A small thanks to the resident Theists..

[Mystical]

@ luckie, I haven't answered your question because it took me many years of study, prayer and coming to an understanding of God to come to my belief of hell, I've stated many times it's not what most believe but for me it's the one that makes sense. I believe that the way I see hell makes it far worse than a hell of fire, physical pain can be far less painful than the mental anguish people bring upon their lives and to have eternity to do so, well I can't think of a worse way to live. Also one doing the punishing, not God, God is giving people a place to do that, all together. Man can not understand what it's like to be without any love, especially God's love. Even though many do not believe in Him that doesn't mean they do not receive His love, I believe that's why hell is described as a place of fire and brimstone, man's limited mind can not understand anything worse. As Forrest Gump said, "that's all I have to say about that."

GC

@Luckie, I said I believe in hell and the Bible tells us of hell and you do not know whether the Bible is using fire and brimstone for the absence
of God's love, so we might have an idea of the terrible thing people will put themselves through.

GC

Except that her goal was not to get to your truth, GC. You shifted goalposts without even telling her first. This particular discussion was about hell, and even that you were unable to address the way that Luckie had outlined. We understand if you just can't answer her questions, but totally ignoring them simply makes you look like a giant douche.

There's not multiple truths about hell, only one, it's for the unforgiven.

GC

Way to just push the goal posts back to generalizations rather than address the fact that nowhere in the Bible does it say hell is merely an 'absence of god'.

[fr0d0]

Listen here you little hobbit. I don't need to prove (and in your eyes could never prove) my prior belief system to you, in my eyes the burden of proof that I believed in a god other than the Abrahamic god, lies upon you; I have Biblical scriptural support for every frippery I voluntarily endured and was made to endure. Were it not for that stupid fucking book I still would have found love, forgiveness, humility, strength.. Just as I do now. You're on my Facebook; I invite you to ask my mom how I live my life as an atheist. I'm a better person now than I ever was, because when it comes right down to it the Bible is poison. Just look at you; you're in a forum full of people -rational, good natured people--and because you can't defend the Bible to any degree, you're telling a perfectly good woman she's 'of the mark' and was never a True Christian™…Yet another assertion you make without being able to support it biblically or in reality .

If you don't take the Bible literally, honestly, that's preferable in my eyes. But therin lies a double edged sword; you can't claim the bits you like, and ignore the parts you don't, then call others who take the Bible at its word not true believers.

If you think a person should be better with or without faith, that demonstrates your misunderstanding of what faith is.

Do you agree with that biblical principle?

I don't question your belief, now or then. I question the depravity of what you claim to be Christianity as you say it. This, sadly for you, is how Christianity works. No one takes every persons word for everything they come out with. We have to test what they say for truth. What you're saying falls flat on its face. You're either lying or you're forgetting what happened. That much is beyond doubt.

"You shall know them by their fruits". I guess everyone around you knew who's side you were batting for?

I don't take the bible literally as the pseudo literalists do. I try to understand it as accurately as physically possible. That happens to contradict your understanding. I take absolutely every bit of the bible as truth and of course it's disingenuous and a cheap shot from you to suggest otherwise.

[Rampant.A.I.]

Do you think anyone actually cares about the drivel you post except you?

[fr0d0]

Do you think anyone actually cares about the drivel you post except you?

No but I always enjoy a cogent and we'll constructed point made.

[Godscreated]

Do you think anyone actually cares about the drivel you post except you?

I care about what Fr0d0 has to say, just because you can't understand higher thinking doesn't reflect on his statements.

GC

[Miss Meng]

Do you think anyone actually cares about the drivel you post except you?

And you are a vile little man with no manners or courtesy and ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for posting such a disgusting, bullyish remark. Of course you won't give a damn. You can leave Fr0d0 well alone. You will have to go through me first. You truly are horrendous.

~ Miss M

[Godscreated]

---

@ luckie, I haven't answered your question because it took me many years of study, prayer and coming to an understanding of God to come to my belief of hell, I've stated many times it's not what most believe but for me it's the one that makes sense. I believe that the way I see hell makes it far worse than a hell of fire, physical pain can be far less painful than the mental anguish people bring upon their lives and to have eternity to do so, well I can't think of a worse way to live. Also one doing the punishing, not God, God is giving people a place to do that, all together. Man can not understand what it's like to be without any love, especially God's love. Even though many do not believe in Him that doesn't mean they do not receive His love, I believe that's why hell is described as a place of fire and brimstone, man's limited mind can not understand anything worse. As Forrest Gump said, "that's all I have to say about that."

GC

---

---

@Luckie, I said I believe in hell and the Bible tells us of hell and you do not know whether the Bible is using fire and brimstone for the absence
of God's love, so we might have an idea of the terrible thing people will put themselves through.

GC

---

---

There's not multiple truths about hell, only one, it's for the unforgiven.

GC

---

Way to just push the goal posts back to generalizations rather than address the fact that nowhere in the Bible does it say hell is merely an 'absence of god'.

I didn't know anyone set goal post, God will not be in hell so why do you think His lo ve would reside in a place of sin and evil.

GC

[Angrboda]

Do you think anyone actually cares about the drivel you post except you?

And you are a vile little man with no manners or courtesy and ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for posting such a disgusting, bullyish remark. Of course you won't give a damn. You can leave Fr0d0 well alone. You will have to go through me first. You truly are horrendous.

~ Miss M

[Rahul]

And you are a vile little man with no manners or courtesy and ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for posting such a disgusting, bullyish remark. Of course you won't give a damn. You can leave Fr0d0 well alone. You will have to go through me first. You truly are horrendous.

~ Miss M

Wait a minute. I think I like this one.

[Mystical]

[quote='Luckie' pid='617952' dateline='1394214693']

Listen here you little hobbit. I don't need to prove (and in your eyes could never prove) my prior belief system to you, in my eyes the burden of proof that I believed in a god other than the Abrahamic god, lies upon you; I have Biblical scriptural support for every frippery I voluntarily endured and was made to endure. Were it not for that stupid fucking book I still would have found love, forgiveness, humility, strength.. Just as I do now. You're on my Facebook; I invite you to ask my mom how I live my life as an atheist. I'm a better person now than I ever was, because when it comes right down to it the Bible is poison. Just look at you; you're in a forum full of people -rational, good natured people--and because you can't defend the Bible to any degree, you're telling a perfectly good woman she's 'of the mark' and was never a True Christian™…Yet another assertion you make without being able to support it biblically or in reality .

If you don't take the Bible literally, honestly, that's preferable in my eyes. But therin lies a double edged sword; you can't claim the bits you like, and ignore the parts you don't, then call others who take the Bible at its word not true believers.

If you think a person should be better with or without faith, that demonstrates your misunderstanding of what faith is.

Do you agree with that biblical principle?

Demonstrate that it's a biblical principle, then explain whether or not you agree with it.

It doesn't make me into a good person. It gives me the potential to be a good person where you don't have that potential, without being able to justify rationally a just universe.

Funny.

Let's see what the bible says about it.

... works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God.... (WCF XVI.7)

That is, for a work to be good it must be done in faith and in obedience to God's Word, seeking His glory.

So based on your bible, no good can be done by someone without the faith, without doing it for the glory of god.

It must be a lonely fucking world, looking around at people doing good things and thinking it's not good. Kinda makes you paranoid, I'd imagine--'Oh, that guy isn't doing it for god so he must have an ulterior motive!'
'Surely he can't be doing good for the sake of doing good!'
'Because surely doing something good for someone can't possibly be rewarding in and of itself! Because surely the Bible invented that premise in the first place!'

*scoff

I don't question your belief, now or then. I question the depravity of what you claim to be Christianity as you say it. This, sadly for you, is how Christianity works. No one takes every persons word for everything they come out with. We have to test what they say for truth. What you're saying falls flat on its face. You're either lying or you're forgetting what happened. That much is beyond doubt.

I think you've built up a strawman my friend. Demonstrate this 'beyond doubtness.'
Give me an example; I'll show you biblical support for each and every one of my faith based standpoints.

"You shall know them by their fruits". I guess everyone around you knew who's side you were batting for?

I am, and always have been, a beacon of light for those around me. As I said, just ask them.
I'm Just, and compassionate. Strong for myself and those in my life who need it. I give my heart and my all. Always have, always will. It's just that now I am a much better human, because I accept everyone not just those god says are okay to accept. My sense of right and wrong is more correct, and without prejudice--unlike yours. Weren't you one of the ones in the "would you kill for god" thread, saying you would?

Tisk tisk, Fr0d0. I'm more moral than you are, without a doubt.

I don't take the bible literally as the pseudo literalists do. I try to understand it as accurately as physically possible. That happens to contradict your understanding. I take absolutely every bit of the bible as truth and of course it's disingenuous and a cheap shot from you to suggest otherwise.

Demonstrate how my calling you on being true to your bible, and what it says-------all of it------ is a cheap shot? I mean it says right there in black and white that ,

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16


Oh and I'm still laughing about the fact that you think I'm a devil worshipper. Doesn't being 'of the mark' imply that I've subjugated my allegiance to the Devil?

So I'm wildly of 'the mark'. Funny how I have to teach you what your own Bible says.
That is not your place to say, in the first place--nor is it your place or right to say that nonbelievers go to hell.

(Romans 9:15-16)
For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy, and nobody but God knows the ultimate justice each individual will receive.

http://christianity.stackexchange.com/qu...-believing