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Ryukil

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I'm sure this has been posted about a lot. I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheist. But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?
 

bhsmte

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I'm sure this has been posted about a lot. I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheist. But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?

IMO, just a manufactured fear tactic, to get people to go along.

Consider the time the Christian story was written and how little knowledge and educated people were, they would believe just about anything.
 
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Ryukil

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If you please, explain what you mean by this.

Well if you think Auschwitz is bad, wait until you see Hell (according to the kind of language the people who talk about it use). Everyone deserves to go to this super concentration camp because of inherited sin, and if a nice young person dies at the age of 20 without accepting Jesus, he or she will go there forever, even if they hadn't heard of the Gospel.

Sick. Evil. Disgusting.

I hate to use such inflammatory words, but I really can't help it. I can't describe it any other way.
 
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prov1810

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Well if you think Auschwitz is bad, wait until you see Hell (according to the kind of language the people who talk about it use). Everyone deserves to go to this super concentration camp because of inherited sin, and if a nice young person dies at the age of 20 without accepting Jesus, he or she will go there forever, even if they hadn't heard of the Gospel.

Sick. Evil. Disgusting.

I hate to use such inflammatory words, but I really can't help it. I can't describe it any other way.
Is it possible that there is a good reason for hell? What if hell is the morally perfect outcome of decisively rejecting the way to heaven?

Because that is what we are doing with our lives: making a choice. Even the angels had to choose. Even Jesus had to be tempted. There is no other way for rational beings to live. Our choices define us.
 
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Inkachu

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I'm sure this has been posted about a lot. I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheist. But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?

God, the truth, the universe, whatever you choose to call it, does not operate based on what makes me happy or what makes me comfortable or what makes me feel good. We seem to forget that the universe doesn't revolve around us, and isn't bound by our understanding or our comfort. I didn't create hell. I don't send anyone to hell. Do I like the idea of it? Of course not. Does that mean I choose to believe it's not real, because it makes me too uncomfortable? No.
 
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JaxKH

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I'm sure this has been posted about a lot. I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheist. But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?

Well, put it this way: if you don't accept Christ's invitation, that means you don't want to be with Him. If you don't want to be with Him, He gives you what you want. Hell is that separation in afterlife from God, outside of peace that is in Heaven. Harsh, but fair.
 
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Inkachu

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Well if you think Auschwitz is bad, wait until you see Hell (according to the kind of language the people who talk about it use). Everyone deserves to go to this super concentration camp because of inherited sin, and if a nice young person dies at the age of 20 without accepting Jesus, he or she will go there forever, even if they hadn't heard of the Gospel.

Sick. Evil. Disgusting.

I hate to use such inflammatory words, but I really can't help it. I can't describe it any other way.

FWIW I believe hell is more reserved for those who actively reject God, than those who are ignorant or unable to be informed or make the choice (children, the mentally disabled, etc). However, bear in mind that according to the Bible, God announces His existence via several means that have nothing to do with a person walking up to you with a Bible and a pamphlet. The Bible teaches that every person has the awareness of a higher being within them, and that it's confirmed through observation of creation (nature, humanity). So to say that an intelligent, functional adult has NO CLUE that a God of any kind exists, is pretty far-fetched. They either do, and they reject Him, or they reject the truth that a God exists, period. Either scenario is rejection.
 
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ananda

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I don't believe that the Bible teaches an eternal hell. I believe it teaches that hell (and heaven) will last for an aeon/olam (something lasting for a long time, but also temporary). "Eternity" was a new meaning attached to the Greek word "aeon" around the 5th century A.D., and most English Bible translators have latched on to that late meaning, instead of using the original meaning.
 
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abysmul

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But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?

Plenty of Christians would agree with your opinion of that concept of Hell.
 
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Doublemint

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I'm sure this has been posted about a lot. I'm an agnostic, leaning towards atheist. But recently I realized how sick the concept of Hell actually is. I was raised a Christian. We are taught about it in Sunday school, and think almost nothing of it. We are desensitized to it.

Anyway, how do you guys get around the thought of your coworkers, friends, etc., burning in Hell for all eternity in endless agony?

Below are the people who are going to hell.
Even they have a chance to repent, but chose not to.
Do you really want these people as your neighbors and co-workers?

REV 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood ... . 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
 
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Golden Yak

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Is it possible that there is a good reason for hell?

Hell no.

What if hell is the morally perfect outcome of decisively rejecting the way to heaven?

Then 'moral perfection' is highly overrated.

Because that is what we are doing with our lives: making a choice. Even the angels had to choose. Even Jesus had to be tempted. There is no other way for rational beings to live. Our choices define us.

It's a crappy choice - I'd opt out of the whole thing even if I thought it was real.

Plenty of Christians would agree with your opinion of that concept of Hell.

And yet they're still Christians. I wonder - do they actually agree that it's a good system, or are they just too scared of what will happen to them if they reject it?

Below are the people who are going to hell.
Even they have a chance to repent, but chose not to.
Do you really want these people as your neighbors and co-workers?

REV 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood ... . 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

You'd be fine with them as your 'neighbors and co-workers' in Heaven if they repented though, right? Same with killers and rapists? It's fine as long as they're born again?

Off-topic but - co-workers, there's jobs in Heaven? Interesting - I wonder what they're for.
 
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abysmul

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And yet they're still Christians. I wonder - do they actually agree that it's a good system, or are they just too scared of what will happen to them if they reject it?

No, as in there are plenty of Christians that understand that the Bible does not teach "Hellfire" and everlasting torture.
 
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keith99

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I don't believe that the Bible teaches an eternal hell. I believe it teaches that hell (and heaven) will last for an aeon/olam (something lasting for a long time, but also temporary). "Eternity" was a new meaning attached to the Greek word "aeon" around the 5th century A.D., and most English Bible translators have latched on to that late meaning, instead of using the original meaning.

If I remember correctly there is a verse talking about Christ overcoming death and Hades. That is evidence a lot of the early versions of Hell have some roots in Greek mythology rather than uniquely Jewish thought.

IF one thinks of Hell as something brought to the table from outside of the Jewish traditions it changes things a lot. Well at least for early Christianity. There Christ becomes the escape from a fate men felt was in store for them no matter what.

That said that branch modern Christianity that focuses on ever more creative tortures for anyone not part of their club is detestable and has no such excuse, for modern men do not come to the conversation thinking Hell or Hades is their fate, save for it being taught by Christians.
 
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bhsmte

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No, as in there are plenty of Christians that understand that the Bible does not teach "Hellfire" and everlasting torture.

I agree.

The main issue is, one can get the bible to say just about anything they want it to say.

IMO, a person's personal psychology and moral code, determines which interpretation they latch onto.
 
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Doublemint

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If I remember correctly there is a verse talking about Christ overcoming death and Hades. That is evidence a lot of the early versions of Hell have some roots in Greek mythology rather than uniquely Jewish thought.

IF one thinks of Hell as something brought to the table from outside of the Jewish traditions it changes things a lot. Well at least for early Christianity. There Christ becomes the escape from a fate men felt was in store for them no matter what.

That said that branch modern Christianity that focuses on ever more creative tortures for anyone not part of their club is detestable and has no such excuse, for modern men do not come to the conversation thinking Hell or Hades is their fate, save for it being taught by Christians.
Curious ... what tortures do you think are happening in hell?
 
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Resha Caner

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I don't see OPs like this ever going anywhere. When one starts from a premise of imagining the most evil thing one being could ever do to another being, and then ascribes that evil to God, there is no answer.

On top of it, there seems to be this, "I want no part of it," attitude. As if there would be a choice should such a thing exist. I'm sure there are many people who want no part of the evil in their lives, but sticking your head in the sand won't change anything.

As I do with my son, I'll say, "Let me know when you can discuss this calmly."
 
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prov1810

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I don't see OPs like this ever going anywhere. When one starts from a premise of imagining the most evil thing one being could ever do to another being, and then ascribes that evil to God, there is no answer.
Generally, the New Atheists characterize, they do not analyze. The rigor and depth of a sustained argument would be welcomed. We could explore fundamental notions of justice and existential responsibility. But you can't coax it out of them when they're in high dudgeon. Someone says "crappy" and I'm supposed to take that seriously? Really?
 
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