God, he's a cool dude, he lives in the back of the church. Let me rape your choir boy and give me that tithe or I'll sick my God on you."

So in the end, nobody goes to hell except for people that try to scare others with the concept in order to make money and political power. I think if there truly was a God, he would construct this just because it'd be so damned ironic.

Answer 4

Hell(the place for the eternally damned) was created or established so that the rebellious angels would not destroy the entire Universe with their insanity. Humans need never go there since the Loving Father has provided reconciliation from damnation by the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus. It is a choice. Reconciliation or Damnation. Say yes to Jesus and have a Happy Day. And then have a Happy Forever.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 5

No crime, however heinous, is deserving of eternal suffering. That's not justice. So you're correct. It's inconceivable that a truly just god would sentence anyone to eternal damnation. And if God does exist and is not a just god, then we're all screwed.

Much more palatable, though still just as unrealistic, is the belief some hold that souls undergo a period of rehabilitation. Once they have been purified, they are worthy to ascend. In short, it's like the ideal (I said ideal) of human justice. Those who break the rules have to serve their time. Once their time is up, they are free.

Answer 6

Everyone is offered the same choice to obey God or not. He makes the consequences clear if you choose to disobey. Why? Because those who choose to obey and serve Him will sit at His side and rule and reign through eternity. That begs the question of where we (mankind) stand in the course of the history of the universe. Are we only the beginning? Is Earth the first of many worlds to come and are we being chosen to assist Him eternally? It would seem so.
So who are we to question God and His motives? We know what we must do if we want to receive eternal life with Him. We also know what we will receive if we choose to ignore the sacrifice Jesus made to make this all possible. Frankly God has put a lot more thought into this than you or I and He is quite aware of the caliber of folks He needs at His side in the eons to come. If we decide we are better than Him then we are certainly free to live this short life any way we choose.
It's up to each individual to decide. But again I would ask, who are we to question God when He went to so much trouble to make a way of escape for us? You don't wish to serve God because you feel He is unfair or sadistic? That's your call. No one forces anyone to serve Him. But why should you receive everlasting reward and treasure for doing whatever you please in this life without ever learning care and compassion and patience and intercession and self restraint and obedience?
Again, it's all up to you. You decide, not God.

Answer 7

It's not sadism, it's justice. Imagine if you drove too fast through a school zone and killed a child. You came before the judge. You stood up and said "Judge, I ran over this child because I was driving over the speed limit, but I know you are a nice man and will forgive me, so I"m going home now." A judge must uphold the law and mete out just punishment or he is NOT good, NOT loving. Same with God. His very Goodness requires him to be totally just. But no one, NO ONE has to suffer the punishment they deserve, because loves us SO much that he sent himself in the form of Jesus to take the punishment for our sins (for killing the child, if you will), so that we CAN just go home. Awesome, huh? God is amazing.

Answer 8

You're equation is not balancing the appropriate equivalents. It's not whether earthly actions justifies eternal damnation, it's having the choice between heaven and hell. You can either have eternal bliss or eternal damnation, and those two choices balance each other.

Answer 9

UGH...wow it amazes me how rude each and every God question on here is! IF you dont believe in him then fine just keep it to yourself.

Its called FREE WILL God created the earth and gave us a free choice to choose to follow him or not. And honestly i wouldnt be questioning the GOD that created the universe and the galaxy, Lets not forget he controls everything, such as lightning. If you choose not to follow him then Hell is your fate. If you so choose to follow him and be saved then your going to heaven.

And before you ask a question about God go to the Bible, it has all the answers!

Answer 10

A sadistic creator would not sacrifice His own Son for you.
Read John 3:16. He paid the price for you to live with Him forever.