Which is more loving, Hell or Nonexistence?

Question

Please Read this CAREFULLY and think about your answer don't just give me the same schtick about "people put themselves in hell" cause I've already heard that one and it doesn't apply for the exact reason that I ask this question.

If God can do anything, and God makes the rules for the universe, and God is supposedly the embodiment of Love, then why would He chose to make a rule that would allow anyone to be tortured in Hell for Eternity when He could have just made them no longer exist? Isn't non-existence more loving than Hell? Does a loving God make rules that will land people he loves in Hell? It's a contradiction since this supposedly 'loving' god knew from the get go that making that rule would have people tortured in Hell.

Now I know that there are those who believe Hell is nonexistence but that's not what the Bible says at all, so believing that Hell is anything other than a place of fire and torment is fringe liberal Christianity and intellectually dishonest.

Punishment is intended to teach or discourage bad behavior. That is the expectance of an outcome of 'betterness'. How is Hell anything but eternal torture?

If humans are supposedly the 'special creation' that god created and loved then why treat them as if they were enemies like Satan?

There is a blatant contradiction for the Christian god to be the embodiment of love and still be wrath to.

TimothyTitus - What you're talking about isn't Love it's an ultimatum. An ultimatum is NEVER a Loving thing to do. EVER.

Answer 1

Not existing is better than torture, hands down. But no worries, and you all ought to know this by now.... THERE IS NO HELL and THERE IS NO LIFE AFTER DEATH.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/Chimp_Two_GIF.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 2

God's existence is independent of belief. If you are flying in an airplane at 25,000 ft and jump out without a parachute, you can scream "I don't believe in gravity" all the way down, but that does not change the fact that you will die on impact with the ground. God exists and He is holy, perfect and righteous. Those who turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will see eternal life. Those who reject the free gift of salvation unto death will remain under condemnation for their sin against God. The punishment for sin against God is eternal separation from God and that is hell, not nonexistence. You do have a choice, eternal life or eternal punishment and those are the only options. Today is the day of salvation, no one is promised tomorrow. Romans 3:10-12 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 John 3:16-18 John 14:6 Acts 4:11-12

Answer 3

What you seem to not understand is that the Bible (since you base your logic on what the Bible says) reveals that God is both a God of love and a God of wrath. If that is the case (it is), then what you have is not a contradiction at all.

What you have is God revealing both His wrath (Hell) and His love (heaven).

There is only contradiction in your scenario. But, your scenario is not what the Bible articulates about the totality of the characteristics of God. Your scenario fails to acknowledge that God is multifaceted in His character.

So, to answer your question by correcting it in my answer, a loving God who is also a God of wrath does indeed make rules that will land people who reject his love into Hell.

Answer 4

The Christian God is only a God of love in the Latter half of the Book. In the first part he is very angry and cruel. Hell seems to fit quite well with the Old Testament version.

Answer 5

A more fundamental question is why a benevolent etc God would create people and all they contain with the knowledge that they will commit so-called 'sin'.
Leibniz got himself into this problem and he was a great mind. It puts the whole thing into a whirl!

Answer 6

@Randy G above:

Why YES, yes it is fair. At very least a whole lot more fair than torturing someone infinitely beyond the point at which they see the error of their ways and wish to make amends. I suppose it would be unfair not to torture Gandhi for his life of trying to help other people too?...


PS: I believe it is somewhat obvious that I would way nonexistence is the more loving path.

Answer 7

since jesus did 'not change one letter of the Law," hell is simply another word for gehenna, the jewish concept of hell. Gehenna is not a place of torment or fires, but simply a momentary seperation from God. It is not a physical place, but a metaphorical one, essentially furthering ones' self from God. There is a period of seperation before the person becomes reunited with God. The seperation is not based on religion, but on the way you lived your life.

Answer 8

1) GOD (YHVH) did not make hell for people, HE made if Satan and his followers.
2) A soul is eternal. GOD (YHVH) might be able to destroy one, But I'm not sure. (No, I am not putting a limit on HIM)
3) GOD is love, but HE is also judge, so HE must punish evil, but HE love mankind so much that HE send HIS son to take the punishment so that you don't have to. All you have to do is accept this, and you will never go to hell.

Answer 9

Your angry at God i see, he gave us free will to choose what and how we live . He also says judge not lest you be judged , sometimes its hard to follow along. Having faith and trust is very hard .Do you truly believe that God made and gave us this soul only to just loose it?Your looking for the logical answer and there just isn't one, feel with your soul in the middle of your being. Seek and you shall find. May you find peace!

Answer 10

you have described hell from the bible, but there is also mention of the "second death"...in revelation...

i agree with the 7th day adventists who believe hell is temporary, and then the second death is eternal...

fire only burns till that which is burning is burnt.