Is it normal to not believe there is a hell?

Question

I don't believe there is a hell. I think there is only heaven. I believe hell was an invention of the Church to make people better follow God's laws. Many people have had near death experiences and said there is only a heaven and not a hell. I can't see God torturing any of His children forever.

Answer 1

Is it normal? I don't know that I'd use that word. But there are many people who say they don't believe that there's a hell, so you're among millions, if that's comforting. Hell was not the "invention" of the church. It's in the Bible, many times, and originally was a place that was created for the devil and all the fallen angels that followed him when he was cast out of heaven for wanting to be equal with God. While I can't discount the near death experiences that many people have had, I do know that the mind is a powerful thing, especially when going through something that traumatic. I've heard lots of different stories about these experiences and am of the opinion that they're much like dreams, and can have different effects for different people. There's no way to test them, so it's best to just accept them as part of what these people have experienced. And you're not the first person that's said they can't see God torturing His children forever. I've also heard it said that a loving God would NEVER send people to hell. All I can say is, read the Bible. That's where the answers are. Why do people accept that there's a heaven and not a hell? If there's a right, isn't there a wrong? If there's a back, isn't there a forth (otherwise a swing couldn't swing)? If people are willing to accept one thing from the Bible, doesn't it follow that they must accept everything else? Otherwise, we'd just pick & choose the things that we like, and throw away the rest. You either have to accept EVERYTHING that the Bible says, or nothing at all. Too many churches already pick & choose which books of the Bible to preach from & accept, making it very confusing indeed. Whether or not you believe that the whole Bible is the inspired word of God, if you accept one thing as truth, how can you discount the rest as untruth? Read the account of Lazarus and the rich man, in Luke 16:19-31. This plainly talks about one who was IN hell, and one who was IN heaven. Now, read in John 10:26-30, where Jesus talks about His children (His sheep); "But you don't believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." God does NOT torture His children. His children know Him, and possess eternal life. If you don't know Him, you are not His child. It's really plain to see that God doesn't send anyone to hell. They send themselves by rejecting the free gift of God's Son, Who was sent to free us from the bondage of sin & eternal separation from God. If someone called you up and told you to come to a certain address and receive a milliion bucks for free, what would you do? Refuse it and your life remains as it is. Take it, and everything changes. God has extended His free gift to everyone. Only the ones who take it, receive it. Those who refuse it, don't get it. I know that sounds simple, but it really is. Unfortunately, too many churches add too much other junk too it, making it hard to understand or even want. If you need more info, please feel free to e-mail me. <*)))><

Answer 2

It is not normal for my religion, but the belief that there is no hell is a common belief among the followers of UNIVERSALISM... a belief in which it is said that everybody goes to the same place after death, in some cases, heaven, but there are many other thoughts on this unspecified place... but, yes, there are many people that have that belief

Answer 3

Hell is as real as heaven.If it werent so that why do u think GOD would send his only son JESUS to die that painful death for us.Whats his point when his son died that death.

He died for a reason and the reason is to reconcile us back to GOD and save us from hell.Through simple faith in JESUS we are saved from hell.Hell is more really than the sun and moon one day they might be gone but hell wont.Its a place of eternal torment.

Yes GOD doesnt want to torture anyone.But u see it all started when adam sinned because of that all humans got separated from GOD.But in order for GOD to take us back to where he is we need to be sin free.But we cant be sin free on our own.So he sent JESUS to die on the cross as a penalty for our sin.So the penalty for sin has been paid off.

Now if u dont recieve JESUS u still are sinful before GOD.GOD doesnt allow sinners in heaven because he is holy and hates sin.So GOD made a way for humans through JESUS.

GOD loves u so much that he sent his son JESUS to die for u to reconcile u back.

"For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoso ever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life".Ask JESUS to come into your heart and forgive ur sins and cleanse ur past with his blood.

With a simple prayer like above u can be saved.

Answer 4

God's children are the ones that believe in him. How do you even know there is a heaven? How do you know that sin or God or Jesus even existed? You say, the Bible, well hell is in the Bible, it's all or nothing. You can't have your own cut and paste bible.

Answer 5

Well... only one way to find out.

It wouldn't be God torturing His children forever. It would be Satan's minions. Once God castss you out from the Book of Life, that's it.

Answer 6

Amen to that brother. It is not only normal, but it is logical. The ultimate price for sin is death. Not torture. Once we die, we are cleaned of sin. If we are to be ressurected, that is a different story. It's up to God.

Answer 7

you can believe anything you wish. there are religions that believe that hell is just living over and over on this earth until you actually become god-like. t

Answer 8

I don't believe in a Heaven or Hell.

But then again, I'm not Christian.

Answer 9

Yes very normal, you are not alone many do not believe in hell. My wife is Gnostic and there are many Gnostic groups around the world.

Answer 10

Eccl. 9:5, 10: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol,* the place to which you are going.” (If they are conscious of nothing, they obviously feel no pain.) (*“Sheol,” AS, RS, NE, JB; “the grave,” KJ, Kx; “hell,” Dy; “the world of the dead,” TEV.)

Ps. 146:4: “His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts* do perish.” (*“Thoughts,” KJ, 145:4 in Dy; “schemes,” JB; “plans,” RS, TEV.)