Would a loving creator create sinful beings then allow them to be punished for eternity?

Question

The christian bible teaches that god is omniscient and omnipotent. This of course means that before god started creating the universe he knew the sin that would come to exist. Some interpret the bible to say that god will allow some of his creations to suffer for eternity in hell for turning away from him. Please share your thoughts on this topic without bringing up the concept of free will, as this contradicts the idea of an omniscient god. Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

I've been making this same point for some time now, but nobody has given me a real answer. They keep saying "free choice" or "free will", usually spelling it "freewill", as if it were a single word.

I've received no coherent response despite months of asking this. Thus, I assume that there is no coherent answer, and that people are adept at living with a religion replete with contradiction.

Answer 2

Would a loving creator create sinful beings then allow them to be punished for eternity?

Of course not! Something that idiotic has got to be full of holes! Yes, He more than likely weighed out a billion scenarios before He started His creation and knew all the possible actions well beforehand what He would need to become in order to bring His creation into complete harmony with His will.

Free will is not a bad thing. A robot can't be compared to us. Free will is great when it's used the way that benefits us. Your free will to jump off the Empire state building doesn't work for longevity of life. Doing what our Creator told us not to do doesn't work good for longevity either.

Here's a great article on the subject. Please enjoy what the Bible REALLY teaches.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/10/15/article_02.htm

THE origin of evil has intrigued thinkers from earliest times. A Dictionary of the Bible, by James Hastings, states: "At the dawn of human consciousness man found himself confronted by forces which he was unable to control, and which exercised a baleful or destructive influence." The same reference work also says: "Early mankind instinctively sought for causes, and interpreted the forces and other manifestations of nature as personal."

Answer 3

That is an awfully good question. I wish I had an answer.

I have struggled with this same question for many years...

Did the person who is created, ask to be Created... ? Then to end up in Hell... for whatever reason... wouldn't he have been better off "not Created"... ? ... and who's fault is it that he was ... ?

How could a loving God create a person if there is even a "chance" that they would end up in Hell... Why not leave them, "uncreated" (my word) in the first place?

That's one of the 1st questions I'll be asking when I make it to the other side...

Not withstanding that... for me... I know when I've got a choice between right and wrong... I know when something is a sin... But I also know I don't have to spend an eternity separated from God. And I know there is no greater peace in this life... than when I'm "Right" with God.

Answer 4

First off, free will in no way contradicts the idea of an omniscient God. Thats kind of like saying a doughnut wipes out the idea of swimming pools....no logical connection between them.

The answer to your primary question is definitely yes, a loving creator would create you (hence the term creator) even if He knew you would reject Him. My son might decide he hates me for whatever reason when he gets older, thats a risk I accepted when he was conceived. Some will accept God, some won't....that's the way things are and God obviously accepts it.

Answer 5

We have "free" will to an extent. Our lives play out like a movie that God has already seen. So he knows what will happen to us in the end. Regardless he lets us be and the ones that go to him in good and true faith are saved, while the rest of us are cast into hell.

Fair? Nope.
Real? Probably not so I don't worry about it too much. I don't agree with that sort of reason. I don't care if it's the reasoning of a "higher" power or not. It still is not something a loving God would do in my eyes.

Yes I brought up the concept of free will, but I see no other way to explain what you are asking in any other terms.

Answer 6

Well I won't bring "it" up but I do not agree that it contradicts the idea of an omniscient God.

God will allow some of his creation to choose to suffer for eternity. God loves each of us and does not want one to be lost. But at the same time he is perfect mercy and perfect judgment. The only way we can be cleansed is through the blood of Christ. If we choose not to accept his invitation then our sin remains ours and the consequences of that sin, also remain ours.

Yes, God knew all of this, but he loves us so much instead of just wiping us out he gave us another way to return to him...his Son.

Answer 7

God created the universe to be perfect, though he did know sin would enter and we would then live in a fallen world full of pain and death. His plan was to come here himself and pay the penalty for sin for us even though we don't deserve or even desire it. God himself suffered under His own law so we wouldn't have to. He did all this so the whole universe could see just how good and loving He is. He created us, we turned from Him, and He saved us. All we have to do to be saved from eternity in hell is admit we sin, turn from sin, and trust that God already paid our penalty. God knew all this before the world was here, and He has made His redemption available to all who seek it............I'm rambling on, but I hope I conveyed my point.

Answer 8

Your premise is wrong; therefore, all your assumptions are wrong. In the beginning, God created man a perfect being. After the fall, man became flawed and the restoration of man to his original state of perfection began. This restoration is called salvation history.

The Bible is a history of God's saving acts to restore man to this perfect state. Jesus Christ, the New Adam, accomplished this on Calvary. Why this was necessary is a mystery. Theologians call this the Paschal mystery. Men, who accept the lordship of Jesus, will attain that perfection in the next life.
Peace and blessings!

Answer 9

So if I know something bad is going to happen and I warn those who are about to be involved not to take part I am guilty of they crime as if I was involved?? How is that differnt than what God did. He knew there was a problem coming. He warned His creation not to get involved and they ran ahead and did it anyway. Now you come along and condemn God for the misdeeds of others. That makes no sense at all.. You idea is to lock up every parent for the actions of their adult offspring.. Jim

Answer 10

Beyond me, even if I didn't have my logic my morality wouldn't allow the worship of such a deity.


How can anyone worship a deity who sets up a lottery for people's eternities. Not to mention one that would punish its creations eternally at all.

I see some of these believers say that those of other religions 'choose' to go to hell. Considering anyone of any faith believes just as strongly in their dogma, and no religions have any advantage in evidence, this is a pretty warped thing to say.