Actually, if I was sure there’s a Heaven and a Hell, I would want to go to heaven , even if god was the worst jerk ever. I would certainly be willing to lick the boots of the tyrant to avoid being tortured forever. Of course, I wouldn’t be allowed in, since god being omniscient and all, he would know that I actually hates him.
It would be better, but if we still assume that the same god ordered people to slaughter other people women and children alike, as stated in the bible, there’s still a serious problem with him.
If I was actually sure there’s a benevolent god, I would certainly assume that the bible is unreliable, and that his writers lied, stating that god ordered this or that repulsive action, while actually he never ordered such a thing, and they just wanted to find a convenient reason to justify their evil deeds (but of course, as soon as you cast a doubt on the veracity of some part of the bible, you have to consider that the rest could be as unreliable…including the fact that god exists)
Nope. I don’t believe in god because i’ve no reason to, there’s no evidence that he could exist, etc…Even if you’re presenting me a much more appealing version of god, I still have no reason to believe he exists.
I would have however more respect for the people who would hold this belief than for people who believe in a vengeful god who torture some people forever while ordering other people to commit genocides. It seems to me it requires a somewhat splinted mind to believe that a god is responsible for such evil deeds and at the same time “all-loving”.
I think hell is hell because you are separated from God 4ever.
After you die in your sins, IMHO, you realize He would’ve given you a paradise forever.
You are left out of this great love-fest. 4ever.
That would be hell, in my book.
I’m not sure about everlasting fire.
(And how could fire last forever? Wouldn’t it burn itself out?)
Vanilla, you’re much closer to the truth than most people. The Biblical hell isn’t anything like Hollywood would like us to think it is. In the Bible there are two different descriptions of hell - which really confuses me.
One description is as you alluded to: nothingness. It’s basically as if we’re all lightbulbs and our power is cut - we’re completely isolated from everyone and everything that’s good, including god.
The other descriptions include fire and brimstone raining down (much like what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah). In the story of Lazarus, hell is torment (not nothingness) with “gnashing of teeth” and all that.
So does anyone know which it is? Or is it safe to assume that god can’t make up his mind?
Sometimes I just think everyone has got it wrong. The fundamentalist religious people, the moderate religious people, the atheists, everyone.
Many, if not all, of the religions seem to have glaring inaccuracies, but when you think about how relatively limited our knowledge is about our own world it seems silly to assume there is nothing just because it doesn’t fit in with our current understanding. It seems to me the odds are we’re all wrong and it’s something else entirely.
Not that I know what there really is, but hey, we’re all gonna find out eventually.
I think I’ve stopped making sense now so I’ll finish before I offend anyone further. Let’s just say in the next survey I have to fill out that asks my religious beliefs, I will bypass the Christian, Muslim, atheist, and all other specific belief boxes and tick “Other”.
Vanilla, it specifically says that the rich man in the story of Lazarus is going to be in the second hell I described (with the “gnashing of teeth”). Therefore, it can’t be only for the devil and his demons if you believe every word of the Bible.
Racer1, I think you DID just figure it out. I came to that exact same conclusion about 9 months ago - why do you think I’m agnostic? I used to say that no Christian sect had it right… now I know NO ONE has it right!
Dreamer, I should have posted this earlier, but I was very impressed whn you admitted that 1 percent of uncertainty. Even though you have a strong faith in God, it’s important to recognize that faith is hope, not absolute knowledge. After all, if you already had the Beatific Vision in this life, what would be the point of Heaven?
My opinion of Hell is close to yours mandielise, nothingness and separation from God. When I think of why the “gnashing of teeth” term was used, maybe it is to mean that once you’ve made the decision against God and then are separated from him forever after death, you realize the choice you made is why you are not in Heaven and then not only will you be pulling your hair out over the mistake you’ve made, but also gnashing your teeth.
I honestly don’t believe that the Lake of Fire is meant for anyone but Satan and his demons. IMO. gobear, you’ve obviously made some comments I didn’t appreciate, but I have no hard feelings against you and I want you to know that.
Just to clarify, none of these ideas were in any way MY ideas of hell. I don’t believe such a place exists - though I also don’t rule out the possibility.
Good point, DaLovin’ Dj, I guess that part should really have said something like, “Not that I know what there really is, but hey, if we’re supposed to find out we will eventually, and if we’re not, there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it!”
I guess there is some kind of comfort in all belief corners. People who believe in a God or Gods perhaps take comfort from the idea there is a life after death, and life is not as cruel and pointless as it can appear. Some atheists, it could also be claimed, take some comfort in a logical, understandable world where we are the sole masters of our own destiny.
I figure I will stick to my own “fairly normal” views of what is moral, try not to piss off any watching deity(ies), and take a little comfort from both corners.
Why do you presume that I’ve never had the experience of being with God? I used to be a Christian. Now that I’m not anymore, I’m much more open-minded, tolerant, and generally happier than I was when I was a Christian.
