Thanks for the replies.
I've heard the rationalisations for hell before - eg "God is infinitely holy, our sins offend him infinitely, therefore there must be an infinite punishment". Even as a (Protestant) Christian I still didn't like the idea of hell, especially since the church I was involved in was a Calvinist church and Calvinism basically teaches that God creates people predestined for hell to bring him glory.
Playing devil's advocate for a minute here: I know it doesn't make sense for a loving God to torture people forever, especially for not believing the right thing. But what if despite this not making sense, this is how things are and you need to either become Catholic or burn in hell forever?
With regard to their not being any evidence for hell, what do you say to the fact that hell is mentioned in non-Abrahamic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion and Zoroastrianism? Are these simply attempts by man to control people through fear?
I do think that my OCD has a part to play in my fear of hell.
Stevell,
I have thoroughly investigated Christianity in the past. In fact, I have been involved with all three main branches of Christianity - Catholic, Orthodox (both Eastern and Oriental) and Protestant. So I have "broadened my scope beyond the Catholic church". In fact, Catholicism and Orthodoxy have a far better claim to being the authentic Christianity than Protestantism does. Protestantism did not exist for 1500 years after Christ and there are writings from the early church fathers seem to attest belief in doctrines such as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the necessity of baptism for salvation. Sola fide doesn't make an appearance for a long time. Anti-Catholic apologist Matt Slick is unable to find any quote from the church fathers that conclusively proves sola fide, although he tries (see here). Besides, it was the institutional church that decreed which books comprised the Bible, but you as a Protestant have rejected the four modern churches that descend from this church (Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, Oriental Orthodox church, Assyrian church of the East).
I've heard the rationalisations for hell before - eg "God is infinitely holy, our sins offend him infinitely, therefore there must be an infinite punishment". Even as a (Protestant) Christian I still didn't like the idea of hell, especially since the church I was involved in was a Calvinist church and Calvinism basically teaches that God creates people predestined for hell to bring him glory.
Playing devil's advocate for a minute here: I know it doesn't make sense for a loving God to torture people forever, especially for not believing the right thing. But what if despite this not making sense, this is how things are and you need to either become Catholic or burn in hell forever?
With regard to their not being any evidence for hell, what do you say to the fact that hell is mentioned in non-Abrahamic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion and Zoroastrianism? Are these simply attempts by man to control people through fear?
I do think that my OCD has a part to play in my fear of hell.
Stevell,
I have thoroughly investigated Christianity in the past. In fact, I have been involved with all three main branches of Christianity - Catholic, Orthodox (both Eastern and Oriental) and Protestant. So I have "broadened my scope beyond the Catholic church". In fact, Catholicism and Orthodoxy have a far better claim to being the authentic Christianity than Protestantism does. Protestantism did not exist for 1500 years after Christ and there are writings from the early church fathers seem to attest belief in doctrines such as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the necessity of baptism for salvation. Sola fide doesn't make an appearance for a long time. Anti-Catholic apologist Matt Slick is unable to find any quote from the church fathers that conclusively proves sola fide, although he tries (see here). Besides, it was the institutional church that decreed which books comprised the Bible, but you as a Protestant have rejected the four modern churches that descend from this church (Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, Oriental Orthodox church, Assyrian church of the East).
