The mercy of the relatively short human lifespan

[excreationist]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end. On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell. Forever is a very long time. A googol is a 1 with 100 zeroes. A googolplex is a 1 with a googol zeroes. That is an infinitesimal fraction of an eternity. And what would be far worse is if people couldn't get used to the suffering in hell - if the agony would remain unbearable forever.
I believe in a kind of reincarnation involving a kind of video game like in the Roy game:

or Alan Watts' dream thought experiment:

1.2.3. - Mythology of Hinduism - Pt. 1

I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night, any dream you wanted to dream. And you would of course be able to alter your time-sense and slip, say seventy-five years of subjective time into eight hours of sleep. You would, I suppose, start out by []

web.archive.org

But I think these would definitely eventually come to an end due to the end of useful energy in the outer universe, etc.

 

[1213]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end. On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell...

Interestingly Bible tells person is destroyed in hell:

And you should not fear the ones killing the body, but not being able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him being able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.
Matt. 10:28

Difficult to see how someone who is utterly destroyed could feel or do anything.

 

[Tinkerpeach]

Well nobody actually knows what Hell will be like.

One of the most common beliefs is that it is separation from God but what form that takes is unknown.

As Christians who go to Heaven we will have no concern over those in Hell, even if they were close family members. We will no longer be associated with them and indeed may not even remember them. God has said He would wipe every tear from our eye so that's not a worry at all.

No Christian would want to live forever, although I assume most of us actually have some fear over the dying part, but our reward is in Heaven and I for one can't wait to leave this world and get up there. I've no idea what it will be like but I am looking forward to it.

But until that day comes I will live my life in worship of God and do what I can to be part of His plan. Come good or bad it doesn't matter as long as I keep my faith and keep struggling forward.

 

[ppp]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end. On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell. Forever is a very long time. A googol is a 1 with 100 zeroes. A googolplex is a 1 with a googol zeroes. That is an infinitesimal fraction of an eternity. And what would be far worse is if people couldn't get used to the suffering in hell - if the agony would remain unbearable forever.
I believe in a kind of reincarnation involving a kind of video game like in the Roy game:

or Alan Watts' dream thought experiment:

1.2.3. - Mythology of Hinduism - Pt. 1

I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night, any dream you wanted to dream. And you would of course be able to alter your time-sense and slip, say seventy-five years of subjective time into eight hours of sleep. You would, I suppose, start out by []

web.archive.org

But I think these would definitely eventually come to an end due to the end of useful energy in the outer universe, etc.

It is a mercy to the young that the older generations clear out.

 

[Trailblazer]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end.

I also think it is good that humans are not capable of living forever on earth, as some Christians believe was the original plan for Adam and Eve.
Having to live forever on earth would be hell. Suffering owing to earth conditions will eventually come to an end for everyone.

On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell. Forever is a very long time.

Anyone can believe whatever they want to believe and they can try to use the Bible to justify their beliefs.
One can justify any belief by cherry-picking the right verses and interpreting them to suit their beliefs.

 

[F1fan]

Interestingly Bible tells person is destroyed in hell:

And you should not fear the ones killing the body, but not being able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him being able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.
Matt. 10:28

Difficult to see how someone who is utterly destroyed could feel or do anything.

That's why we don't interpret the Bible literally.

 

[Trailblazer]

Well nobody actually knows what Hell will be like.

And nobody knows what Heaven will be like.

One of the most common beliefs is that it is separation from God but what form that takes is unknown.

One of the most common beliefs is that Heaven is nearness to God but what form that takes is unknown.

As Christians who go to Heaven we will have no concern over those in Hell, even if they were close family members. We will no longer be associated with them and indeed may not even remember them.

I consider that very sad that you won't care about your close family members who you believe will be in Hell. I guess you think they got what they deserved.

God has said He would wipe every tear from our eye so that's not a worry at all.

That verse could mean any number of things and it means different things to different Christians.
JWs believe it refers to the New Earth, not to Heaven.

No Christian would want to live forever, although I assume most of us actually have some fear over the dying part, but our reward is in Heaven and I for one can't wait to leave this world and get up there. I've no idea what it will be like but I am looking forward to it.

You are wrong about that. JWs want to live forever on the New Earth in the same physical body that rose from the grave and was reconstructed.
They don't want to go to Heaven so they don't believe they will go there.

 

[F1fan]

Well nobody actually knows what Hell will be like.

I suspect it is the bliss of sleeping on a Monday wehn you don;t have to be at work, and forever.

One of the most common beliefs is that it is separation from God but what form that takes is unknown.

Kinda breaks the idea that God is loving.

As Christians who go to Heaven we will have no concern over those in Hell,

Very much how many Christians have no concern for their neighbors while still alive.

even if they were close family members. We will no longer be associated with them and indeed may not even remember them. God has said He would wipe every tear from our eye so that's not a worry at all.

Kinda breaks the idea of what Jesus taught about loving all, and not judging them. Some how humans are supposed to live by this rule but God can't?

No Christian would want to live forever, although I assume most of us actually have some fear over the dying part, but our reward is in Heaven and I for one can't wait to leave this world and get up there. I've no idea what it will be like but I am looking forward to it.

So you're looking forward to living forever after you just stated that no Christian would want to live forever?

But until that day comes I will live my life in worship of God and do what I can to be part of His plan. Come good or bad it doesn't matter as long as I keep my faith and keep struggling forward.

Have you considered that part of the struggle is working so hard to maintain belief in this religion?

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

That's why we don't interpret the Bible literally.

And why, in my opinion, we should never derive our understanding of morality, love, and justice from the Bible. To be honest, I roll my eyes and scoff every time I hear some Christian or another Abrahamic theist say that the God of the Bible is loving and merciful. It took some time for me to detox myself from the indoctrination I had endured while still a Christian. So it took me awhile to realize that I'm not a sinful person in need of forgiveness based on a brutal blood sacrifice to appease a jealous, psychotic, bloodthirsty, and genocidal God who is about as caring and merciful to humans as a deadly king cobra.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

As Christians who go to Heaven we will have no concern over those in Hell, even if they were close family members. We will no longer be associated with them and indeed may not even remember them.

Count me out. Forgetting my brother is would be one if the worst hells that could be afflicted upon me, and not being associated with him would be to not be associated with a part of myself.

 

[1213]

That's why we don't interpret the Bible literally.

Sorry, I don't see why anyone should interpret that to mean something else than what is directly said.

 

[F1fan]

Sorry, I don't see why anyone should interpret that to mean something else than what is directly said.

Because they are skilled thinkers. That may be your limitation.

I take it you assume the Bible is what it claims itself to be? If so, who told you to believe it?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Sorry, I don't see why anyone should interpret that to mean something else than what is directly said.

Because Jesus taught in parables.

 

[Truthseeker]

I consider that very sad that you won't care about your close family members who you believe will be in Hell. I guess you think they got what they deserved.

I can't believe that Christian said what you responded to here.

 

[excreationist]

I can't believe that Christian said what you responded to here.

Well it seems that the Bible says that Christians would be very happy in the afterlife so there must be some kind of explanation for how this can be the case while people they love might be in hell.... I wonder if there are any other possible explanations for this.

According to St Thomas Aquinas one of the pleasures of heaven is observing the suffering of hell.

“In order that the happiness of the saints may be more delightful to them and that they may render more copious thanks to God for it, they are allowed to see perfectly the sufferings of the damned … So that they may be urged the more to praise God … The saints in heaven know distinctly all that happens … to the damned. [Summa Theologica, Third Part, Supplement, Question XCIV, “Of the Relations of the Saints Towards the Damned,” First Article]”

 

[1213]

I take it you assume the Bible is what it claims itself to be? If so, who told you to believe it?

I read every text as they are written, I don't twist their meaning to fit to my own desires.

 

[1213]

Because Jesus taught in parables.

Jesus also said when something is parable and when it is not. There is no Biblical reason to think Matt. 10:28 is a parable. But, if it is, what do you think it means and why?

 

[Brian2]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end. On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell. Forever is a very long time. A googol is a 1 with 100 zeroes. A googolplex is a 1 with a googol zeroes. That is an infinitesimal fraction of an eternity. And what would be far worse is if people couldn't get used to the suffering in hell - if the agony would remain unbearable forever.
I believe in a kind of reincarnation involving a kind of video game like in the Roy game:

or Alan Watts' dream thought experiment:

1.2.3. - Mythology of Hinduism - Pt. 1

I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night, any dream you wanted to dream. And you would of course be able to alter your time-sense and slip, say seventy-five years of subjective time into eight hours of sleep. You would, I suppose, start out by []

web.archive.org

But I think these would definitely eventually come to an end due to the end of useful energy in the outer universe, etc.

I used to worry about people spending eternity in torment. I not believe God is not like that and that those who do not go to eternal life in the Kingdom of God do suffer but only what is just and then are destroyed. (Matt 10:28)
Wow that Rick and Morty is pretty heavy and weird stuff,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, so is Hinduism imo.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Well it seems that the Bible says that Christians would be very happy in the afterlife so there must be some kind of explanation for how this can be the case while people they love might be in hell.... I wonder if there are any other possible explanations for this.

According to St Thomas Aquinas one of the pleasures of heaven is observing the suffering of hell.

“In order that the happiness of the saints may be more delightful to them and that they may render more copious thanks to God for it, they are allowed to see perfectly the sufferings of the damned … So that they may be urged the more to praise God … The saints in heaven know distinctly all that happens … to the damned. [Summa Theologica, Third Part, Supplement, Question XCIV, “Of the Relations of the Saints Towards the Damned,” First Article]”

Tells me everything I need to know. I'll keep my atheism, thanks.

Edited to add: It is far beyond my ability to understand why anybody would worship a deity who thought it would be "delightful" to witness forever the suffering of others. Such a monster may well be worthy of fear and dread -- but certainly not love and worship.

 

[Kenny]

I think it is good that it seems that humans aren't capable of living forever. That way any possible suffering would eventually have an end. On the other hand many Christians believe that most people are going to suffer forever in hell. Forever is a very long time. A googol is a 1 with 100 zeroes. A googolplex is a 1 with a googol zeroes. That is an infinitesimal fraction of an eternity. And what would be far worse is if people couldn't get used to the suffering in hell - if the agony would remain unbearable forever.
I believe in a kind of reincarnation involving a kind of video game like in the Roy game:

or Alan Watts' dream thought experiment:

1.2.3. - Mythology of Hinduism - Pt. 1

I wonder, I wonder, what you would do if you had the power to dream at night, any dream you wanted to dream. And you would of course be able to alter your time-sense and slip, say seventy-five years of subjective time into eight hours of sleep. You would, I suppose, start out by []

web.archive.org

But I think these would definitely eventually come to an end due to the end of useful energy in the outer universe, etc.

As one can tell by what is written here and in other threads, the confusion of what is Hell, is there a Hell, is Hell a parable, is there an eternal Hell, is the soul eternally in Hell or destroyed in Hell, is earth the worst Hell we will experience... the list is quite large and varied.

I wonder if we are concentrating too much on the subject that wasn't the message in the Bible and how it relates to our personal lives with the minimal information in reference and how it applies the lives of everyone else vs the multiple and complete information about being forgiven and forgiving, united with God, enjoying life to the fullest and how to live this life on the earth and the message of love therein and to experience it... personally.