Christians are fond of saying that God created Hell because it shows us that there are consequences for our actions.
They continue, and say that it's like our love for our children. If we really love them, we will punish them so they will be better people.
But would we punish them eternally?
And further, would it be love, if we created a place for Lucifer and made it also become a place for our children (whom you created) of eternal torment?
What if our children were rebellious? Would we then, ALLOW them to be tormented, and eternally burned and tortured and eventually annihilated in a lake of fire, because they were rebellious.
Does unconditional love exist? Should it? I've heard some parents say that nomatter what their child did, they would always love them and try to help them.
You say that the child won't accept the help?
But would you then make the only alternative for rebellion, a Hell for your child? Would you kill your child? Did God make this plan or not?
2007-12-21 08:55:56 · 35 answers · asked by John Galt 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dr THEO,
You miss the point.
Not that God sends people to Hell, but that the only alternative for unbelief is Hell, Torture, Annihilation!
Those are the only options and it is YOUR GOD who has made these consequences. I did not make them.
Being highly educated and honest, I have ZERO reason to believe the Bible myth. Your God is going to send me to Hell for that. Any way you look at it, ultimately, it is YOUR GOD who has set things up this way.
You think I choose to be tortured for eternity? No.
My choices are based on what I know and what I see. God blames me for that.
2007-12-21 09:23:36 · update #1
According to Jesus, YOU are no child of God:
"Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."
John 8:42-47
2007-12-21 09:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
John Galt speaking ;-) If you have that screen name, i would think you would know the answer to that.
no... i do not think unconditional love should exist. just like unconditional respect should not not exist. i can't respect my trusted friend and the person that mugged me the same. people gain that and earn it just like love. and that should go for the same with family members. i have a brother that constantly disrespects me and blames me for his problems that i have nothing to do with. and yet i'm supposed to love him just because he is my brother? i have a father that has "eternally cursed" me and threatened my life just because i didn't join the air force like he wanted, even though i chose a path i wanted and would earn more money. i'm supposed to love him just because he is my father?
"i will love my child no matter what they did" Is a form of ignorance. and is not love, but denial. But since you added "and try to help them" in your statement, then that isn't ignorance and is merely that parents' choice to help their child. but by no means should it be an obligation.
if the child doesn't accept the help i offer, then that is his/her choice. you can't help the unwilling. then all i can do is stand aside and let them live their life. providing them hell would have no point because if that child was going down the wrong path, they will make their own hell. killing the child would prove no point because then they wouldn't have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
And as for God making this plan or not, doesn't concern me because it is my life and for me to reach the highest potential i can be, i will not recognize a being above me.
2007-12-21 09:09:32 · answer #2 · answered by Cwisteeny Baby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't ever confuse God with the actions taken by people "in the name of God". Christianity owes its existence to politicians who imposed it on people (browse source) and it has been an imposition on families and individuals ever since.
We anthropomorphize God while in reality God does not exist as an individual, as an entity, as a supreme being at all. We have created God in our own image, not the other way around.
The word religion means "to search for the source"; our beginning, our reason for existing. We have named this God. God = purpose. We seek a purpose to our lives.
While religion may provide comfort to those who have yet to find their purpose in life it does so at a cost: absolute obedience to dubious dogma.
Chronological age does not equate to psychological, emotional or spiritual age. Our children need to be taught what is socially acceptable: right from wrong; but so do most adults who do not have the moral compass of a child. The concept of "do as I say or I will torture you" is not accepted by most of society, why is it accepted by the church? (and the military)
I still have faith I will one day find our collective purpose and my individual purpose, that I will understand God, but I will probably never have faith in any religion. They hinder that search.
2007-12-21 09:16:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
After reading through these answers, I see people saying that "the people in Hell are not God's children". As a mother, I would never punish my children eternally. As a human, I would never punish ANYONE eternally, whether it's my child or someone else's.
2007-12-21 09:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by Brooke 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An even better question is, since Christians believe that ONLY THROUGH BELIEF IN JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR will allow you to go to heaven.
So what if you lived a hundred years before Jesus was even born, and on the other side of the planet. How could you have EVER even learned of his existence, much less have been given a chance to make up your mind about his divinity, or his role as a savior?
So those souls would have been created with absolutely NO chance WHATEVER of EVER going to heaven. They were slated to go to hell. Period.
What kind of God would create a soul, let it live for however long, and damn it to hell without even the chance to take the stupid "test" that he made the other people take?
Moreover, why would anyone want to worship or love that kind of a deity? Talk about MONSTROUS!
2007-12-21 09:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by joes_shmoe 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
"What if our children were rebellious? Would we then, ALLOW them to be tormented, and eternally burned and tortured and eventually annihilated in a lake of fire, because they were rebellious."
Depending on what they do, it might not be your choice. All the people on death row have mothers and fathers somewhere... In the end, it's the childrens choice of what they do, and then life becomes living with the consequences.
2007-12-21 09:00:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
if your child is a murderer, will you do whatever it takes for them to escape the police or punishment? many families do just that...
the consequences of some actions carry a heavy or deadly penalty...we cannot protect people from their own choices...
i have a friend who is rabid about child-molesters - they should all be killed, etc....her brother was recently arrested and convicted for the crime...she has softened her stance because she loves her brother and wants people to "understand" and "forgive"...she doesn't want him to be in jail with the other evil people...
her love is totally unconditional...but does that change what is going to happen to him?
2007-12-21 09:04:38 · answer #7 · answered by chieko 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The other major flaw is that there is no god. Start taking reponsibility for your actions and those of your children simly because it's the right thing to do. Sheesh. Stop looking for reasons to beat yourself up.
2007-12-21 09:00:07 · answer #8 · answered by Nine 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
its this kind of twisted religious view that i cannot
comprehend. children are innocent they know what
we teach them. we cant put the responsibility on
God. would anyone in their right mind condemn a
child to hell? people do commit the worst acts because
they beleive their religion tells them to. what true
religion would cause harm to anyone? religion and
so-called rightousness can be used to condone any
heinous act. i have to wonder why you mind took
you to these questions. is someone telling you this
or are you contemplating what youre saying. either
way this type of thought is dangerous. it sounds like
you beleive these are the only choices, wrong.
look to other types of answers from those outside of
where youre getting this info from, psychologist,
or someone without a religious view.
2007-12-21 09:10:12 · answer #9 · answered by paganesque 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't eternal punishment the greatest sign of love?
2007-12-21 09:05:28 · answer #10 · answered by Fred 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋