Why the 'hell' tactic?

Question

Wouldn't you rather be good for goodness sake than be frighten into being good because for the fear of hell?

Answer 1

No. There are many irrational, evil religious people who know that they'd willingly manifest their evil side if they didn't believe in eternal torture. Seriously, they are not moral. They can't be trusted (which is why no one should allow their children around priests). They are only good because they think they will get a reward, or they fear the threat of punishment. They are not decent human beings for the sake of being decent.

You need hell to better market your product. You have to convince people they are sinners, otherwise they wouldnt' need to buy your product.

Answer 2

Ahhh, fear is a great motivator, isn't it?

All atheists who are good are so for the sake of being good, since we don't believe in hell. I feel a good person will be good, regardless, and a bad person will be bad, regardless. I also fail to see how hell is really a threat since anyone can ask forgiveness and go to heaven, no matter what they've done, or so I've heard. So how can hell be a threat?

Answer 3

Hell is not a "tactic". It is a real punishment set aside for those who are unrepentant and disobedient to God's Word. Being "good for goodness' sake" doesn't cut it, for that would lend credence to the ability of a person being able to get into Heaven on something other that God's Word based on the individual concept of morality.

Answer 4

Exactly. Doing something to avoid punishment is totally different than doing something for goodness' sake. It seems to me that many people don't get the distinction.
It does matter why you do something. A person who is trying to avoid punishment is just being selfish ("I don't want to go to hell").

Look at what your first answerer wrote :

"You need hell to better market your product. You have to convince people they are sinners, otherwise they wouldnt' need to buy your product."

That is just so horrible. A horrible way to keep people in line.

Answer 5

I prefer believing in God and following Jesus example as best I can. I'm far from perfect but I prefer being good for God's sake!

Anyway we end up in one of 2 places based on how our relationship with God and Jesus are. Without salvation provided by Jesus your choice is shown here:

23 minutes in Hell
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=648563944666093503


I like this choice myself!
http://www.90minutesinheaven.com/

Answer 6

It is easier to control people through fear than through goodness. Hell became a place for people to fear. It was taught and people were threatened with it. It worked for a long time. Luckily more people are starting to question that.

Fear mongering... it works... our government uses it to control us.

Answer 7

The idea of burning in a nasty place for all eternity is just insurance to keep people in line

Answer 8

Does it really matter WHY people are being "good" as long as they are being "good"? Think about all the wonderful things Christians do for this world. Does it really matter why?

Answer 9

In my mind... hell can't be that bad... think about it... with all the people who are supposed to be sent to hell there should be alot of them... so I just say we riot... but I doubt hell even exsists... but yes... it is odd that people believe in God to not go to hell... I prefer to be a moral person because I want to be... not because God threatened me...

Answer 10

If hell were to exist, would you not want to be warned of its existance. Or surprised at the last second.