Is such a God loveable?

[Aiviu]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

You ought to question their understanding not their God. Means your question is blank

 

[Akivah]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

You're right. That particular belief makes god out to be cruel and un-merciful. A mortal being should not be tortured for an eternity.

 

[12jtartar]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

PopeADope,
Finally a man perspicacious enough to ask an inciteful question.
There is much more to this question than most understand, but please meditate on what I tell you, because I have researched this, in depth.
First, the word in many Bibles, hell, is a corruption of the Greek word Hades, and this word, in Hebrew is Sheol, Genesis 37:35, Psalms 16:10. Here the term for grave is Sheol, and this is the same as quoted at Acts 2:27,31. If you have a Bible with footnotes it will be shown that the grave is Sheol in Hebrew and Hades in Greek. There is definitely NO torture or punishment in Hades or Sheol, for that is where Jesus was for parts of three days.
In several places in Matthew, Jesus used another word for a place of death, Gehenna, Matthew 5:22, 18:7-9, 23:33. All the Jews of that day knew what Gehenna symbolized, Eternal death.
The Name came from the valley of Hinnom, on the West side of Jerusalem. The people threw their garbage there, over the wall. There was always a fire kept in the valley to burn whatever was thrown there, so the people did not want to go into a place of everlasting destruction. Jesus was trying to shake up the religious leaders of that day so they would repent and be saved, that is why Jesus asked them, how are you going to escape Gehenna?
Notice that at Matthew 18:8,9, Jesus mentioned that it was a fiery Gehenna, as did Mark, 9:43-48. Gehenna is another word for The Lake of Fire and Sulfur, Revelation 20:14,15. Notice verse 14 where the Bible says that death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This shows that Gehenna, and The Lake of Fire mean everlasting removal, for anything thrown into it.
Now, about loving a God, as our Heavenly Father is, look at what He was willing to do for us!!! John 3:16 is said by some Bible scholars, to be The Gospels in Miniature. God was willing to allow His son to give his life for us as a corresponding Ransom, so that we could get back what our forefather lost for us, when he sinned against God, everlasting life, on a paradise earth.
At Jeremiah 19:3-5, where God tells about the Jews who were burning their own children in the fire to false gods, something that God had not commanded or spoken and had never come into His heart.
If anyone does not want to live under the laws of God, which were written for our own benefit, the most any human can get is eternal DEATH!!! There is no torture in death, because a dead person knows nothing, Ecclesiastes 3:18-20, 9:5,6,10,Psalms 146:3,4.
Here is something that most people have never even thought about; Satan is the god of this world, and he wants to see all of us go against The One True God, Jehovah the Almighty, so that we would have to be destroyed, or there could never be a paradise earth, that God has promised, John 12:31,16:11, 2CORINTHIANS 4:3,4, Revelation 21:1-8.
When Jesus comes to Judge this world he will destroy all people who do not KNOW God and who do not obey Jesus Christ, Matthew 25:46 says they will be cut off, cut off from life and the God who wants the best for all people, 2Thessalonians 1:6-10.
God loves mankind so much that He suffered watching wis own son be tortured to death, so that all who would believe in Jesus’ Sacrifice could live forever
The Laws that God gives are for our good, 1John 5:3, Isaiah 48:17-19, Psalms 32:8,9, 25:8-10, Jeremiah 10:23,24, Deuteronomy 10:12,13, Psalms 27:9,10.
Because Adam and Eve rebelled against God, and showed that they would rather follow Satan, Jehovah God the Creator and life giver, has given mankind a certain period of time to see if they and Satan can make a good dwelling place of earth. They have failed terribly, the time for Jesus to return to earth is very close, we must all search for Him, through His word of truth, John 17:17.
Agape!!!

 

[ajay0]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

See, in those times, devices of this sort like eternal hellfire and Satan, was used to scare people into behaving virtuously or as per the needs of the community or society they lived in. Similar to mothers and grandmothers disciplining their hyperactive little children with stories of the bogeyman coming to catch them at night, if they don't behave properly.

Satan is just a bogeyman for adults similarly.

I don't believe in eternal hellfire which is idiotic. But I do believe in cause and effect. If you do improper or stupid acts without discretion or proper judgement, you can repent badly for it.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Thank you 12jtartar. Spoken like a true Christian - not some of these people who use the word Chrisrian but have no idea what Christ and the Bible really taught.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I personally can only hope I end up in hell. I am a big Hellraiser fan and cannot wait to be with pinhead

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

It obvious to me that I certainly sin. I am not always kind. Sometimes my frustration or anger toward others is self-centered or not justified. At times I am impatient, selfish etc. I have lied in the past and done a number of things which according to the scriptures are sin. Are you perfect in all your thoughts, attitudes, and behavior towards others?

What I'm never able to wrap my head around when it comes to theism, is exactly this. Why is an omnipotent G-d so interested in the smallest parts of a way a person lives there life? Or furthermore, why does G-d care about these things at all?

 

[Truthseeker]

I don't think anyone initially chooses self-torment they simply choose moment by moment, step by step to reject the conviction of their conscience to do right by choosing to pursue wrong. When a person has done so repeatedly to the point where their conscience is hard the Bible states they have become depraved and will not or cannot believe the truth. I think self-torment in the eternal realm is basically the result of rejecting God and being separated from God's presence, the only Source of all joy and love, leaving only emptiness, loneliness, and self agony.

I find that atheists don't reject God, they just don't believe in God. They may also have some disturbing ways of seeing God in the Bible, because they don't understand Him. But this doesn't make them evil. Not very many people are really evil in that they reject the light of the Holy Spirit. Those who are evil this way are in everlasting torment, but for everyone else it is possible to advance in the next world. There are those that are in torment in the next world, but others can intercede with God to lessen the torment over time, to get them closer to God. Our acts that are evil to some extent take us away from God, and make it less likely that we will recognize Christ as being of God. But Christ said that not recognizing Him can be forgiven. I see nowhere in the Bible where those in hell fire will be there forever. Also, hell is relative. Hell is farness from God and there are different degrees of that. Hell is not a place, it is a condition of the soul.

 

[InChrist]

What I'm never able to wrap my head around when it comes to theism, is exactly this. Why is an omnipotent G-d so interested in the smallest parts of a way a person lives there life? Or furthermore, why does G-d care about these things at all?

Why wouldn't God care?

 

[InChrist]

I find that atheists don't reject God, they just don't believe in God. They may also have some disturbing ways of seeing God in the Bible, because they don't understand Him. But this doesn't make them evil. Not very many people are really evil in that they reject the light of the Holy Spirit. Those who are evil this way are in everlasting torment, but for everyone else it is possible to advance in the next world. There are those that are in torment in the next world, but others can intercede with God to lessen the torment over time, to get them closer to God. Our acts that are evil to some extent take us away from God, and make it less likely that we will recognize Christ as being of God. But Christ said that not recognizing Him can be forgiven. I see nowhere in the Bible where those in hell fire will be there forever. Also, hell is relative. Hell is farness from God and there are different degrees of that. Hell is not a place, it is a condition of the soul.

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm not saying atheists are evil. They certainly can be hypocrites...as we all can. I believe only God knows the true motives, struggles, and intentions of anyone's heart and mind and I trust Him to judge justly. I think we may just have to disagree concerning the eternal destiny of those who absolutely and finally reject God and the goodness He desires for each person.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

Why wouldn't God care?

Because of how mundane much of it is?

 

[InChrist]

Because of how mundane much of it is?

I suppose it may be mundane to you, but what if God does not find the details of His beloved creation mundane?

 

[Twilight Hue]

You look at this wrong. Imagine your on the 10th floor of a burning building and the only way out is to jump out the window into the net the firemen hold. Is it the firemen's fault you didn't jump and were burnt to a crisp.

Where's the fire? And where's the building on the 10th floor so I can get to it?

I think I'm in the wrong area. Oh dear..

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

I suppose it may be mundane to you, but what if God does not find the details of His beloved creation mundane?

The idea of G-d being offended by a little creation of his swearing, or having un-married sex, just seems absolutely crazy to me.
I can follow the basic idea of a G-d laying out a universal sense of morality, sure. But I can't see it going to such an insignificant level.

When it comes back to the hell idea, I can't understand how those kinds of things compare to killing or abusing someone or being a con-man etc

 

[Spiderman]

I find that atheists don't reject God, they just don't believe in God. They may also have some disturbing ways of seeing God in the Bible, because they don't understand Him. But this doesn't make them evil. Not very many people are really evil in that they reject the light of the Holy Spirit. Those who are evil this way are in everlasting torment, but for everyone else it is possible to advance in the next world. There are those that are in torment in the next world, but others can intercede with God to lessen the torment over time, to get them closer to God. Our acts that are evil to some extent take us away from God, and make it less likely that we will recognize Christ as being of God. But Christ said that not recognizing Him can be forgiven. I see nowhere in the Bible where those in hell fire will be there forever. Also, hell is relative. Hell is farness from God and there are different degrees of that. Hell is not a place, it is a condition of the soul.

Agreed! Atheists usually don't know they are rejecting God

 

[Trailblazer]

I just decided to shop around and I found some good threads hiding in this Theological Concepts section.

Well if someone is eternally evil, they should face everlasting punishment, at least til they repented.

I agree that very evil people will be punished...Like murderers who killed for purely selfish reasons, I think they will be punished. That punishment might not be from God but from the realization of what they did, because all will be clearer to us in the spiritual world, although some people who are really lost will still be in the dark... That is hell.

It escapes me that belief in God is needed whatsoever. That's assuming to even know God. And I find absolutely no presence of God anywhere, my whole life.

Don't feel bad. I am a believer and I feel no presence of God either. I believe because of my religion but that does not mean I feel any presences.

That's what's maddening about Christian ultimatums. I gotta know, trust, and believe and have faith in a deity I have no ability to experience in order to get to heaven. I gotta know that Noah , and Jonah are historical factual stories. And I have to rely on a book as my only source of evidence.
So I gotta pull me brains out, and forsake my mind and experience, and imbibe the faith to get to heaven.

No, you do not have to do that. You just have to be a good person, which I know you are. As I was telling my Baha'i friend Duane tonight on another thread, it says in our Writings that some fruits only ripen after they fall from the tree, meaning after they take flight from this mortal realm of existence, this storehouse of suffering, they can start their real spiritual journey.

And I'm assumed by Christians that I know it's all true and it's obvious, and I'm somehow sinfully suppressing this knowledge in total denial.

How far does the delusion go. All the way to Beulah land. They actually sincerely believe that reality is this way, and all souls be judged this way.

Sadly enough they do, and I am dealing with a couple of them on another forum...

So they talk to me this way, and judge me this way. And so does there God.

They do but their God does not... God knows our hearts and knows who is sincere and not... I am banking on that because I cannot be a fake and pretend I see what I do not see. If God is all he is cracked up to be, He will not blame me or you for doing our best...

So they draw their Final Battle lines with me, and call it loving their enemies. When I can see how they hate non believers. Especially those who have heard the message.

That is downright awful, I love nonbelievers... Some Christians treat me just as if I did not believe in God either because I am a Baha'i, which is considered by them to be worshiping a false prophet, so that lands me in hell according to them. It is not good enough that I believe in Jesus I have to believe about Jesus just as they do.

It's total insanity! Where they believe they are separate from the world. But they are as mean, and nasty and bitter spiteful as I've ever seen people. They get together and mock so called sinners for being filthy wretches, when they are supposed to be praying for us according to their book.

You are right, some Christians do that, but not all Christians do that... I know a Christian from another forum who said that he would rather go to hell than be in heaven with those Christians who judge others. And there are a lot of nice Christians on this forum too... Of course I am not a nonbeliever so I am not in your shoes so it is a little different.

 

[osgart]

I just decided to shop around and I found some good threads hiding in this Theological Concepts section.

I agree that very evil people will be punished...Like murderers who killed for purely selfish reasons, I think they will be punished. That punishment might not be from God but from the realization of what they did, because all will be clearer to us in the spiritual world, although some people who are really lost will still be in the dark... That is hell.

Don't feel bad. I am a believer and I feel no presence of God either. I believe because of my religion but that does not mean I feel any presences.
No, you do not have to do that. You just have to be a good person, which I know you are. As I was telling my Baha'i friend Duane tonight on another thread, it says in our Writings that some fruits only ripen after they fall from the tree, meaning after they take flight from this mortal realm of existence, this storehouse of suffering, they can start their real spiritual journey.

Sadly enough they do, and I am dealing with a couple of them on another forum...

They do but their God does not... God knows our hearts and knows who is sincere and not... I am banking on that because I cannot be a fake and pretend I see what I do not see. If God is all he is cracked up to be, He will not blame me or you for doing our best...

That is downright awful, I love nonbelievers... Some Christians treat me just as if I did not believe in God either because I am a Baha'i, which is considered by them to be worshiping a false prophet, so that lands me in hell according to them. It is not good enough that I believe in Jesus I have to believe about Jesus just as they do.

You are right, some Christians do that, but not all Christians do that... I know a Christian from another forum who said that he would rather go to hell than be in heaven with those Christians who judge others. And there are a lot of nice Christians on this forum too... Of course I am not a nonbeliever so I am not in your shoes so it is a little different.

Thankyou for your kind responses. I was actually venting my frustration, and didn't realize it.

Honestly, if I were God, I wouldn't require anything but good natured intentions. And that's pretty much it. The rest would work itself out.

 

[Trailblazer]

Thankyou for your kind responses. I was actually venting my frustration, and didn't realize it.

I do that a lot, vent.

Honestly, if I were God, I wouldn't require anything but good natured intentions. And that's pretty much it. The rest would work itself out.

And that is pretty much it, according to my beliefs...

1: O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.
The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah

 

[Dantedeven]

God would surely never say such a horrible thing. In all honesty, your statement reeks of humanity. Are you a hundred percent certain that these quotes are not from a mortal man?

 

[Samantha Rinne]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

No. There are some who will be punished, but not by God. They are punished by their malice towards others, and their rejection of God.

This video has a pretty good explanation, even though it is mostly about astral projection. Skip to (7:26)

You are in control of your reality. So emotionally healthy people create healthy afterlives. Psychos, disturbed, and the violent are tortured by their own malice, their own violent impulses. They basically dream up enemies everywhere, and are constantly in pain. This is not God's doing. God wants us to get things right, not believe that if we mass-murder/suicide ourselves, the fact that God is loving means such behavior is rewarded. Nope, you're gonna get punished. But not because God is mean. Because your own personality will torture you.