2007-11-07 07:56:33 · 12 answers · asked by curious_inquisitor 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That whole "all-loving God" suffers a bit by that doctrine.
2007-11-07 07:58:45 · answer #1 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's a matter of proportionality. Say a person spends their whole life being as evil as possible, and living a really ling time, say 120 years. Now, he goes to hell to be tortured for umptity billi--, no, trill--, hmm, well, an infinitely long time. This is a direct contradiction not only to the mercy of God but the justice of God as well. The sentence is infinitely worse than the offense.
2007-11-07 16:14:34 · answer #2 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would God create people for the sole purpose of deciding whether they deserve eternal life or eternal torment? Perhaps His gift to us is life itself and we should make the most of it while we're here.
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2007-11-07 17:26:19 · answer #3 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they say it's unending then they say it will end when Satan is thrown into the sea of fire.....who the hell knows.
2007-11-07 16:00:46 · answer #4 · answered by Gyspy Soul 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's funny that simply swearing and not being sorry about it will land you in eternal suffering, yet if you commit genocide but ask for forgiveness you get eternal bliss.
2007-11-07 15:58:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps contemplating on the words of Jean Paul Sartre will provide you with guidance: "Hell is other people."
[No Exit]
2007-11-07 16:00:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hell is eternal seperation from God, just as heaven is eternal bliss in union with God. If you seperate yourself from God, that is your own doing.
The eternal nature of hell is stressed in the New Testament. For example, in Mark 9:47–48 Jesus warns us, "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." And in Revelation 14:11, we read: "And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."
Hell is not just a theoretical possibility. Jesus warns us that real people go there. He says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt. 7:13–14).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’ The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs" (CCC 1035).
http://www.catholic.com/library/Hell_There_Is.asp
2007-11-07 15:59:13 · answer #7 · answered by Swiss Guard 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It just doesn't "make sense". That's the problem I have with the idea of a conventional Hell.
2007-11-07 15:59:43 · answer #8 · answered by Kiwi 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
your torment doesn't have to be unending, you know.
2007-11-07 15:58:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It should be considered child abuse, to scare children with hell stories.
2007-11-07 16:00:25 · answer #10 · answered by lilith 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋