Christians who are willing to do a little thought experiment?

Question

I know many of you will only respond with "But that's NOT how it is so I can't do it." Very well. If you can't do the thought experiment, just ignore the question!

But for those of you that can and who believe in a literal hell. A place of punishment in the next life. Please imagine with me that instead of setting up a hell, god lets everyone go to heaven. Those who have sinned in this life have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Once the lessons have been learned and the mental illnesses cured, they are allowed in the presence of god.

Do you have a problem with things being set up this way? Do you feel uncomfortable if they're not punished forever or do you feel in some way that things are "unfair"? Does this view of an afterlife change your opinion about heaven or god or morality?

Thanks!

Eye Candy: I'm learning photoshop and I make my avatars. I made an anti-Bush and a Marilyn Manson one today too :)

Answer 1

I have been taught to believe in a forgiving and understanding compassionate God, I think that set-up makes a lot of sense. People deserve second chances, even the worst sinners. It almost pains me to say that, because of the evils that some commit in this life (notably serial killers), but still I don't think that it is enough for an eternity in hell if they learn and repent in many ways. Some though, will not learn and that is just the way it is, sadly I feel that there are some people who are simply inherintly evil.
The only issue I have is your mention of mental illness...that is such a broad subject and I honestly feel that most people with mental illnesses haven't earned a place in hell. Think about it, there are very few mentally ill people who actually go out and committ the biggest sins as compared to the rest of those who have suffered in that way, far too much of a generalization if you ask me.

I have to say that I am interested in that heaven and that God that you speak of. I think that it is a much more fair way, we have all sinned whether we admit it our not. In the end it is up to God.

Answer 2

If heaven were set up that way I would say so be it, but principal says otherwise unfair or not ..I don't believe in a Hell where people burn but I do believe there is a place called the outer court where there is separation from God and his presence.. Which wouldn't be comfortable especially if you could acknowledge that it was close to you but not attainable because you chose to deny truth and purpose....

Now I believe in mercy and how do we know that some don't convert at the last minute ? And I also believe that children and people with no access to truth have a chance at salvation.But I am sure there's a fine line...Because you must believe....

Morality is knowing right from wrong and leading a life in the best way you know how.with conviction .Of course as believers we have an instruction manual .. what about the ones that love God but don't have the instructions? I think if you have a deep relationship with God you Can conduct your life as righteous as any Christian can ...After all the bible wasn't always around for people to behold....

I would think there was no justice if killers , rapists and pedophiles etc. were to just enter heaven without a true conversion but I don't think heaven is attainable without it.....It would not change my view if things were different then I thought or were taught after all we are talking about the creator of all things!

Answer 3

Yeah that would be great if we could live how we wanted and endure no consequences. I don't see things the way God sees them. So I can't speak for Him. Even *if* the bible was mistranslated and there is no literal hell (burning forever) I really don't care because I want to make the most of my life here on earth and KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that I did my best. If I didn't have that "fear" then I would still be in my past state (drugs, promiscuity, addictions). I would also probably be dead somewhere. So I guess it's all in how you look at it. I can only speak for myself. Someone else may not feel this way.

Answer 4

Thank you LTJ.

1) Yes. I am willing to do a thought experiment.

2) I do not have a problem with things being set-up as you suggest.

3) I do not feel uncomfortable or that things are/would be unfair. The only thing truly unfair are unrighteous judgment before it's time (unrighteous judgment in general).

4) This view does not change my current opinion about heaven or God or morality.

Thanks.

Answer 5

Experiment to real to truth for some.

In many aspects of many religous people in the community with out even noting it. There are some that would say this would completly take away the meaning of Jesus life, of his words, that life is full of second chances. We take one road or another. Their is no middle line.

But what if as you purpose that one enters a place to a place to learn from the mental illnesses, or sins, the evil nature that the lived. All who are non-belivers have heard of the man named Jesus. In fact he is listed in almost all religions as a great profit of God. Even in the Qurin is Jesus mentioned.

This is very simular to the Catholic Purgatory.Even after we confess our sins before death. If after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. They are given a second chance. How long that second chance will be is unknown. Maybe some need a longer time with the healings by the angles and before they achive stepping forth in to heaven. Once this purification is complete, the soul, now free from sins, may enter Heaven.

God is all loving, He wants what is best for us right. Everyone is given a second chance even in heaven. It is up to god to sort them out. If that is what God wanted to completly heal the soul it is up to him.

It does not shade my thoughts in the least. As you can see tho it is a struggle. I do not feel that those who hurt a child, should be given a second chance. But that is a struggle from with in. But God can see to the very soul of a man. The ones that are in this area and here he can sort them out.He can see our good nature. He can see if someone is saying yes yes oh I belive..(while laughing at him inside).

I rather feel the need of Hell at times.If a hell appears to be then..... I hope that those who have hurt children are my stepping stones into heaven. And that I am wearing spiked healed boots!!!

Does that make me a bad person. NOPE.. lol..Just a well dressed Christian.

Answer 6

Fair enough. Let's put this hypothesis to the test, shall we?

Are you a parent? What is your discipline style, so that your child will learn the lesson and hopefully not behave badly again? Have you ever placed your child in a time-out, alone away from you, so that he could "think about it"? Did this physical separation from you, during the time-out, allow him to appreciate you as a parent more? What would happen if he was to be forever be separated from you, because he refused to turn from bad behavior? This would never happen, right?, because your child would say he was sorry and never behave that way again, and you would welcome him back in your arms. Your child learned that his bad behavior was unacceptable to you. If you allowed yourself to ignore his acting out without correction, then what has he learned? He will do it again, but much worse, right? Are you being a good parent? How will your child turn out if he is not corrected now?

More thoughts to ponder so that you may settle your question.

Sorry if I could not respond exactly to your Q. I think you already know my answer. 8^)

Answer 7

What you're describing is somewhat similar to Purgatory, a defined doctrine of the Catholic Church.

It's a spiritual state where those who die in a state of grace, but who have not done sufficient (or any) atonement for their forgiven sins, are made fit (by purification) for entrance into Heaven, where the Bible tells us nothing unclean is allowed.

Purgatory isn't Heaven, but all souls who go there will get into Heaven eventually. It's not a place where we "learn from mistakes," but it's a place where our souls are sufficiently purified so as to be able to enter Heaven.

So, in a way, I don't have a problem with things being set up in a similar fashion to what you describe -- because my religion teaches that things already are set up that way.

.

Answer 8

God is a Just and Righteous God! There is a literal hell to punish those who have turned against his ways. People may think it is unfair because they enjoy living in their sins, however it really isn't that hard to ask for forgiveness and allow the presence of God to come into your life. When i was younger i use to think that it wasn't fair that one deity gets to decide the fate of people. If they are good people they should be rewarded and if they are bad they should be punished. it is more of a literal justification that bad be defined as sin and good be defined as following God's plan. It really isn't all that hard. thou shalt not murder...duh! don't kill anyone including yourself! though shalt not steal.... control yourself and you'll be fine! thou shalt not commit adultery! basically its common sense and those who cannot seem to follow the basic rules need to realize that there will be consequences. We all have the chance to go to Heaven, some just seem to understand the concept better than others. unfortunately how we view heaven and hell does not change the reality of the two outcomes. We will ultimately be faced with a choice and how we live our lives here and now will decide where we go.

Answer 9

Jesus already died for our sins. Every one of them. You, me, the murderer down the street, all
of our sins are forgiven. The sins we committed 1, 10, 20, years ago, the ones we did today and the ones we will do tomorrow and all the way
until we die. We are forgiven.
Now in order to get to heaven, a person must
believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose from
the dead and went to heaven to make a place for
each one of us. If we believe that he is powerful
enough to do this and that we are not in any way
able to be good enough to wash away our own sins then we need Jesus to be our Savior and we
ask Him to be. Then we can be saved by His
Precious Blood and we go to heaven to be with Him for eternity. If a person doesn`t believe then
that person will literally go to a place of punishment called hell. Since we have an eternal
soul, when we die and get a perfect body that will
last eternally, we will be burning in hell for eternity.

Answer 10

You crazy bible bashing idiots. Use the brain that god gave you. You lot are all humanising god in the same way that animals are humanised for kids. Rupert the bear wearing pants for instance. You are all talking about a 2000 year old fairy story and quote all the nonsense in it as word for word fact. Has it not entered your silly childlike heads that it has been rewritten over and over again and each writer has put his own changes. You are all quoting on the writings of some book writer idiot that lived along the road and not God. Wake up.