RE: If Hell is Not Real
March 14, 2011 at 3:12 pm
(This post was last modified: March 14, 2011 at 3:15 pm by DeistPaladin.)
1. People are more influenced by fear of pain than of desire for pleasure.
This is why Islamo-Christianity talks at length about the "stick" (Hell) more than the "carrot" (Heaven). In any event, the stick is an important feature in driving not only obedience but also conversion of loved ones. "Saving lost souls" from Hell is one of the driving forces behind Christian evangelical efforts. I don't know if Islamic efforts to convert the unbelievers are driven by similar rhetoric but it wouldn't surprise me.
2. Hell WAS made up. We can actually trace it's origins and developments.
The ancient Jews had no concept of Hell. They believed in "Sheol" or "the grave". Originally, this just meant oblivion. Gradually, they adopts a Hades-like concept of the afterlife, as demonstrated when king Saul contacted the spirit of Samuel.
It's the passage of Jeremiah that illustrates the origin of the concept of Hell (will look up reference later). It lashes out against the worshipers of Maloch who allegedly burned children alive as sacrifices.
The site of the worship of Maloch that the passage refers to is in the Valley of Gehenna. The ancient Jews believed this land to be tainted by the evil that was done there and used it to burn their garbage. Eventually, they adopted the tradition of dumping the dead bodies of executed criminals as a "final insult", denying them a proper burial and treating their corpses as discarded refuse, consigned to the land of a sadistic rival to Yahweh.
Hmmmm.
1. Burning valley, "lake of fire"
2. home to an evil, sadistic rival to Yahweh
3. Place where the condemned dead are thrown in for their crimes
Need a map on this one?
Here's the important point for theists to learn. It's a false dilemma to suggest that "someone just made up" such-and-such religious belief "one day" as the only alternative to a religious claim being true. Sometimes these beliefs evolve over time. My example above illustrates a likely scenario where the Christian (and consequently Islamic) belief about Hell was inspired by real, worldly places, people or events.
Also, assuming:
1. There is a God
2. There is an afterlife
3. There is a day of judgment
4. There is a Hell to punish people
It's hard for me to understand the motivations of a God who's most important question for me in order to evaluate my character is "what religion did you belong to"?
It's not hard for me to understand the motivations of a clergy that would say this is God's most important question for me on judgment day.
This is why Islamo-Christianity talks at length about the "stick" (Hell) more than the "carrot" (Heaven). In any event, the stick is an important feature in driving not only obedience but also conversion of loved ones. "Saving lost souls" from Hell is one of the driving forces behind Christian evangelical efforts. I don't know if Islamic efforts to convert the unbelievers are driven by similar rhetoric but it wouldn't surprise me.
2. Hell WAS made up. We can actually trace it's origins and developments.
The ancient Jews had no concept of Hell. They believed in "Sheol" or "the grave". Originally, this just meant oblivion. Gradually, they adopts a Hades-like concept of the afterlife, as demonstrated when king Saul contacted the spirit of Samuel.
It's the passage of Jeremiah that illustrates the origin of the concept of Hell (will look up reference later). It lashes out against the worshipers of Maloch who allegedly burned children alive as sacrifices.
The site of the worship of Maloch that the passage refers to is in the Valley of Gehenna. The ancient Jews believed this land to be tainted by the evil that was done there and used it to burn their garbage. Eventually, they adopted the tradition of dumping the dead bodies of executed criminals as a "final insult", denying them a proper burial and treating their corpses as discarded refuse, consigned to the land of a sadistic rival to Yahweh.
Hmmmm.
1. Burning valley, "lake of fire"
2. home to an evil, sadistic rival to Yahweh
3. Place where the condemned dead are thrown in for their crimes
Need a map on this one?
Here's the important point for theists to learn. It's a false dilemma to suggest that "someone just made up" such-and-such religious belief "one day" as the only alternative to a religious claim being true. Sometimes these beliefs evolve over time. My example above illustrates a likely scenario where the Christian (and consequently Islamic) belief about Hell was inspired by real, worldly places, people or events.
Also, assuming:
1. There is a God
2. There is an afterlife
3. There is a day of judgment
4. There is a Hell to punish people
It's hard for me to understand the motivations of a God who's most important question for me in order to evaluate my character is "what religion did you belong to"?
It's not hard for me to understand the motivations of a clergy that would say this is God's most important question for me on judgment day.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
