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No - samsara is about cycles of periods of discontentment and suffering, and other periods of contentment and pleasure. It is not endless, as nibbana - a goal which anyone can strive for - is freedom from samsara.
The traditional Christian hell and lake of fire offers no moments of contentment or pleasure, and no freedom or possibility of escape.
The concepts are not the same at all.
I agree that my response was a broad brush; however I can agree with you.If there were a way of knowing for sure, I would be surprised if the findings showed that "most Christians" actually do take that kind of literal view of hell.
If someone chooses to live an existence apart from God, why should they be surprised when He gives them what they want?Is it moral to torture someone for eternity because of finite crimes?
There was a time 70-some years ago where the broader community in Germany decided it was right to toss Jews into furnaces. There are places in this world right now where it is acceptable to kill one's daughter because she shames the family. Are these actions moral or immoral?I'll be honest Albion. I find this sort of response a little frightening. It suggests that you would do whatever you believed God required of you without considering its morality against any standard which you or the broader community may hold.
....and the belief of many is that those Jews are burning in hell right now because the weren't "saved".There was a time 70-some years ago where the broader community in Germany decided it was right to toss Jews into furnaces.
Which doesn't answer the question.....and the belief of many is that those Jews are burning in hell right now because the weren't "saved".
So, Germany burns them up in a furnace, and many Christians condemn them to hell. Doesn't sound like much of a difference to me.
They're not similar at all, since samsara is not endless.I did not say they are the same. I said they are similar. Which they are (both being endless death and suffering).
Yes it is, do you see an issue with that?Oh, and how many people have ever reached Nirvana? And actually, striving for it is attachment.
They're not similar at all, since samsara is not endless.
It is endless until one removes himself from the cycle - then it's not endless.
I don't know how many, but I suspect an innumerable number has reached nibbana - the cessation of suffering.Remind us of how many have achieved that in practice...
Billions <> eternity.When we are talking potentially billions of years, the comparison stands.
I don't know how many, but I suspect an innumerable number has reached nibbana - the cessation of suffering.
Billions <> eternity.
Eternity = billions x infinity.
It is not comparable.
You did take the Bible verse literally meaning Christianity supports self-mutilation. That is fundie. We get one of two things from God. Justice or mercy so in theory what do you want from God? Justice or mercy?Don't mean to burst your bubble, but I'm not a "secular fundie".
Yeah it is a location of sorts and there is more than one verse which supports the existence of some type of hell. Don't see how it can be interpreted in any other way. All the comforts we take for granted all gone.So....you don't take the "gouge out your eye" and "cut off your hand" parts literally, but you do take the mention of hell in those verses literally?
Well there is a whole slew of verses that support the view, so? Are we supposed to ignore all of them?No surprise there, most Christians do.
Burn forever? Where did I say that?The "difficult" to explain verses are "hyperbole", but the verses about burning in hell forever
I don't know about the last part and don't know why you are fretting so much unless scared for some reason. I do not fret over the Red Queen in Wonderland because it is fictional. So it sounds like you have some sort of problem. Most convicted convicts think their sentence is excessive. They effectively lock people up for life every day in a hell called prison. Just watch survivers Guide To Prison on Netflix for an example of hell. People are told in advance so it seems to me the smart thing to do is go to the cross of Christ and live for Him, not self. Unless you wish to hang on your own cross. Why lick the Earth? It is your life and your choice.if you're not a believer in Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and Messiah are definitely fact! And if you don't believe it.......you're gonna burn in hell forever......
It's important to remember that there's a difference between judging GodThing is, it's not smart to judge God...
Exactly. DON'T JUDGE GOD is often used as a threat, when all folks are doing is disagreeing with a person's perception of what God is/does/will do.Claims of judging God are usually raised in the hopes of silencing the tough
questions that occasionally emerge which aren't challenging God, but rather
challenging God-concepts.
Exactly. DON'T JUDGE GOD is often used as a threat, when all folks are doing is disagreeing with a person's perception of what God is/does/will do.
That's just it, though. No one is judging God.No. is my opinion that judging God really is not smart or wise. You are more intelligent or powerful than Him? And he is Holy without any defect.
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