Isn't Hell a horribly vivid image for children?

Question

As a child this painting of the Joker scared me and my cousin a lot every time we slept over at my grandmother's house. A painting... of a fictional character...

Many Christian parents tell their children that the WORST pain that can't even be conceived literally exists to FOREVER torture 'sinners' who don't accept Jesus Christ by burning in a lake of fire.

If this isn't child abuse then I don't know WHAT is! I'd be petrified if my parents told me this as a child! (If they indoctrinated the belief into me, that is. They are Christian/Catholic, but never brought up Hell.. let alone as a scare tactic.)

Answer 1

I totally agree that Hell should not be used as a scare tactic for children, especially young children who do not understand the basis of the religion that they are being raised. When I was 5 years old, my parents took me to a "fire and brimstones" church which means they constantly preached about hell even to small children who had no real concept of what it was. I got saved and baptized at that same age as the sunday school class I went to preached about it until I was in tears from fear. I begged to be baptized so I would not go to this horrid place. I even had nightmares as a child about it.
When I became an adult, those type scare tactics turned me away from the church and christianity. Even though I have learned in my older age that all churches are not like that, I am in my 30's and still get nervous when I walk into a church. That is why I cannot attend church regularly even now. I will go for a while then decide the anxiety is not worth the effort. I do believe in christianity and feel that I am spiritial but the scare tactics scarred me and did the very thing that is opposite of the desired effect. It scared me away from church instead of scaring me to the point I would go to church. I hope that parents who condone this type of teaching to their young children will read this and learn something. It doesnt work and can be emotionally damaging to the child.

Answer 2

Hell isn't in the Bible, in the book of Ecclesiastes in the old testament death is equated with sleep, and so in the new testament where Jesus before resurrecting a child said to grieving parents 'don't worry your child is merely sleeping'. In the Bible, death is thus non-existence. The jewish hope was a resurrection at the end of days, and that was the Christian outlook in the Bible, but these days most so called Christian tachers advocate a fiery hell.

Answer 3

What do you expect? It's religion we're talking about! How else are people going to believe if they don't have some sort of reward/punishment system? When my parents told me about Hell, I freaked out, I was a "good little boy" out of fear, not desire. It wasn't until I was a full-blooded atheist that I started to do good for the benefit of the many. Funny isn't it? I think that Hell IS child abuse...but that's my opinion, make of it as you will. Hope this helps!! ^_^

Answer 4

It works on adults too. Imagine if jesus came and you were to believe in him even as he asks you to do in the christian theology, but there was no promise of heaven. Would anyone believe? Not likely. The only thing that we love about jesus is the escape from everlasting pain and torture. Even the pope has body guards and bullet proof glass, so he doesn't believe that god is in control of his demise.

Religion=Fear and controlling that fear=power.

Answer 5

all of us desires that 'night out'. despite the fact that in case you do not go away your guy or woman 4 partitions. that's what we've suggestions for. It gets us throughout the time of the complicated circumstances. Our life is a mountainous terrain. the suited we are in a position to choose for is a plateau. The peaks are to be enjoyed, yet don't get used to it. you will quickly be disillusioned. The valleys are what makes us superior, to delight in the plateau, as quickly as we get returned up there. you will get returned up there, Ma. I promise.

Answer 6

I'd agree with you on this one...far too many of the "stories" we tell children contain overly vivid images and pathetic moral lessons. I'm teaching my son about my Christian beliefs but I am not using hell as a scare tactic...when he has asked about it (after hearing about it from someone else...usually a child whose parents ARE misusing it as a scare tactic to influence their child), I explain that hell is simply what happens to everyone when they die and that God loves us and wants everyone to follow his instructions so we can go to his house instead. That is really the only thing we do know about what hell is like...that it is separate from God's kingdom...anything else is speculation and I'm not about to teach my son to accept speculation as fact...I want him to be capable of thinking (and speculating) for himself.

Answer 7

I think that you should tell children only or mostly the good things when they are young. Tell them about God's love, Jesus's death on the cross, how great heaven is, the holy spirit, etc.

As they get older tell them about the consequences of injustice such as: Hades, Hell, Satan, Fallen Angels, God's wrath etc.

Telling children about all this evil at a young age will frighten them, shower them with the knowledge of the LORD's love =D

Answer 8

I suppose if the parents really, honestly believe such utter nonsense then you have to expect them to want to scare their kids into avoiding it. The key thing is to educate and enlighten people out of these absurd beliefs in the first place.

Answer 9

I agree 100%. This, along with the idea that we are born into a position of terrible self loathing because of our wretched inate evil character is why many people including me find this religion so vile and unnatural.

Answer 10

If you lived right next door to a pedophile and you knew the potential threat that this would bring upon your children, and you knew that you could not be with them to protect them 24/7, in what language would you describe to them the danger of that man and the reason they must stay away from him?