Think about the people you love. What could they do that would cause you to forever excommunicate them? What could they do that would cause you to punish them eternally? What could they do to make you decide that you want them to stay away from you for eternity, with no hope of redemption?
If you can think of anything, then those are the conditions under which you would continue to love them. If you can't think of anything that would cause you to do those things, then you love that person unconditionally.
Now, when you talk about a god's unconditional love, then you are saying that regardless of what a person says, does, or thinks, that particular god loves them and would never do anything to eternally separate itself from them, especially not things as trivial as not believing a religion of a people that you never knew. Would you call it love if Zeus is the true god, and since you didn't believe it he sent you off to burn for eternity in Hades?
2007-09-17 01:15:06 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
So, how does your god define "unconditional love"? Does it have conditions?
Is that the definition you would use for your children?
2007-09-17 01:17:01 · update #1
William D, so if I'm a good person that does his best to be honest and forthright in all my dealings, helps people less fortunate than me, and is always faithful to his wife, would your god still let me into heaven if I just happen to be a Pagan, Heathen, Odinist, or Wiccan? Would your god still love me and let me into heaven if I was an atheist that knew of several religions and found no proof for any of them?
2007-09-17 01:30:03 · update #2
Alan C, that situation implies that the child actually knows you, and has proof that you are there. That isn't a matter of belief, that's a matter of fact.
What about those that have no proof, and therefore no reason to believe?
2007-09-17 01:33:35 · update #3
Obvioulsy the idea of unconditional love from god contradicts itself
2007-09-17 01:21:07 · answer #1 · answered by pr0tegemoi 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Unconditional love means God loves us all, no matter what we do, say, feel, or believe; even those who don't believe He exists or those who mock and hate Him. How's that for unconditional love? And you're exactly right -- God would never do anything to eternally separate us from Him.
Romans 8:38-39 -- 38For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But WE can. How is it possible to love someone you don't believe in? It can't be done. I sure don't believe in Zeus or the FSM, so (IF they were real) how could I ever love either of them or be with them?
John 14:6 -- Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
God wants us to be with Him for eternity. But Jesus said the only way to God is through Jesus. If you don't know Jesus, how can you be with God? Hope this makes sense and helps.
2007-09-17 02:31:58 · answer #2 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian view of the afterlife is the 2nd evolution of Sheol. The 1st evolution was when the concept of Sheol was split by the ancient Jews in Gehenna and Abraham's Bosom.
The reason being sent to hell for not believing doesn't make sense for a god with unconditional love is because hell is a human idea.
The Christian afterlife followed this path:
Irkalla -> Sheol -> Gehenna/Abraham's Bosom -> Hell/Heaven
Irkalla was the Sumerian underworld, which has a striking similiarity to Sheol. Abraham was from the city of Ur, a Sumerian city. He would have been privvy to the beliefs of the Sumerian people. Infact, Genesis actually mirrors much of the Sumerian mythology.
2007-09-17 01:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by CSE 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would agree with you that I have unconditional love for my child, but if he left and never wanted to have anything to do with me forever and he walked around telling people that I was a bad person or an evil person then I would have to separate myself from him. I would still love him but I can't make him love me. Then if he came to me on his last breath and said I hate you, I wouldn't make him stay with me for eternity I would have to separate from him for eternity. What happens then is his choice.
2007-09-17 01:27:52 · answer #4 · answered by Allan C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God's love is not unconditional.
He has conditions that we must obey in order to get into Heaven. If we are not Christian or if we go around and commit horrible sins and curse the name of God, then we cannot get in.
2007-09-17 01:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God loves you with an unending, limitless love. He loves you regardless of what you do. Regardless of what you could ever do. That does not mean that he will be able to spend eternity with you because besides being all loving he is also just, and the penalty for sin is death, which is seperation from God. God is the source of life. None of us can come into God's presence as we are because all of us are sinful and unclean, but God has provided a cover for us... the blood of Jesus. That's how much he loves us, enough to provide a means for us to be back in relationship with him and to spend eternity with him. A road back to perfection.
2007-09-17 01:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by William D 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible teaches that the only way to heaven is belief in Jesus Christ, so you can't really subscribe to the Christian faith and believe that other religions are correct as well.
2016-05-17 04:29:42 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well for one hell is not a place you burn for eterinty becouse well jesuse said who ever shall be live in him will not parish but have ever lasting life if you go to hel its couse you dint belive in him but to go to hell also meen you miss out on ever lasting like so there for are destroied whaen the end time comes for evel to be no longer and unconditinal love you explain it well the loce that will always be there not becouse what was done for you but the free will to want the other to be happy tho we are not pefict we can not make the ones we love evem uncodtionaly happy all the time we know and they know that we do love them if you wanna talk any time rite me okay
2007-09-17 01:29:28 · answer #8 · answered by poeticman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can't define unconditional love. But if you knew my little female black lab you'd have no doubt that it exists.
2007-09-17 01:20:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Unconditional love" does not mean "love is blind"!
2007-09-17 01:22:54 · answer #10 · answered by Andy Roberts 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋