Can good people go to hell?

[Demonslayer]

My least favorite is the old "Do you know where you're going when you die?"

I used to get mad. Now that I'm older, I just get sad. My grandmother refused to come to my wedding because I married a non-Christian and we were dooming our children to hell. My mother still brings it up every now and then, with a sort of faint terror in her eyes. It's all so unnecessary.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I used to get mad. Now that I'm older, I just get sad. My grandmother refused to come to my wedding because I married a non-Christian and we were dooming our children to hell. My mother still brings it up every now and then, with a sort of faint terror in her eyes. It's all so unnecessary.

Not sure if "anger" is what hits me - more frustration - like the way I feel when having to explain (for the 10th time) to my 4 year old that some correction for misbehavior is logically beneficial to both of us. I have the patience to get into it - I just know I can't count on being heard.

 

[Demonslayer]

like the way I feel when having to explain (for the 10th time) to my 4 year old that some correction for misbehavior is logically beneficial to both of us.

It's far more likely you'll change your child's behavior with persistence than anyone convinced of a literal hell.

 

[suncowiam]

If you don't believe in hell, you're going to hell.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

If you don't believe in hell, you're going to hell.

If this statement is true, then I am, most assuredly, going to hell. I honestly find myself simply incapable of believing in it - as in, mentally/logically/intellectually there is NO WAY for me to conceive of the truth of such a place as hell. Can't do it, won't do it, ain't gonna happen.

 

[Demonslayer]

If you don't believe in hell, you're going to hell.

Sounds like a fair system. I'll now ask you for the litany of asterisks and "well not for" statements for babies, mentally incapable, stillborns, remote tribes, anyone born before the current version of hell was invented and anyone who was somehow lucky enough to be raised in a culture that never teaches the concept of hell to begin with.

 

[Demonslayer]

there is NO WAY for me to conceive of the truth of such a place as hell.

It's like a cave with vats of lava and demons running around with pitchforks. Does that help?

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

It's like a cave with vats of lava and demons running around with pitchforks. Does that help?

Oh, I can certainly imagine a place such as hell. The tricky part for me is the "truth" bit - or, put another way, I have a problem letting my imagination get the best of me - as is inherently prescribed by those who tout hell as a real destination.

 

[suncowiam]

Sounds like a fair system. I'll now ask you for the litany of asterisks and "well not for" statements for babies, mentally incapable, stillborns, remote tribes, anyone born before the current version of hell was invented and anyone who was somehow lucky enough to be raised in a culture that never teaches the concept of hell to begin with.

I was being some sarcastic...

There's a whole belief system that if one doesn't enlist to, then... You're going to hell.

So... Great questions on that, but I can't answer since I'm an atheist.

 

[Demonslayer]

The tricky part for me is the "truth" bit - or, put another way, I have a problem letting my imagination get the best of me - as is inherently prescribed by those who tout hell as a real destination.

Yes of course, it's quite impossible.

I'd much, much rather believe in, say, the world of Star Wars. Perhaps intergalactic adventure awaits me!

I'd WAY rather believe in that than the world of evil demons and a God who allows millions to be eternally enslaved by the demon horde. So you think...you know...you think I could "just believe it." But alas, I'm aware I'll never have a wookie copilot or the ability to hit a womp rat with a photon torpedo. If I can't force myself to believe maybe one day I'll be a Jedi Knight, how could I convince myself that I'm heading for eternal torture because I lost the religious belief lottery, choosing the wrong one out of millions?

 

[Demonslayer]

There's a whole belief system that if one doesn't enlist to, then... You're going to hell.

Oh sure I'm painfully aware of the details.

Great questions on that, but I can't answer since I'm an atheist.

Thank God!

 

[Pudding]

So me and my friend were talking about religions. And he said asked me do I respect the 10 commandments and listed them. I answered yes to all. I do respect them. Then, he asked do I help other people. I answered Yes. He asked me what do I do. I said: Today I helped my brother with picking up 30 min of his trash so when he come home he doesn't have to. I also cleaned my mom's room as a surprise. altogether about 2 h. I then asked "What is hell?". He explained it and I asked who goes to hell. He said: Non-Christians. So I respect the commandmetns and am good to people (In my opinion) and I do think Jesus did miracles, but he is not the ONLY way to god, and I would go to hell. Is that correct? Just wandering, I don't really belive in hell

Some believer believe "only the true christian be exempt from going to hell".
There're quite a few different version of true christian available in the world.
Which version is the true one?
Until the judgement day comes for God to directly told everyone which version is the true one...
Probably many different version of true christian will continue to advise people to become their version of true christian to avoid going to hell...

The judgement day will never come?
No, no...
Some believer believe it'll come soon, very soon.
So they believe everyone should better sort it out which version of true christian is the true one and become a true christian before it's too late...
Of course if the version of true christian you choose is different than their version of true christian, they probably will believe you'll going to hell...

 

[blue taylor]

So me and my friend were talking about religions. And he said asked me do I respect the 10 commandments and listed them. I answered yes to all. I do respect them. Then, he asked do I help other people. I answered Yes. He asked me what do I do. I said: Today I helped my brother with picking up 30 min of his trash so when he come home he doesn't have to. I also cleaned my mom's room as a surprise. altogether about 2 h. I then asked "What is hell?". He explained it and I asked who goes to hell. He said: Non-Christians. So I respect the commandmetns and am good to people (In my opinion) and I do think Jesus did miracles, but he is not the ONLY way to god, and I would go to hell. Is that correct? Just wandering, I don't really belive in hell

Hell is a fiction. Heaven is a fiction.
Fiction --"a belief or statement that is false, but that is often held to be true because it is expedient to do so".
Belief in heaven or hell is fiction. No one, in the thousands of years the concepts have been proposed, has anyone ever proved or ever came close to proving the existence of heaven or hell. For those who want to control others or profit from the fictitious concept, it has been a real power and money maker.

 

[Luciferi Baphomet]

I believe the teaching that God will torment people forever is a lie.

I disagree with that. Then why did he create the so called hell?

 

[Luciferi Baphomet]

Atheists get the same thing. I mostly get the slightly less aggressive, but infinitely more patronizing, "aren't you afraid you'll end up in hell?"

What do you mean the same thing? Dumb question.

 

[arthra]

Hell for me is a condition... that suggests remoteness from God while Heaven is nearness to God. Even in a hellish condition we can advance toward God with His mercy and by our response. So while it may take longer we can all advance toward a higher state of being.

"Until all nations and peoples become united by the bonds of the Holy Spirit in this real fraternity, until national and international prejudices are effaced in the reality of this spiritual brotherhood, true progress, prosperity and lasting happiness will not be attained by man."

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 142)

 

[JoStories]

My least favorite is the old "Do you know where you're going when you die?" because it assumes way, way too much for my liking. That there is an "afterlife" to begin with, that there is an agency passing judgments as to where people end up, and (of course it is supposed to go without saying) that the agency assumed is headed up by "God".

From now on I think I'm going to confront the asker of that question with a question of my own - "Have you finally stopped voraciously eating dog crap?"

I admit that I find these types of people to be more than a little annoying at times. However, that said, I try to remember that I am Buddhist by choice and I assume they are Christian by choice. My path recommends that I try to harm none, etc. Their path recommends that they try to 'spread the good word'. I try to remember that this is something that they firmly believe. Mostly, when they come to the door speaking this rhetoric, I ask them if they can prove any of their assertions without the need for the Bible. Most simply walk away which works nicely for me.

 

[JoStories]

Hell for me is a condition... that suggests remoteness from God while Heaven is nearness to God. Even in a hellish condition we can advance toward God with His mercy and by our response. So while it may take longer we can all advance toward a higher state of being.

"Until all nations and peoples become united by the bonds of the Holy Spirit in this real fraternity, until national and international prejudices are effaced in the reality of this spiritual brotherhood, true progress, prosperity and lasting happiness will not be attained by man."

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 142)

Agreed save that I don't call God God as it, for me, is a misnomer. Nor do I assign gender or any human attribute but I do love that passage. If only all nations would embrace such an ideal. I also don't believe in heaven or hell but rather states of being. The ultimate goal being enlightenment and the joining of the higher soul with the energy of the All.

 

[JoStories]

If you don't believe in hell, you're going to hell.

Why? and can you prove this beyond any human doubt? Where is hell? What is hell? Why is there such a concept or place, if you believe there is such a place? You see, from a Buddhist POV, such a statement is harmful to those who are vulnerable to such statements. I believe more in choice and I support all peoples choices. Even if that choice runs contrary to what I believe to be best for people, I support them. It saddens me when some think that they must say such statements. Namaste.

 

[JoStories]

I was being some sarcastic...

There's a whole belief system that if one doesn't enlist to, then... You're going to hell.

So... Great questions on that, but I can't answer since I'm an atheist.

ah..then mea culpa for my previous post to you. I thought you were being honest with your assertions.