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Should teaching eternal hell be a crime?

Should teaching eternal hell be a crime offense?

  • Yes

    Votes: 21 36.2%

  • No

    Votes: 33 56.9%

  • Don't know

    Votes: 4 6.9%
  • Total voters
    58
blackout

blackout

Violet.
You may as well criminalize horror films as well.

You know they truly do frighten many impressionable minds.
They effect the psyche,
instil fear
cause nightmares
undue paranoia
where there wouldn't have been
without the influence of the horrific imagery/fantasy.
These movies sometimes make people afraid of things
they KNOW are irrational.

True though,
horror movies come with an age advisory.
 
Last edited:
ChristineES

ChristineES

Tiggerism
Premium Member
839311 said:
Lets go back in time a bit...

"Now that they made stoning adulterers illegal, whats next? Banning slavery?"

"Now that they made slavery illegal, whats next? Banning the teaching of creationism in public schools?"

"Now that they made teaching creationism illegal in public schools, whats next? Banning gay marriage?"

"Now that they made gay marriage illegal in many states, whats next? Banning it in all states?"

Step by step, were making progress.
Click to expand...
\

You've got to be kidding. :sarcastic Are you comparing limiting people's first amendment rights to what you said in the quote? Maybe we should make talking illegal, then no one can offend or scare or terrorize anyone ever again. Or maybe we can become like the world in Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) and burn all books because something always offends someone somewhere. People can believe whatever they want to believe and they can tell others about it if the others are willing to hear it- and there is nothing you can do about that.
 
Revoltingest

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
839311 said:
Lets go back in time a bit...
"Now that they made stoning adulterers illegal, whats next? Banning slavery?"
"Now that they made slavery illegal, whats next? Banning the teaching of creationism in public schools?"
"Now that they made teaching creationism illegal in public schools, whats next? Banning gay marriage?"
"Now that they made gay marriage illegal in many states, whats next? Banning it in all states?"
Step by step, were making progress.
Click to expand...
That just might be the lamest slippery slope analogy I've ever seen.
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
839311 said:
I can't accept that someone who has been taught about hell all their lives has never had the imagery of someone painfully burning in a pit of fire. I don't buy that.
Click to expand...

For one thing, we're not all the same.

Secondly, hell is typically reserved for the "other." The kid isn't going there so they don't think about it.

Third, kids and teenagers have "more important" things to do with their time than theologize about something that really doesn't apply to their daily lives.

I did ministry around conservative evangelical educated kids and teenagers for about 10 years, and I only met one who was terrified of hell, and she wasn't even a member of a church.
 
waitasec

waitasec

Veteran Member
UltraViolet said:
You may as well criminalize horror films as well.

You know they truly do frighten many impressionable minds.
They effect the psyche,
instil fear
cause nightmares
undue paranoia
where there wouldn't have been
without the influence of the horrific imagery/fantasy.
These movies sometimes make people afraid of things
they KNOW are irrational.

True though,
horror movies come with an age advisory.
Click to expand...

but movies do not inflict thought crime...
besides if one lets their young child watch a horror movie, they should be charged with child endangerment, imo.

even though movies and the idea of hell are both make believe, it's how
it's perceived. look at society today, most people grew up thinking hell is a real place...still doesn't deter anyone from committing horrific acts against humanity, if anything it is a perverse tool used for twisted minds thinking somehow god is on their side when mocking a fallen soldiers funeral across the street.
 
waitasec

waitasec

Veteran Member
ChristineES said:
\

You've got to be kidding. :sarcastic Are you comparing limiting people's first amendment rights to what you said in the quote? Maybe we should make talking illegal, then no one can offend or scare or terrorize anyone ever again. Or maybe we can become like the world in Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) and burn all books because something always offends someone somewhere. People can believe whatever they want to believe and they can tell others about it if the others are willing to hear it- and there is nothing you can do about that.
Click to expand...

Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws. Criticism of the government and advocacy of unpopular ideas that people may find distasteful or against public policy, such as racism, sexism, and other hate speech are almost always permitted. There are exceptions to these general protection, including the Miller test for obscenity, child pornography laws, speech that incites imminent lawless action, and regulation of commercial speech such as advertising. Within these limited areas, other limitations on free speech balance rights to free speech and other rights, such as rights for authors and inventors over their works and discoveries (copyright and patent), interests in "fair" political campaigns (Campaign finance laws), protection from imminent or potential violence against particular persons (restrictions on fighting words), or the use of untruths to harm others (slander). Distinctions are often made between speech and other acts which may have symbolic significance.

Freedom of speech in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

i wonder if verbal abuse would qualify as "violence against particular persons"(children perhaps...)
 
9-10ths_Penguin

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
waitasec said:
not from...danger of being exposed to visual violence which links children to self-esteem issues and depression.
Click to expand...
Taking a child away from his or her parents can create self-esteem issues and depression as well. Whatever danger the child is facing has to be major before removal is the best option.
 
waitasec

waitasec

Veteran Member
9-10ths_Penguin said:
Taking a child away from his or her parents can create self-esteem issues and depression as well. Whatever danger the child is facing has to be major before removal is the best option.
Click to expand...

of course it would, i'm only saying exposing children to violence at a young age is not a very healthy thing to do...

now back to the OP... i wonder if scaring a child into thinking they will go to hell could be considered mental abuse... i am of the opinion that yes it is a form of abuse.
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
waitasec said:
do you have kids
Click to expand...

Not yet. But we have to define what a "kid" is.

I think that a ten year old is a kid, don't you? I was watching horror films with my friends - often at a 'sleepover' with a whole group of other boys. I wouldn't have wanted my three or six year old sister to watch it, and someone would basically have to force her to, and I don't think many parents do that. But it's hardly something that I would relate depression to... or even something that is remotely damaging in a permanent way, or even immediate.
 
waitasec

waitasec

Veteran Member
angellous_evangellous said:
Not yet. But we have to define what a "kid" is.

I think that a ten year old is a kid, don't you? I was watching horror films with my friends - often at a 'sleepover' with a whole group of other boys. I wouldn't have wanted my three or six year old sister to watch it, and someone would basically have to force her to, and I don't think many parents do that. But it's hardly something that I would relate depression to... or even something that is remotely damaging in a permanent way, or even immediate.
Click to expand...

all children are different. one 10 yr old could be more mature than the next...i was thinking young children under 10...i guess.
it does relate to depression because it takes a sense of security and power away from them...
and that is why i think teaching young children about hell is "criminal". being told about "hell" and being exposed to paintings of it and mixing that with a child's imagination cannot create a healthy attitude toward integrity
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
waitasec said:
all children are different. one 10 yr old could be more mature than the next...i was thinking young children under 10...i guess.
it does relate to depression because it takes a sense of security and power away from them...
and that is why i think teaching young children about hell is "criminal". being told about "hell" and being exposed to paintings of it and mixing that with a child's imagination cannot create a healthy attitude toward integrity
Click to expand...

In my 31 years as a Christian, I've never seen a painting in a church depicting hell.

I agree that attempting to scare children (or anyone else) with hell is deplorable, but it causing the actual damage that you describe is quite rare.
 
waitasec

waitasec

Veteran Member
angellous_evangellous said:
In my 31 years as a Christian, I've never seen a painting in a church depicting hell.
Click to expand...

i didn't see it in the church either...but nonetheless it didn't matter to me where i saw it, i saw it and my imagination ran with it. :sad:

I agree that attempting to scare children (or anyone else) with hell is deplorable, but it causing the actual damage that you describe is quite rare.
Click to expand...

i'm not so sure about that. i think society is insecure as a whole, otherwise why would people act the way they do towards each other or themselves...?
dead beat moms/dads, teen pregnancies, hi divorce rates, over eating, depression... gluttony...anger/rage these are symptoms of insecurity and we spend billions of dollars dealing with our fears....look i'm not attributing that to the teaching of "hell" to young impressionable minds ...but it certainly doesn't help...
 
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