# Am I going to hell?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 23, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432 "2016-05-23T02:05:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/61 "2016-05-24T19:32:43Z")
> [@drewder](#):
>
> As a Christian I’ve served in the military and I can understand the OPs question perfectly. I’ve myself questioned if being a warrior is incompatible with the religion which teaches us to turn the other cheek and to do good to all men. I wouldn’t presume to judge if anyone is going to hell for any reason but I believe that serving in the military and going to war can be justified in the case of defense. Defense of a person’s right to life, liberty, their right to choose their religion and express their opinions without fear, and their right to live in peace.
Do you think that recent wars have met these criteria, meaning is it justified for a Christian to sign up now knowing the kinds of wars that are fought?
---
### Author:  [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/62 "2016-05-24T19:46:32Z")
We don’t know the context, OP.
Did you have an argument with somebody? Was it religious in nature? Those never go well.
Are you feeling guilty about something? Is there more to this than your support for the military?
Did you learn about hell at church or Sunday school and think you’re already damned? The people who told you that are hoping to scare you straight, and they’re too lazy to have a positive guiding influence in your life. It’s like mothers who say “If you don’t go to bed, the boogie man will get you.” They’re acting out of sheer laziness and ignorance and don’t consider that their words have consequences. They want to make you a scared little child so they can have power over you. Don’t let them.
---
### Author:  [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/63 "2016-05-24T20:16:31Z")
> [@elfkin477](#):
>
> I’m a Universalist. There is a hell, _but_ people don’t go there. It’s only a prison for Satan.
Wow, what did Satan do that was so bad?
---
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/64 "2016-05-24T20:43:01Z")
> [@Lemur866](#):
>
> Wow, what did Satan do that was so bad?
He asked questions. Too.
---
### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [May 24, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/65 "2016-05-24T20:56:53Z")
I’m here and I don’t see you so you must not be/have gone/will go to hell.
---
### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/66 "2016-05-25T04:28:36Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> My philosophy of life can pretty much be summarized as: “Fuck it.” I find it works in just about every situation and sets my mind at ease. Try it.
I don’t know about you, OP, but I just found my denomination.
---
### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/67 "2016-05-25T12:53:45Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> A Christian may believe that only wars in true self-defense of the country are just, and supporting other state-sanctioned killing is immoral.
>
> Personally, I’m always flummoxed when Catholics are proud that their children joined the military. I don’t know how they justify it.
Why Catholics in particular?
---
### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/68 "2016-05-25T12:56:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#):
>
> Sort of a nitpick, but it was John the Baptist, not Jesus. [Luke 3:12.](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+3&version=RSV)
Eh, what can I say, tall\*, skinny, bearded guy, needs a haircut, family resemblance…
- At my size most guys count as tall.
---
### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/69 "2016-05-25T14:29:38Z")
> [@Nava](#):
>
> Why Catholics in particular?
My fellow Catholics I should say – I would feel the same about other Christians.
---
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/70 "2016-05-26T11:45:08Z")
I never correlate religion with military. Some of the most violent people I’ve known have been Buddhists. And weren’t those Zen Buddhists who bombed Pearl Harbor?
---
### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/71 "2016-05-26T12:23:33Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> My fellow Catholics I should say – I would feel the same about other Christians.
Shrug. For my distant cousin’s parents, it was part and parcel of “we’re American now”. For my own ancestors, there were times when it was their born job to defend the people who lived around their own house, others it was one of the two jobs to which they had access, and yet others it was to defend their right to be Catholic. For many immigrants to those countries which accept immigrant soldiers, it’s a quick way in which also involves many after-the-army benefits (simply having training that’s recognized by local companies is a huge bonus when compared with trying to convince them that the diploma you got back home is any good). For others, access to training they wouldn’t in a million years get as civilians, or a period to make up their mind about what they want to do when they grow up.
Are you also surprised when people steal? I have a lot more problems with that; becoming a soldier does not necessarily mean you’ll kill anybody, after all - it increases the probability but not to certainty.
---
### Author:  [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/72 "2016-05-26T16:00:29Z")
Yeah, that’s the tradeoff – to get those benefits you have to be willing to kill people, in wars that are no longer about self-defense. You can say those are the reasons people join the military but ultimately they are supporting a machine that kills people; I believe there’s a moral responsibility in that.
---
### Author:  [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/73 "2016-05-26T16:21:36Z")
> [@gigi](#):
>
> ultimately they are supporting a machine that kills people
And this is… bad?
Because, you know, I’m real concerned about all those ISIS and Taliban guys.
---
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2016, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/74 "2016-05-27T01:54:48Z")
> [@Chihuahua](#):
>
> And this is… bad?
>
> Because, you know, I’m real concerned about all those ISIS and Taliban guys.
Bad Christian. _Baaaddd_ Christian. Don’t you know you’re just supposed to turn the other cheek?
---
### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2016, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/75 "2016-05-28T05:47:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> Some of the most violent people I’ve known have been Buddhists. And weren’t those Zen Buddhists who bombed Pearl Harbor?
Shinto, I believe. Not that I’m disagreeing with you about Buddhists sometimes being violent.
---
### Author:  [@Commodore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commodore)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2016, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/76 "2016-05-28T06:40:47Z")
> [@jasnooks](#):
>
> First post here. I’m just wondering how people (mainly Christians) feel about my full support of the US Military?
Full support ? so it’s regardless of what ever is it.
Well if it’s such as that yes one would be on the path that leads to hell.
As a Christian one is a soldier for Christ Jesus firstly and foremost, worldly things come secondly, or one is then only following the works of Satan.
If Hitler said X that was it end of story, because it was a Socialist State and in such a type of socialist Nation State, such a man is above God every time.
Hitler’s word was god to all who were under his Political Correct doctrine.
---
### Author:  [@Commodore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commodore)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2016, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432/77 "2016-05-28T06:59:25Z")
> [@ivylass](#):
>
> My daughter is in the Army, and while she may be trained to kill, she is going to be a medic, and cannot carry a weapon.
>
> Sometimes wars have to be fought.
Sadly after they are fought and won they loose the battle, like WW2 we won the war but are or have lost the battle.
Hitler team socialist is winning the battle and all people who push Political Correctness are the very same bunch of twats that run about pushing people around trying to reject freedom of speech, for there short sighted and narrow minded gibberish.
Just remember the fact is that old mate Hitler was looked up to as a great man by all nations he won man of the year and all.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-going-to-hell/755432.md?page=3)