2007-07-12 22:46:58 · 21 answers · asked by That Guy Drew 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nope.
2007-07-12 22:50:03 · answer #1 · answered by Iron What? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Many other religions have an equivalent to 'purgatory' or 'hell.' The ancient Irish mythos had a land of the dead which wasn't too pleasant; as did the Maya, Aztecs, Norse, and countless 'primitive' cultures. Most of these 'purgatory'-type places were reserved for the cowardly, murderous, chronically dishonored, or in some cases, just those who were hopelessly lost. Many such places were just a stopping point for souls on their way to their eventual end--be it positive or negative; some religions considered the land of the dead to simply be a resting place befor the next incarnation. Monotheism, however, seems to have ruled the day on the whole 'turn or burn' idealism.
2007-07-13 06:10:35 · answer #2 · answered by enragedwombat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simply no. I wonder if you have the best perspective on eternal punishment.
Here's a question that applies. What is the difference in forever and eternity.
If your question is legitimate you haven't spent much time in study or perhaps not enough. People can find the answer to most questions in the bible.
Find out what Christianity teaches then ask questions, but please don't label us with others attitudes.
2007-07-20 10:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Start all over: Christianity does NOT teach eternal punishment.
2007-07-20 09:49:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hell was invented by the Zoroastrians in Persia. The concept was picked up by the Hebrews, who passed it on to the Christians who passed it on to the Muslims.
There are also other religious faiths that have concluded that Hell must exist. It can be argued that since evil people often live long and healthy lives, that if the universe is a just place, those folks must receive punishment after death.
But the concept of Hell does not fit well into the best religious and ethical codes. In particular, the conservative Protestant concept of hell has:
- people sent to Hell for thought crimes (believing in the wrong God)
- people receiving infinitely long jail sentences for finite crimes.
- people being tortured while imprisoned.
All three of these are rejected by civilized folks as immoral. So if you believe that God has set up such a place as Hell, you are forced to believe that God has a lower standard of morality and ethics than does the average North American. You may be confusing Satan with God.
2007-07-17 06:52:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Across the ages there were other religions which promised 'punishment' of one kind or another, but for gosh sake, don't ask me to name them at this early morning hour. The men who wrote the Bible borrowed with enormous verve from past and present religions, as did the gents who put to paper what they said were the words of Jesus. In less holy circles, today, it is called plagiarism.
2007-07-13 06:04:50 · answer #6 · answered by Yank 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Greeks believed Prometheus has his liver torn out and ate every day and it grows back every knight as he's chained to a rock for giving man fire.
I know he wasn't human and this isn't eternal punishment for humans but there are to many other references to list and I like Prometheus.
Blessed Be
2007-07-13 05:57:59 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Gnostic♥ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eternal punishment is serious and cold.It is eternal only to "man " and spirits-unclear agents like 3 and 7 who have sinned beyond repair.
2007-07-13 06:30:15 · answer #8 · answered by thiru 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. But Satanism is the only religion that teaches eternal awesomeness, interspersed with hours and hours of sexy-time, gypsy.
2007-07-13 05:59:09 · answer #9 · answered by The Man Comes Around 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, the Qur'an has some pretty vile stuff on the same lines:
[2:126] "As for him who disbelieveth, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the doom of Fire"
[4:56] Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment.
8:14 That (is the award), so taste it, and (know) that for disbelievers is the torment of the Fire.
10:4 ...as for those who disbelieve, theirs will be a boiling drink and painful doom because they disbelieved.
17:10 And that those who believe not in the Hereafter, for them We have prepared a painful doom.
18:29 Say: (It is) the truth from the Lord of you (all). Then whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. Lo! We have prepared for disbelievers Fire. Its tent encloseth them. If they ask for showers, they will be showered with water like to molten lead which burneth the faces. Calamitous the drink and ill the resting-place!
22:19 These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads, Disbelievers will wear garments of fire, boiling fluid will be poured on their heads, their bellies and skin will be melted, they will be tormented with iron hooks, and when they try to escape they will be driven back with the taunt: Taste the doom of burning.
22:20 Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted;
22:21 And for them are hooked rods of iron.
22:22 Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are driven back therein and (it is said unto them): Taste the doom of burning.
etc... There's quite a lot of this sort of thing.
2007-07-13 06:00:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you read, understand, and believe in the bible then you'd know there is eternal punishment. the ones that dont believe, do not believe his word how they should. they take away from the word, which revelation says NOT to do.
2007-07-21 03:24:56 · answer #11 · answered by warrior*in*the*making 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋