to you?
Which is it you want the most? A God that "loves" everybody and doesn't send anyone to hell, or a God that punishes evildoers?
2007-10-07 12:53:10 · 18 answers · asked by Prof Fruitcake 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the popular model of God actions don't really matter do they? Hitler could be flying among the angels right now if he repented his sins while Ghandi is frying in hell.
Nevertheless, both the belief and actions archetypes of an afterlife are seriously philosophically flawed.
Belief, as has been proven many times through global and national statistics and child psychology studies, is almost always based on the environment is raised in, the further the indoctrination goes in childhood, the less likely it is a child will question their religion in which they were indoctrinated anytime in their lives. In example, those born in most places in Asia will almost certainly be a Hindu.
The works method has its own set of problems. Sure, many people do evil things in this world, but does that make them evil? Do you know what kind of screwed up conditions most criminals grow up in? The old nature vs nurture discussion. If you had the same genes as these people, and went through all of the experiences that shaped who they are, you can't say you would not be doing the exact same things.
A large portion of the prison population is black; does this mean that black people are just somehow more prone to committing crimes and harmful acts against others? No, it means that unfortunately there is still a much larger percentage of black child growing up in very poor, often abusive conditions, without many positive role models in their lives. Fortunately, this trend is starting to change for the better, as is the over representation of blacks in the criminal justice system.
Mix in mental illness with this, many of which can actually be brought on by traumatic experiences (an actual physiological observance), and you have a whole other set of problems.
The only after life that could possibly match with the laws of the human mind and the universe is the state of mind approach, made popular by Buddhism, which is a atheistic religion based on natural laws, so talk of a God is not necessary here.
2007-10-07 13:04:38 · answer #1 · answered by Jett 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In this case, I think karma is best - people suffering or enjoying the results of their own actions.
All the crap that god sends people to hell for is so arbitrary anyway. Social norms change and with it, the concepts of morality. Then people just use god to support their own concepts of morality.
I don't believe any god can prevent others from doing evil to me. If I were to believe in a god, I wouldn't consider that a function of it. It's up to us to chose not to do evil. If someone is inherently evil, I don't think threats of hell are going to deter them, nor are promises of heaven.
I also fail to see the point of living a life on a finite scale that determines the rest of your existence on an infinite scale. I don't want a god who is that petty.
2007-10-07 13:01:14 · answer #2 · answered by Lillith 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Right -- I hope God doesn't send anyone to hell. He has done all He can do, through Jesus Christ, to ensure that they don't, but they have to make a choice for themselves.
Right - I hope God will prevent others from doing evil to me.
I already HAVE a God that loves everybody.
But God is God and has established his laws forever. So sadly, I think there will be some people that reject all that God has done for them and God's message of love to them. I think, unfortunately, that there will be some people going to hell.
But I am not the one who will be making that judgment.
2007-10-07 13:06:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would prefer a God that punishes evildoers.
2007-10-07 13:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by Pal 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A god who manages to cure the sickness or injustice that caused the evil doing.
2007-10-07 13:10:03 · answer #5 · answered by DavinaOpines 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
But doesn't the bible say that any one who repents of evil will go to heaven and that the only thing you can go to hell for is not accepting Jesus Christ? That means that some people who do evil here on earth will go to heaven, and that some people who have done no evil will go to hell. Right?
2007-10-07 13:01:07 · answer #6 · answered by October 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is a false dichotomy. As an atheist, I don't want a god at all. However, if one existed I would hope he would mete out punishment according to the crime, not "infinite punishment for not believing in me."
2007-10-07 13:00:04 · answer #7 · answered by Bob C 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God is who he is we cant pick and choose,
God sends no person to hell
God does love everyone
God will punish evil
2007-10-07 12:58:29 · answer #8 · answered by Rev.Michelle 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I want the God I have exactly like He is. He loves and wants everyone to follow Him. He is just so He must punish those that do not follow Him, even the good people that are not His.
2007-10-07 12:58:02 · answer #9 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
God does not want everybody and he has chosen evil doers in the past. So God knows every thing, we do not know jack. So the question is where is every ones faith and obedience.
2007-10-07 12:58:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋