The more I think about it, the more I think that if Christians had never invented the concept of Hell (the bad place with fire and screaming) then Christianity would have faded away by the middle of the nineteenth century. What am I basing this on? Well, for starters, whenever people try to convert me back to the faith (yes, I was a Christian in my younger days), the most convincing argument they can come up with is the threat of eternal retribution for my agnosticism. I will ask them if there is any other reason, and they just shrug and tell me to make my choice. That leads me to believe that a lot of people just follow it because they are afraid of being punished with a bad afterlife, and not because they really want to be a part of it.
I realize that this Q is going to be an offensive one to some. However, I have learned that it's almost impossible to question a religious topic without ruffling someone's feathers. So I guess I just need to accept the inevitable.
2007-06-26 08:55:12 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most christian churches rarely preach on hell, it is not a popular subject. It's God's love that is typically the focus. The JWs preach there is no hell, and they've bee kicking around for awhile. I find that it is the atheists that typically bring up the subject around here, to prove that there is no God (i.e. if God is good, then why hell? *drink*) And Christians typically bring it up as a self defense mechanism after being insulted.
No offense, good question, we could use more like that.
2007-06-26 09:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it can.
First, there are Christians here at Y!A that don't subscribe to an idea of Hell.
Second, the spell of religion is so powerful, even the Fundamentalists and certain Catholics who thrive on the idea of hell could probably find a way to twist hings around.
But I think you make an important point. Many people are motivated by rage, hate, and fear? How come an anti-gay rally can regularly get hundreds of Christians together in one place, but soup kitchens and such are constantly under staffed.
One wonders what the face of Christianity would be like if the energy certain Christians put into being "anti" certain things was channeled into emulating Christ's deeds?
2007-06-26 09:27:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity did/does/will most definitely have survived without the threat of Hell, because Satan & his demons are not locked away in Hell or The Lake of Fire (their final imprisonment), they are free to make life a hell on earth for man which they hate & wish to destroy because God loves all people.
Jesus promises that after Satan, The AntiChrist, The False Prophet, and those people who reject, ignore, and/or dismiss Jesus Christ are cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity, that everyone else will experience the complete, full, and rich life in the New Heaven and Earth of Christianity.
2007-06-26 09:14:12 · answer #3 · answered by faith 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yeah, Hell would suck
but there can be Hell on earth too
I feel guilty when I do things sometimes and know there has got to be a better way to do things.
Christ is just the answer for me. Everything else just feels wrong.
Where this guilt or feeling of wrong comes from, I'm not too sure, and there are tons of reasons people may site, but its how things work for me.
2007-06-26 09:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by tatereatinmic 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not all Christians believe in the doctrine of eternal torment of the wicked. Some of us have recognized this doctrine as being pagan in origin and have studied the bible for ourselves. The bible is very clear that the wages of sin is death. Plain and simple. The belief of eternal torment requires an immortal soul which simply is not true. Those who believe that man has an immortal soul are buying into the very first lie told in the book of Genesis. "In the day ye eat thereof, ye shall not surely die."
2007-06-26 09:08:09 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a great shame that it should even be thought of in this way because Jesus came as the revealed love of the Father and the Gospels are full of His tenderness and compassion,
I guess those so called Christians who have turned this into a Gospel of hate and fear have a lot to answer for.
2007-06-26 09:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most people are not Christians because of a fear of hell, but because of a loving God who is all powerful and merciful.
We truly do love God and want to serve Him. We are thankful that He gave us life on this earth, and especially for the life we will have in Heaven with Him.
It's not about fear, but about joy, love, truth and justice.
God bless...
2007-06-26 09:01:29 · answer #7 · answered by The Raven † 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that is what Ive always thought! that Christianity was all about going to heaven. and that's why pretty much all other religions to me make more sense. because the people are apart of it because its their culture, or its because its what they truly believe is right. when some christians [not all] are in that religion because of the fear of going to hell. most other religions or beliefs dont have a "hell".
2007-06-26 09:00:08 · answer #8 · answered by lins 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not emphasised in catholicism. It is scarcely mentioned in mainstream protestantism. As to fundamentalism,if that is the object of your question,I would say probably so. They appear to be very prone to negative conditioning. The term "Christian" is extremely broad for the U.S. It might do for Ireland but in this country one must be specific.
2007-06-26 09:07:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I tend to agree. But I still wonder why there is so much emphasis on death, dying, afterlife, pain and suffering, etc. If Christianity is a religion of love, why isn't that emphasized over pain and suffering?
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2007-06-26 09:00:19 · answer #10 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋