# No one is going to hell. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 2, 2000, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845 "2000-08-02T14:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/1 "2000-08-02T14:46:45Z")
For by Grace you are saved. Grace=love. We are supposedly God’s children. Would you send your child to hell? There are levels in heaven. I see it as sort of the boogyman story parents tell children. See you in heaven. I’ll be the one cleaning the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/2 "2000-08-02T14:51:54Z")
Um… No, it really doesn’t work that way. Hell (a.k.a. death) comes to those who do not do what is required of them to gain eternal life (see: Bible, The). I presume you are talking xtianity here? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/3 "2000-08-02T15:13:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*For by Grace you are saved. Grace=love. We are supposedly God’s children. Would you send your child to hell? There are levels in heaven. I see it as sort of the boogyman story parents tell children. > > See you in heaven. > > I’ll be the one cleaning the toilet. > \*\* Before you polish that scrub brush up… > [@](#): > > Ephesians 2:8 > For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; New American Standard, btw. Anyway. That’s the full verse. Paul is telling the Ephesians you cannot simply work your way into heaven. God sent his son for that reason. > [@](#): > > Strong’s Lexicon - GREEK > > Original cariV 5485 | New Search > \<\< carin 5484 | carisma 5486 \>\> > > Strong’s Number: 5485 > cariV Find this Word in the Greek Lexical Parser > Pronunciation: charis khar’-ece > > Total Occurrences: 156 > KJV Word Usage: grace (130) , favour (6) , thanks (4) , thank (4) , thank (3) + 2192 , pleasure (2) , misc (7) > > from 5463 ; TDNT-9:372,1298; n f > > Definition: > > 1. grace > 1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, > loveliness: grace of speech > 2. good will, loving-kindness, favour > 2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy > influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, > increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and > kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues > 3. what is due to grace > 3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of > divine grace > 3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit > 3b1) a gift of grace > 3b2) benefit, bounty > 4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward (Left in the other stuff for fun.) Don’t see love in there. Now, would I send my kid to hell? No. God judges us by our actions. If we are worthy of heaven, we get in. We get in by a combination of believing in God, asking Jesus to save us, believing in that, and trying to live by his guidelines. We are human, and we will fail from time to time, but we are expect to do our best. > [@](#): > > There are levels in heaven. This one is open to debate. Jesus did say (John 14:2) “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” Now, I’m not sure if he means “If you make it, you’ll have a place” or “we hand them out up there based on how well you did down there on earth.” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/4 "2000-08-02T15:19:40Z")
Rats! **Asmodeus** is One of the Good Guys, too! I was looking forward to a good argument between **Satan** and **Asmodeus** on who can go to Hell!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/5 "2000-08-02T16:10:34Z")
SZ…you seem to know your bible…just what are “Stars in your crown”? ``` quote: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; **and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;** ``` That it is my friend…a gift. You see God loves us all…but someone has to clean the grease pits. ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/6 "2000-08-02T17:28:07Z")
My church looks upon hell as a bleak godless joyless place, where you stay until you truly repent all your sins (assuming you go in the 1st place). There might or might not be “punishments”, but if so, they are there for those who are not only personally evil, but led others into evil, such as Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/7 "2000-08-02T17:29:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > **For by Grace you are saved.** Saint Zero is right – you are taking this out of context. (For by grace) you are saved by FAITH. Living a life of Faith means putting your trust in God for your needs (food, clothing, and a place to sleep), rather than having trust in The Beast via money or power. Now there is no reason in and of itself the God should decide to forgive our failings in the course of genuinely living a life of Faith – but he does, and this is grace. But, if you continue to rely on the Beast for your “salvation”, God’s grace does not extend to you. Sorry for the inconvenience! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/8 "2000-08-02T17:41:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*SZ…you seem to know your bible…just what are “Stars in your crown”? > > ``` > quote: > > Ephesians 2:8 > For by grace you have been saved through faith; **and that not of yourselves, it is the > gift of God;** > > ``` > > That it is my friend…a gift. > > You see God loves us all…but someone has to clean the grease pits. \*\* God’s grace will save you, but you have to accept him as lord and savior first. God loves us all, but he will judge us at judgement day. I _think_ I have the OP right… Hope I’m on track. It’s been a LONG time since debates at MC. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mrblue92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@mrblue92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrblue92)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/9 "2000-08-02T17:46:37Z")
Admittedly, Hell, Michigan is a small town, but to say that no one is going there is a little harsh, don’t you think? AFAIK, Paradise, Michigan isn’t all that great, either… ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/10 "2000-08-02T17:55:11Z")
Hell’s Kitchen is one of the finest diners in the Midwest, however. And you must admit that both Hell and Paradise are an improvement over Purgatoire, Wyoming. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/11 "2000-08-02T17:57:39Z")
I can’t find it in the two I have here. Can you recall anything else about it? ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/12 "2000-08-02T18:00:55Z")
SZ… Show me in that verse where it says I have to accept anything. Isn’t a gift given without strings? ---
**Author:** ![Ted](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ted)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/13 "2000-08-02T18:04:14Z")
A gift is freely given, true. But if you choose not to take that gift? Hell, in one sense, is an utter separation from God. The ultimate estrangement, and the worst kind of loneliness. God doesn’t send you there… you send yourself. Hell and Heaven aren’t necessarily places. They are states of the soul. You can be partly in heaven here on earth, just as you can be partly in hell. It is a rejection, or acceptance of grace, that determines this. Unless of course you’re a Calvinist. Then it’s all predetermined anyways. =] ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/14 "2000-08-02T18:09:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*SZ… > > Show me in that verse where it says I have to accept anything. Isn’t a gift given without strings? \*\* Do you accept the gift? ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/15 "2000-08-02T18:28:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Asmodeus \* > \*\*SZ… > > Show me in that verse where it says I have to accept anything. Isn’t a gift given without strings? \*\* But you have to have faith. And don’t think this means everyone who calls Jesus Lord will see the Kingdom. You must keep Jesus’s teachings and be perfect as God is perfect for this is God’s will. ---
**Author:** ![dal\_timgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/16 "2000-08-02T18:41:09Z")
i’ve already made my reservations in hell, thank you very much. paid cash, the devil doesn’t take plastic. LOL! Dal Timgar ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/17 "2000-08-02T18:50:53Z")
_I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints_ Billy Joel ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/18 "2000-08-02T18:55:01Z")
Jmull Where in that verse does it say I have to do anything at all but accept the gift? And the verse is not taken out of context. Anyone wanhna talk about snake handling? ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/19 "2000-08-02T21:15:54Z")
Er, for by grace you have been saved through faith. Keep in mind the author is writing to an audience which already had faith, which is to say keeping the teachings of Jesus. So you are not only taking it out of context by getting rid of “through faith” but doubly so as you are pretending you are who the author is writing about. _you’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you_ as the song goes. Vanity is the most deadly sin, Asmodeus. ---
**Author:** ![Asmodeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@Asmodeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asmodeus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2000, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845/20 "2000-08-02T21:38:52Z")
So just what does the “and not of yourselves” mean? I interpret it to mean I don’t control it. The Lord has faith in us. I have it whether I like it or not. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-one-is-going-to-hell/27845.md?page=2)