What kind of a choice is that? Even if you're a good person, you go to hell? It sounds like a dictatorship to me.
2007-07-05 18:51:43 · 17 answers · asked by CelesteMoone 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What I mean to say is, do many people only believe in God because they're afraid of going to hell?
2007-07-05 19:26:47 · update #1
As always, its a trick questions suggesting you only have 2 choices. Read about other religions, Try a different religion. Satan was created by the Catholics during the Inquisition via the Mallus Malificarum and through papal edicts.
If nothing else drop religion all together. learn to love and be yourself. Read these books. "Illusions" by R.Bach, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by D. Millman and "Stranger in a strange land" by Heinlein.
Blessed be!
2007-07-05 19:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by Luinrandir 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The only choice is God - or not God.
God created everything. God created the angels and other heavenly beings, including Lucifer (i.e., Satan). Why pick the lesser of the two?
Whether or not you go to heaven is explained differently by different sects of religion.
Personally, I believe whether you go to Heaven or hell is the sole decision of God. Only He/She knows what s/he is looking for - we only have our imperfect understanding of it. Do your best. God will know whether it was your best or not and act accordingly - that is, according to her/his wishes, not any of ours.
By the way ... my favorite description of Hell is in "Only Begotten Daughter": Jesus is taking someone on a tour of Hell, showing her a map. Hell is like an archipeligo, with each island labeled by who's there. I.e., Catholics; Methodists; Muslims; Jews. She asks Jesus if that means *all* Catholics (or whatever group) are there. He says yes. She realizes there's an island for every single group of people in the world. She thinks this is not only unfair, but simply unacceptable. How can the entirety of a group all go to hell? She demands an explanation of the criteria of how you went to hell. He says that those people went to hell if someone else believed they ought to go.
We aren't god - don't set your self up to act in his/her place by judgment of others, because assuredly someone mortal will seek to sit in judgement of you with equally flawed criteria.
2007-07-05 19:06:58 · answer #2 · answered by Elizabeth S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The choice is not between God and Satan but between God and yourself. You have to choose between who you want to be the center of your life and if you choose yourself then God grants your wish and cuts you off from him. It is not a question of being a good person, that's not the point, it is a question of who you will allow to lead.
2007-07-05 19:11:51 · answer #3 · answered by mrglass08 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God lets all people have Free will. Satan is the father of all lies and is very good at not telling you the consequences of your actions. God loves you and Satan wants to destroy you how much brain power does this decision take? Jesus died for you and me so that we could fellowship with Him because He loves you that much no matter what your done to this point. Ask Jesus into you heart and start reading the Bible and go to a Bible believing Church and you can start your journey with one who loves you.
2007-07-05 19:06:44 · answer #4 · answered by Curtis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"What kind of a choice is that?"... You're getting a choice, for one... and if you don't choose your creator, you're ignoring what He asks and you're choosing what satan wants...
"Even if you're a good person, you go to hell?"... Well, God says to follow His word, and if you're too stuck up to do it because, "oh, I'll get into heaven because I'm a good person, I don't need to do what God set out for me, I don't feel like getting in that way," well then you're not the kind of person that God made heaven for...
"It sounds like a dictatorship to me."... It sounds like a loving God that doesn't want satan to take you in and that just wants His creations to love Him back by at least just following His word. If we loved Him we'd WANT to be honest and to follow all of His laws... just because you don't go to prison doesn't mean you're getting into heaven, and trying to take the easy way by doing what you want and by picking up someone's dropped car keys once or twice in your lifetime just goes to show that people are too selfish to do simple things that God asked them to do.
2007-07-05 19:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by spinelli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who wouldn't want a dictator that is full of love and is always just? Also, no man is without sin, so "good" is relative. Since God's standard is perfection for heaven, the way to get there is to allow Jesus to take your sins. I know it does not seem fair, Jesus hanging on the cross, dying to cleanse us, having to go to hell and defeat the devil for us. thankfully he did it and now gives everyone who asks the gift of salvation, heaven and a better way of life.
2007-07-05 19:01:11 · answer #6 · answered by kcroyals77 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lol! Thanks you made me laugh. Good Question. You only have to choose between god and satan if you believe in god and satan. You do have the option to not believe in either. So if you choose not to believe in either of them, you wouldn't have to choose.
2007-07-05 18:57:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No actually it technically is your choice but the plan to salvation is in Acts 2
read that
it should help you out
2007-07-05 19:00:07 · answer #8 · answered by TR 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you don't like the Christian bandwagon they have created, then jump onto ours, which is the "anything but god is good enough for me" wagon. We have sandwiches. ^_^
2007-07-05 19:00:32 · answer #9 · answered by Hailey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They both appear to be psychopaths. Count me out
2007-07-05 19:14:07 · answer #10 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋