Hell

[nailit]

why do religious people think that non believers (of their own religion) are not only destined, but worthy, of hell? Can anyone tell me, what 'sin' can be justified by a punishment of eternal, never ending, unimaginable torment?
Its something I cant wrap my head around. People who think like this (to my mind at least) must be psychopaths.
At least Goodlife (as a JW) believes that hell is no more than the grave but others such as keyplus believe it to be literal, as do Catholics, protestants and others.
One small life, followed by ETERNAL torture for not believing in the 'right' religion? What kind of psychopathic God is this?
I really do not expect the religious folk on here to respond because there is no justification for such a barbaric belief.

[douglas9401]

Calm down dear, there are no red-faced pitchfork wielding demons waiting anywhere.
Hell is anywhere that psychotic religious adherents hold sway.

[Psybbo]

Nailit, I've given up religion. You just have to look at the atrocities carried out in the name of religion to despair of it

[DTCwordfan]

Hell to me would be naomi on a bender.......

[Mamyalynne]

I was brought up RC and have never wished Hell on anyone or been threatened with it myself.

[Psybbo]

Mamya, as was I and threatened often by nuns and aged priests

[nailit]

Psibbs, tell me more. I'm not a catholic but have heard some horror stories about people (catholics) been threatened with hellfire while still children.
(tell me in an email if its more comfortable) I find it barbaric and sick.

[SirOracle]

I will join your clique here Mamya,as I was never threatened with Hell.

[maggiebee]

Agree with mamya. I was brought up to believe in a loving God and was never threatened with hellfire.

[Mamyalynne]

The nearest I got to threats was that 'Father' would be dismayed if I didn't....behave in Mass, learn my Catechism etc.


If he was dismayed he simply smiled and told us to try to be better.

I feel so much for any child brought up with horror instilled in any religion.

I with many others was blessed.

[nailit]

mamya and maggie....So to get clear, niether of you were ever taught that there was a place called hell?

[Mamyalynne]

Hell was occasionally included in a reading but rarely expounded on and never threatened as a punishment.

[andy-hughes]

Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre nailed it - "Hell is other people ...".

Can't argue with that.

[nailit]

//Hell was occasionally included in a reading but rarely expounded on //
So you accept that such a place exists?

[nailit]

//Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre nailed it - "Hell is other people ...". //
I think we all know that quote by now...yawn

[Arksided]

I was brought up RC, there's a one way ticket and a seat booked for me.

[Mamyalynne]

I accepted it was written in the book called the Bible, but we were taught how to behave in the age and time we lived with Christians morals and care for people.

To me it seemed a mythical place as was the enchanted forest in a fairy story.

[SirOracle]

Nailit......Yes

[SirOracle]

Sorry cut myself off. Hell exists but nobody knows who (if anyone)has been sent there.

[nailit]

//Hell exists but nobody knows who (if anyone)has been sent there.//
No matter who (if anyone) has been sent there, try to justify it?
Finite sins punished by infinate torture?

[askyourgran]

Some reckon it is here on earth, and the middle east sounds just the place.