Why must those who do not follow God suffer eternal torment?

Question

Many times I have seen an answer on this board worded somewhat like this: "Because God loves us so he gave us free will. People are given their whole lives to decide if they want to be with God in heaven or if they would rather not be with God." Personally I don't agree with God as he is traditionally accepted by the major religions (i.e. Christianity, Muslim, etc.) and so would rather not be with this God in heaven. Therefore according to the above statement I would then go where God is not (Hell). Naturally those who do not wish to be with God (or do not believe in hime as the case may be) would go elsewhere just as those who do not like a particular resaurant would go elsewhere as well. What I'd like to know is why do you think this "elsewhere" must be a place of eternal torment? I can understand being sent somewhere else for not believing or agreeing but I don't understand why it has to be a place of eternal torment instead of it just being another place.

I want to know WHY. so far most have just restated what I have already said but have yet to give their opinion on why this might be. Tell me why you think a person must be or would be eternally tormented for not believing or accepting God.

Answer 1

I'm impressed with your ability to use both your mind and your heart to reject the false ideas concerning God. I've learned this is the best way to avoid deception.

My understanding is there are an infinite number of "places" to go after death. God is not about confining people. What is reasonable is for people to not be allowed in a particular place if they're unwilling to follow the rules for that place.

You're restaurant analogy works well in that it's reasonable for the restaurant owner to not allow people to enter and start smoking if that's against the rules. It would be unjust to not allow the restaurant owner discretion in this matter.

To enter "God's kingdom" you must obey the law associated with that kingdom. People who don't wish to follow those rules aren't confined as they would typically be on earth, but are not allowed to reside there and disrupt the happiness of others.

The word, "hell" has many meanings, but the definition I prefer is that it's a condition brought on by not following the principles of happiness. There are certain ways of living that bring misery. This applies to earth life and beyond.

Answer 2

Well simply put, they are offered to be given the free gift not to go to hell but they chose not to.

It's as if there was a flight to heaven, tickets are available, some take them (it's called Jesus) and have their seat, and other just don't take the ticket (it's free) but they chose not to take it anyway... It's a choice each person has to make.
Do you want to live an eternal life in Light and truth or not? It's your choice.

If you ask why would God give us that choice? He gave us life to worship him, we are on earth to chose to or not to, those who will end up with him of course, are those who will have chosen him!

So if you would not want to walk with him what does it bother you that you end up in hell since it's your choice anyway?
(by the way it's never too late to get that free ticket)

Added:
Hell was made for satan and his followers (and demons) revelation, and those who will still refuse God, that's where they'll end up because God will give people many chances not to go there, but most won't take it... It's all in the book of Revelation

I thought it was clear, He gave you life, you turn your back on him, he created 2 places: heaven and one for the wicked where he will also put those who turned their back on Him... God doesn't think like we do,he is perfect in love but also in JUSTICE and to him a JUST person is one who recognize him, any other one who choses not to, is UNJUST and to God those will go the same place satan who did the same thing will. It is God' Justice. But you must have the Holy Spirit to understand God's Justice.
So He made 2 places, and you have the choice.

Added
It is a lie to believe that being good leads to heaven (it's a catholic lie) the word is clear on that:
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

So it is a choice.
You should read the New Testament you would realy understand why and how.

Answer 3

The general consensus is that if you are good you go to heaven and if you are bad you will go to Hell, then you have to factor in the person that is "saved" or the great good people of different religions, Jewish, Buddhist, etc, Personally, I really believe that God knows us all, he is not stupid, you cannot fool him. He doesn't care what religion you are anyway, man created religion. This eternal place of torment is probably not literally "fire and brimstone" however it could be. No one knows really since there hasn't been anyone who has a personal account to tell us about. Even the rich man and the poor beggar story is not about after the death and rising of Jesus, that story happened before Jesus rose, so we all really do not know. Hell could be the place where all the "bad" people go and even without the fire and brimstone just being with all the dregs of society would be Hell in itself. I have read stories which portrayed our Earth as Hell, so like I said, there is no way of knowing and everyone interprets the bible as they see fit. For myself, I really believe that God knows exactly what he is doing, I trust him, and have faith that he really does have my best interests at heart and I do not worry too much about where I am going when I die because I know it will be a place that I deserve to go after I have been judged by a just God. I don't know any bible verses I can pick at to show you and besides it doesn't really make that much of a difference since the verses can always be taken a different way by different people. It is great that you are asking these kinds of questions, they will strengthen your faith if you let them. I have searched a lot for answers to various questions and I continually find that there aren't any real answers, you just have to have FAITH, that is all there is to it. Really.

Answer 4

Actually you don't have to decide whether you want to go to heaven or hell. All of us are on our way to hell (I'm speaking Christian theology here). It's only by God's grace that he plucks some of us out of the fire.

If you don't believe in God, then why do you care where we Christians say he sends non-believers? If, on the other hand, you're concerned about it, the good news is that you can restore a right relationship with God through faith in what Jesus did on your behalf: That is, he lived a life without sin yet he died. Because he was without sin he was able to be a satisfactory substitute for you, and he now offers you the free gift of eternal life if you'll simply believe in what he did and that it was for you.

The reason why hell is a place of torment is because it is a place of separation from God. Humans were made to have fellowship with God and separation from him is unbearable.

Best wishes in your pursuit of truth.

Answer 5

God is a righteous Judge. The bible says that all people will be judged by their works and some will receive a harsher punishment than others (sounds a lot like what we do here!).

The bible also says that we are judged based on knowledge. We are not accountable for what we do not know. Children, for example, don't understand right from wrong until a certain age (different depending on the child).

So God judges you based on what you know is right and wrong. And willful ignorance is no excuse in God's book. Every human being has a conscience. The problem is that we willfully disobey it. People encourage us to disobey it! Even so, it still doesn't make it right.

But people burn their conscience up and for them right and wrong get mixed up. People murder, steal, kill, rape, and then justify their actions.

Can God allow such people to escape unpunished? No just Judge could do that!

But amazingly enough, God offers forgiveness to them. If they will turn from their sin and accept the sacrifice of His Son, then he pardons them from an eternity in Hell.

The problem with a lot of people is that they think they are okay - That they aren't doing anything wrong. Well, whats right and wrong in God's eyes might be different than what you think. Instead of being upset about that, you ought to search for God with an honest and open heart. If there is any chance that there is a God, then its seems logical to me that you'd better be sure to find out - an eternity could depend on it.
And if you seek him honestly, you will find him. That's a bible promise

God Bless you

Oh, btw, you don't want to miss heaven. Its gonna be awesome!

Answer 6

It's because we believe the Bible. And 1 or 2 verses in the Bible suggest that unbelievers will go to a place of eternal torment. I personally think that there is a slight possibility that we misunderstood those verses; and that perhaps unbelievers will simply NOT inherit eternal life. I hope that this is the case. I don't like the idea of eternal torment. And because, as Christians, we are raised to forgive our enemies and turn the other cheek, the idea of eternal torment seems so not in accord with our faith...but I don't know...

Answer 7

People believe what hell is because that is how it is written.

Not agreeing with God as He is "traditionally accepted by the major religions" doesn't mean you don't agree with God, but how you have learned about Him. I am not sure where you have gotten your teaching from, or how much research you have had. I am a revert to Islam, and I am still learning, but I followed my heart. Whether you choose to follow God or not is between you and God, but follow your instinct, not what you are necessarily learning from others. Do your own research. I believe that on the day of Judgement each soul will stand before God and at that time it is purely God's will what happens to us. If you don't believe then why are you even talking about hell? People are not the one's who decide by the way, yes we have our lives to decide how we choose to live and worship, but it is not our choice whether or not we will end up with God. I hope you find your way. If you have any questions I can help to guide you as best as I can from what I know and have learned.

Answer 8

I recently came to the conclusion that in some religions if you do not agree with THEIR version of "God", then you are WRONG, no matter what. Its a way of enforcing membership in the group, and is rather arrogant on the part of human beings because by this behavior they are saying "I know what God is better than you do" - like they have some kind of special divine connection with the almighty, and you DON'T because you aren't "special" like they THINK that they are. No human being could ever really comprehend something as vast as the possibility of a "God" - we are just too small to have more than just a passing clue as to what that might really be, no matter what the organized religions might tell you.

Answer 9

You are correct... It would be UNJUST for God to punish humans forever for the measly time they spend on the earth sinning.
Also, it would mean that God is in cahoots with whomever is supposed to be in control of this fictional place of eternal torment!
God is love says, 1 John 4:8
Jeremiah 32:35 -Furthermore, they built the high places of Ba′al that are in the valley of the son of Hin′nom, in order to make their sons and their daughters pass through [the fire] to Mo′lech, a thing that I did not command them, neither did it come up into my heart to do this detestable thing, for the purpose of making Judah sin.’
This scripture is saying while the false worshippers were sacrificing their children to Molech, the false god, that it never entered God's heart to do such a detestable thing...
Ecclesiastes 9:5 says: For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages...
The dead know nothing, so how are they suffering at all?
God rewards those faithful to him.

Read the links below & compare with your own Bible... I think you will be surprised how easy it is to learn the Truth.

Answer 10

The thing is one must understand karma, reincarnation, and no one goes to hell eternally to understand the unlimited mercy and love of God. Only one fourth of the souls come here, while the rest enjoy eternal blissful loving pastimes with God. Whey do we come here. Without free will there is no love or choice. This world is to give us a choice to be with Him and serve him or not. That is what creation (illusion) is for. It is temporary here. We came here due to envying Gods position and out of curiosity. There is no envy in the eternal Kingdom. So we fall here. Time is an illusion here. It is only for a moments time actually and we have been here for billions of lifetimes it is explained in the Vedas until we have exhausted all of our desires to lord it over material nature. When one becomes dissatisfied with material activities and frustrated due to his negative karmic reactions they call out to God. He then reveal the process how to return home. But if the soul is insincere he will remain life after life until he is actually ready to come Home. It is all our choice and surrender. For info on this topic go to asitis.com Read on line.Bhagavad Gita As it is By Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada- it is the only scripture that made real sense to me and billions of other sincere seekers of Truth.