I find it interesting and sad that most "Christians" believe that God, who is deemed as loving and caring in the Bible, punishes humans in a fiery hell. That's not justice, yet the Bible speaks of God as being just. Why do you want to believe in a God that punishes in such a cruel way? Have you even studied the Bible thoroughly to reason that there really is a hell? Have you considered that maybe there isn't a hell? Do you believe everything your preacher tells you rather than God himself through the Bible?
2007-05-14 14:59:31 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm noticing that the majority of ones here keep expressing that "it's not God that created hell, it's the devil" or "all you have to do is be saved". So, I'm going to make it a bit more clearer with what I'm trying to say:
My point and my original question was: Why do people believe that there is a place for eternal torment. You say that God didn't create it, yet you say that you'll go there if you don't do what's right? What part of that makes sense?
2007-05-14 15:19:18 · update #1
1 John 4:8 says it all.
God wouldn't torture anyone like that. It would contradict all his qualities, especially his love for us.
2007-05-14 15:05:59 · answer #1 · answered by AnGeL 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Basically, I believe Hell is a state of mind, tho I sure don't rule out the possibility of a negative place on the astral plane being the real equivalent of the Christian Hell. But I don't believe that God sends anyone there. Being an agnostic, God is something I am not real sure about. As for the Bible, I am not a real big believer in it, though I do read and study it and have done so most of my life, on and off through the years. Preachers are not on my list of most respected people. They are right out there with the politicians and lawyers and crack cocaine addicts. Guess you could not consider me a Christian - at least not an orthodox one.
I agree with you - an eternal Hell for sinners would not be justice. Now you are probably going to get a lot of static from the "believers".
2007-05-14 22:10:04 · answer #2 · answered by harridan5 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hell is actually a place for people who TURNED away from God, out of their own free will. They knew His existence, yet they deliberately rejected the gift of mercy God gave them through Christ. I am not preaching, this is actually logical.
When you're in a burning building most people tend to forget their material possessions and save themselves (and others if your noble enough). The material possessions are your sins, the building on fire is hell, and God is the fireman who wants to save your neck but your gonna have to leave your stuff behind cuz it's in the way.
Besides, the punishing God you saw is just the God in the Old Testament. Remember that at the time in which it was written, things like killing and punishing were common and it was really a violent age of wars and empires. The people who wrote the Old Testament Books had Divine Inspiration but it was in no means perfectly interpreted in what they wrote. They were only still humans after all. That is why in the New Testament God sent Jesus to clear all the misinterpretations people had for God. Even today, that still happens.
Another reason is that the Bible was written by MANY authors, all who lived in different times, in different places, and with different ideals. So it is possible that there are things in the bible that are contradictory due to the varied and diverse way it was written. So don't judge other people's belief just from what the Bible says.
2007-05-14 22:21:47 · answer #3 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
OK some food for thought
the devil was originally an angel in heaven till he went over to the dark side (so to speak) and became the devil we all know. The question is: If he passed the entrance exam to get into heaven, why did he so violently disagree with god?? Could God have pissed him off somehow?
I'm more partial to think that God is some kind of police, he judges (nobody knows how that's the best part) and he rewards and punishes people with heaven and hell.
Does the idea of living a life of sin and coming to God for forgiveness and getting it (according to the bible it seems like an easy thing to get) seems kind of weird to you?
2007-05-14 22:37:35 · answer #4 · answered by lordfa9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all God doesn't torment souls in hell Satan does, God and Jesus give you a chance to decide through faith which road you should take but the decision is left up to you the person and your personal faith. Second how can you question if there is a Hell and believe in Heaven. You can't have positive without negative.
2007-05-14 22:10:55 · answer #5 · answered by dave88617 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Two reasons I can think of...
1) Organized religion (no matter how small) has historically held power through fear. For example, if x million Catholics didn't believe they'd go to hell if they strayed, how many do you really think would really be lined up behind the Pope? Fear is power. Religion can grant power.
2) For some it adds purpose and value to their actions, position or suffering. My life may suck, but if I believe that my actions will get me into heaven that's cool. If I believe that your actions (that may be causing your life not to suck...) that disagree with my beliefs will earn you a trip to hell in the end, I might feel a little bit better about my present state. It's human nature, no?
2007-05-14 22:06:22 · answer #6 · answered by helpful_dude 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How about this you have a choice God doesn't send you to hell you send yourself. All you have to do is live right. God sent his only begotten son so who so ever believe in him shell not perish but have ever lasting life. People take it a pond themselves to worship the devil. There is only one God an If you don't serve him you will be lifting your eyes from hell.
2007-05-14 22:10:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's sad but the truth will come out eventually. From the beginning of the bible to the end the one constant theme is that the wages of sin is death. It is not eternal torment in hell fire. Those who teach this unimaginable false doctrine will pay a dear price come judgment day.
2007-05-14 22:09:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hell torments all on it's own. God doesn't torment, the fire, the worms, the lonliness torments. not God.
besides according to Christ, Hell isn't a sentence or really a punishment in it's purpose. it's a destination. if you stay on the road, you end up where the road stops. and that's where it ends. since you die in sin you can't be with God who can't have sin in His presense, so logically, you go where His presense isn't: Hell.
2007-05-14 22:11:12 · answer #9 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello rather than believe what the preacher says lets indeed see what says The Holy Bible, in Rev.21:8 it speaks of the second death, the problem is the term everlasting in Jude 7 it speaks of Sodom being destroyed with eternal fire but its NOT the fire but the "effects" of The fire that's eternal, Jerusalem was destroyed with unquenchable fire [Jer.17:27] but its not going on today when it finished it went out but the "effects" are forever, God in John 3:16 says GOD IS LOVE but in John 14:15 it says "IF" you LOVE ME, [then] keep my commandments, its one of two things God's love and forgiveness OR His justice but He lets you pick, find out more free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org email me also wgr88@yahoo.com God bless
2007-05-14 22:08:40 · answer #10 · answered by wgr88 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God does not send anyone to hell. His word says that he is not willing for any to perish but that all would have everlasting life. Hell was created for the devil and his followers when he was ejected from heaven because he turned against God. Hell was not meant for us. However, man decided to disobey God and sin entered into the world. We decide our own final destiny by either choosing him or rejecting him. Anyone that goes to hell, sends themselves there by rejecting God.
2007-05-14 22:06:11 · answer #11 · answered by God's Child 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋