Why believe in hell?

[Cassiopeia]

gee whiz
An expression of surprise, dismay, or enthusiasm. For example, Gee whiz, Dad, I thought you'd let me borrow the car, or Gee whiz, they finally won the Series! This term is thought to be a euphemism for "Jesus Christ." [Slang; 1870s]
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=GEE%20WHIZ

and
Sheesh
interj.
Used to express mild annoyance, surprise, or disgust.

[Alteration of Jesus1.]
Alteration of Jesus
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sheesh

oh come on ! forget it..I don't agree...I never heard of any of that so

 

[Montalban]

oh come on ! forget it..I don't agree...I never heard of any of that so

Those words were invented in an effort to get around blasphemy, but some such as Jeez derive directly from Jesus.

Just thought I'd let you know.

As for 'hell' I believe that God really respects people's decision not to want Him

 

[Cassiopeia]

Those words were invented in an effort to get around blasphemy, but some such as Jeez derive directly from Jesus.

Just thought I'd let you know.

As for 'hell' I believe that God really respects people's decision not to want Him

How does it make you feel to believe in hell?

 

[Montalban]

How does it make you feel to believe in hell?

God gave us Free Will. And He loves us. He loves us so much that He respects our Free Will, even if it is to go against Him.

It would not be a real choice if, no matter what I did, the result was the same; whether it be only condemnation for all, or only saving grace for all. Then there's no choice to have been made. A real choice must have real options.

Imagine if you had a ballot paper with 100 people on it, but they all belonged to the one party, so if everyone voted for person 'x', or if everyone voted for person 'y', it didn't matter, because the same party won.

That then is only the appearence of choice. It might make you feel better to pick one or the other, but if there's no real choice its meaningless.

And I don't believe God would give us such a trick. That's what actually makes the gift so wonderful, that it's so totally real.

And so it will be at judgment time, some will still stand up against God and argue "I hate you: Why didn't you save the millions? Why'd you let bad people prosper" These defiant people choose to be apart from God. God still sends His love out to them, but they reject Him.

 

[coyoteBR]

gee whiz
An expression of surprise, dismay, or enthusiasm. For example, Gee whiz, Dad, I thought you'd let me borrow the car, or Gee whiz, they finally won the Series! This term is thought to be a euphemism for "Jesus Christ." [Slang; 1870s]
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=GEE WHIZ

and
Sheesh
interj.
Used to express mild annoyance, surprise, or disgust.

[Alteration of Jesus1.]
Alteration of Jesus
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sheesh

Would you settle for Sufferin' Succotash?

No... wait... with that, Warner's lawyers could sue...

 

[Rae]

I believe what the bible says.

So you take other human beings' opinions rather than come up with your own. Okay. I don't.

What I say is no longer my opinion , it becomes God's truth.

In your opinion. In mine, what you say has nothing to do with any deities, but with flawed human ideas of vengeance and hatred.

 

[FreezBee]

Becuase thats Justice. Each and everyone of us is held accountable for our actions. How can we be rewarded if not tested? I would prefer a world where people beliefs were considered secondary to their actions.

As a Lutheran I have to disagree with you. What is an action?
A couple of years ago, one day at my work I sent some documents to the printer. On earlier occations I had carelessly just taken from the printer's outbin, what I thought was my own printouts, but had gotten someone elses as well. So this time I checked extra carefully to make sure I only took my own printouts. One of my collegues saw it and yelled: "Are you reading those!" She thought, I was reading other peoples printouts, not realising that I was actually paying respect to other peoples.

There is no such thing as an action - it's all in your mind.

God bless you anyway!

- FreezBee

 

[FreezBee]

What you just said does not follow logic. The belief in heaven does not insist on a belief in hell.

In a dualist's mind it would - I think

- FreezBee

 

[hartlandcat]

There are 2 possibilites. Either hell does exist or it does not exist. Your belief that it does or does not exist does not affect the outcome. Either it does or it does not.

This only works if one has an 'either... or...' mentality, which many people/societies (myself included) do not. I could argue that hell 'sort of exists' — but not in a literal sense.

Is it your position that the Bible is wrong on this? Do you feel that the Bible has been changed? How is it that you come to the conclusion that there is no hell?

Again, this depends on whether one has a true=literal mindset, which I haven't.

Also, think about this. If there is no Hell, then Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and Hitler are going to the same place everyone is. In Heaven. Does this make sense?

Assuming that Heaven exists, there are other possibilities:

1. How about the idea that those people whom you mentioned simply die and cease to exist, whilst those whom God considers 'righteous' go to Heaven?

2. How about the idea that those people whom you mentioned go to Hell to be punished and 'cleansed' until they repent, and are then allowed to Heaven?

 

[Cassiopeia]

God gave us Free Will. And He loves us. He loves us so much that He respects our Free Will, even if it is to go against Him.

It would not be a real choice if, no matter what I did, the result was the same; whether it be only condemnation for all, or only saving grace for all. Then there's no choice to have been made. A real choice must have real options.

Imagine if you had a ballot paper with 100 people on it, but they all belonged to the one party, so if everyone voted for person 'x', or if everyone voted for person 'y', it didn't matter, because the same party won.

That then is only the appearence of choice. It might make you feel better to pick one or the other, but if there's no real choice its meaningless.

And I don't believe God would give us such a trick. That's what actually makes the gift so wonderful, that it's so totally real.

And so it will be at judgment time, some will still stand up against God and argue "I hate you: Why didn't you save the millions? Why'd you let bad people prosper" These defiant people choose to be apart from God. God still sends His love out to them, but they reject Him.

Montalban, all I want to know is how it makes you feel. Not what you believe. I know what you believe...how does that belief make you feel. Does it bring you a feeling of security or fear? Does it make you feel reassured that God is just?

 

[Cassiopeia]

To what end would one diliberately choose to believe in hell?

With the various religions represented on this forum, I would like to know what the different beliefs are. Is it called hell? Is it the same as Christianity's version of hell? What purpose does it serve to hold such beliefs?

Hey Guys, did you notice the OP?

1.) It is asking what purpose would it serve to believe in hell or to what end?
2.) What do the other religions believe in hell? Is it the same as Christianity's verions of hell?


Now let me add these questions to make it more clear what I am wanting to discuss.

Does believing in hell comfort you? Does it make you feel safer for your eternal salvation though a system of reward and punishment? Does the belief in hell frighten you into obedience? How does it make you FEEL to believe in hell?

 

[hartlandcat]

And if I may add another question...

If you believe in Hell, are you happy that Hell exists or do you wish that it didn't? Or do you have some other belief?

 

[iluvquotes]

do you beleive the bibe?

 

[Cassiopeia]

do you believe the bible

This is off the topic. Please stick to the discussion at hand and please edit your duplicate post.

 

[iluvquotes]

no...

 

[Montalban]

Would you settle for Sufferin' Succotash?

No... wait... with that, Warner's lawyers could sue...

Did you notice my avatar?

 

[Abbadon]

no...

Actually, since the question is "Why believe in Hell?" It is off topic, since it's not just Christians that believe in Hell.

Even then, Christians aren't called to believe in Hell, we're called to believe in Christ.

So, why believe in Hell?

 

[Montalban]

Montalban, all I want to know is how it makes you feel. Not what you believe. I know what you believe...how does that belief make you feel. Does it bring you a feeling of security or fear? Does it make you feel reassured that God is just?

I thought I'd conveyed that message...

That's what actually makes the gift so wonderful, that it's so totally real.

It makes me feel that God is just... that He loves us

 

[Montalban]

In a dualist's mind it would - I think

- FreezBee

Dualism is generally used to define peoples that believe in two gods that are opposed to each other; such as the Bogomils.

 

[Montalban]

Actually, since the question is "Why believe in Hell?" It is off topic, since it's not just Christians that believe in Hell.

Even then, Christians aren't called to believe in Hell, we're called to believe in Christ.

So, why believe in Hell?

Believing in Christ is to believe not just Christ existed, but to believe in everything He did and stood for.

Which is to believe in hell.