I'm obviously referring to the concept of hell as taught by mainstream Christianity. Since God is love, and I believe he is, isn't this the mother of all contradictions? They believe that the God of love created what is essentially a torture chamber called hell which is suppose to inflict pain and torment unendingly. Is this punishment or torture? How is this justice? How is this punishment to fit ANY crime? I thought punishment is about correction, not unending infliction of pain, misery, and torment. Wouldn't God have a more appropriate justice system than this? I not only think so, I believe he does!
2007-08-10 14:42:25 · 20 answers · asked by curious_inquisitor 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Mainstream Christianity" is wrong and unBiblical on this point.
2007-08-10 14:49:17 · answer #1 · answered by shirleykins 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it would be perfect for some. For example: people that rape children, like many priests, deserve "unending infliction of torment".
Unfortunately, because all sin holds the same weight in the eyes of God, those who most deserve Hell may end up in Heaven because they found salvation through the blood sacrifice of God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
Lift the Lord's love on high. Amen!
2007-08-10 14:51:43 · answer #2 · answered by Dog 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is interesting that many men have been convicted of "crimes of war" for torturing their captors. It is considered one of the more henious crimes - to keep someone alive for the sole means of endless torture, and yet Christians worship a God that created them, who has tortured in the past (read the OT) and claims to do so again in the future. Yes, to his sinful children, but yet mankind has deemed this a crime.
2007-08-10 14:54:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell was not designed to be a place to send "bad" people! It is where everyone who rejects God will spend eternity because they chose to.
Hell IS a horrible place, because God will no longer pour out His love, protection, or blessings on you. Those who claim they are self-reliant and have no need for God here on earth, will get the chance to prove just how self-reliant they really are.
2007-08-10 14:56:34 · answer #4 · answered by Linda J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you think spending a lifetime REJECTING Jesus, and living your life of sin is deserving of a free pass into heaven?
Sorry, it doesn't work that way. God is love because he gave His only son for you, so that all you have to do is accept Jesus for who He claimed to be, and you can live forever in heaven. It's too difficult for you? You love your sinful ways that much that you refuse to accept the free gift of salvation?
You thought punishment was about correction? Tell that to the parolees who repeat their crimes within months of being let out. "Correctional" facility is not God's way. God's way is "eye for an eye". Don't like eye for an eye? Then go create your own universe, and make up your own rules. But as long as you're under God's roof, you'll live by His rules, like it or not.
2007-08-10 14:53:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Justice is in the eyes of whatever is inflicting punishment. If there's a God, then whatever he does is just. That's the nature of being God.
Luckily, the other parts of the nature of being God don't fit together well enough to suggest such a creature exists.
2007-08-10 14:48:00 · answer #6 · answered by Jack P 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Good points. I agree. How can we claim to worship a God who is all loving, and a God of grace, and at the same time believe that God will condemn anyone to an eternity of pain and suffering?
2007-08-10 14:52:04 · answer #7 · answered by keri gee 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No I dont think its Just, and the God of the Bible does,nt think so either. There was a time that the Israelites actually made their children pass through fire in child sacrifice to the false god called Molech. Note what Almighty God said of this practice: “They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, in order to make their sons and their daughters pass through the fire to Molech, a thing that I did not command them, neither did it come up into my heart to do this detestable thing.” (Jer. 32:35) No, God did not even meditate doing such a thing. How, then, can he be accused of doing worse, torturing persons in hellfire throughout eternity?
2007-08-10 14:51:01 · answer #8 · answered by conundrum 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
God is a God of love. Again as a reminder, He is also a Judge and Just God. There are laws of God to be applied to your life. God in His mercy has told you up front what you need to do and what will happen if you don't.
Try as you may to put the blame on God, it comes right back to you, because you have a choice to listen and heed His words or else.
We operate this way in our society. That is why we have jail and the death penalty.
2007-08-10 14:51:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
that is why the hell fire teaching is so stupid and makes people not believe the bible or main steam religion.
I mean should they have a rest period after 2 million years?
What sane person would keep someone alive endlessly to torture them?
it is so ridiculous. When God told Adam for his sin:
"for dust you are and to dust you will return" Was he lying?
He really is going to keep him alive to toture him?
What about when he said the wages of sin is death?
was he lying then?
2007-08-10 14:51:40 · answer #10 · answered by Steven 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
God has a problem with rebellion and beings basically destroy themselves to a point of no repair ... and all created humans and angels its understood are eternal ... so what to do with them ... God will do away with the evil He hates once and for all is how i see it ... and since Hes the boss thats how it will be .. do u tell ur boss at work when u get fired for wrong behavior that its not fair ... no .. u deal with the results of ur actions ...
2007-08-10 14:51:38 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋