On atheists and Hell...

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paug

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So... if those who don't accept Jesus as their Savior go to Hell, then why doesn't God just kill off the atheists? Why does he let them live only to be tortured in the flames of Hell for all eternity?

E.g. surely God always knew that I would become an atheist, he always knew I wouldn't accept the teachings of Jesus Christ nor the Scripture, so why allow me to live only to cast me into the fiery pits of Hell? Doesn't sound awfully benevolent to me.

And what about the arbitrary tribe in sub-saharan Africa, the Mwujambu. They give birth to a baby boy, but this boy nor his family have never heard of Christianity or the Trinity and all that. So then the baby boy dies of malaria/whatever and then finds himself at the gates of Hell.

"Oh, sorry little boy, the missionaries weren't due to visit your tribe in another 4 months. Sorry, but in you go!"
 

jayem

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Well, in fairness, not all Christians agree on eternal punishment for non-believers. There even are a few Christians who are universalist (like the Primitive Baptist Universalists. I think the Swedenborgians and some Quakers have universalist doctrines.) Of course, Calvinists believe that God himself elects who will be saved and who will be damned. I personally think the idea of a penalty for non-believers is a doctrinal hold-over from the OT Judaic God, who punished disobediance and non-observance of the law. The OT God was judgemental as much as benevolent, and that's been adopted into much Christian theology.
 
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FaithLikeARock

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Because He doesn't decide, you do. But if He did kill you now, you wouldn't be able to decide. Because you'd be dead. God isn't stupid. Next time take care not to lump thousands of denominations into one belief.

As far as those who don't get to hear about Christ, I'm pretty sure there is mercy on them. The Bible never mentions it unfortunately. But hell isn't for people who don't accept Christ and more for people who deny Him entirely. Those who know but choose not to accept it. Not people who were never taught.
 
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paug

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But regardless of what I decide, God already knows, right? I mean, if he's all-knowing, he will know e.g. that i will never accept Jesus Christ as my savior. And hence, he will know that I will go to Hell.

And what's the difference between not accepting Christ and denying Him entirely? I know some people believe in Christ - I, however, don't accept him; I don't believe he is the Savior. Does this count as denial?

PS how can you "know" something but not accept it?

And I will ignore your point about various denominations until you find one which denies God's omniscience. Because that's what we're talking about here.
 
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keith99

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Because He doesn't decide, you do. But if He did kill you now, you wouldn't be able to decide. Because you'd be dead. God isn't stupid. Next time take care not to lump thousands of denominations into one belief.

As far as those who don't get to hear about Christ, I'm pretty sure there is mercy on them. The Bible never mentions it unfortunately. But hell isn't for people who don't accept Christ and more for people who deny Him entirely. Those who know but choose not to accept it. Not people who were never taught.

So salvation depends on doping one thing? deciding to accept Christ. Doesn't that mean salvation is based on works?
 
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Washington

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Because He doesn't decide, you do. But if He did kill you now, you wouldn't be able to decide. Because you'd be dead. God isn't stupid. Next time take care not to lump thousands of denominations into one belief.

As far as those who don't get to hear about Christ, I'm pretty sure there is mercy on them. The Bible never mentions it unfortunately. But hell isn't for people who don't accept Christ and more for people who deny Him entirely. Those who know but choose not to accept it. Not people who were never taught.
Although paug doesn't differentiate between the various Christian beliefs on the issue, I think common sense should come into play here. Don't you? I don't think paug was speaking about anyone to who the notion of god's unreasonable decision doesn't apply. No lumping involved at all. If a comment doesn't apply to you or others I think it wise to ignore it in that context.
 
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PastorJim

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So... if those who don't accept Jesus as their Savior go to Hell

The Bible never says anything about "accepting Jesus". To the contrary, it tells us that it's up to Jesus to accept us.

And what about the arbitrary tribe in sub-saharan Africa, the Mwujambu. They give birth to a baby boy, but this boy nor his family have never heard of Christianity or the Trinity and all that. So then the baby boy dies of malaria/whatever and then finds himself at the gates of Hell.

"Oh, sorry little boy, the missionaries weren't due to visit your tribe in another 4 months. Sorry, but in you go!"

Not what the Bible teaches.
 
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paug

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The Bible never says anything about "accepting Jesus". To the contrary, it tells us that it's up to Jesus to accept us.

Regardless... Since I don't believe in Jesus Christ, I apparently haven't been accepted. Are you suggesting that I will be accepted before my death? Or what? Do I have no say in the matter?

PastorJim said:
Not what the Bible teaches.

What does it teach regarding people who haven't accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior? As far as I've understood, people either go to Heaven or Hell.
 
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Garyzenuf

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Next time take care not to lump thousands of denominations into one belief.


Why not? You've turned one belief into thousands of denominations.

Aren't you guys supposed to be getting along better? :)

*
 
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PreachersWife2004

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Hell is for those who actively reject Christ.

You will die when God is good and ready for you to die. And while you may think you are staunch in your position that you will never be a Christian, God may have a different plan for you.
 
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PastorJim

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Alright... let me rephrase:

"What does the Bible say concerning people who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior?"

Better?

I think what you mean is, "what does the Bible say about people who are not born again, who have not repented of their sins and put their faith in Christ's atonement on their behalf".

It says they face God's wrath on Judgement Day and go to Hell.
 
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truthshift

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This is one of the questions that presents a logical roadblock and one of the ones that drove me from christianity altogether.

It's very clear in the bible as to the conditions that are needed to find yourself in heaven. What we see when this question is posed is different rationalizations and 'interpretations' pop up among the denominations and at a personal level to attempt to explain away this impossibility.

To further the point made about the unknowing tribesman, if by giving people knowledge of god, are you not burdening them, if not damning them by letting them make a choice? Would they not be safer having never heard of it if it is true that they would be at the mercy of your god?

To put the Christian god into a positive light, excuses have to be made. It's the 21st century and the fire and brimstone god of the past doesn't have much of a place in society now. It's very interesting to see how he... evolves.
 
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paug

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I think what you mean is, "what does the Bible say about people who are not born again, who have not repented of their sins and put their faith in Christ's atonement on their behalf".

It says they face God's wrath on Judgement Day and go to Hell.

And God allows this? He knows it all along, but still lets it go forth?

this sounds like a repeat of the OP.
 
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paug

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Of course. God respects their free will.

Aaaand back to the OP:

Why does he let [atheists] live only to be tortured in the flames of Hell for all eternity?

Free will or not - God knows where people will end up, right? He is omniscient, right? And atheists go to Hell, and God knows this, and allows it.

This scenario doesn't bother you?
 
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Oneofthediaspora

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Hell is an eternity in which a person chooses of their own free will to be seperate from God.
Heaven is an eternity in the prescence of God.

If someone cannot abide to be in God's prescence then they choose hell. There are none in hell who do not prefer it to the prescence of God.
 
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