Doesn't seem to make much sense, does it? I find that about a lot of the things christians believe though. I've heard many excuses for this too - people choose to go to hell, god doesn't, free will enables this, everything happens for a reason and it is part of god's plan, etc, etc. To me it just sounds like an excuse so that god can continue to be looked at as an all loving being.
Yeah. Free will is their work around for this. I guess that this is just a test for us. Unfortunately it is a messed up test. It would be unreasonable to expect a number of people to stay true to the faith and not sin. If you weren't born in America or the Europe, then you probably wouldn't be Christian. Yet, a number of Christians feel that this is reason enough for one to go to Hell.
God doesn't know who will go to Hell when He created them. There are certain things that influence a human, like sins, greed and the like, which leads to him going to Hell.
But they said Hell doesn't really exists. The last place where the sould would go is definitely Heaven. Those souls who haven't got into Heaven stayed on the purgatory where they wait and feel sorry for their sins. So they said that what we call Hell is the endless wait on the purgatory.
There isn't a thing such as hell. Actually, this is hell. There is life after life, you die and born again. Stuff like "hell" and "one and only" life are just crap invented to keep people controlled. Imagine in the ancient times, if someone knew that he could pay his mistakes in another life, would they have been such a nice people?. Every religion preachs that there is another life, Christians were the first ones to change that, to keep people controlled. Then jews added this philosophy to get in the western market.
But every religion, on it's roots, talks about another life. When you are a high spirit, you can either stay in another place to help lost souls on their journey or join god and become a part of him.
But every religion, on it's roots, talks about another life. When you are a high spirit, you can either stay in another place to help lost souls on their journey or join god and become a part of him.
I thought god was omniscient? If that's the case then he should know who is going to do what.
One of the biggest jokes about religion is that all of them have different ideas of what happens after. Every religion claims they are the one true religion and that their book is the right one. Even people within the same religion can't seem to get it straight as to what their religious beliefs are. Yet, while all this is going on, no one ever stops to think, maybe we're all wrong.
The whole "free will" thing is just a work around for God not being able to stop things. He's not really a god if he's not omniscient, which means (by definition) knowing everything.
Why can't he be like Odin. He just believed that fate shouldn't be interrupted. Much cooler God in my opinion.
Why can't he be like Odin. He just believed that fate shouldn't be interrupted. Much cooler God in my opinion.
Oh there are plenty far cooler gods out there. Take Ra, an Egyptian god for example. Did you know, that mankind was actually made from his tears? I don't know about you, but being made from a god's tears is certainly better than being made from dirt in my opinion.
What i find funny about the concept of "hell" is that, actually, we would all want to be there.
If hookers go to hell, metal musicans go to hell, alcohol makers go to hell, drug dealers go to hell, gambling people goes to hell, people that loves to have sex before getting married goes to hell....i'd love to go to hell!!!
If hookers go to hell, metal musicans go to hell, alcohol makers go to hell, drug dealers go to hell, gambling people goes to hell, people that loves to have sex before getting married goes to hell....i'd love to go to hell!!!
Especially when you really think about what heaven is described as. Basically you would just stick around in a chair and be content. It seems kinda boring (goes with the whole...you have to know suffering to experience joy idea).
It also reminds me of a good quote from some scientist. It went something like: There can't be a hottest part of hell, as this would mean that there was a temperature difference. If that was true, then some physicist would have designed an energy facility and used it to vastly improve the quality of life in Hell.
It also reminds me of a good quote from some scientist. It went something like: There can't be a hottest part of hell, as this would mean that there was a temperature difference. If that was true, then some physicist would have designed an energy facility and used it to vastly improve the quality of life in Hell.
There is no evidence that Heaven or Hell exist. I believe these concepts came forth to keep people hooked to the moral codes early religious leaders came up with. If there is no punishment to your actions, then why obey the rules? I'm not taking a stab at religion. All religion, in theory, always tries to push the concept of being kind to others and live in peace. Sadly these practices are rarely followed. I do believe that there is a God, but some of these ideas that go along with religion are out date bronze era thinking. The Egyptian had a heaven and hell before the hebrews did. When the Hebrews left Egypt suddenly these concepts are in their thoughts. You see what I mean? Cultures and the times influence every form of writing. And if you know what to look for, you can literally tell what time period the writer was in just by how they write. Think about it this way. Judaism was influenced by Egyptians and a vast collection of Arabic cultures. Christianity came from Judaism. Islam came from both Judaism and Christianity. Its all a cycle. I say, don't worry about the little stuff. Times change and we know much more about the world now than they did. But take with you the truths from these books as well. The universal stuff as the messages of peace and the morality tales. Who cares about Angels? Care about your fellow man.
Anyway, that's what I think.
Anyway, that's what I think.
Incorrect. Biblegod, as described, knows everything, which would include by simple logic who is and is not going to go to hell.
"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.... Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." Psalms 139:1-4
?God is greater than our heart, and knows all things? John 3:20
Not only does He know the past and the present, but the future as well (Acts 15:18; cf. Isaiah 46:10)
Simply, you cannot say that someone has complete free will, and yet that God knows the choices they will make. This is the unfortunate conflict of determinism and omniscience.
The classic counter-example is, I put a bowl of icecream and a bowl of rocks on the table before you. I know which one you're going to choose, but it's still your choice. This is invalid, because entering that situation, there is only one possible outcome, which you/God knows. The fact that, theoretically, they could have chosen the other is meaningless when faced with the fact that they HAD to choose the one, based on precognition.
So, yes. God knows who's not going to get into Heaven. That kind of sucks.
When you get to Revelations perhaps. There are some nice stories in the Bible and I do like Psalms and Proverbs. I have not read those for a while though.
Oh come on. The whole thing's pure fiction.
If it isn't, then "God", as a historical figure, would surpass even Hitler and Stalin combined in matters of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The Bible is definitely not a text book, that is for sure, nor scientific. It consists of loose chapters that have originated word by mouth, and translated a million times. Some parts have been deleted. Etc. Etc. There is a little bit of history in there in some of the chapters, which would make it more than fiction, and quite a bit of philosophy about life, and ethical codes for living, as well as messages of faith, love and hope. I tried to read it through once, and worked my way through some of the really boring chapters, but have never been able to figure out revelations. Sort of really dark.
Haha, it's true, but remember Dirk, he loved all those people he killed. I'm not sure how Christians look past this part of the bible? Maybe they just choose to pretend it doesn't exist? Although I have met quite a few people that have tried to justify god's "actions" - I don't think they understand how it contradicts their beliefs that god is all-loving and merciful.
Surely you don't believe God killed people, people are killing people. They get upset for some or other silly reason, or get coerced for the same silly reason, or fear, take a decision, take up arms, and kill people.
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