Is Hell the best a loving god can do for lost souls?

Question

I mean, here's god, with all eternity before him, and he's collected all the faithful souls, who are now sitting about him, staring at his face and doing nothing more than adore him.

And here are all these lost souls, people whom he supposedly loves just as much, but who exercised their free will in a way that displeased the lord, and thus he's prepared to exterminate them by pitching them into the lake of fire.

Instead of Hell and a lake of fire, he couldn't send them to a place where they could be rehabilitated? I mean, these lost souls aren't going anywhere unless god pitches them into the lake like so much firewood.

Is barbecuing these souls the most loving and compassionate thing god can do with a lost soul?

Is god so limited in imagination and compassion that even a human can do better?

Answer 1

I wonder if those writings that describe hell as a pit of fire are meant to be taken literally? Is hell a pit of fire filled with floating, suffering, damned souls? Or were those descriptions allegory--poetic descriptions of being shunned from God's presence?

Are 'lost souls' just 'confused' souls? Or are they souls who decided to commit evil?

Whether or not one believes in God, Buddha, Krishna, or any other version of the Creator of all (or believes in none of them) we are all morally obligated to strive for goodness, and all societies have collectively outlined basically, what 'goodness' is.

It sounds like you're asking God to be compassionate for souls who show no compassion to others. And guess what?

He does. As long as they believe and repent.

Isn't that cool?

Answer 2

Wow. Ginger gave a really different interpretation of Gehenna & hell-fire that I have never heard before. There is a sense of renewal in that. Definitely neat to think about!

I think a place for rehabilitation can be found in Catholic belief: purgatory, in-between Heaven and Hell. And there are some Christians who actually don't even believe in Hell, or even Heaven (see Beliefnet chart down in the sources)!

But, I totally agree. God *must* have better for lost souls than Hell.

You'll find, though, that some very loving, compassionate Christians still believe that non-Christians are going to Hell. Why? Because it is in their conservative Christian tradition, and they do not question it because it seems logical in the frame of their belief. This is kind of tragic but something we have to accept, and we still know that in spite of this belief, which is not key in their faith in God but a part of their interpretation of theology, that they can still be open and loving people.

Some are inhibited in compassion through this belief, but many really are not, as I have learned from coming to know some conservative Christians. They don't understand when I try to explain that Hell does not make sense from a loving God, as they see everything through their established beliefs and faith. This used to sadden me, but now I understand it and let it go. They are good hearts, and that is all that matters. :)

Answer 3

Hell in the Greek, refers to the term, "grave"......

Are we not all going to hell? Do we not all go to the grave at the end of life?

Hell fire, or Gehenna fire, commonly called the, "Lake of fire" refers to a flowing of fire which I believe is magma........ it is the only thing in life, that can utterly destroy at the touch and still build the world once it has gone the river of its way..... It is a lake when it flows......

Yet, God does not destroy a life because there was something He did not like about the person......

There are chances even after this life.... that all men will come to know the Lord and have a chance to accept him when they reach that place......

But, you will find some true defiant spirits, that will say, "No I do not want you to represent me before my God... I will tell my own story and will not allow you, Jesus, to blot out any wrongs that I have done that i was proud of when I lived."

Who stands before a judge, dismisses the attorney that knows Him well to present his own case? As they say, "has a fool for a client"......

Your sister,
ginger

Answer 4

Why are you lost already? I or anyone else could post this answer a billion times and it's not going to make any difference until the people sit down and think deeply about it: God does NOT put anyone in the lake of fire; they put THEMSELVES there. They've had a whole lifetime to make that decision and they chose not to. Where does personal responsibility ever come into all of this?

Answer 5

If a soul refuses rehabilitation here on Earth where God can be found, do you think for a moment that a soul would rehab away from God's presence?

Our life on Earth is the time for "rehab" as you put it. The Bible calls it salvation, and it comes only through a belief on God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Answer 6

Dear Orion. Tell me about lost souls - how they became lost, for what reason? Then tell me about hell, why must there be a hell? When you can answer all these questions, then you have studied the Bible, God's word, and you will not need to ask such foolish questions. Incidentally, I recommend you read 1 Cor 2.14. This verse explains why you don't understand the Bible to begin with. Your only hope is to repent of your sin, seek out your God, Jesus Christ and ask him to please come into your life and open your eyes to the truth of his word. You may be angry with what I've said but you will come to love me when this change takes place in your heart.

Answer 7

As an Adventist I do not agree on your veiw... However I would like to recommend a good website about hell....
and it is helltruth.com . and not following God's will is called sin and that it hurts Him when people are killing, stealing and sinning so if you had a dog and it had some kind of deasies and it is suffering it would be better if you " put him down " or "put him to sleep" so it is the same thing with God for those who are sinning and getting hurt in God's grace and mercy he will have to do what he has to do.

Answer 8

We all are bound for Hell. God has devised a plan for saving us. It involves a sacrifice that will appease the demands of justice. Hell is a reality just like 2+2=4. We don't understand it all now, we are simply asked to trust Him as he reaches His hand out to grasp hold of us before we fall over the edge.

Answer 9

Well, I believe that even after death, we will have an option to repent and show that we are truly sorry and ask for forgiveness.

If someone is so evil that they still don't repent, then maybe they will go into their own hell, which could be nothingness or the lack of consciousness or just complete emptiness.

Answer 10

Hell... the absence of God.

I was reading a book called, "The Imitation of Christ." The point was made that we are all on probation. One would think that being on probation we could at least believe in Hell.