Hell is eternal because God is infinite?

[RosieLass]

God's existence or nonexistence is not contingent on our beilef. That argument would no more work for him than his declaring he believes in God therefore I'm going to hell would work for me. One can not simply declare truth by fiat.

[Anomalocaris]

That argument would no more work for him than his declaring he believes in God therefore I'm going to hell would work for me. One can not simply declare truth by fiat.

Religion is all about declaring truth by fiat. Intellectual dishonesty is one and the same as faith. But what aspect of his intellectual dishonesty a person chooses to emphasize in dealing with those who disagrees with him offers much insight into what sort of person he is.

[Jaysyn]

I have never understood that. Just because YOU dont believe in God doesnt mean He doesnt exist, it doesnt make sense.

Obviously, it's because you can't understand the difference between belief & evidence.

[RosieLass]

Chuck, that religion does declare truth by fiat I certainly don't dispute. My point was that by saying we can't offend god *because we don't believe in him* we're stopping to the same level. We may say there is no evidence to support the existence of god, therefore we needn't worry about offending him, But it isn't our belief or lack thereof that determines whether he's real.

So basically I totally agree with you, you just missed my point a little.

[theVOID]

Why we don't believe in God is (usually) because there is absolutely no evidence indicating such a being exists

I have never understood that. Just because YOU dont believe in God doesnt mean He doesnt exist, it doesnt make sense.

You're so typical solja, what I give a shit about is the reasons FOR belief, not whether I can disprove every silly belief that people come up with - Basically, I want to be rational in my beliefs. In order to be rational in believing something you need to have good reasons for belief, arguments for a belief that when applied to other examples cannot allow parallel arguments that are clearly absurd (such as how Plantinga's "Proper basic" belief 'justification' for faith cannot rule out the FSM without becoming internally contradictory) and contradictory conclusions (such as personal experience that has been used to justify literally millions of contradictory metaphysical statements).

These epistemic standards are the very minimum for justification, and upon examination of a belief if one can not justify it then the only rational thing to do is withhold positive belief (and thus decisions informed by the belief) until such time as there becomes sufficient justification for it. Some beliefs as pre-examined assumptions are fine, you could say that belief is warranted in situations like asking someone for the time, even though you have no evidence that they are telling you the truth, this sort of warrant forming process could be called a type of process reliablism, where as the system for forming justified belief is evidentialism, the idea that an idea need be best supported by evidence (including logic) in order to be a justified belief.

[Godscreated]

The only reply I would have is that as an atheist, God doesn't exist, how in the world can I ever offend that which doesn't exist! If your friend is as open-minded as he claimed to be he will accept this argumernt. If not, then he is not as open-minded as it is claimed.

Just because he does not see things the same as you do does not mean he is close minded.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Hell is eternal because Saul said so.An eternal hell is not now and has never been part of Jewish teaching. The Jewish idea of hell is like the Christian purgatory.IE Everyone eventually gets out. There is even a list so you can work out how long you will need to stay..

I have never understood how it's possible for a finite being to either please or offend an infinite one possessing infinite qualities of justice, mercy and compassion..

[little_monkey]

The only reply I would have is that as an atheist, God doesn't exist, how in the world can I ever offend that which doesn't exist! If your friend is as open-minded as he claimed to be he will accept this argumernt. If not, then he is not as open-minded as it is claimed.

Just because he does not see things the same as you do does not mean he is close minded.

I didn't mean that he had to accept the idea that God doesn't exist. He's obviously a believer and will continue to do so. But he should be able to understand her POV, which is, she can't be offending something she believes doesn't exist. That what open-mindedness means, to understand. Accepting is a whole different matter.

[R-e-n-n-a-t]

More or less, I think it means god's a spoiled hypocrite whose gonna be pissed at you forever, so your punishment will last as long as he's pissed, which is forever.

[solja247]

Obviously, it's because you can't understand the difference between belief & evidence.

There is no evidence for God or there being none. There is evidence that the likely hood of a God existing is more probable...

You're so typical solja, what I give a shit about is the reasons FOR belief, not whether I can disprove every silly belief that people come up with - Basically, I want to be rational in my beliefs

As do I. But why should I follow my skeptism? It doesnt make it right or more intellectual...

FSM

Is something finite and philosophically sound be compared with a straw man which is illogical?
Note: The idea of a Deistic God is not illogical, unlike FSM or an invisible flying unicorn...

Hell is eternal because Saul said so.An eternal hell is not now and has never been part of Jewish teaching. The Jewish idea of hell is like the Christian purgatory.IE Everyone eventually gets out. There is even a list so you can work out how long you will need to stay..

To my understanding they didnt believe in an afterlife untill 150BCE

I have never understood how it's possible for a finite being to either please or offend an infinite one possessing infinite qualities of justice, mercy and compassion..

Neither have I.