this question is mainly for theists
lets assume your god exists
can you explain how and why exactly god would send someone to hell for simply not believing in him? can you suficiently explain how nonbelief in your god would warrant such a punishment as ETERNAL TORTURE? can you explain why you think god would take such an extreme act for an infringement that has little (if any) negative consequence to him?
what does god gain from you or i beleiving in him? what does he lose if you or i dont?
can you explain how eternal torture is justified? can you explain how god can still be all merciful and all loving if he is willing to send someone to such a horrible fate?
how do you justify this in your head? how do you look at this threat and stil lcome to the conclusion that your god is all good? all wonderful?
if there was ever a need for more evidence that someone is suffering from some mental illness...this is it.
so how do you justify gods actions and threats?
2007-03-13 12:07:35 · 17 answers · asked by johnny.zondo 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
also, do you admit to being an advocate for a person who willfully and knowingly sends people to torture for all eternity? do you find the nonreciprocation of belief worth of eternal torture?
2007-03-13 12:12:23 · update #1
They'll say it's not up to them and that they don't have to justify anything God does because, well, obviously he's beyond reproach! Don't you get that kind of leeway when you're a deity? GOSH!
2007-03-13 12:09:25 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
Why talk about hell? No one knows who is going to hell; you, me or anyone else; only when we stand before Jesus Christ on Judgment Day will we know. Why worry about it? When you read your scriptures it's pretty clear on how we should live our life. We are the ones that make the choices, not God.
Now on mental health. Many babies are born into this world with physical, emotional, and medical problems. How special and precious these children are. I personally feel they are far more special than us, meaning they are our Heavenly Father's elect children, born into this world for a purpose, to teach or blessing someone else. I'm sure you don't understand unless you have a child that is a "Special" child. So much love, sweetness, and tenderness that can bless your life.
Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ don't threaten you, I don't understand where your reading this, Re Read your scriptures. Yes, he is our head as you stated, he's our Father in Heaven. Are you a parent?? If so, aren't you the head of your family?? Well, Our Father in Heaven is just that, and we are his children. Again, this is MY Choice and My Belief. You choose whatever YOU wish and be happy with that. I'm already happy!
2007-03-14 19:38:16 · answer #2 · answered by pattycakes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately you have it wrong. God does not send anyone to hell.
You have to see this from a metaphysical point of view.
The fact is the lifeline to communion with God was severed about six thousand years ago.
Because of death which entered into the world as a result of sin many die without this lifeline and the seperation from God is communicated in anthropomorhic language, which means in terms that humans can understand. Thus the language of Hell is used to communicate the horribleness of that seperation.
Look at it another way. Suppose you climbed out on a limb to rescue a kitty and the limb broke and you and the kitty fell into a raging torrent of rushing water which eventually would send you over a waterfall and you would plummet to you death. If someone threw you a life line to rescue you would you refuse the assist because you don't believe in the person with the life line or because it was not your fault the branch broke?
This is the precarious perch we are in. Jesus took the punishment for our unbelief, rebellion and selfishness and because of that He has made it possible for us to avoid the seperation from eternal life after we die.
He does not send you to hell....its a choice you make.
2007-03-13 12:28:27 · answer #3 · answered by messenger 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry, I can't answer ANY of your questions, and here's why:
I AM NOT GOD. Only GOD is GOD. I can't justify what God does, nor can I explain it. If we Christians are right, when you die, you can ask God yourself. I don't think any of us will know until then.
Believe me, I've asked the same questions. And the conclusion I'VE come to (and this is going to make me REALLY unpopular, but I'm speaking from experience) is that people are atheist by CHOICE. That's right, by CHOICE. When a person comes to God with a sincere heart, and asks Him to reveal Himself, and they open up to the possibility that there MIGHT be a God, God is then able to work in them. I know, because this is what happened to me!
Does it mean I have all the answers? Not even close. But I believe firmly that when I die, I'll know. AND some things have been revealed to me, because I asked God to do so.
Ask God yourself. Ask Him to help you understand. Don't ask us humans. We don't know.
2007-03-13 12:20:28 · answer #4 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
See, humans walk around with their chest all stuck out, thinking they are comparable to God. It's simply amazing. They honestly believe that God must think and behave as they would, so they rationalize that a God (equivalent to good as they are) must surely think as they do, and therefore not find any justification to sending a sinful, non-believing, Christian insulting person to hell. They're only wasting precious time though for God has clearly stated in his word "The Holy Bible" that those who reject him will spend eternity in hell. Christians don't have to explain anything any further than that.
2007-03-13 12:19:25 · answer #5 · answered by Heaven's Messenger 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can ask forgiveness for you not having faith in Him. God is love. He gave us a choice. We have a free will. And we have His promise that everyone who will sincerely seek Him, will find Him.
All good people do not go to heaven, all forgiven people go to heaven. It might not be fair and it might not feel right, but as we have a lot of choices here on the earth, there only two choices what comes to eternity: hell and heaven. But we get to choose. : )
2007-03-13 12:19:29 · answer #6 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all God won't send you to hell yours sins will.God will only judge the nonbelievers at the white throne of judgment . You will be found guilty by disobeying his laws ( bible ) and the payment for one sin alone is eternal separation from God and suffer for ever in a eternal fire. Ignorance of his law is no excuse .That's why he wants you to hear the true gospel . The bible.
2007-03-13 12:15:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it somewhat is as much as each and each guy or woman to return to a decision. i comprehend that i in my view have self assurance that concept and obedience are little or no to ask in replace for eternal life. "Torment and torture" is relative. i could experience tormented if I have been disadvantaged of an eternal afterlife.
2016-09-30 21:23:45 · answer #8 · answered by kurihara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think what youre missing is that God isnt a written set of rules. Just because it is written somewhere doesnt mean that God is LITERALLY like that.
God is the only one who can judge your conscience, so thats all that matters.
2007-03-13 12:15:48 · answer #9 · answered by Miss Lucky13 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist, why does it concern you so much about what christians believe? Do you want to become a christian too? You sound like you are afraid of going to hell or something.
2007-03-13 12:14:37 · answer #10 · answered by Bob L 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It simply can not be justified at all. The usual "free will" answer is bunk. "We all have free will." It isn't free will if you're punished for NOT believing. It isn't a "choice" if you're punished for NOT believing.
2007-03-13 12:10:52 · answer #11 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋