why do americans submit to a religion that sentences people to hell for different beliefs?

Question

Does it not add up to anyone else that it is unfair to say that because a person was raised differently that they should spend an eternity in hell. I was raised to be a christian and perticapated in christian organizations through high school, then one day I decided to think for myself, I don't want to be a part of anything that judges others. As a christian I remember thinking that anyone who was not a christian is evil, and I really truely believed that, then you meet people from other countries with other religions and realize that they are moregenuine than the people you went to church with. I think hell is a great scare tactic to get you to convert to christianity, why should a religon need scare tactics?

Answer 1

I agree with you.
Unfortunately alot of people will not. The answer i believe is Religous Tolerance....That is the ability to show respect for others and their beliefs and being able to accept them for the divine beings that they are....not what you think that they should be.
I myself do not believe in hell....look around us these days!? Isnt this enough to keep ourselves in a self impending doom if we so choose?

Bless them all!
Blessed Be

Answer 2

Pretty deep question. Christians didn't make up the rules. Christians aren't excluding anyone. They are simply passing along what Christ taught. The Bible says not to judge so I'm not sure why the group you were a part of was judging others. Christ said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me". Chist has opened His arms to everyone, everywhere. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that WHOEVER believes in Him shall be saved". The only people going to hell are the ones that don't accept Him. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". "The wages of sin is death". Christ is the only way to receive forgiveness from sin and everyone has access to Christ equally. Christ said I'm a sinner and He's right. Christ said He would bear the burden (death) caused by my sin and I thank Him.

Answer 3

that's a really good question. i'm sorry that i can't answer it, but i've always thought the same thing. i am not christian (i'm a hindu) and i've always wondered that, if religion is supposed to be pure then why add, as you say, 'scare tactics'? You are supposed to love God (which ever God it may be) with you heart, purely and truthfully. If that is the case, then why keep the people who don't love God purely, and try to scare them into a religion? Maybe it is about numbers and having power in numbers? I don't know.

Answer 4

Well Ryan - I am of the opinion that there are spiritual Christians and Political Christians. Evangelism can take the form of works or of words. Trying to emulate the example of Christ is a Christianity that I can be comfortable with, even while I continue to struggle with the exclusiveness that is such a part of Christianity since it was politicized in the third century. God is bigger than religion, and there are many ways to come to awe, delight and wonder.

*edit*
Martin's answer (12 down) begs the question of who started the fire.

Answer 5

Since when has this been soley restricted to Americans? Look at the stats - Christanity is the single largest religion in the world thus far- and it is all over the world.

And yes, hell has always been used as a scare tactic to get converts - upper church folk inthe 11th century admitted as much.

Answer 6

It's because Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by me.


what good is 72 virgins that will only last for 72 nights.

Answer 7

I do not submit to any religion. I choose to submit to Gods Word. Who are you, or I, or anyone else, to question Almighty Gods plan for us? God cannot dwell amongst evil, therefore evil will be banished from heaven. It's actually very simple. God is Holy, we are evil. Jesus cleanses us and we appear spotless and pure before God Almighty. This is Gods plan for humanity. If a man approaches you on the street and in his right hand he offers you $500,000 and in his left hand he offers you a angry, poisonous, venomous snake; whos fault will it be if you choose the angry venomous snake and it bites you and you die?
Accept Gods plan or reject Gods plan, everyone is responsible for their own decision.
We are all evil and wicked, we all deserve hell, not one of us is Godly. Christ Jesus knows our weaknesses and by His Grace we are saved from the penalty of our sin.
Praise The Holy Lamb Of God!!!!

Answer 8

"847...Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church

Answer 9

Your question is similar to a person who is on the 5th floor of a burning building asking the fireman who is on a ladder at the window why they have to believe him when he tells them that he represents the only safe way out of the building. Instead of arguing, just take the way that is offered to whosoever will take it.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Answer 10

Real christians dont judge and we dont look at other ppl like they are evil. We just worry about our own souls and advise...maybe to clean up yours a little. However, this doesn't mean we are judging you, we are only judging your actions which is perfectly explicable and fine.
The only one who has the right to judge a person's soul is God and God alone. Cause we all will be judged one day.
God Bless you!