RE: Thoughts on Hell?
October 13, 2017 at 1:54 pm
(This post was last modified: October 13, 2017 at 2:17 pm by Huggy Bear.)
(October 13, 2017 at 1:14 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:If the threat of hell is as strong as you say then why for example, do you have clergy members that abuse children? It seems that their free will is perfectly intact.(October 13, 2017 at 12:50 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: That's kind of like saying to a married person what "decisions of yours aren't tainted by threat of divorce"? You serve God out of love not fear.
Put another way: If I point a gun to your head, and demand your wallet, are you giving your wallet to me truly out of free will?
(October 13, 2017 at 1:14 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:(October 13, 2017 at 12:50 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: Many of you here have stated that if heaven exists, you wouldn't want to go there, so if all good things come from God, things like joy, peace, love, kindness, and so on... then hell is simply a place where none of those things exist.
It's a good thing I didn't say that, then.
Also, your conclusion is a non sequitur.
(October 13, 2017 at 12:50 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: Let's use the sun as an example for God, I think we can all agree that the sun is a good thing, yet imaging you have a group of people calling the sun evil because millions of people are dying of melanoma (even thought they have been provided with a lifetime supply of free sunscreen), and these folks announce that they would rather live on a planet where there's no sun.
Wouldn't that be a horrible existence?
Except the sun didn't create melanoma, and doesn't will it upon non-worshippers. The sun has no will at all.
Neither did God create sin, which IS unbelief, neither is he willing that people sin. Unbelief is a direct result of free will. So if through belief you attain life then if you want to live believe, it's that simple.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
(October 13, 2017 at 1:14 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: Your god is alleged to have created Hell, specifically to torment the souls of those who reject him. He holds their souls hostage.
The bible expressly states that hell was created for the Devil and his angels, it was not made for people, you literally have to fight your way into hell.
(October 13, 2017 at 1:14 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote: A decision made under duress is by definition not free.
As I mentioned before, the claim of duress falls apart when you observe the amount of people whose lives are totally contrary to what they claim to believe.
Free will remains intact.
