Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Okay, let me see if I can put this right. People say God loves us like we love our own kids. Now, would any parent have a bunch of kids and say, "you do exactly as I say or I will punish you forever by burning you eternally..." And the fact that he put demons and such down here with the kids that he "loves" so much. Wouldn't that be like putting our own kids in a den of lions? Something doesn't add up here.
This is the exact question I had years ago and which stared me thinking that what the church had been teaching me all my early years may not have been true.
There is NO way anyone who is honest with you can defend why god would admit defeat and sent most of his human creation to eternal torment. That would be an unmitigated failure on gods part to not be able to provide a decent future for most of his creation.
I know many defend this idea by telling you that god offers salvation to those who accept it and if you don't.....it's your own damn fault. I don't buy that anymore. God will not leave anybody behind....period !
I don't feel any animosity for those who believe in the vengeful god idea. First of all it's what I was taught in my youth, so I do understand it very well and how convincing preachers and various christians can be. They are sold on the idea, no question about that. They truly do believe what they preach.
We all are on our own journey in this world. Some take one parth, some take another path....we'll all end up in the same place eventually.
I truly feel sorry for those who believe that most of humans will end up in hell as the bible and many churches say. It's a scary and fearful way to live your life....I've been there :-)
This is the exact question I had years ago and which stared me thinking that what the church had been teaching me all my early years may not have been true.
There is NO way anyone who is honest with you can defend why god would admit defeat and sent most of his human creation to eternal torment. That would be an unmitigated failure on gods part to not be able to provide a decent future for most of his creation.
I know many defend this idea by telling you that god offers salvation to those who accept it and if you don't.....it's your own damn fault. I don't buy that anymore. God will not leave anybody behind....period !
I don't feel any animosity for those who believe in the vengeful god idea. First of all it's what I was taught in my youth, so I do understand it very well and how convincing preachers and various christians can be. They are sold on the idea, no question about that. They truly do believe what they preach.
This is the best test of whether or not it is a viable tenet . . . if it appeals to our negative human emotions or motives . . . it is NOT of God. That is evaluating the motives of God as the motives of flawed humans because ALL of our negative human emotions are the result of our flawed and sinful nature, period. God has no such flaws . . so notions of human justice do NOT apply to God. God's justice is of a different type entirely.
Quote:
We all are on our own journey in this world. Some take one parth, some take another path....we'll all end up in the same place eventually.
Probably . . . but the character of the journeys are apt to be quite different and significantly less pleasant for many.
Quote:
I truly feel sorry for those who believe that most of humans will end up in hell as the bible and many churches say. It's a scary and fearful way to live your life....I've been there :-)
IT is an unnecessary fear for most of today's humans . . . but it was an essential fear for the more animalistic of our ancestors from 2000 years before Christ to several hundred years after. We just failed to evolve our understanding of the "Spirit" of the teachings and relied on the literal .
Okay, let me see if I can put this right. People say God loves us like we love our own kids. Now, would any parent have a bunch of kids and say, "you do exactly as I say or I will punish you forever by burning you eternally..." And the fact that he put demons and such down here with the kids that he "loves" so much. Wouldn't that be like putting our own kids in a den of lions? Something doesn't add up here.
Who are his kids? The ones that love and believe in Him? Or the ones that pretend he doesn't exist and blaspheme his name?
No God does not send people to hell, they will go there because they made the wrong choice, they have rejected the free gift of eternal life. God does not force Himself on anyone.
One great problem the christians have is lacking the ability to distinguish the difference between a choice and ultimatum. There is a huge difference!
Do you really believe that people would actually choose eternal torture?
One great problem the christians have is lacking the ability to distinguish the difference between a choice and ultimatum. There is a huge difference!
Do you really believe that people would actually choose eternal torture?
If you hate God, why would you choose eternal praise and worship of Him?
Who are his kids? The ones that love and believe in Him? Or the ones that pretend he doesn't exist and blaspheme his name?
We ALL are . . . but rebellion is a very human trait and is triggered by the totalitarian human interpretations of our relationship to God in our human-created religions . . . not God's doing at all. Imposing "adult tree" expectations on "sprouts, saplings, and young trees" causes most of the discord, failures and eventual rebellion in defiance of the intolerant negative human interpretations.
We ALL are . . . but rebellion is a very human trait and is triggered by the totalitarian human interpretations of our relationship to God in our human-created religions . . . not God's doing at all. Imposing "adult tree" expectations on "sprouts, saplings, and young trees" causes most of the discord, failures and eventual rebellion in defiance of the intolerant negative human interpretations.
Um..........no. At least not according to the Bible. We are NOT all God's children. It's a nice thought...but just not true.
If you hate God, why would you choose eternal praise and worship of Him?
Analyze your post, it doesn't make sense. What are you trying to say?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.