RE: Thoughts on Hell?
October 13, 2017 at 9:59 am
(This post was last modified: October 13, 2017 at 10:53 am by Brian37.)
(October 13, 2017 at 9:01 am)Huggy74 Wrote:(October 12, 2017 at 9:15 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: My thoughts on Hell? Simple: it scuppers the free-will argument.
Not really.
Yes, really.
First off, there is no hell, or heaven, there are merely humans sold that crap.
What we are addressing is the logic in terms of the claims theist makes.
A real "free" choice, would be saying to oneself, "I feel like having a burger, but at the same time I feel like having a pizza."
The god character of Abraham isn't giving you any real choice.
The God character, would be the burger joint owner whom hunts you down for not eating at his joint, beats you up for not being loyal and says, "You can eat wherever you want, but if you don't eat at my joint, I will punish you."
THAT IS NOT A CHOICE, that is blackmail.
Now, the real reason this heaven/hell threat exists, isn't because any real God or real Satan exists. Prior to your magic baby book, in prior polytheism, even polytheists had their concepts of reward and punishment in the afterlife.
WHAT both are really reflecting are the loyalty to the local ruling family that most humans lived under in antiquity. Back then your loyalty to your local ruler was mandatory, some ruling families were more tolerant to others, and some were more intolerant of others, but ultimately that family were the ultimate boss.
"God" is a comic book reflection of ROYALTY, nothing more.
We don't value in the west rulers whom don't need our consent. We value in the west the ability to hold our leaders accountable. We can vote them out of office, and even impeach and have them arrested when they break the law.
I feel sorry for you that you think
"Give me your wallet and I'll let you live, keep it and I will murder you" is an actual choice. It isn't, it is blackmail, and puts you in the position of being nothing but property, a lab rat. It is the same abusive logic an abusive spouse uses to control their spouse.
It does not reflect modern pluralism one bit. It reflects the societies of antiquity where if you crossed that ruling family you'd get punished.
"Obey me or else" is arbitrary, and abusive and DOES NOT reflect a consensual choice.
