Hell, a decommissioned scarecrow ?

[Aupmanyav]

I believe we have enough evil in the world to terrify us. So if you want to spend an eternity in fire be my guest since it doesn't bother you.

Yeah, your stories do not bother me in the least, only greatly amuse me to think how far the superstitious go in believing imagined things.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Is hell still a current church dogma or a just medieval scare tactic ?

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” Such was the inscription placed over the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno. This 14th-century poet- based on church dogma- depicted hell as a deep pit divided into nine circles going down to the centre of the earth where Satan dwells. Each circle represented a greater degree of suffering and atrocious punishment.

Last judgement paintings are to be seen in many Catholic churches and in museums all over the world. The most famous one likely is Michelangelo’s huge fresco in the Vatican’s Sistine chapel, said to have scared the wits out of Paul III, who had commissioned the painting.

Frightening too are the sculptured portals of many Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Tourists shudder when they gaze at the terrifying scenes carved into the stonework above the central doorway of Notre Dame Cathedral (at least before the fire). There is no doubt that what is depicted is excruciating physical torment of a literal kind.
However the Catholic clergy having been blown along by the winds of changes, have attempted to “cool hell” down. Nonetheless the concept of eternal suffering still remains, where the damned bring eternal suffering "upon themselves".

I ask:
If all these artistic works depicting hell's torture – according the the "cool hell" theory- is incorrect, why was the most famous of them, located right in the Vatican, commissioned by two popes (Clement VII and Paul III)?
On the other hand, if they do give a true picture of official Church dogma, then why have Catholic priests been allowed to soft-pedal such a vital doctrine?
Of course, not all agree with “cool hell”. Pope Paul VI had already begun to reheat it back in 1968, in his “Profession of Faith,” he asserted that sinners who continue to reject God’s love “will go into inextinguishable fire.” A more recent letter, approved by Pope John Paul II, further reminds Catholics that hell is still a place very much to be feared.
Regardless of clergy “opinions”, should the doctrine concerning hell not come from God's word ?

If so, what does the Bible teach about hell ?

What the Bible does not say:
A distinction between the body and the soul is nowhere clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body ... does not exist in the Bible.

What the Bible does say:
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20, Catholic Douay Bible)
“The wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:23, Catholic Jerusalem Bible)
“Hell” in some translations of the Bible means the common grave of dead mankind (Heb., sheol; Gr., hades)
There will be either a resurrection from sheol or hades, or everlasting destruction in Gr. Ge'enna.
Everlasting life or everlasting death—such is the choice God sets before his creatures.—John 3:16, 36; Deut. 30:19, 20. Not life or eternal torture.
the “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil, his angels and wicked men (Matt. 25:41, 46) is symbolic of destruction, also called“the second death,” from which there will be no resurrection Rev. 20:9, 10; 21:8.
Would you agree that the dogma of eternal torment in hell is a gross misrepresentation of the just and loving God whom true Christians worship?

Would you agree that the motivating factor in true worship should be love, not morbid fear?
By maintaining the idea of eternal torture in hell, is the Church dishonouring God?

Yes, the doctrine of hell is settled doctrine among Catholics, the Orthodox, Anglicans, traditional Protestants, etc. How exactly they interpret it varies by individual, of course.

 

[exchemist]

Is hell still a current church dogma or a just medieval scare tactic ?

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” Such was the inscription placed over the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno. This 14th-century poet- based on church dogma- depicted hell as a deep pit divided into nine circles going down to the centre of the earth where Satan dwells. Each circle represented a greater degree of suffering and atrocious punishment.

Last judgement paintings are to be seen in many Catholic churches and in museums all over the world. The most famous one likely is Michelangelo’s huge fresco in the Vatican’s Sistine chapel, said to have scared the wits out of Paul III, who had commissioned the painting.

Frightening too are the sculptured portals of many Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Tourists shudder when they gaze at the terrifying scenes carved into the stonework above the central doorway of Notre Dame Cathedral (at least before the fire). There is no doubt that what is depicted is excruciating physical torment of a literal kind.
However the Catholic clergy having been blown along by the winds of changes, have attempted to “cool hell” down. Nonetheless the concept of eternal suffering still remains, where the damned bring eternal suffering "upon themselves".

I ask:
If all these artistic works depicting hell's torture – according the the "cool hell" theory- is incorrect, why was the most famous of them, located right in the Vatican, commissioned by two popes (Clement VII and Paul III)?
On the other hand, if they do give a true picture of official Church dogma, then why have Catholic priests been allowed to soft-pedal such a vital doctrine?
Of course, not all agree with “cool hell”. Pope Paul VI had already begun to reheat it back in 1968, in his “Profession of Faith,” he asserted that sinners who continue to reject God’s love “will go into inextinguishable fire.” A more recent letter, approved by Pope John Paul II, further reminds Catholics that hell is still a place very much to be feared.
Regardless of clergy “opinions”, should the doctrine concerning hell not come from God's word ?

If so, what does the Bible teach about hell ?

What the Bible does not say:
A distinction between the body and the soul is nowhere clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body ... does not exist in the Bible.

What the Bible does say:
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20, Catholic Douay Bible)
“The wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:23, Catholic Jerusalem Bible)
“Hell” in some translations of the Bible means the common grave of dead mankind (Heb., sheol; Gr., hades)
There will be either a resurrection from sheol or hades, or everlasting destruction in Gr. Ge'enna.
Everlasting life or everlasting death—such is the choice God sets before his creatures.—John 3:16, 36; Deut. 30:19, 20. Not life or eternal torture.
the “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil, his angels and wicked men (Matt. 25:41, 46) is symbolic of destruction, also called“the second death,” from which there will be no resurrection Rev. 20:9, 10; 21:8.
Would you agree that the dogma of eternal torment in hell is a gross misrepresentation of the just and loving God whom true Christians worship?

Would you agree that the motivating factor in true worship should be love, not morbid fear?
By maintaining the idea of eternal torture in hell, is the Church dishonouring God?

Matthew 25:41 anybody?

 

[whirlingmerc]

If nothing else at least hell inspired great art.

Also reading Inferno I got the distinct impression (fake) Dante has a shrine dedicated to Virgil in his home. Probably tried to snip off a lock of Virgil’s hair to keep during their little tour.

Limbo was sent into Limbo about a decade ago.

Hell (a holding place until final judgement) has not gone away.
The Lake of fire (where the smoke of their torment goes up into the ages of the ages) has not gone away.

From the start though "There is no fear in love perfect love casts out fear. He who fears is not perfected in love" There is neither hell or the lake of fire for believers with saving faith.

 

[whirlingmerc]

Matthew 25:41 anybody?

Jesus emphasized the eternal fire in Matt 25:41 but also in the images from Isaiah of hell (their worm will not die)

And Paul had two groups when Jesus returned. One who marveled at him (all who believed) and one who pay the penalty of eternal destruction (defined as away from his presence and glory) in 2 Thess 2

(Bottom line there is something even worse than being a homeless person for eternity away from God and that is both hell and the lake of fire.)

 

[exchemist]

Limbo was sent into Limbo about a decade ago.

Hell (a holding place until final judgement) has not gone away.
The Lake of fire (where the smoke of their torment goes up into the ages of the ages) has not gone away.

From the start though "There is no fear in love perfect love casts out fear. He who fears is not perfected in love" There is neither hell or the lake of fire for believers with saving faith.

Someone tell this guy:

 

[BilliardsBall]

Is hell still a current church dogma or a just medieval scare tactic ?

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” Such was the inscription placed over the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno. This 14th-century poet- based on church dogma- depicted hell as a deep pit divided into nine circles going down to the centre of the earth where Satan dwells. Each circle represented a greater degree of suffering and atrocious punishment.

Last judgement paintings are to be seen in many Catholic churches and in museums all over the world. The most famous one likely is Michelangelo’s huge fresco in the Vatican’s Sistine chapel, said to have scared the wits out of Paul III, who had commissioned the painting.

Frightening too are the sculptured portals of many Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Tourists shudder when they gaze at the terrifying scenes carved into the stonework above the central doorway of Notre Dame Cathedral (at least before the fire). There is no doubt that what is depicted is excruciating physical torment of a literal kind.
However the Catholic clergy having been blown along by the winds of changes, have attempted to “cool hell” down. Nonetheless the concept of eternal suffering still remains, where the damned bring eternal suffering "upon themselves".

I ask:
If all these artistic works depicting hell's torture – according the the "cool hell" theory- is incorrect, why was the most famous of them, located right in the Vatican, commissioned by two popes (Clement VII and Paul III)?
On the other hand, if they do give a true picture of official Church dogma, then why have Catholic priests been allowed to soft-pedal such a vital doctrine?
Of course, not all agree with “cool hell”. Pope Paul VI had already begun to reheat it back in 1968, in his “Profession of Faith,” he asserted that sinners who continue to reject God’s love “will go into inextinguishable fire.” A more recent letter, approved by Pope John Paul II, further reminds Catholics that hell is still a place very much to be feared.
Regardless of clergy “opinions”, should the doctrine concerning hell not come from God's word ?

If so, what does the Bible teach about hell ?

What the Bible does not say:
A distinction between the body and the soul is nowhere clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body ... does not exist in the Bible.

What the Bible does say:
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20, Catholic Douay Bible)
“The wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:23, Catholic Jerusalem Bible)
“Hell” in some translations of the Bible means the common grave of dead mankind (Heb., sheol; Gr., hades)
There will be either a resurrection from sheol or hades, or everlasting destruction in Gr. Ge'enna.
Everlasting life or everlasting death—such is the choice God sets before his creatures.—John 3:16, 36; Deut. 30:19, 20. Not life or eternal torture.
the “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil, his angels and wicked men (Matt. 25:41, 46) is symbolic of destruction, also called“the second death,” from which there will be no resurrection Rev. 20:9, 10; 21:8.
Would you agree that the dogma of eternal torment in hell is a gross misrepresentation of the just and loving God whom true Christians worship?

Would you agree that the motivating factor in true worship should be love, not morbid fear?
By maintaining the idea of eternal torture in hell, is the Church dishonouring God?

A Christian is motivated by the love of and from Jesus Christ. This is separable from warning people about eternal Hell.

 

[halbhh]

Is hell still a current church dogma or a just medieval scare tactic ?

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” Such was the inscription placed over the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno. This 14th-century poet- based on church dogma- depicted hell as a deep pit divided into nine circles going down to the centre of the earth where Satan dwells. Each circle represented a greater degree of suffering and atrocious punishment.

Last judgement paintings are to be seen in many Catholic churches and in museums all over the world. The most famous one likely is Michelangelo’s huge fresco in the Vatican’s Sistine chapel, said to have scared the wits out of Paul III, who had commissioned the painting.

Frightening too are the sculptured portals of many Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Tourists shudder when they gaze at the terrifying scenes carved into the stonework above the central doorway of Notre Dame Cathedral (at least before the fire). There is no doubt that what is depicted is excruciating physical torment of a literal kind.
However the Catholic clergy having been blown along by the winds of changes, have attempted to “cool hell” down. Nonetheless the concept of eternal suffering still remains, where the damned bring eternal suffering "upon themselves".

I ask:
If all these artistic works depicting hell's torture – according the the "cool hell" theory- is incorrect, why was the most famous of them, located right in the Vatican, commissioned by two popes (Clement VII and Paul III)?
On the other hand, if they do give a true picture of official Church dogma, then why have Catholic priests been allowed to soft-pedal such a vital doctrine?
Of course, not all agree with “cool hell”. Pope Paul VI had already begun to reheat it back in 1968, in his “Profession of Faith,” he asserted that sinners who continue to reject God’s love “will go into inextinguishable fire.” A more recent letter, approved by Pope John Paul II, further reminds Catholics that hell is still a place very much to be feared.
Regardless of clergy “opinions”, should the doctrine concerning hell not come from God's word ?

If so, what does the Bible teach about hell ?

What the Bible does not say:
A distinction between the body and the soul is nowhere clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body ... does not exist in the Bible.

What the Bible does say:
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20, Catholic Douay Bible)
“The wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:23, Catholic Jerusalem Bible)
“Hell” in some translations of the Bible means the common grave of dead mankind (Heb., sheol; Gr., hades)
There will be either a resurrection from sheol or hades, or everlasting destruction in Gr. Ge'enna.
Everlasting life or everlasting death—such is the choice God sets before his creatures.—John 3:16, 36; Deut. 30:19, 20. Not life or eternal torture.
the “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil, his angels and wicked men (Matt. 25:41, 46) is symbolic of destruction, also called“the second death,” from which there will be no resurrection Rev. 20:9, 10; 21:8.
Would you agree that the dogma of eternal torment in hell is a gross misrepresentation of the just and loving God whom true Christians worship?

Would you agree that the motivating factor in true worship should be love, not morbid fear?
By maintaining the idea of eternal torture in hell, is the Church dishonouring God?

Yes. Human souls are not necessarily the same as the (fallen) angels, who we can see would already be immortal. We are given eternal life through belief in Christ, but otherwise will "perish" (John 3:16). Christ said:

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

And then we have "second death".

After a while, words that sound not at all metaphorical start adding up. And you start to get it -- these are not metaphors. They don't sound like metaphors, because they are not metaphors.

It's still an 'eternal punishment' to perish irreversibly. Destroyed, and no coming back.

In a way, the value of the warning is like someone would consider it valuable to get warned they are inadvertently backing towards a cliff.
We'd all shout "Watch out, there's a cliff behind you!" -- because we are caring about another life.

But in scripture, the warning to is help us remember these bodies are "dust". It's so easy for people to forget these bodies are so very, very temporary. It really helps to remember.

That's why this old phrase sticks in the mind:

"Ask not for Whom the Bell tolls....
...it tolls for thee!"

See, the time is always short, here.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

The images of hell that Sacred Scripture presents to us must be correctly interpreted. They show the complete frustration and emptiness of life without God. Rather than a place, hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy. This is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the truths of faith on this subject: “To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called ‘hell’”...

I wonder to which 'hell' you are referring _______________
I find at Romans 6:7,23 the dead are acquitted from sin.
There is No post-mortem penalty, nor any double jeopardy for the dead.
A person shot in the back of the head would Not have time to repent.
There would be No way of knowing if he had Not had an un-timely death that later he would have repented.
Jesus taught about the unforgivable sin at Matthew 12:32
Sin is either deliberate or not, on purpose or not, accidently or not, willful or not.

Biblical hell is a place, a place that dead Jesus was before his God resurrected Jesus out of hell - Acts 2:27
Thus, even righteous Jesus went to hell the day he died. Jesus went to the grave aka biblical hell.
If biblical hell was a permanent place then Jesus would still be in hell.
Since Jesus taught the dead sleep in death at John 11:11-14 then the dead are at peace.
Jesus was well educated in the old Hebrew Scriptures which teach unconscious sleep in death:
- Psalms 115:17; Isaiah 38:18; Ecclesiastes 9:5
Also, the Bible's hell ( temporary stone-cold grave for the sleeping dead ) comes to a final end.
All in biblical hell will be ' delivered up ' ( meaning resurrected out of hell ) as per Revelation 20:13-14.
After biblical hell is emptied-out then biblical hell is cast empty into that symbolic ' second death ' for vacated hell.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

A Christian is motivated by the love of and from Jesus Christ. This is separable from warning people about eternal Hell.

I find No biblical eternal hell as found at Revelation 20:13-14
ALL in biblical hell are to be ' delivered up ' out of biblical hell meaning resurrected out of hell.
Then, emptied-out hell is cast empty into that symbolic ' second death ' for vacated biblical hell.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Matthew 25:41 anybody?

That 'everlasting fire' is symbolic of destruction - 2 Thessalonians 1:9
This is why we are asked to ' repent ' if we do Not wish to ' perish '( be destroyed ) - 2 Peter 3:9.
Thus, Matthew 25:46 talks about everlasting punishment which would be: destruction.
Destruction in that symbolic ' second death ' of Revelation 21:8.
ALL the wicked will be 'destroyed forever' as per Psalms 92:7

 

[SomeRandom]

Limbo was sent into Limbo about a decade ago.

Hell (a holding place until final judgement) has not gone away.
The Lake of fire (where the smoke of their torment goes up into the ages of the ages) has not gone away.

From the start though "There is no fear in love perfect love casts out fear. He who fears is not perfected in love" There is neither hell or the lake of fire for believers with saving faith.

If Hell is supposed to be the consequence, are you not then being called to fear Hell?

 

[Neuropteron]

Matthew 25:41 anybody?

Good point.
Some commentators tried to link such fiery statements with the burning of humans for all eternity, saying in effect that Jesus was using "Gehenna" as a symbol of everlasting torment.

However since God had expressed repugnance for such practise, saying that it was "a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart"(Jer 7:31;32:35), it's very unlikely that Jesus in discussing divine judgment would compare these idolatrous practise with "everlasting cutting off" (Mt24:46) as destruction by fire implies, regardless if the fire itself keeps burning,

Cheers

 

[whirlingmerc]

If Hell is supposed to be the consequence, are you not then being called to fear Hell?

There are various meanings of fear.

 

[SomeRandom]

There are various meanings of fear.

Such as?

 

[BilliardsBall]

I find No biblical eternal hell as found at Revelation 20:13-14
ALL in biblical hell are to be ' delivered up ' out of biblical hell meaning resurrected out of hell.
Then, emptied-out hell is cast empty into that symbolic ' second death ' for vacated biblical hell.

Unfortunately or fortunately, as I've mentioned to you before, Greek words like "aeon" or "eternal" are used for believers and non-believers, even in the same NT verses. If unbelievers aren't in Hell forever, Christians aren't in Heaven (or the New Earth) forever, but only on a temporary basis!

I encourage you to stop taking every single Watchtower doctrine at face value. Stop believing the cults and start praying through and reading the Bible without the Watchtower (cult) clutter!

 

[Twilight Hue]

Is hell still a current church dogma or a just medieval scare tactic ?

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” Such was the inscription placed over the gates of hell in Dante’s Inferno. This 14th-century poet- based on church dogma- depicted hell as a deep pit divided into nine circles going down to the centre of the earth where Satan dwells. Each circle represented a greater degree of suffering and atrocious punishment.

Last judgement paintings are to be seen in many Catholic churches and in museums all over the world. The most famous one likely is Michelangelo’s huge fresco in the Vatican’s Sistine chapel, said to have scared the wits out of Paul III, who had commissioned the painting.

Frightening too are the sculptured portals of many Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Tourists shudder when they gaze at the terrifying scenes carved into the stonework above the central doorway of Notre Dame Cathedral (at least before the fire). There is no doubt that what is depicted is excruciating physical torment of a literal kind.
However the Catholic clergy having been blown along by the winds of changes, have attempted to “cool hell” down. Nonetheless the concept of eternal suffering still remains, where the damned bring eternal suffering "upon themselves".

I ask:
If all these artistic works depicting hell's torture – according the the "cool hell" theory- is incorrect, why was the most famous of them, located right in the Vatican, commissioned by two popes (Clement VII and Paul III)?
On the other hand, if they do give a true picture of official Church dogma, then why have Catholic priests been allowed to soft-pedal such a vital doctrine?
Of course, not all agree with “cool hell”. Pope Paul VI had already begun to reheat it back in 1968, in his “Profession of Faith,” he asserted that sinners who continue to reject God’s love “will go into inextinguishable fire.” A more recent letter, approved by Pope John Paul II, further reminds Catholics that hell is still a place very much to be feared.
Regardless of clergy “opinions”, should the doctrine concerning hell not come from God's word ?

If so, what does the Bible teach about hell ?

What the Bible does not say:
A distinction between the body and the soul is nowhere clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body ... does not exist in the Bible.

What the Bible does say:
The soul that sinneth, the same shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4, 20, Catholic Douay Bible)
“The wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:23, Catholic Jerusalem Bible)
“Hell” in some translations of the Bible means the common grave of dead mankind (Heb., sheol; Gr., hades)
There will be either a resurrection from sheol or hades, or everlasting destruction in Gr. Ge'enna.
Everlasting life or everlasting death—such is the choice God sets before his creatures.—John 3:16, 36; Deut. 30:19, 20. Not life or eternal torture.
the “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil, his angels and wicked men (Matt. 25:41, 46) is symbolic of destruction, also called“the second death,” from which there will be no resurrection Rev. 20:9, 10; 21:8.
Would you agree that the dogma of eternal torment in hell is a gross misrepresentation of the just and loving God whom true Christians worship?

Would you agree that the motivating factor in true worship should be love, not morbid fear?
By maintaining the idea of eternal torture in hell, is the Church dishonouring God?

What's really crazy is people are scared of what a book says. And they don't even know who the authors were.

That's the real scary part.

 

[pearl]

Biblical hell is a place, a place that dead Jesus was before his God resurrected Jesus out of hell

This was the first meaning given in the apostolic preaching to Christ's descent into hell: that Jesus, like all men, experienced death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned there.

There would be No way of knowing if he had Not had an un-timely death that later he would have repented.

The only One who counts, 'knows' because past, present and future are all present in one instant.

Biblical hel

A word of caution in reference to what is Biblical. The biblical authors were neither stenographers for God nor eyewitness reporters on the physical conditions of the after life. Instead they were inspired and passionate about communicating their faith convictions in language and a world view familiar to their intended audience. And while important and endlessly provocative, it always points toward a reality that remains beyond our comprehension; it keeps changing: there’s “Gehenna”, first a valley southwest of Jerusalem where children had been sacrificed to a pagan God, later a burning garbage area; there’s a place “of weeping and gnashing of teeth”; there’s St. Paul’s negative description that the truly wicked have no place in the kingdom. Separation from God would be the ultimate 'hell'.

But if you insist on a literal hell fire, I hear its a 'dry heat'.

Yet we dare to hope that all human beings are ultimately saved because of the immensity and power of divine love.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Yeah, your stories do not bother me in the least, only greatly amuse me to think how far the superstitious go in believing imagined things.

I agree! To believe and teach that God would actually allow His creatures to be literally 'burned forever,' no wonder many have turned away from religion!

Such interpretations have backfired....instead of scaring people into worshipping God, christendom's clergy has turned people away...and brought misplaced ostracism on Jehovah God and the Bible.

Fortunately, one day soon it will all be resolved!!

 

[whirlingmerc]

I agree! To believe and teach that God would actually allow His creatures to be literally 'burned forever,' no wonder many have turned away from religion!

Such interpretations have backfired....instead of scaring people into worshipping God, christendom's clergy has turned people away...and brought misplaced ostracism on Jehovah God and the Bible.

Fortunately, one day soon it will all be resolved!!

In Matthew Jesus said it twice, even bookending part of a discussion to underscore the importance.

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”