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I read the entire Bible decades ago and the New Testament alone several times. What got to me was the God of the OT that Jesus was calling his Father. That was not a God I liked yet it is the roots of Christianity -- can't have one without the other. To accept Jesus you have to respect his father. In the end I decided to walk away from it all. I wasn't into smiting, or casting people into Hell or who is/isn't a sinner and needs saving. That all is mean spirited to me. Not love.
It appeared to me to have begun in the OT as a tribal religion -- for and about the Jewish people. Gentiles added in later (possibly reluctantly), but really wasn't about us. And I wager that is why there is so much fighting about it today. Had I been born there or had Grandparents from there maybe it would of made more sense (?). As a Gentile living in the US (second generation) I was more interested in the religions my own people had before Christianity. What did pre-Christian Ireland believe or the Slavic peoples? Those are my people. They had their own practices and beliefs. I'm even more interested in what Native Americans believe because that is what was here. I decided to look closer to home. And when I started that search all that hell stuff ended, all the threats ended. To this day I respect that others find meaning in it but its not for me. Worrying about hell is only for Christians.
Last edited by coffeemoments; 08-07-2019 at 10:03 AM..
I read the entire Bible decades ago and the New Testament alone several times. What got to me was the God of the OT that Jesus was calling his Father. That was not a God I liked yet it is the roots of Christianity -- can't have one without the other. To accept Jesus you have to respect his father. In the end I decided to walk away from it all. I wasn't into smiting, or casting people into Hell or who is/isn't a sinner and needs saving. That all is mean spirited to me. Not love.
It appeared to me to have begun in the OT as a tribal religion -- for and about the Jewish people. Gentiles added in later (possibly reluctantly), but really wasn't about us. And I wager that is why there is so much fighting about it today. Had I been born there or had Grandparents from there maybe it would of made more sense (?). As a Gentile living in the US (second generation) I was more interested in the religions my own people had before Christianity. What did pre-Christian Ireland believe or the Slavic peoples? Those are my people. They had their own practices and beliefs. I'm even more interested in what Native Americans believe because that is what was here. I decided to look closer to home. And when I started that search all that hell stuff ended, all the threats ended. To this day I respect that others find meaning in it but its not for me. Worrying about hell is only for Christians.
Nice post, and thinking along solid lines I'd say. Hell was of course passed on to Islam and borrowed either from Christianity of Zoroastrianism or both (it wasn't and isn't a Jewish belief). Either way, Not having a worry about hell is something i feel thankful about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by svenM
Where does the Bible say such a thing?
Good question. While disbelief in Eternal Torture is a step we atheists would praise, it's a fair question- where in the Bible (aside from the "Interpretation" needed to have a Hell -belief at all) is this 'Hell' declared to be 'separation from God'? While it would suit atheism very well to not have the question asked, it would be dishonest not to say that it is a fair question.
I read the entire Bible decades ago and the New Testament alone several times. What got to me was the God of the OT that Jesus was calling his Father. That was not a God I liked yet it is the roots of Christianity -- can't have one without the other. To accept Jesus you have to respect his father. In the end I decided to walk away from it all. I wasn't into smiting, or casting people into Hell or who is/isn't a sinner and needs saving. That all is mean spirited to me. Not love.
I agree, especially when we have no choice in being born and no choice in the environment we are born into. The bible was written by men not God, and it's principles and concepts have to be wrong otherwise God is a horribly unfair dictator. There may be a God, but if there is I'm sure the form is absolutely nothing like the bible teachings. If so, how much worse could satan actually be?
All who know the true God knows its fact. The true God set before all--Life or Death( Deuteronomy 30:19) both will be everlasting. 99% are being mislead as we speak, minimium. Same as in Noahs day. Jesus even compared the last days to Noahs day-99.9% were mislead then.
Jesus isn't the true living God-False religion states he is. Jesus teaches The Father ( one who sent him( John 5:30) is THE ONLY TRUE GOD at John 17:3-- Most outright refuse to believe Jesus over dogmas of men handed down for centuries. From one generation to the next, from parent to child. The teachings of Jesus in every translation on earth proves it fact. I share 7 major teachings from him and every trinitarian rejects those teachings, yet all 7 are in their bible to. They don't know what Jesus actually teaches because their teachers are not paid to teach what he actually teaches they are paid to teach that brand of dogma. Billions are falling for it for centuries.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
That verse is what is referred to.
Heaven is the opposite according to scripture and will live forever in the next life with the presence of the Lord.
All who know the true God knows its fact. The true God set before all--Life or Death( Deuteronomy 30:19) both will be everlasting. 99% are being mislead as we speak, minimium. Same as in Noahs day. Jesus even compared the last days to Noahs day-99.9% were mislead then.
Of course, you're one of the special followers.
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