No matter how you look at it, the Bible in a nutshell is:
Serve God or burn forever.
Dictator, or Savior?
Should we really serve a God that DEMANDS to be loved?
2007-03-03 10:31:40 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just think: if hell doesn't exist, you're whole philosophy of life crumbles to the ground, and you're stuck with fortune cookies.
(...and you won't really know until you're dead! Now THAT'S a paradox!)
2007-03-03 10:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dictator. All hail God!
"Imagine being able to sell any other product like that: by insisting the customer swallow every word you spoke about it as gospel or else he'd burn in hell. Where you, as the customer, having been brainwashed from birth about the superiority of the product, upon reaching thinking age, forfeit the benefits of the product if you doubt it in any way, and the claims of the product cannot be tested until after you're dead."
2007-03-03 10:36:41 · answer #2 · answered by truthyness 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible in a nutshell is:
God calls people into his universe.
People reject God.
God offers himself so people can come back.
So, it is not a command, it is an offer - it is placed beautifully as: "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelations 3:20)
God is knocking. God has not been the distant dictator but has come to us asking us to choose. If we do not open to him we will of course spend eternity without him.
2007-03-03 10:49:59 · answer #3 · answered by Mark Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Such a paradox only exists if one blatantly misinterprets the singular message of the Bible.
Where does it say in the Bible that He DEMANDS to be loved?
You should research the philosophy of Free Will, which every human has, allowing each human to choose or to reject God.
God wants or desires for us to love Him, and naturally so, since that is what He created us for primarily, but if He forced us to do so, then that would not be true love, since anyone who has experienced true love knows that it cannot be forced.
2007-03-03 10:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by STILL standing 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whose fault is it?
hey, the computer software company says, we are going to change the operating system for computers, you have to upgrade. You say no. Finally the upgrade comes, the entire software world is changed to fit the new system and now you are going through computer hell. Whose fault is it?
hey, the television companys say, we will be switching to HD format in the year 2---, you have to get an adapter or a new television. You say no. Finally the signals are switched to HD format, and you find yourself outside of the television heaven. Whose fault is that?
hey, God tells the people, we are going to start a new world, you have to build an ark, you say no. Finally it starts to rain to eliminate the old world, and you get caught without a paddle. Whose fault is it?
Hey, God says again, I'm going to start a new world, you have to see JC in order to get a ticket. You say no. Finally the new heavens and the new earth arrive, and you find only a very hot place for yourself. Whose fault is it?
2007-03-03 10:37:51 · answer #5 · answered by ignoramus_the_great 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not God's word - the Bible. That's Dante's Inferno - the poem. You've confused the two.
It is death of which the Bible speaks, not burning forever.
Hannah J Paul
2007-03-03 10:38:29 · answer #6 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't recall it being a "serve God or burn forever" type thing...although I DID on more than one occasion hear a few Christians proclaim it in some of the denominations I grew up in. If you were a victim of what I refer to as biblical abuse for conformation I am truely sorry for your loss. Let me tell you what I KNOW about God from personal revelations. God is a loving creator. He doesn't want us to bow down and serve him like a slave. He wants us to love him as much as he loves us and more importantly he wants us to love him more than our many worldly possessions. He's not asking for anything that any mother and father who loves their children wants and that's to know that your children love you too. Our Heavenly Father is NEVER demanding, he offers us chance after chance to return to his love...in the same way a parent would offer their child who ran away from home to live on the street using drugs and selling their body for money to return home and clean up their lives. He gave us life and for that alone we should be greatful.
2007-03-03 10:47:28 · answer #7 · answered by Heavenly Advocate 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dictator
2007-03-03 12:33:39 · answer #8 · answered by Krayden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The second answer here is a perfect example of this. He wants it to be voluntary (unless you chose wrong and then you go to hell forever lol). What if every religion was like this? Maybe morepeople would be forced into believing other religions.
2007-03-03 10:44:19 · answer #9 · answered by Ordin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where do you get that anyone will burn forever? Not in the bible. Nowhere does it say that and I will give you $10,000 cash for even one scripture that you would find that says anyone will burn forever. I will even give you some help to find it. See the search scripture on the site below for a concordance.
2007-03-03 10:36:46 · answer #10 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋