Hell is an Unattended Stove

[shernajwine]

I may be a little defensive and I apologize. If I misread your intentions I also apologize.

I don't agree there is mental abuse in most Christian institutions. I believe there are imperfect people who have a misguided notion on how to witness. They may have good intentions with their fiery hell message but they are still going to be held accountable for damage they do when they preach that kind of message. I don't believe MOST churches are as preoccupied with hell as they used to be. I believe that most Christians understand the message of God's love as being important but, being imperfect they fail to be loving towards people at times, and in frustration in trying to witness to someone they may resort to the old, you're going to hell routine. And honestly, as many Christians are in this forum I have only seen one person go on and on about people going to hell....and this one person said she isn't a Christian.

[walksalone11]

I may be a little defensive and I apologize. If I misread your intentions I also apologize.

I don't agree there is mental abuse in most Christian institutions. I believe there are imperfect people who have a misguided notion on how to witness. They may have good intentions with their fiery hell message but they are still going to be held accountable for damage they do when they preach that kind of message. I don't believe MOST churches are as preoccupied with hell as they used to be. I believe that most Christians understand the message of God's love as being important but, being imperfect they fail to be loving towards people at times, and in frustration in trying to witness to someone they may resort to the old, you're going to hell routine. And honestly, as many Christians are in this forum I have only seen one person go on and on about people going to hell....and this one person said she isn't a Christian.

AWWW, you don't have to apologize to me. Not that anyone would notice but I get a bit passionate at times myself. ;0)

I appreciate your replies very much.

[jordandog]

I believe in God with all thine heart... 

Hmm, the word "thine" means "your", so whose heart are YOU using? It's best to use things correctly and in context or not at all.

[queenofnines]

I feel only His unconditional and all enveloping love for me, through the passionate act of Christ on the cross.

Do y'all ever realize the #1 symbol of Christianity is an ancient torture device?  Or that plenty of people suffered way worse and for longer than Jesus in the name of Christianity via other torture methods?  That it wasn't really a "sacrifice", because Jesus knew he would go back to being god in a mere 3 days?  Or that y'all are continually violating the second commandment by putting those ancient torture symbols everywhere?

but that fear was coming from a lie they believed by the devil.

The devil, god, yourself...geez, with at least 3 people "speaking" to you at all times, how do you distinguish??  Spoiler: they're all you.

Hell is real, and people will go there, that's a fact

A fact, you say?  Please stop misusing the word '"fact".  Hell is no more of a fact than god is -- it's a belief. 

One of the top things against your god is that he is not a fact; we're just supposed to "believe" in him.  Which I always found odd...  If there really was a god, it would be fact like any other known in the world.  God would speak audibly to the whole world daily; a person could still choose not to follow him, but there wouldn't be a question in regards to evidence of him actually existing.

Why isn't this the case?  Because it's a lot more fun for god to create a world that's just a test and that scientifically and logically looks like he's not there, then watch his puppets scramble to convince the other ants that there is a god, despite an overwhelming case against him.  We've just got to have "faith", yo!

...Or, there simply is no god.

[queenofnines]

To the original poster - have you studied Calvinism?  Its origins and its originators?  And what makes you think the Calvinists are correct?

1) I did not write what you read; its source is clearly listed if you want to ask the actual author
2) This article has nothing to do with Calvinism; it is what the hell concept says if you actually think about it

The theories are an excuse to convince themselves there is no God.

Incorrect cliche # 989,675,437...can we atheists speak for ourselves, please?  I have no purpose in trying to convince myself there's no god.  The way of the world does a fine job of that on its own; I am convinced by consequence, not of my own volition.

If you get down to studying the Bible, you will find it is really simple and you don't have to believe outrageous theories.

Heh...if it is really that simple, then why are there hundreds of different translations?  And a talking, walking snake; cursed fruit, virgin birth, giant man-swallowing fish, talking donkey, unicorns, homicidal flood, walking on water, etc. sound pretty outrageous to me!

P.S.  If you want to keep the highest number of followers intact, I would suggest that you DON'T encourage people to read their Bibles.  It's one of the things that made me (and many others) a godless heathen.

[queenofnines]

Agnosticism, on the other hand, states that the lack of knowledge cannot inform the belief at all.

"At all"??  I think this is an outdated stereotype.  Most agnostics are atheists too, at least when it comes to defined gods.

[jcribb16]

Agnosticism, on the other hand, states that the lack of knowledge cannot inform the belief at all.

"At all"??  I think this is an outdated stereotype.  Most agnostics are atheists too, at least when it comes to defined gods.

You are misunderstanding what I am saying.  Babies know no gods, no knowledge of anything spiritual/non-spiritual, other than their needs. So because of that, they can make no choice of belief or disbelief.  I didn't mean that agnostics were or were not atheists, either, merely showing a slight difference between the two as related to babies (as in that particular post about babies.)

[ButterflyWings]

Okay I am risking sounding like a tart But oh well this really needs to come out of my head..

Babies are created by god as some religious people believe or they are gods children...So why would a baby have no knowledge of god and wait for man or woman to bring it to light??Sounds fishy to me..God depends on the parents to introduce him he risks the possibility of losing his creation.. They are born innocent yet this all knowing entity throws them to the wolves to possibly  be saved and follow him or do the wrong and end up in so called Hell?? I  really can't say this seems right from all powerful being..If there is a god then no children would ever suffer because they are innocent why create to destroy or harm..Or are we a sick game to this so called god people speak off??

[ButterflyWings]

Okay I am risking sounding like a tart But oh well this really needs to come out of my head..

Babies are created by god as some religious people believe or they are gods children...So why would a baby have no knowledge of god and wait for man or woman to bring it to light??Sounds fishy to me..God depends on the parents to introduce him he risks the possibility of losing his creation.. They are born innocent yet this all knowing entity throws them to the wolves to possibly  be saved and follow him or do the wrong and end up in so called Hell?? I  really can't say this seems right from all powerful being..If there is a god then no children would ever suffer because they are innocent why create to destroy or harm..Or are we a sick game to this so called god people speak off??

god doesn't create babies...he gives them souls.

K then why risk a babies soul?? seems like a sick twisted thing to do don't ya think?? Why give sick people babies??Why have babies born only to suffer?? Seems pretty sick and twisted..

[ButterflyWings]

My own actions??  What gives you the right to assume I am a bad parent?? so you are saying god just lets babies suffer cause its the parents fault??Then why let the damned and evil so called parents have babies?? Hmmm and please do not ever question me as a parent..That is rude and just mean..I would never!

[ButterflyWings]

My own actions??  What gives you the right to assume I am a bad parent?? so you are saying god just lets babies suffer cause its the parents fault??Then why let the damned and evil so called parents have babies?? Hmmm and please do not ever question me as a parent..That is rude and just mean..I would never!

Huh? Girl...I wasn't talking about you as a parent...I was talking about taking responsibility for your own actions as in people in general...everyone knows or should know all the risks involved with having children...why blame God?

When you have a child, it is like playing with fire, you just never know what the baby will come out to be or look like or what problems they will have. It is such a risk, I swear that is why some people don't want children.

Then you don't say take responsibility for my actions that points at me and how I raise my kids..Risk in having children because two parents want to raise a beautiful family they take a risk ..God created us from what religion says we are his children we are suppose to praise him and follow his word..Then why put this kind of risk as you say into play just to watch from his pedestal and laugh at the poor babies suffering..That seems unfair that a good loving parent as to suffer cause they risked wanting to love their creation..

[ButterflyWings]

Childish let someone who has a real opinion and is not here to fight answer please you are working my nerves my dear and really..It is a valid question maybe there is someone here that has a real answer..

[queenofnines]

So why would a baby have no knowledge of god and wait for man or woman to bring it to light??Sounds fishy to me..God depends on the parents to introduce him he risks the possibility of losing his creation.. They are born innocent yet this all knowing entity throws them to the wolves to possibly  be saved and follow him or do the wrong and end up in so called Hell??

   You're a smart cookie!

As a kid who wasn't raised religiously, when I first started to take notice of the god stuff I thought it was bat-*bleep*.  As will most any kid who hasn't had the religion garbage crammed into their brain!  

[ButterflyWings]

Thank you Queens...

[jordandog]

I believe in God with all thine heart... 

Hmm, the word "thine" means "your", so whose heart are YOU using? It's best to use things correctly and in context or not at all.

Used to indicate the one or ones belonging to thee.



that which belongs to thee: Thine is the power and the glory.

Okay, this may sound petty and small, but this one is driving me crazy and I am NOT doing this to 'pick on you' or 'be mean'. I am attempting to help you in using language correctly here. I may not be christian anymore, but I can still point out incorrect usage of scripture or parts of it.
"I believe in God with all thine heart." Here is the phrase:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

When you break it down it means:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight/interpretation."

When you said "Thine is the power and the glory" to try and make your point, that actually means "YOURS is the power and the glory. "Yours" is the Lord's/God's, not marieelissa's or anyone else's. You can't use someone else's heart to do anything, so you can't use THINE/YOUR'S to trust. Does THAT make sense?