no hell

[syo]

there is no hell in christianity. evil people, after their judgement, they are annihilated, they are not tortured. they simply cease to exist. if we want to gain eternal life we must try for the good. the idea that god is a sadistic ruler that sends people to torment hell should stop.

 

[Woberts]

Well, you're the minority in thinking that.

 

[syo]

Well, you're the minority in thinking that.

why do priests promote the torment hell?

 

[Woberts]

why do priests promote the torment hell?

Because it's an integral part of the Christian doctrine.

 

[outlawState]

.... the idea that god is a sadistic ruler that sends people to torment hell should stop.

I agree. The doctrine of hell comes with an assumption that it is entirely the individual's decision to be sent to hell, and that God only passes the judgement that the individual has decreed for him/her self. So it's nothing to do with God's sadism but man's responsibility.

 

[Sunstone]

I agree. The doctrine of hell comes with an assumption that it is entirely the individual's decision to be sent to hell, and that God only passes the judgement that the individual has decreed for him/her self. So it's nothing to do with God's sadism but man's responsibility.

That makes it sound like God is a rubber stamp clerk with no will of His own. Could He not, if he genuinely loved everyone, give everyone eternal life? Would that not be possible for Him?

 

[SalixIncendium]

there is no hell in christianity. evil people, after their judgement, they are annihilated, they are not tortured. they simply cease to exist. if we want to gain eternal life we must try for the good. the idea that god is a sadistic ruler that sends people to torment hell should stop.

The Bible disagrees:

Revelation 21:8
Matthew 25:46
Psalms 9:17
2 Thessalonians 1:9
Matthew 13:50
Mark 9:43
Jude 1:7
Matthew 13:42
Matthew 25:41
Revelation 19:20
2 Peter 2:4
Revelation 20:13-14

 

[outlawState]

That makes it sound like God is a rubber stamp clerk with no will of His own. Could He not, if he genuinely loved everyone, give everyone eternal life? Would that not be possible for Him?

No it would not be possible within the confines of free will, because he has endowed men with free will. The converse of what I stated above is that God will do his best to help sinners get to heaven but that it cannot be done without man's co-operation.

There is however another aspect to all this, which is that God knows the future where he can foresee how every individual will behave. So he can arrange events to e.g. get rid of pride in one person, and allow it to inflate to its maximum extent in another. That is a matter of God's eternal decrees and purposes, but it does not violate the principle of free will in the individual to chose right and wrong. There is nothing that an indivdual can do to absolve himself of sin except via the authorized way of salvation.

 

[Jumi]

There is hell in Christianity, but not all forms of Christianity.

 

[Jumi]

No it would not be possible within the confines of free will, because he has endowed men with free will. The converse of what I stated above is that God will do his best to help sinners get to heaven but that it cannot be done without man's co-operation.

Some get nice environment to be born in, a healthy body and other advantages from the start. I assume these are the shoo-ins, blessed, while people who never know anything else than bare survival and conflict are the doomed.

 

[WalterTrull]

Heaven and Hell, hmmm.... There are places and conditions right here and now that we consider Hellish and Heavenly. Could not those biblical admonitions be somewhat hyperbolic guides to more comfortable circumstances? Perhaps I should consult with Dr. Pangloss again.

 

[joe1776]

there is no hell in christianity. evil people, after their judgement, they are annihilated, they are not tortured. they simply cease to exist. if we want to gain eternal life we must try for the good. the idea that god is a sadistic ruler that sends people to torment hell should stop.

Hell is a creation of the founders of Christianity. It has obviously served its purpose, as a recruiting approach, quite well.

The offer of reward alone motivates people and the threat of punishment alone works equally well. But the two combined, reward and punishment, are very powerful. Heaven is the reward and Hell is the threat of punishment made to the children of Christians to influence their adult choices.

 

[David1967]

why do priests promote the torment hell?

Job security.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

there is no hell in christianity.

Many versions of Christianity have Hell, even if your version doesn't.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I agree. The doctrine of hell comes with an assumption that it is entirely the individual's decision to be sent to hell, and that God only passes the judgement that the individual has decreed for him/her self. So it's nothing to do with God's sadism but man's responsibility.

If my neighbour built a spike pit booby trap in his backyard, I would consider him sadistic... even if he posted big, clear "no trespassing" signs and the only people impaled were trespassers.

 

[syo]

Because it's an integral part of the Christian doctrine.

how? they don't torment the dead.

 

[syo]

The Bible disagrees:

Revelation 21:8
Matthew 25:46
Psalms 9:17
2 Thessalonians 1:9
Matthew 13:50
Mark 9:43
Jude 1:7
Matthew 13:42
Matthew 25:41
Revelation 19:20
2 Peter 2:4
Revelation 20:13-14

they don't say torment. the fire is not to torment but to annihilate.

 

[syo]

the fire that judges the wicked is to annihilate them, not to torture them. the wicked do not ''exist'' after death in eternal tortures. that's sadistic.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

the fire that judges the wicked is to annihilate them, not to torture them. the wicked do not ''exist'' after death in eternal tortures. that's sadistic.

And annihilating them isn't?

 

[syo]

And annihilating them isn't?

it's the wickedness that is destroyed not the soul. in my opinion.