Am I going to hell?

[DrFidelius]

I fully expect to go to Hell myself, for personal failings. I have no doubt I deserve it for how I have treated others in the past, and I am far too stubborn and proud to beg forgiveness for things I did deliberately and with forethought.

My participation and current support of my country’s servicemen and women is so far down the list of possible violations that it is irrelevant to my case.

(Read “Jurgen, A comedy of Justice” by James Branch Cabell, free edition available here: JURGEN )

[Grrr]

@Guinastasia

If you have to ask, the answer will always be yes.

Will you go out with me?

(Kidding :D)

[Don_t_Panic]

Hell is other people. You’re in Hell right now. Then the soul transmigrates. When this life is finished, you’ll be dumped right back into Hell.

[Ludovic]

@Siam_Sam

My philosophy of life can pretty much be summarized as: “Fuck it.”

You always find a way to mention Thailand in your posts

[Shodan]

@Nava

Taking the question seriously, there is an episode where some soldiers go to see Jesus and ask him “what should we do?”
He answers, “do not abuse your power”.

He doesn’t refuse to talk to them, or tell them to leave their jobs.

Sort of a nitpick, but it was John the Baptist, not Jesus. Luke 3:12.

Although in Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus Himself heals a centurion’s servant, saying

Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.

And you are correct - Jesus says nothing to suggest that the centurion should become a pacifist or anything like that.

Regards,
Shodan

[kayaker]

@glee

God slaughtered an entire generation of innocent Egyptian children.

Innocent? I thought that by definition they are sinners, and destined to hell if their sins were not confessed. Hell is for children, after all.

[skdo23]

@RivkahChaya

I was in the National Guard. I never killed anyone. Some people in my unit had been in the Gulf War, but none of them killed anyone directly. Some of us in the Guard saved civilian lives, though.

One guy was at the scene of an auto accident, and offered first aid for shock and bleeding that may have saved lives, and probably saved a limb. His first aid training was from his military basic training. Another woman I know knew how to administer someone’s epi-pen when he had an allergic reaction, because we are trained to do this in gas attacks in basic as well.

My squad sergeant was never called up for overseas duty, but he was once called up to take a 200kW power generator (my squad was power generator operator/mechanic) up to a hospital during an ice storm when a whole region lost power. He kept the hospital powered for two days, sleeping four hours at a time, getting up to refuel and perform checks. He didn’t get a medal or ribbon or anything for it, but I think it was more heroic than a lot of things that get called “heroic” these days.

The Guard gets called out to sandbag during floods, and to assist the Red Cross during disasters, or the police during disasters and things like riots (I’m kind of surprised no one talked about them being called out for 9/11). And if there is ever something the Guard doesn’t have enough personnel to handle, reserve units could conceivably be called up for domestic situations. If there is ever an attack on the US, the regular Army would be there.

That was freaking awesome RC. Thanks!

[Chefguy]

I was in the military for 23 years. I was an electrician. The only thing I ever killed were circuits; and rooms full of people with my rapier wit.

[Just_Asking_Questions]

@Sage_Rat

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?u=1886

Last post: 3-30-2000

God may or may not be dead, but His account sure is.

[kayaker]

@Just_Asking_Questions

Last post: 3-30-2000

God may or may not be dead, but His account sure is.

Not only that, but;

GOD has not made any friends yet

[Siam_Sam]

@Bayard

Anyway, I’ve never really understood what it meant to “support the troops”. Does it just mean you root for them like your local sports team? Paint your face and chant when the bombs start falling? Do you send them care packages so they feel a bit better about getting their arms and legs blown off for a pack of lies in Iraq? Do you try to help them get health care and jobs when they bring what remains of their bodies back home? Do you vote for candidates who aren’t hell-bent on playing a real life game of Risk? What form does your “support” take?

In solidarity with them, I offer chocolate bars and nylons to nubile young ladies.

[ivylass]

@jasnooks

I feel that because I’m a supporter of MY country and these kids that are trained to kill, that I’ll eventually end up in some sort of hell

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.

[yanceylebeef]

Yes. You are. Mostly because you touch yourself at night.
And that thing you did two summers ago.

[Chihuahua]

A few points, some of which have already been touched on:

1. Setting aside broad ideological or moral questions, there are still many practical reasons to be critical of the military and the government’s decisions over when to use force. And I say this as an active duty member of said military.

2. How do you feel about police officers? Or the doctrine of just war theory? Are there any circumstances under which the use of violence is necessary and justifiable? Do you believe that today’s wars can be resolved without no military force, no matter how judicious?

3. In the earliest version of the Decalogue, the prohibition on killing uses a Hebrew verb that specifically refers to a slaying which would demand vengeance. That is to say, it refers to an unjustified murder, or one that “kills out of enmity, deceit, or hatred.” (Exodus: A Commentary, Childs, 1974). It does not refer to justifiable killings as in war or law enforcement. The Israelites themselves received the commandment from God and then immediately set about making war on the Midianites, Amorites, and Canaanites.

4. Even Jesus told his homies to buy swords.

[gigi]

@WordMan

Who are you and why should we care?

Serious question. You can believe whatever you want. Why should anyone care if you do, or do not, support the U.S. Military? Or any military for that matter? And what does religion have to with supporting the military?

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.

[astro]

Yes you are going to burn in endless torment. Bullet ants will sting your nipples and naked mole-ratswill chew on your testicles while Steve Reich’s “It’s Gonna Rain” plays in the background forever and ever.

[Baker]

@jasnooks

First post here. I’m just wondering how people (mainly Christians) feel about my full support of the US Military?

How you feel about the military doesn’t have a bearing on whether or not you will end up in Hell. It’s faith in God, or the lack thereof, that point you to the ultimate destination.

[BrassyPhrase]

@Chefguy

I was in the military for 23 years. I was an electrician. The only thing I ever killed were circuits; and rooms full of people with my rapier wit.

You made me cackle! Very funny!

[Count_Blucher]

@WordMan

Who are you and why should we care?

Serious question. You can believe whatever you want. Why should anyone care if you do, or do not, support the U.S. Military? Or any military for that matter? And what does religion have to with supporting the military?

Exactly. OPs beliefs are his own.

Or was he saying that he wants a pulpit/soap-box to preach from?

OP, Where you go when you’re dead is on you; the rest of us just have to clean up afterward with Lysol & Bleach and figure out how you wanted your meat composted.

My only concern is if this is your ‘one trick’, pony… and if it’ll be every third sentence out of your mouth. I’ll be the first to admit that “Our Military is Good, Our Military is God, Yaay God, Let’s Kill”
gets a little old and hackneyed after a while.
Its made me, more than once, change a radio station with a “STFU you big-mouthed College Radio Station Asshole” response.

Personally, IMHO, Any military that believes they will win forever by ‘divine right’ is deluded and any person who’d try to spout that out to whip them up is [del]a Jerk[/del] Wrong.
Persians? Wrong.
Romans? Wrong.
Moors? Wrong.
Spanish? Wrong.
French? Wrong.
Germans? Wrong.
Japanese? Wrong.
Russians? Wrong.
USA?

Well, as long as some deluded mike-jockey doesn’t start spluttering out the “Under God” Divine Right crappola all over the people stuck in traffic & deluded enough to believe him… maybe we’ll Never Have To Know.

[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.