RE: A rational explanation for hell?
September 15, 2010 at 12:39 pm
(This post was last modified: September 15, 2010 at 12:40 pm by tackattack.)
Sorry so late on the responce Ace I just saw this one.
To answer the OP
1-Can a theist here explain the reasoning behind endless torture for a finite victemless crime?
-I can not. I don't believe there is eternal torture for anyone, nor do I think it's biblical teaching.
2-Oh and why do people end up in hell for simply having certain thoughts or lack ther of?
-Punishment based on intent is also part of our secular society. The trick is it's not based solely on intent nor solely on action, just like our secular laws. When regarding an omnimax God though intent is just as provable as actual action, while in a court of law it's extremely subjective and difficult to determine's someone's exact motives
3-Who is affected by anothers beliefs (or lack ther of)?
-Only the believer and the object of belief.
4-I also want to know why hell was created by God.
-Matthew 25:41 teaches that hell or Ghenna (valley of hinnon) was created for the devil and his angels. This can either be taken literally or figuratively. If figurative it would indicate that it's simply a place to disssssard something like trash.
5-And also why he created the devil or hasn't destroyed him yet.
-God created the devil for a rason and continues to use him by allowing Satan to tempt and manipulate us. If we never knew the difference between good and evil, how would we know that God is good or anything for that matter. Allowing us the freedom to learn and adapt to our enviornemnt and influence helps us individually better our moral standings and better determine right from wrong and good from bad. If he wanted automotons, I'm sure he would have created them, but I'm glad he didn't.
(September 15, 2010 at 9:23 am)Ace Wrote:
(September 15, 2010 at 9:28 am)Skipper Wrote:
To answer the OP
1-Can a theist here explain the reasoning behind endless torture for a finite victemless crime?
-I can not. I don't believe there is eternal torture for anyone, nor do I think it's biblical teaching.
2-Oh and why do people end up in hell for simply having certain thoughts or lack ther of?
-Punishment based on intent is also part of our secular society. The trick is it's not based solely on intent nor solely on action, just like our secular laws. When regarding an omnimax God though intent is just as provable as actual action, while in a court of law it's extremely subjective and difficult to determine's someone's exact motives
3-Who is affected by anothers beliefs (or lack ther of)?
-Only the believer and the object of belief.
4-I also want to know why hell was created by God.
-Matthew 25:41 teaches that hell or Ghenna (valley of hinnon) was created for the devil and his angels. This can either be taken literally or figuratively. If figurative it would indicate that it's simply a place to disssssard something like trash.
5-And also why he created the devil or hasn't destroyed him yet.
-God created the devil for a rason and continues to use him by allowing Satan to tempt and manipulate us. If we never knew the difference between good and evil, how would we know that God is good or anything for that matter. Allowing us the freedom to learn and adapt to our enviornemnt and influence helps us individually better our moral standings and better determine right from wrong and good from bad. If he wanted automotons, I'm sure he would have created them, but I'm glad he didn't.
"There ought to be a term that would designate those who actually follow the teachings of Jesus, since the word 'Christian' has been largely divorced from those teachings, and so polluted by fundamentalists that it has come to connote their polar opposite: intolerance, vindictive hatred, and bigotry." -- Philip Stater, Huffington Post
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
always working on cleaning my windows- me regarding Johari
