HELL

[nailit]

I'd be very interested to hear from anyone on here who believes in Hell. (christian, muslim or otherwise).
How do you justify eternal torment?
how can you be 'happy' in heaven/paradise knowing that people (possibly loved ones) are being tortured by your God?
How do you justify eternal (never ending) punishment for finite sins?
Am I alone in thinking that even the idea of eternal suffering is sick?

[funnygirl]

Hell is where we are right now!

[dr b]

Hell is other people.

[mibn2cweus]

I've never understood how someone who believes in Hell could not believe they belong there?

[nailit]

lol mibn, my own thoughts exactly. Ive known some very unsaviory 'religious' types but it never crosses their mind that they themselves might be hellbound. Its always the other guy (the one that doesnt agree with their particular brand of fairytale)

[naomi24]

No, you are not alone in thinking that even the idea of eternal suffering is sick. And worse still, to believe that this is a punishment designed by a loving god is even more sick.

[Zacs-Master]

the idea of eternal suffering is sick

An idea can only exist in the mind. One can choose whether to believe this or not.

[naomi24]

No surprise you haven't got an answer from anyone who believes in hell, Nailit. I suspect they know the concept is unjustifiable.

[emmie]

I do, it's people mostly.

[keyplus90]

First of all eternal is not as eternal as it sounds. Few people will only be there for a very limited period of time, few would be there “forever” and that forever would still have some sort of limit just as we say “they live happily ever after”. Does that mean forever? No, the limit for that ever after was the life of that person.

Now to the second part of your question. First of all people you are calling loved ones were never known to you before you “became” loved ones in this world. Obviously you would like your loved ones to be with you (in the heaven in this regard) and that is the reason I say to people I know that convince me into what you believe in if you believe that is truth or be convinced in what I believe in. And that is the minimum someone can do to save your loved ones or be saved from the eternal or not eternal torture you are talking about. Unfortunately few people say that keep your faith to yourself, that I do not agree with and that is a long story why. However what would you do if your loved one does not abide by the laws where you are living? Would you like them to be excused? If so then what about the ones who did abide by the law? What would be the difference between two? I will give you another example. Suppose you are studying for exams and there is one more student “class fellow” with you. You are working so hard, have stopped yourself from going out, holidays, drinking, playing only because you want to succeed in the exams while the other student did exactly opposite. He/she did not prepare at all but spent all of the time holidaying, going out etc. Now comes the exam and all of a sudden your examiner says that there are no exams and both of you pass the exams. I am sure the other student would be laughing but you really think about it and tell me how you would feel. Wouldn’t you feel that if that had to happen then you might have enjoyed and never had wasted time on preparing for exams? Do you expect a teacher or examiner to be unfair like that? If not then why do you believe that God should be?

Finally if you do not believe in Hell then you have nothing to worry about as for you it does not exist. Or are you not sure?

[vetuste_ennemi]

The false syllogism lesson failed.

[naomi24]

It did indeed. :o)

[bigbadmarty]

keyplus -"eternal is not as eternal as it sounds"
how much time do spend disecting and analysing this drivel ?
goodbye

[naomi24]

Hello Marty. Nice to see you back again. Oops ... he's gone. :0/

[bigbadmarty]

:)

[Kiki-frog]

I reckon that when we die we get the chance to assess our lives and realise the consequence of our actions and take responsibility for them. No blaming other people or the devil or whatever - just personal responsibility. That is hell or heaven. It's up to you.

I do think the idea of eternal torment is a bit sick, and some of the medieval images of hell border on torture porn as far as I'm concerned. But then I don't believe in the Christian God really anyway.

[goodlife]

If you carefully study the Bible, you will find some surprising facts. For example, the Bible pointedly says that at death Jesus went to “hell,” as rendered in some Bible versions. (Acts 2:31, King James Version; “Hades,” New World Translation) God’s Word also proves that neither King David nor John the Baptist went to heaven at death. (Matthew 11:11; Acts 2:29) Those are facts, not mere opinions from a religious survey.
Other facts that may affect you: The Bible teaches that Jesus’ apostles and a limited number of others will be taken to heaven to rule with Jesus. However, the majority of people who have died simply went to Hell, mankind’s common grave. God will resurrect them, bringing them to life on earth with the prospect of a full, happy, unending life in a restored earthly paradise.
Jehovah’s Witnesses would be pleased to help you establish from your own Bible the reliable basis for that hope.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, may we just establish once and for all that nothing – absolutely nothing - contained within any religious book relating to heaven or hell is ‘fact’ as you people have a habit of claiming. Facts require evidence - and none of you have one iota. God! Where are the Trades Descriptions people when you want them?!