Is it punishment, a threat, or a motivator?
If Heaven is such a cool place wouldn't that be motivation enough? It seems extremely far fetched to say that an all loving being would create a place where those who use their minds and the supposed gift of free will (given by the same being), would be tortured for all of eternity. It doesn't sound loving to me at all.
2007-03-25 15:14:22 · 29 answers · asked by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Suppose I am the most peaceful and helpful man on earth, feeding the poor, handing money to the homeless, and attempting to help children in foreign countries, yet my positions stands that God does not exist. Shall I go to hell?
2007-03-25 15:19:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'll agree with the first answerer. Hell was created as place of torment for Satan and for his demons. We were never supposed to end up there. God gives us free will, and we also have the knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, we make a conscious choice between good and evil. We know the consequences of choosing evil (which, by the way, is anything besides following the one true God and his son, Jesus Christ) and many choose it anyway.
God loves us, and gives us a choice. He doesn't want us to follow him because we have to. We could ALL be spared from Hell if God kept free will from us. Do you think that's a better idea? He gives us the opportunity to have it both ways -- to maintain our free will, and be granted entrance into his Kingdom anyway.
2007-03-25 22:22:25 · answer #2 · answered by fairy*chick~ 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1: God is imaginary
2: It follows that heaven and hell are also imaginary.
3: The concept of hell was an invented scare tactic, the punishment side of the coin, with the fictitious heaven being promised as the reward alternative.
4: Fear drives religion. Education is the cure.
5: You are on the right track - it's all a fairy-tale.
2007-03-25 22:20:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is punishment for God haters after they have died.
It is a threat for God haters before they die.
It is a motivator for Christians to preach the Gospel.
And who said hell was meant to be loving? Hell is not meant for the intellectual folks who have free will. It is meant for people who REBEL against their Creator. Such people rejected heaven (a loving place) for hell.
2007-03-25 22:18:47 · answer #4 · answered by Seraph 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Christian but I firmly believe in Hell. I'm a devout agnostic. Let's examine this hasty conclusion of yours. Here are the assumptions you've based it on:
1. Heaven is fair (unlike Earth)
2. Fairness means never making anyone suffer.
3. God doesn't practice tough love.
Pretty big assumptions for a human to make. Maybe things in the cosmos don't work the way you'd like them to. You still have to live with it.
With all the negative, hateful energy, it must have to collect somewhere. Wouldn't it make sense to have a furnace to burn it off?
I'm probably going to Hell myself, so, see you there!
2007-03-25 22:21:34 · answer #5 · answered by I Know Nuttin 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I say it is a threat. If you don't do this, you will go to hell. If you aren't good, you will go to hell. It may be a punishment after you die but for now is only a threat. I don't feel motivated enough by the promise of heaven. Maybe I would be motivated if someone I knew had been there and told me about it. I don't feel religion is loving much either.
2007-03-25 22:18:28 · answer #6 · answered by * 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Guess what? There is no hell where people go for punishment after death. It doesn't exist. let me expalin. Death is the grave where all people go when they die. And there is no consciouness at all and the bible says so. No one is tortured, and you are right a loving God would not do that. Jesus over came death and hell, that what it says also. Thus the dead are as if asleep and through the resurrection, all come alive again. There is no purgatory--not a bible teaching--So, when we die we die---there is no spirit inside that floats around.
2007-03-25 22:27:28 · answer #7 · answered by jtmaz 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The actual purpose of hell is the eternal home for Satan. Unfortunately, many people are choosing to join him there in the end. Make no mistake, the "coolness" of heaven and motivation in no way has anything to do with hell.
2007-03-25 22:19:36 · answer #8 · answered by Heaven's Messenger 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
God created Hell for Satan and those who rebelled with him. It was never intended for humans, but those who choose Satan instead of God are banished there also. For those who say that they don't choose Satan and choose no one, It doesn't work that way. There is no third choice. That may seem cold or cruel, but in the end that's what it comes down to.
2007-03-25 22:21:54 · answer #9 · answered by Deus Luminarium 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would think heaven would be enough, but where would the souls go who weren't quite motivated? Instead of depriving them of bliss, he'd better just have them tortured
A side though on this topic...if god is almighty and all-powerful and LOVES EVERYONE, why doesn't he just say to himself "looks like this 'gift of free will' thing isn't working out for everyone. they're turning up in hell where they are being tortured beyond comprehension for eternity instead of up here in heaven shining my shoes. I'd better just program them to love me for their own good and save them the trouble." I don't think I'd prefer to worship a god like this even if he did exist.
2007-03-25 22:22:14 · answer #10 · answered by human 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋