not because they have done something wrong, we punish them in hopes they will learn something and make better choices in the future. what is god trying to teach us by sending us to eternal hellfire and damnation in hell, there is no return. this doen't make sense to me. why would god punish us like that without the hopes of us learning something, or making better choices in the future. or is the idea of hell, just plain off the mark?
2007-05-02 10:41:38 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, the idea of hell is off the mark. It is a scare tactic of the church. A way to try to make people "behave" in a certain way. But then they completely void it by making it possible to avoid hell simply by accepting Jesus into their hearts and asking for forgiveness before they die. What's up with that. According to that line of thinking Hitler, Stalin, or any other mass murderer could well be in Heaven now if they accepted Jesus and asked for forgiveness before they died. Is that of any comfort to anyone? I didn't think so.
Heaven and Hell are Christian concepts not accepted or believed in by many other religions.
2007-05-02 10:58:10 · answer #1 · answered by meg3f 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Isn't kinda funny how we are taught about Heaven and Hell and yet alot of people have there own interpretation of both. I'm not terribly sure how to answer your statement. I guess it's because God gave us free will and aren't puppets.
Most everyone I think know's when they do something wrong or something bad before they do it....it's there choice to decide. Have you ever heard it been said that God is a jealous God. How can that be? How can God be jealous, doesn't jealousy typically make a person angry and hatefull, envious, spitefull. I don't personally know the answer to that...But God is God and He created all of this for us, even sent us His own Son to die for our sins too.
Ok..so ya know what I might do if you don't find the answers your looking for in here research this more. "ALL Faiths" not just your own. Most of us I think pretty much stay with the religion we were born into all our lives. You won't be doing anything wrong checking out what others might believe in that may be different then what you've been raised to believe. Example, there is alot of differences between the Catholic and Protestant religions.........for example. MLJ
2007-05-02 11:09:11 · answer #2 · answered by MLJ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at it this way, if someone is drowning and I pull along side of them in a boat and offer them help and they don't take it(stupid I know), no one can blame me if they drown.
The person exercised their free will. It was their choice.
Likewise Jesus paid the price for our sin's when He died on the cross and rose again.
If we exercise our God-given free will and not accept it, then we choose hell.
Romans 6:23 "for the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord".
And if anyone is wondering about sin in their life, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
It's our choice. We choose even not making a choice is choosing.
As for hell being just death or the grave, Revelation 20 :15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
And if you read the verses before that you'll read that death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, so the idea of it just being death or the grave isn't any more appealing.
2007-05-02 11:27:50 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Punishment is something a parent does in anger.
Discipline is something a parent does in love.
Going to hell isn't punishment, it's the consequence of your own choosing. God doesn't send you there, doesn't want you to go, but will not stop you ... you are an adult and able to make your own choice, so choose.
2007-05-02 10:46:55 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God teaches us on earth about hell and it is your choice to choose heaven or hell. You should read the "devine revelation of hell" by Mary Baxter and you will get a better understanding why God is trying while we are alive so we won't go to hell. God give us free will. May God bless you.
2007-05-02 10:50:47 · answer #5 · answered by kimberly m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are misunderstanding the concepts of punishment and discipline. We discipline our children to correct a bad behavior. God also disciplines His children through the natural process of sowing and reaping. His children being defined as those of us that have been adopted into His family by accepting Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross for the remission of our sins. By the same token, we punish criminals by sending them to prison. A sin is a crime against God and we are all criminals against God, therefore all deserving of punishment. God, in His love has taken the punishment we all deserve, on Himself and offers forgiveness as a free gift, but you must accept the gift. If you don't you will receive the Justice you are due. God sends nobody to Hell. People send themselves to Hell by refusing to accept God's gift of forgiveness.
2007-05-02 10:55:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you're perfect -- that develop into the incorrect element to do in such dissimilar thoughts. really, many psychologists will inform you that a "better 0.5" might want to not also be punishing your new child; you have to be the only one making the guidelines and disciplining your new child. i comprehend it type of feels as besides the indisputable fact that there should be a "united the front" the position new child rearing is going and frequently it really is a superior theory -- yet even as it contains step households, that is diverse and punishing or disciplining youngsters should be performed through the confirm only not the step confirm or the better 0.5 (boyfriend or lady friend). Or so we were instructed after we went for "step" kinfolk counseling. besides the indisputable fact that, in case you want to strengthen the youngsters mutually as a "united the front," no matter if or not they are your toddlers or his, in case you do not agree on the punishment, there should be no punishment until eventually settlement is reached. in my opinion, i don't have allowed my boyfriend, husband or absolutely everyone to over-vacation my opinion concerning the welfare of my youngsters regardless of if it develop into quite slightly an afternoon vacation.
2016-12-05 06:09:25 · answer #7 · answered by byrne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell and heaven exist because there is big difference between those who are good and those who are bad.
If a person really deserve to be punished and that will be useful for him for sure God will do it .
God don't send people to hell because of he want punish them but just give them what they realy desrve it.
2007-05-02 10:52:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not so we will learn in the future, it's so we'll learn now. He warned us or it, and you get another chance to get it right every second of every day. Once you die, no more chances. You have to get it right the first time around, because you don't get to try again after you go there.
Even if He didn't warn us, who are we to say He's wrong? He's God, end of story. No matter whether it's fair or not, He can do what He likes. But He did warn us and taught us how to NOT go to hell. (Yay!)
p.s. - I really liked what Johnny and arewethereyet said, they're right.
2007-05-02 10:47:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anniekd 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, hell is not a punishment but a consequence. When I see my children doing something dangerous, I warn them, tell them to stop, tell them something bad will happen. God has done this for human kind. The penalty for sin is death. Those who choose to remain in sin will face the consequence.
2007-05-02 10:47:29 · answer #10 · answered by future dr.t (IM) 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋