Christians: is there a hell?

[Trailblazer]

I would like to hear it.

There are two jokes and the second joke is an inside joke.

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. "Heaven," St. Peter says, "is like a huge mansion, with lots of rooms in it. Here, for example, is the room where all of the Jews stay." He opens a door and lets him look inside, where a great many Jews are living.

"Over here," St. Peter says, "is where the Muslims stay." Again, he opens the door and lets the Baha'i look in for a few minutes. "This next room is for the Buddhists." Again, he is shown a room full of people. This goes on for a time, until St. Peter suddenly urges him to remain quiet, and they tiptoe past one more door. Once they're past it, the Baha'i asks, "What's in there, and why do we have to be so quiet?"

"Ah," St. Peter says. "That's where the Christians live. They like to think they're the only ones up here."

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. To make this short, I'll just say he goes through the same deal as in the previous joke, except he gets to see the Christians. Finally, they come to one last door, which St. Peter opens. "This was built for the Baha'is," he says. But when the Baha'i looks in, he finds that the room is empty!

"Oh no!" he cries. "This can't be! How can I be the only Baha'i here??"

"Calm down," St. Peter says. "The Baha'is are all off travel teaching in hell."

 

[samtonga43]

It isn't whether "hell exists or not" that is the issue. Non-Christian usually makes it a big issue.

Jesus didn't go around preaching or telling us "preach 'Hello exists"".

what he told us to preach was "the Kingdom has come unto you" -

Most people don't know what exactly happens in Hell and how long it will exist.

I believe that hell is being without/outwith God.

I don't believe that any one of us, while we are alive, whatever our belief or lack of belief, have ever, for one second, been without/outwith God.

I believe that those of us who love God will never be without Him.

 

[ChristineM]

If there are smug pious people saying "i told you so", it is not Heaven.

"To enter heaven is to become more human than you ever succeeded in being on earth; to enter hell is to be banished from humanity. What is cast (or casts itself) into hell is not a man: it is 'remains.'"

C. S. Lewis

I wonder how Lewis knew this? Direct like to st Peter? Been there, checked and returned? I am surprised, surprised i tell you.

Actually i am only speaking of what i know of "typical" Christians so i may wrong though it does go againt the number of smug, pius people who are certain they will go to heaven

 

[samtonga43]

I wonder how Lewis knew this? Direct like to st Peter? Been there, checked and returned? I am surprised, surprised i tell you.

And I am even more surprised that you don’t know the difference between a statement of fact and a statement of belief.

Actually i am only speaking of what i know of "typical" Christians so i may wrong though it does go againt the number of smug, pius people who are certain they will go to heaven

Ah! Typical Christians, eh? You mean the type of Christian beloved of atheists.

 

[ChristineM]

And I am even more surprised that you don’t know the difference between a statement of fact and a statement of belief.

It was written as a statement of knowledge, no "i believe". I am surprised you didn't notice that.

Ah! Typical Christians, eh? You mean the type of Christian beloved of atheists

Nope, just everyday Christians as show up on RF regularly,

 

[Alien826]

You're happy about going to Heaven? Why ?

It's supposed to be a "good place" as opposed to hell which is a "bad place"?

 

[Alien826]

There are two jokes and the second joke is an inside joke.

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. "Heaven," St. Peter says, "is like a huge mansion, with lots of rooms in it. Here, for example, is the room where all of the Jews stay." He opens a door and lets him look inside, where a great many Jews are living.

"Over here," St. Peter says, "is where the Muslims stay." Again, he opens the door and lets the Baha'i look in for a few minutes. "This next room is for the Buddhists." Again, he is shown a room full of people. This goes on for a time, until St. Peter suddenly urges him to remain quiet, and they tiptoe past one more door. Once they're past it, the Baha'i asks, "What's in there, and why do we have to be so quiet?"

"Ah," St. Peter says. "That's where the Christians live. They like to think they're the only ones up here."

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. To make this short, I'll just say he goes through the same deal as in the previous joke, except he gets to see the Christians. Finally, they come to one last door, which St. Peter opens. "This was built for the Baha'is," he says. But when the Baha'i looks in, he finds that the room is empty!

"Oh no!" he cries. "This can't be! How can I be the only Baha'i here??"

"Calm down," St. Peter says. "The Baha'is are all off travel teaching in hell."

Three men, each with his wife, arrive at the pearly gates. St Peter speaks to the first man. "You thought of nothing but money in your life, you even married a a woman named Penny. Off to hell you go." Then to the second man. "You were a drunkard all your life. You even married a woman named Brandy. Hell for you." The third man turns to his wife and says "Let's get out of here, Fanny".

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

There are two jokes and the second joke is an inside joke.

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. "Heaven," St. Peter says, "is like a huge mansion, with lots of rooms in it. Here, for example, is the room where all of the Jews stay." He opens a door and lets him look inside, where a great many Jews are living.

"Over here," St. Peter says, "is where the Muslims stay." Again, he opens the door and lets the Baha'i look in for a few minutes. "This next room is for the Buddhists." Again, he is shown a room full of people. This goes on for a time, until St. Peter suddenly urges him to remain quiet, and they tiptoe past one more door. Once they're past it, the Baha'i asks, "What's in there, and why do we have to be so quiet?"

"Ah," St. Peter says. "That's where the Christians live. They like to think they're the only ones up here."

A Baha'i dies and is met at the Gates of Heaven by St. Peter, who welcomes him and offers to show him around to get him oriented. To make this short, I'll just say he goes through the same deal as in the previous joke, except he gets to see the Christians. Finally, they come to one last door, which St. Peter opens. "This was built for the Baha'is," he says. But when the Baha'i looks in, he finds that the room is empty!

"Oh no!" he cries. "This can't be! How can I be the only Baha'i here??"

"Calm down," St. Peter says. "The Baha'is are all off travel teaching in hell."

I remember hearing the first joke many years ago. I also liked the second joke. Personally, I think that it's absurd that most, if not all, Christians believe that only Christians will go to heaven and everyone else will go to hell. I've met Christians who believe that other Christians who have differing beliefs in doctrine and biblical interpretation will also go to hell. The "No True Scotsman" strikes again.

 

[samtonga43]

It's supposed to be a "good place" as opposed to hell which is a "bad place"?

Do you think it is a good place?

 

[samtonga43]

Nope, just everyday Christians as show up on RF regularly,

Is every Christian who shows up on RF an ‘everyday Christian’, in your opinion, ChristineM? If so, is every one of them smug and pious?

It was written as a statement of knowledge, no "i believe". I am surprised you didn't notice that.

You are? I suppose it’s just that I know a bit about epistemology and the various types of ‘knowing’.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Do you think it is a good place?

I can't help but wonder if you're trying to subtly lead @Alien826 into saying something that will open the door for you to proselytize.

 

[Kenny]

I believe that hell is being without/outwith God.

I don't believe that any one of us, while we are alive, whatever our belief or lack of belief, have ever, for one second, been without/outwith God.

I believe that those of us who love God will never be without Him.

Thought I see some truth in what you say, I would subscribe to this position:

Ephesians 2:12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

So, some are without God. IMV but with the option of being with God.

 

[ChristineM]

Is every Christian who shows up on RF an ‘everyday Christian’, in your opinion, ChristineM? If so, is every one of them smug and pious?

You are? I suppose it’s just that I know a bit about epistemology and the various types of ‘knowing’.

No.

Oh jolly good,so you are qualified to say a direct statement is not direct at all if you think it isn't.

 

[Trailblazer]

So, some are without God. IMV but with the option of being with God.

Yes, that us what I believe. If we shut God out we are without God.

5: O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.
The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 4

 

[Alien826]

Do you think it is a good place?

It's described as a good place by those that believe in it. That does not include me.

You will find if you hang around here for long, that I tend to take a lighthearted approach to most religious discussions. My original post on this was intended to be funny.

 

[Alien826]

I can't help but wonder if you're trying to subtly lead @Alien826 into saying something that will open the door for you to proselytize.

Of course he is. Apart from the "subtly". This is far from my first rodeo.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

Of course he is. Apart from the "subtly". This is far from my first rodeo.

I said what I said because I didn't want to accuse him in case I was misinterpreting what he wrote in his post.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Christian, do you suppose there is a hell?

Does hell exist? | GotQuestions.org

I see that the belief in hell isn’t that popular online as it is amongst the Christians I know in real life.

Of course. Jesus talked about hell a lot.

 

[Alien826]

I said what I said because I didn't want to accuse him in case I was misinterpreting what he wrote in his post.

Yes that's sensible. It seemed that way to me too.

 

[samtonga43]

I can't help but wonder if you're trying to subtly lead @Alien826 into saying something that will open the door for you to proselytize.

LOL! No need to wonder about this, Sgt. Pepper. Having been an atheist for many years, and having been the target of various proselytizers, I know* it doesn’t work. No, I really just wondered what Alien826 thought was ‘good’ about Heaven. I hope that’s alright with you, Sgt.Pepper?

(*Knowledge from experience, ChristineM.)