Who's Going to Hell, and for How Long?
73Disclaimer: Many people are not reading this HUB before commenting. They are simply reading the title and then commenting without any reference to anything actually written here. That's a disservice to me, my readers and to you. If you're going to comment, please read the article so i don't have to repeat the same points over and over again. As the writer of this HUB, I reserve to right to deny and/or report as spam any inappropriate comments. If you read my comments, you will see I have opinions from all over the spectrum and welcome any and all beliefs here. I will not allow, however, people who only want to spout platitudes without reading the article or understanding my point. Anyone not adhering to this common courtesy will have their comment denied and will be banned from future comments. Likewise, if you respond with a thoughtful comment that is on topic, you will get a thoughtful comment in return. Just show respect and love to any and all viewpoints while visiting.
My goal here is not to preach at anyone or discourage or insult anyone's faith, but rather, just to simply ask questions I think most people, if they're honest with themselves have. I don't claim to know the answers, but I do have my opinions. You are entitled to yours and I respect them. I understand that religious discussions can get heated and I will ask that everyone be respectful and clean. Any rude/insulting, mean or otherwise inappropriate and unhelpful comments will be removed and will possibly be reported to HUBpages in accordance with their Terms of Service.
The sad tales of Abdul, Samuel and Joseph
My name is Abdul. I was born in Tehran. I have fourteen wives and sixty seven children, and I love them all. I have gained great wealth and, while I live comfortably (okay, very comfortably) I have also given large chunks of my wealth to the poor in my country, of which there are many. Like everyone else I know, I believe in the one true god, Allah and that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is his final prophet. I pray five times a day and observe all our holidays. I am a son of Abraham. I have memorized the holy scriptures and have absorbed the wisdom of the prophets. I especially admire Jesus, as he is perhaps the greatest prophet next to Muhammad, peace be upon him. I can learn much from the moral teachings of Jesus, but I do not believe the blasphemous teachings of his followers that he is a god. Allah is the one true god.
When I die at age eighty seven, I will go to hell where I will be tortured and separated from God for eternity.
***
My name is Samuel. I was born in Jerusalem. I have one wife and four children and I honor and love them all. I am poor in material things but rich in love and wisdom. What little I do have, I share with my neighbors and with my synagogue. Like most of the people I know, I believe in Yahweh, the God of Abraham and I am eagerly awaiting the Messiah promised by the prophets in the Torah, which I have memorized. I pray three times a day and honor all of the holy days, especially the Passover, where Merciful Yahweh showed his love by sparing my ancestors. I have absorbed the wisdom of a great Rabbi named Jesus, though I do not believe he was the promised Messiah. My people have been accused of killing him and have been persecuted throughout the world and the centuries since them. I have scoured the Torah and am eagerly anticipating the coming Messiah.
When I die at age seventy four, I will go to hell where I will be tortured and separated from God for eternity.
***
My name is Joseph. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have one wife and six children, and I am a good provider in both love and material things. One night a week is a dedicated family game and fellowship night. I give ten percent of the first portion of my income to my church, which goes primarily to ministries which help the poor. I am a descendent of Abraham. Like most of the people I know, I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost. I believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers and that when I die, I will become a God myself. I have daily prayer times and devotions, having many portions of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, which are both equally the Word of God. I am a good neighbor and a good citizen. I am a patriot and I vote in every election. At Christmas time, I offer my services to the local soup kitchen and I spent two years right after high school on a mission in a strange place and shared the love of Jesus, who can forgive every sin except for the shedding of blood. I have never smoked or drank, I don’t use foul language and I have only made love with one woman, my wife. I follow all the commandments of God.
When I die at age eighty nine, I will go to hell where I will be tortured and separated from God for eternity.
The interesting tales of Kyle and Scott
My name is Kyle. I was born in Kansas City, Kansas. I have one wife, but I’ve been married twice before, and I have five kids, by three different women, two of whom were born out of wedlock. I don’t make a lot of money and I’m on the government dime for things like milk and cheese. What little I do have, I spend on guns and alcohol and my two pack a day cigarette habit. Every Sunday, I go to the local Baptist Church where we talk about Jesus. I don’t really pray or read my Bible much, but I believe that Jesus is the son of God and that I am saved by grace and that my works don’t matter because Jesus loves me. I’m pretty selfish and I’m not a big fan of the Christ killing Jews. I spend a lot of time wearing a white robe and burning crosses.
When I die in a bar fight at age fifty six, I will go to Heaven where I will live in peace and prosperity with Jesus for all eternity.
***
My name is Scott. I was born in Sacramento, California. I am the husband of only one woman and we have two beautiful children. We’re comfortable, never lacking in the things we need, though we occasionally have to go without things we want. I am a descendent of Abraham I am a regular and active attendee of a non-denominational church. I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost, and that they are one God with three personalities. I believe that Jesus is the Savior of my soul and, even though I don’t have to do good works to be saved, I choose to do them because I love Him and the please Him. I’m careful to give the church the first ten percent of my income and I pray and have daily devotions with regularity. As a human being, I do bad things sometimes, sometime willfully and sometimes not, but I’m always quick to repent and try not to make a habit of these things.
When I die at seventy one, I will go to Heaven where I will live in peace and prosperity with Jesus for all eternity.
The questions that need to be asked (but maybe not answered)
Do these scenarios bother you like they bother me? A devout muslim, a devout Jew, a devout Mormon; men who love God and their families who, according to the Judeo- Christian church, will die and spend eternity being tortured in hell. An eternity! For a finite period of time on earth for believing in the “wrong” orthodoxy, tortured for eternity? A member of the Ku Klux Klan and a devout Christian, and these men will go to Heaven because they believe in the “right” orthodoxy?
This is how I grew up. In a Christian church where, as Jesus Himself said, the path is narrow that leads to Heaven.
But what does this mean?
I’ve always had questions. I’ve always had doubts and, as I’ve hit my thirties, those doubts have only gotten stronger and the questions more urgent.
Quite frankly, I’m scared.
If what I’ve been taught is true, then the questions I’m asking could border on blasphemy. If what I’ve been taught is true, then my devout Mormon, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, nonreligious and, (gasp!) democrat friends and neighbors are destined to hell for all eternity.
But is this what the Bible teaches? Is this what God teaches? Is this just?
I’ve done a lot of research and prayer on this subject lately and I’m going to spare you most of the theology but I encourage you to do your own research. I have provided source material in this hub, but, here’s a few of my own thoughts.
First, if God is love (1 John 4:8), as he himself claims to be, and if God is omniscient (Psalm 147:5), as He Himself claims He is, and if God and the angels weep when a soul goes to hell, as the Bible claims, then why would God keep creating humans destined for an eternal separation from Him? This doesn’t seem loving or kind. I believe God is loving and kind, but, if I believe that, can I believe that he creates human beings who's destination upon death is an eternity in hell?
This is a complicated question, but, one thing I’ve discovered in my studies is that the word translated as “eternal” in the Bible in reference to hell has been mistranslated. It doesn’t mean unending, but, rather, is much closer to the word for indefinite. God is eternal, but the same word used to describe God as eternal is not the same word used to describe hell as eternal (Rob Bell, Love Wins). There is hope in this.
Second, if God claims that all things are reconciled to Him (Colossians 1:20), as the Bible says and if God is glorified by this restoration, as the Bible claims, are human souls not a part of all things? Is God glorified by souls being tortured and punished, without hope, forever and ever? If these souls are not reconciled to God, how can the Bible make this claim? How do we reconcile the idea of eternal damnation with the idea of God reconciling all things?
These are just two of the most pressing issues on my mind lately. I’m being careful not to simply look for things which tickle my ears, but I do seek the Truth. The old testament speaks very little of an afterlife and many of the references to hell in the New Testament, and many things in the Bible itself, could be metaphoric (after all, Jesus did speak of Hell, and hell was a literal place outside of the city of Jerusalem where trash was burned and the fire never went out). I don’t want to be irreverent of blasphemous and I hope I’m not. It’s certainly not in my heart to be so. I do believe in God as creator and in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I do believe when Jesus said that NO ONE comes to the father except through Him, but I’m not sure about the deadline or the method. Jesus never said “You have to have a personal relationship with me in order to go to Heaven.” Go ahead. That phrase, oft recited in church, is NO WHERE in the Bible. I’m also not sure that the moment before physical death is the last moment one has to “accept Jesus” and avoid damnation. The idea of purgatory intrigues me and seems to be the most just way of handling sin in the afterlife: temporary punishment with a goal of cleansing and repentance and reconciliation to Jesus. Sin has to be punished, but who says it has to be punished eternally?
I’m enjoying this journey and I’m writing this to not only get my thoughts out, but also to open a discussion on this issue, because I believe it’s very important. I obviously hope and pray that there is no hell or eternal punishment, so that's my bias going in. but I'm aware of this bias and the potential pitfalls of it and I'm trying not to allow it to cloud my judgment. I hope, regardless of your beliefs, that you will respect and understand mine. I will seek to do the same with yours and in all things, seek the mind and will of God!
all rights reserved. copyright Justin W Price, 2011
 | Amazon Price: $10.78 List Price: $24.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $4.22 List Price: $14.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.17 List Price: $14.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $17.99 |
Ever wondered about the history of certain church doctrines?
 | Amazon Price: $12.00 List Price: $31.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $31.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $14.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.50 List Price: $16.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.11 List Price: $13.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.45 List Price: $9.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.19 List Price: $15.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $5.94 List Price: $12.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $4.49 List Price: $9.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $16.99 |
LIfe After Death
What happens to you after you die?
See results without votingOther HUBS on the theology of Hell and Divine Justice:
- FirstBlog: Turn or Burn?
- FirstBlog: Josh Powell is In Hell
- The Devil Goes To Church ... part 2
- Where Does Hell Come From?
- What is wrong with Colective Christianity?
A honest look at my view of Christianity and our responsibility to stay true our beliefs.
what's trending
- A Close Look at Jamaica Kincaid's short story "Girl"
An academic look at Kincaid's first short story (published in 1978). Discussed will be the form and style of the story and how this furthers the meaning of the story. (by PDXJPrice) - 5 weeks ago
- A close look at "Sabotage"
A closer look at one of the earliest Hitchcock's earliest films, "Sabotage" (1936). This article will look at four questions to gain a deeper understanding of the film. (by PDXJPrice) - 7 weeks ago
- Shadow of a Doubt Storyboard
A four shot storyboard of the introduction to Uncle Charlie in Alfred Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt." (by PDXJPrice) - 2 months ago
- What is Creative Non Fiction?
What is Creative non fiction and how does one write it? - 12 days ago
- Tips to Healthier Eating, Tastier Cooking, and a Happier Tummy
Eating healthier and smarter doesn't mean sacrificing taste. - 12 days ago
- Into the Great Unknown... Almost
I nearly died, crossing the street - 13 days ago
- Embracing the Refiner's Fire: A Book Review
A Review of the book "Embracing the Refiner's Fire", a journey through a battle with cancer, from diagnosis to Heaven. - 2 weeks ago
- Girl Interrupted, a Book Review
A review of the book, "Girl, Interrupted" by Susanna Kaysen. - 3 weeks ago
- Tattoos: Advice and My own Personal Stories
Advice on getting a tattooing, a description of the process, followed by the authors' personal stories. Includes lots of pictures and videos. - 3 weeks ago
- Orange Mint Salmon
a simple and healthy baked salmon recipe. - 4 weeks ago
- Album Reviews... from High School!
some album reviews, written by a high school student in the mid 90's. Copied here verbatim, with editorial commentary. - 4 weeks ago
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (8)
- Funny (1)
- Awesome (9)
- Beautiful (4)
- Interesting (24)
CommentsLoading...
I don't claim to have any answers, but I sure do have a lot of questions. I read my Bible and I pray; and I ask a lot of questions and go in search of the answers, but I never loose faith in God. I always keep prayer, faith, and God close at hand during my quest for understanding. It would seem that most of those commenting here have done the same. As has been commented already, God knows our heart and our intention and will judge us accordingly.
My mom once told me that hell was the absence of God and knowing you will never know him again.
I found your hub to be most interesting. I think how we believe or not believe in God is supposed to be a personal experience and journey for each of us. Otherwise I think God would have not given us free will and give us the right to find our own way to him.
I also believe the only absolute laws he gave us was the ten commandments. The bible or other books of God are guidelines. In our hearts we all know what is good and what is evil and there are grey lines making it hard sometimes. A Priest told me once that you have to want to go to hell to go there. Makes sense to me, after all don't we often make a hell for ourselves woven out of guilt? I was taught that even the most heinous crime is forgiven if the sinner truly asks for forgiveness.
Like what North Wind said, God said he would pull the weeds, that it was not our place to condemn others. Not being able to look into another's soul, I would not want that job anyway. You just have to be the best you, you can be, because you are the only one you can control. Everyone has to take responsibility for their own soul.
God Bless PDX, I am in the same struggle for truth as you, never stop searching.
something blue
thanks for reading and commenting. I don't generally write or read hubs this long, so i appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
I wrote this with the assumption that the Bible is the Word of God, so, when I say "GOd says" that's my point of reference. I also believe a close reading of the bIble will show that the the standard church teachings about Hell are false.
Thanks for stopping by!
Do you have direct access to the Creator of All . . . "Second, if God claims" perhaps some editing would clarify things for me, BTW I read the whole thing . . . a little lengthy my attention span being what it is!
Personally I don't believe in Hell per se and suspect that we are currently living it in one form or another, I do believe in Heaven just various levels of it, sort of like a Jacob's Ladder.
However I reserve the right to change my mind at anytime, yes, it is a convenient belief system.
The Hell concept is for those unwilling to do their own thinking and fail to learn to trust their God given instinct and heart, a way of controlling the masses, keep them guessing, and allows them to let others do their thinking for them!
Of course I don't own a TV set, so I don't have the luxury of allowing the Discovery Channel to do my thinking for me.
Interesting article . . . I voted it up, perhaps you could put your main point at the end so as to force those to read the whole thing, of course if you do that make it much shorter!
Good points Kitane, and you touch on some interesting points. I read your hub about what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and I appreciated that viewpoint very well. however, for reasons I don't want to get into, I have problems with the WatchTower translation of the Bible... as much as I'd like to believe that annihilation is the destiny for the unsaved, I'm just not sure that's the proper translation of the word. I don't want to discuss that any further on this hub, but, I'd be happy to read a retort from you if you write a hub about it!
I fully agree with you on Gehenna. You should read Rob Bell's Love Wins (if you haven't). Very interesting.
Thanks for your comment, KM. you make good points. That being said, there are some who view Pascal's Wager as flawed (I don't)and i can see their argument. I can also see how the concept of hell can be used to control people and promote fear and expanded church coffers. I try to understand that i am not God and my ways are not His, but, it's not always easy!
Wow, this is a very deep post and it sounds like you are indeed searching for the truth. Your answers lie in the bible that you hold so dear.
Although you say that the old testament speaks very little on the subject of hell and after life - that is not true there are many scriptures. I will try to list some for you. But first lets make try to make this short and simple. God created man (Adam and Eve). He created them to live on earth. For how long? Forever. They were supposed to live on earth in paradise forever and fill the earth. Gen 1:28...ok next then what happens...enter Satan...Gen 3:3,4 - he lies to Eve and because of this death enters the world. (We all know the rest of the story...) So here we are now what happens to us... well the Jew's believed that when we died our bodies went to a place that was written Sheol, Hades in the original scriptures - it was translated hell in most bibles today. You have to look up interlinear translations to see that is was changed. Sheol meant the common grave of mankind. This can be found in the old testament at places like: Eccl 9:5,10, Ps 146:4, Ezek 18:4, Ps 9:17, Job 14:13 In New Testament Places like: Acts 2:25-27, Rev 20:13,14
Another word that was also translated hell was Gehenna - this was the word for eternal destruction and was the word given to the place where criminals where 'thrown' away because they did not deserve to be buried - it was kept burning with 'fire and brimstone' (sound familiar?)
What does the bible really teach is the punishment for sin? Rom 6:23 "The wages sin pays is death." Rom 6:7 "He who has died has been acquitted from his sin." So thats it if you do not live a christian life and do not find the truth you will simply die, like Satan said.
What happens if you do? Well that's another post all together :) Because Matt 5:3 says some of us go to heaven and Matt 5:5 says some of us inherit the earth...and John 3:16 says that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."....hmmmmmm (amazing!)
I agree and disagree somewhat with Digitskyes. Religion is a way of spiritual living here on earth. No one has the experience of saying what heaven or hell is like, so every opinion is just an opinion. But for reason far above and beyond our understanding, God has a set in place rules to guide us that we should follow for our own good, again far above and far beyond our limited earthly human brains can understand. I was just thinking, there's 1) earthly wisdom and 2) heavenly wisdom. Since we're not God, we can't see around the corner or into the future, like a baby infant can't understand what's going in the next room. The fact that God still has us breathing, is another moment He's extending patience to us because He does not want a single soul to be lost. He sent "the only way" He's endorsed, complete with witnesses and written history. But if you choose not to believe because that's your right not to, (and there were some who witnessed with their own eyes Jesus die and then live again; who touched Him; who witnessed His miracles and heard him say what was prophesized), you can believe or not believe, trust or not trust, accept or not accept. Jesus fulfilled every prophesy. God gave Man a free will to exercise. One day we will all see clearly, but for now it has to be trusting in the truth by faith and not on our limited understanding. For all those who chose to not believe and think hell/ heaven and God are nothing, I pray for your soul you're right because if you're wrong...there won't be a second chance for you. On the other hand, for those who believe if we're wrong, well, we won't have to worry about any hell in the first place. Let me conclude this comment with this- Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding,,and be not wise in your own eyes... this is from Proverbs 3:5-6.
Digit, I agree with what you're saying. The concept of hell wasn't even widely taught until the middle ages, when the catholic church used the fear of hell to get folks to buy indulgences to avoid this fiery hell. The fact of the matter is, things must be taken on faith since no one can really know for sure what lies beyond. I don't think it matters what religion or church you belong to because, ultimately, God knows your heart... thanks for reading and commenting
Hmm interesting subject and great hub.
For me I've always found the concept of Heaven or Hell just not going far enough, it's like a human trying to find a way to describe something it has no words, concepts or any other system of understanding.
The fact is that when we die it is such a fundamental change that nothing that we have EVER experienced before can even come close to helping us understand it.
Perhaps it's nothingness perhaps it's something, but until it happens the most important thing is how we are living now, and what thoughts we are living with.
The religious views that give us fear and hatred by creating systems of punishment and reward are far too easily corrupted or misused by our own minds.
Far better to always be questioning and understand that we really don't know, so no hard and solid line can be taken until we do.
But while I think i am spiritual, I'm entirely un-religious so my views might be a bit biased too.
Km, that's a great comment, excellent point and good thought. Take care!
To Davesworld...no need to struggle with the 'one-size fits all damnation' and punishment. God knows the very nature and intentions of the heart behind every action. Our creator's judgement WILL be fair and just. Just be grateful it's not up to 'us' to make that final ruling.
Grace, thank you for commenting
Hi PDX... :)... it is challenging to realize we are spiritual persons in earth suits... and our spiritual personhood did not "come from" a material plane but outside the material plane but into the material plane from a spiritual plane. This dimension incorporates both Heaven and hell as we all know. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was in the center of the Garden with the Tree of Life. Consider this, Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Knowledge has power of conception. That is all I will say for now. But, my hub will go through sequentially to show forth the reality that those who "go to Heaven" came from Heaven. Those who "go to hell" came from hell. However, the plan of God is the cross of Calvary. Jesus came into this dimension to destroy flesh -- and destroy Satan. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. (John 3). The devil and his angels born in human flesh appearing have been caused by God to become a physical property that is destroyed when this first creation of earth is destroyed. The bodies of the damned are made of this earth that is destroyed. The cross is full power of destruction of all evil - and full power of recreation anew. It's not a "back door" into Heaven to be destroyed and recreated anew -- because God doesn't make "lacking plans". Rather, the plan of the destruction of the wicked and their recreation was the plan all along. Spiritual physics requires the devil and his angels to come into a material plane whereby they can be destroyed with the material plane according to evil. It's challenging, but quite reasonable... and so intelligent. (God is smarter than Einstein. ;) I'll write more blog posts and generate the case sequentially. God bless you, PDX.
This is a lot to take in in just a comment on a hub and I am very skeptical. However, if you write a hub on this subject, I'd be happy to read it. Please provide more scripture references to back up your point.
Thanks for stopping by Grace Explosion.
Dave, thanks for your comment. I may be mistaken, but I do think the bible talks about different levels of punishment with hell, but, again, I'm not sure...Thanks for taking the time to read and comment
Hello. I am beginning to write on this subject. What I have to say is going to be a "shocker" to the body of Christ. Bit, it is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It goes far and wide beyond what I hear anyone else teaching. So please be patient as I begin to write. When the fallen angels fell -- Jesus Christ immediately entered hell. This was the first day. The darkness on the face of the deep was the face of Satan and the fallen angels. The void and darkness was hell. Jesus Christ followed them straight into hell saying, "Let there be light and there was light." When God said, "Let us make man in our image..." God was speaking to the holy angels. This Mediator Dimension is a dimension of the incarnation of God as Jesus Christ and the Son of God - the Light from Heaven come in human flesh appearing. This Mediator Dimension is a dimension of the incarnation of the elect angels as the elect saints. This Mediator Dimension is a dimension of the fallen angels as the reprobate damned. This is why there is election and reprobation. This is a realm into which the populations of hell and Heaven are being born as men appearing in human flesh. God could not "save" the fallen angels in their spiritual bodies. Thus, He created this dimension. There is much to write - and if you are truly sincerely seeking Truth and will hear a scriptural case, I will tell you what I see of the 3rd Heaven and hell and this dimension as well as the reconciliation of all things. Those on the left of Jesus on Judgment Day who Jesus sends into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels truly are the devil and his angels in human flesh appearing. While it seems "cold" to those who do not see the grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ that God would "send men to hell" -- the heart of God is known by realizing that it was by God's own grace that they were born as men in the first place. They are the fallen angels in human flesh appearing. They needed to be born in human flesh in order to be destroyed and recreated. They could not be saved in spiritual bodies. So, God created this Mediator Dimension of incarnation of the populations of Heaven and hell and sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that evil could be destroyed on the Last Day... and the fallen angels (who appear as men) could be restored. God concluded all under sin in that even the bodies into which the holy angels would be born from above were fallen in Adam. Thus, Jesus Christ died to save the world. But, the devil and his angels are in a spiritually blasphemous state in their spirits and in their true unseen "personhood". They only "appear" to be men in this world. Read Jude. 4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (These are wandering stars - the fallen angels -- pre-existent and before of old ordained to this condemnation. Not because God is cruel. But because God in love who causes the sun to shine on the wicked and the just in His perfect love, raised them up out of hell to be born as men to restore them through the fires of destruction that can only apply to men in human bodies. Fallen angels in spiritual bodies cannot be destroyed according to evil.) Those who "go to hell" -- actually came from hell and are the devil and fallen angels in human flesh appearing. God has been gracious to allow them to be born as men -- not cruel. And, though He will punish them for their sins and they will literally rot in hell with worms covering them for the 1000 years, God will resurrect them in human flesh appearing to be gathered for Final Armageddon. And, when Jesus returns, they will be annihilated according to evil and come through the fire saved. 1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
You asked the question who goes to hell and for how long. But, I'm sure you did not realize -- that those who go to hell came from hell and are the devil and his angels in human flesh appearing and this dimension was created and generated to restore them as well as reveal God's grace in the Lord Jesus Christ to all. For even the bodies of the elect angels according to Adam are fallen and in the body of death, our souls are as the children of wrath like unto the rest. We are all concluded under sin that the manifestation of the sons of God in liberty might be revealed at the appearing of our Savior.
We the elect saints are the elect angels in human flesh appearing -- Jesus the firstborn of many brethren.
It's a "mindbender".
It's... the mystery of grace revealed, I believe. I'll write more hubs and lay it out more and more sequentially. But, if someone really wants to know the answer to the question... it's like water pouring out to meet thirst, seems to me. God bless you.
Eternal damnation is an area that I personally struggle with. My major difficulty is the one size fits all punishment. It's as if we were to judge people here like this: kill some one, off with your head; rape a woman, off with your head; steal a million bucks, off with your head; steal a loaf of bread because you're starving, off with your head; run a red light, off with your head; jay walk, off with your head.
Nikki, it is sad. Thanks for your comment
it's sad that people are going to hell. They need to have jesus in there heart and stop lying.
Greetings, friends. I recently blogged about this issue from a new perspective. http://pdxjpricefirstblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/jos
U make very good points. especially your last one. Thank you for contributing!
Well, don't you think that the account of the thief on the cross demonstrates that doing good according the our assessment has nothing to do with getting into heaven. God defines what is good and it begins with what's going on in the human heart. That's something we're not privy to. So from our point of view it will often look as though the bad go to heaven and the good go to hell. Having said that, I'm very reluctant to say any particular person is in hell, not even the most heineous of criminals. That's not ours to know.
As for how long I just don't know. Whatever eternity means, that's how long hell will last for those who are there.
I appreciate your comment and the poetic way you recounted this story, though I'm not sure it relates to this HUB, it's very beautiful. Blessings to you
My name is Julius. I've lived a life of thievery and crime. I was hanged on a cross. On the next cross over there was a very unusual man who seemed to be suffering far more than physical pain and agony. I was drawn to exclaim, "Please remember me when you come to your kingdom." I was stunned when he answered, "Today, we'll be together in Paradise."
Cindy, that's a wonderful point, By the same token, knowing that God is unchanging, it's also important that we don't misrepresent Him.
Thanks for reading and contributing!
This is a really great hub! I wish I had time to read all the comments. You have obviously stirred the pot. I have been raised to believe the same as you, and find myself wondering some of the same things. But I generally take a step back and try not worry about this issue too much. No amount of worry, concern or fear is going to change God. I have to trust that He is a loving and compassionate God, and He will do what is right and just. Just my thoughts.
thank you, alcosin. I think it's a fine question to ask. most people can ahnd;e a question or challeneg in their faith, but it's also amazing how mny folks can't... Thanks for treading and commenting
Quite sensible question, PDX, and your hub is a thoughtful exploration of the question. Unfortunately, you talk religion like this, you'll ruffle some feathers, especially when they don't read the article. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Anonymous, I don't know if you read the HUB or not but I think your comment is appropriate. It's on point with the discussion and is respectful and fairly objective. Much appreciated. Thank you!
I was speaking with a friend on this subject the other day and he also brought up the term "childlike faith" and I'm trying to have that. The long and short of it is, God is the ultimate judge and decider of who is saved or not. I just do have some issues and concerns that some of the meaning of words have been lost in translation. I'm trying to maintain that childlike faith and trust in God. I appreciate your continued prayers and kind discussion on the matter!
Who's Going to Heaven and for How long? Interesting. I'll have to think of that!
if you didn't read this HUB, I encourage you to read it so you can understand more about me and my journey!
Thanks for stopping by and contributing to this every important discussion!
Such and interesting read, this hub and all the comments. The topic grabs strongly to the core. I hope my comment here be granted posting if it's deemed relative and helpful for this hub. I'll make my points brief.
!. Hell, as told in the Bible, is for souls who rejected and rebelled against the gift God sent to redeem souls back to Himself. Heaven is not a place for unforgiven sin. How long you'll be in hell depends on the time between your last breath and Judgement Day. After that is even a worse place, the Lake of Fire, or the "second death".
2. I can't believe anyone in their 'right mind' would even joke or kid about choosing Hell over Heaven. But it really is your choice. God will never force anyone to accept 'His gift' sent from heaven. Jesus took all Man's sins upon Himself. SIN requires a death penalty for God to forgive the sin. It takes FAITH to believe this 'unbelievable but true thing' God did for us, not intellect or logic. God operates not of the physical world, though the effects are felt in the physical, so all the searching the world for things pertaining to God can't be found in a lab or proven by a scientific experiment....only by the power of faith- this is the manner we gain access to things Spiritual, things we can't see. FAITH eludes and confounds the intellect, because it can't be explained logically or scientifically or described or accessed by any other method. The mysteries of God and answers to His ways can only be opened to your eyes by FAITH. It's easier for a child to have faith than a college professor with a brilliant I.Q. Without FAITH, no one can see or believe the ways of the Lord Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the mysteries in God's Holy Word and grow your faith and open your eyes to see and open your ears to hear.
3. While we're limited in our physical, earthly bodies, this is why we need to exercise FAITH. Souls who get to be in the presence of the Lord in heaven, won't need faith. In heaven, there won't be a need for faith
The general message of the Bible is this....God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to die for your sins while we were still sinners. With Jesus, you bypass hell. If you're human, you're a sinner. By faith, believe Jesus, who was no sin, and did no sin, was the Lamb that was sacrificed in your place. Receive Jesus by FAITH. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Hell is not where God desires any one to choose. Reject Jesus and you are choosing Hell by default. Just have FAITH to believe and receive. No acts to perform but FAITH in God and His Son.
I DON'T MAKE ANY CLAIM TO KNOW EVERY THING and I never will. My comments are based on my studying, and listening to hundreds of messages by well-known Bible teachers over the past 20+ years since willing giving my life and heart to my good Lord, since He was and is so merciful to my 'dirty soul'. And, much prayer for wisdom of what I've learned for growing in more maturity in God's Word.
I was thinking, a future hub could prove to be just as interesting, "Who's going to God's heaven, and for how long?
Gilberto, I am not going to approve your comments. They are long and convoluted and they are taking over my HUB. I encourage you to organize them into a HUB of your own which I'd be happy to link too.
Gilberto- thank you for stopping by. I'm not sure if I understand your comment, but I appreciate you leaving it!
PDXKaraokeguy
My name is Gilberto and I here send you a post which I sent to a brother who would accuse me of being a j.w. a mormon osha etc… on his site.
Reason iam sending it to you is so to share things I have learned during my journey alone with GOD.
A little bit about me;
I was a cocaine addict for 21 years.
January 28 will be 5 years since GOD released me from my bondage and I have been serving HIM ever since.
Pray this post helps.
GOD BLESS
Gilberto.
P.S. also I would like to see if you can give me some pointers, I just started a my own HUB and brother! I have no clue what a’ heck im doing. ?
I have some things I would like to post but my old age does not help me figure it out ?
Ok, hope you can give a brother a hand, my hub gives me a warning of big “substandard” no clue what this means.
Here is the post brother P.
Peter, you continue to falsely accuse me about UNIVERSAL SALVATION.
I TOLD YOU FROM THE BEGINNING THAT IS NOT MY BELIEF AND I SEE YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME.
YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING IN YOUR POST TO ME. ABOUT UNIVERSAL SALVATION BEING DEMONIC.
TO PUT IT SIMPLY UNIVERSAL SALVATION IS ---NOT--- IN THE SCRIPTURES SO THERE FORE I DO NOT BELIEVE IN IT, MUCH LESS PRACTICE IT.
HERE IS THE SCRIPTURE I BELIEVE IN;
Philippians 2:1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, ALTHOUGH HE EXISTED IN THE ---FORM--- OF GOD DID NOT REGARD ---EQUALITY--- WITH GOD A THING TO BE ‘GRASPED’… 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, OF THOSE WHO ARE IN HEAVEN(GOOD & EVIL SPIRITUAL HOSTS) AND ON EARTH (US IF JESUS CAME TODAY) AND UNDER THE EARTH, (THOSE NO LONGER WITH US) 11and that every tongue WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.
As far as the universe goes, it would be arrogant of me to say, yes the universe going to be saved.
I don’t know if Martians aliens what have you live UP in the skies.
I base my beliefs on Scriptures so please stop putting a logo on me IAM NOT A J.W. MORMON OSAS---NOT ANY DENOMINATION.
You know, now I know what you meant when you said in one of your posts about, ‘the cat is out of the bag’ shame on you Brother Pete but I forgive you.
Second of all;
TWO RESURRECTIONS
1Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. 2He seized the dragon—that old serpent, who is the devil, Satan—and bound him in chains for a thousand years. 3The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.
4Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those (THE FEW CHOSEN) who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands. They all came to life again, AND they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5THIS IS TE FIRST RESURRECTION (The RESTOF THE DEAD did not come BACK TO LIFE UNTIL the thousand years had ENDED.) 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, BUT they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.
Do you believe ADAM EVE ABRAHAM MOSES ISAIAH DANIEL JOB ETC… WILL BE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION OR THE SECOND RESURRECTION?
HERE IS THE ANSWER ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, HERE IS WHAT JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES BEFORE HE LEFT;
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient (ADVENTAGEOUS) for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
AND CHRIST DID GO AND DID SEND THE COMFORTER AND IS WHY PAUL SAID;
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have -----NOT--- the Spirit of Christ, HE IS NONE OF HIS.
ALL THE OLD PATRIARCHS WERE LONG GONE WHEN THESE WORDS WERE SPOKEN.
SO NO THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THESE HAD THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT BE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, THEY WILL BE WITH; ….(The RESTOF THE DEAD did not come BACK TO LIFE –UNTIL-- the thousand years had ENDED.)
AND HOW WILL THEY COME BACK TO LIFE?
1 CORINTHIANS 15;42 That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay.
There fore;
1 Corinthians 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. IF THERE IS A NATURAL BODY, there is also a spiritual body.
“IF THERE IS A NATURAL BODY” AND THERE IS, LOOK AROUND YOU PETE, EVERY ONE YOU SEE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A SPIRITUAL BODY.
BUT HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE RAISED
WELL WE KNOW THAT THE DEAD, “When it comes back to life, it cannot decay.” [BECAUSE] “it is raised a spiritual body.”
SO IN THE SECOND RESURRECTION ONCE THE DEAD ARE RAISED IN SPIRITUAL BODIES THEREFORE CANNOT DIE NO MORE.
SO WHAT THEN GETS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE…?
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM ---THE SIMPLICITY--- THAT IS IN CHRIST.
“YOUR CORRUPTED MINDS!!”
JUST LIKE THE FEW CHOSEN WHO WILL BE IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, AND THEIR CORRUPTED MINDS ARE BEING PURIFIED ---NOW--- WHILE ALIVE BUT DYING DAILY, SO WILL THE REST OF THE DEAD.
AND YES…. satan INCLUDED (BECAUSE satan HAS A CORRUPTED MIND just like us IS WHY he CAN COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CORRUPTED MINDS)
YOU DONT BELIEVE IT ? YOU DONT HAVE TO IS IN YOUR BIBLE MY BIBLE EVERYONES BIBLE;
Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, WAS THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
HERE IS A BETTER TRANSLATION BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LEARNED SCHOLARS KNOW THAT --FOREVER AND FOREVER IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL BUT AGES OF AGES IS, AND THAT’S BECAUSE GOD WORKS IN AGES UNTIL WE ALL GO TO ETERNITY. ONLY THEN THERE WILL BE NO MORE NEED FOR THE AGES.
HERE IT IS IN (THE CONCORDANT LITERAL VERSION)
REVELATION 20:10 And the devil who is deceiving them was cast into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the wild beast and where the false prophet are also. And they shall be tormented day and night for the eons (AGES) of the eons (AGES)."
So ALL THE SPIRITUAL HOST (the devil, the evil spirits, the false ministers – evil angels--) are automatically cast into the LAKE OF FIRE. NO WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT FOR THEM BECAUSE ALL THESE EVIL HOSTS WERE ALL USED FOR GODS PURPOSE AND PLAN TO BRING ---US--- TO HIM.
YET THOUGH THEY WERE USED BY GOD, THEIR THINKING STILL MUST BE MADE UNCORRUPT.
NOW HERE IS WHERE THE WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT, FOR EVERY HUMAN THAT EVER LIVED SINCE ADAM AND EVE, AND WERE NOT IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION, TAKES PLACE;
Revelation 20:11 And I perceived a great white throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them." 12 And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead w
Thanks for stopping by again, Artist. This is a really fun HUB and discussion to read!
My Esoteric:
You are so right what a great point, a hell here on earth that they must be living in, seems true if we are not living in a heaven on earth through our own creativity and actions. To think you started your journey at such an early age such as ten is stunning in itself. I go back and forth and for reasons unknown to me struggle with inner questions, I understand the basics in myself and what I believe is a moral fulfilling way to live my life, however I seem drawn so many times to aspects that are known for lack of better wording, unreal or supernatural. I suppose I do not view them in that way, I still believe I just have not met the right person or as a human race we have not learned to tap into ourselves fully, I guess personally I am trying to do this within and that is the stem of most my research on religion and things unknown. :)
"The initial statement KMS made is that " (1) The written Word of God can't be compared to any other book. (2) It's penned by human hands but (3) those hands were inspired by the Holy Spirit. (4) The Bible is a spiritual, living book." I inserted the numbers to talk about the important parts. (1) and (4) are statements of opinion but can easily be accepted as reasonable. (2) is fact. The rest of what KMS has to say, however, rests on the factualness of (3). For the rest of what is proposed to be believed, you need to prove (3) to be true, and that simply cannot be done; that is why religion is called a "faith". You have "faith" that it is true, but "faith" alone does not make it universally true, it only makes it true for the faithful."
OH I had to direct quote you on this My Esoteric, only because as I read the words I was smiling, not in a disrespectful way but in a circular way of comments about myself being a lady after your own heart, for I was thinking the exact same thing as I read that response from KMS!! :)
This HUB is getting so many comments that it's going to be very hard to keep up. From here out, I may or may not respond to each comment, but I will read them all. Thanks in advance for the comments.
JOnathan, I always had a problem with the theology of pre destination. If God is all loving, why would he DESTINE people to an eternal hell? Certainly he KNOWS who's going, but that in itself raises issues... why would a loving God create people he knew were going to hell? If God doesn't want anyone to go to hell, doesn't God get what he wants? I understand the concept of free will, but, ultimately, god is our Creator and our Father and He knows what's best for us. It's certainly a conundrum.
Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful comments.
I believe that who ever does not accept Christ as Savior is going to die and then go to Hell for all of eternity. I agree with the writer when he stated that God is love and God is all powerful. But God is also a just and righteous and has to punish sin that is why He sends the non-believers to Hell. God does not pre-destinate humans to go to Heaven or Hell, because God gave all men a free will so if God gave pre-destinated all men that would be unjust and supression of our "free will". It does not please God to send a person too Hell, "God is not willing that any should perish.." but God is just and has to punish sin.
Thank you for this Hub it was very exciting too read and discuss.
I actually caught a great deal of humor through the reading of this wonderfully written hub here. The funny thing is @ PDX, everything you've pointed out has already surfaced through my cerebral many years ago, and even as a child. I am a firm believer in the fact that something indeed created us all, but I've lost my belief in hell long long ago, just like I don't believe in Santa Claus.
Our beautiful Earth, definitely didn't just arrive into its positional placement in the cosmos on its own, it surely took a great deal of observed knowledge and wisdom to put such a power into existence.
I try using the scientific method myself though in examining many things that religious folklore have obviously claimed to be a truth, but have been disproved countless times.
Being a devout believer of any faith is quite fine to me, I think the problem arises when one belief system takes a stab at the other, this I don't agree with and is the reason why I chose to follow God without reference to any beliefs or structured form of follower ship.
I worship our creator as a spiritually aware person who accepts all beliefs, I pretty much have learned about all the religions of the world in great detail, and use from each one all the great good they have to offer, to formulate a true pathway of least resistance towards enlightenment and understanding about them all, which opposes any suggestions of falling into some burning lake such as hell is described to be.
To me it just seems to much like a fairy tale rather than common sense. The hell that I know of in reality appears to be the core of this planet earth, and maybe even the surface of the sun.
Has humanity ever thought that in the ancient times, maybe the reference to such things and ideas on what hell is, have simply stemmed from the very existence of such realities as the sun, the fiery temperatures of lava and the likes. I also a person who practices unity between peoples so when it comes to separatism, I tend to steer away from such things, because that is what these sort of religious divides have been doing for centuries. Why keep making the same mistakes over and over again, isn't that the purest definition of insanity.
you must have a very interesting hub here Justin, the way i ran at all those comments...well, i only have one stand "To walk my talk," it's very easy to profess ones Faith, but Faith without work is Dead...
thank you for creating a wonderful hub...
TJG, don't worry about popularity. Nothing in the Bible offends me, but many things purported to be taught in the Bible and exploited and/or misinterpreted by the church do. I believe the Bible, at least in it's original form, is the Word of God, but I also believe many parts of the modern English BIble are no longer the original language. It also does seem a bit circular to use the Bible to prove that the BIble is the Word of God. The Qu-ran also claims to be the Word of God, as does the Book or Mormon.
Anyway, i appreciate the visit and your input, though I'm not sure where you get the idea that I'm offended of upset by the Truth. I am never offended by Truth, only by applications and misuses of the truth. I love God and Jesus very much... I just dislike most Christians.
My Esoteric, thanks again for your input. This Hub has gotten a wee bit out of hand, but, it's fun and interesting to see all the different viewpoints and, most people have been able to be clean and respectful.
Blessings to all of You.
Anartiststyle, you are a lady after my own heart, in an earlier comment, I was where you are now back in 70s, such a long, long time ago.
As to a part of one of your last comments about "... but I guess they will find out when they die, personally I wouldn't want to be there when that is discussed ..." That got me to thinking about one of the philophers I follow, Baruch Spinoza. In his book, The Ethics, he sort of talks about that, but from the point of view of the living. In trying to argue why one should lead an ethical and moral life, he points out that the less of those you are, the more painful and miserable your life actually is. So, my conclusion from that is, if true, the really bad people must already be living in a personal "Hell on Earth"; one I couldn't even begin to fathom.
My word, what a hub you have going here, PDX! I was going to respond to KMS360 a few days ago, but got sidetracked by New Hampshire; now that I came back, I found it again in the depths of many other comments.
Nevertheless, here goes. First, certainly what KMS chooses to believe in, to have faith in, is fine by me, I make no judgement, so long as none is made in return and no attempt is made via direct or indirect government action to conform my actions to those beliefs. Beyond that, it is a live-and-let-live world. What KMS offers, however, is a prime example of a circular argument.
The inital statement KMS made is that " (1) The written Word of God can't be compared to any other book. (2) It's penned by human hands but (3) those hands were inspired by the Holy Spirit. (4) The Bible is a spiritual, living book." I inserted the numbers to talk about the important parts. (1) and (4) are statements of opinion but can easily be accepted as reasonable. (2) is fact. The rest of what KMS has to say, however, rests on the factualness of (3). For the rest of what is proposed to be believed, you need to prove (3) to be true, and that simply cannot be done; that is why religion is called a "faith". You have "faith" that it is true, but "faith" alone does not make it universally true, it only makes it true for the faithful.
KMS also wrote "(1) God sent his precious Son as man's sacrificial Lamb ... (2) You are free to worship anyone you choose, (3) but if there is no payment for your sins, then your worship to that god or prophet will not get your sins forgiven by God? Only Jesus solved your sin debt to save your soul from death of eternal separation from God." Here again, for (1) one must assume that is factual as well. There two problems with that as well, 1) you have two major faiths coming from Abraham who disagree with Peter's version and 2) the historical records show that Jesus himself didn't think of himself in those terms; Jesus, as the son of God only came about some 30 or so years after his death, promulgated by Peter and Paul to advance the Christian faith. Therefore, once again, you only have "faith" on which to base your belief in (1), and without (1), (3) doesn't follow.
I think PDX has it right, you take from the Good Books the good out of them and search for truth everywhere for it exists everywhere.
At the risk of proving very unpopular I believe that the Bible is one hundred percent Gods word to us .
2Tim3:16 Talks about all scripture being God Breathed and inspired by Him . The books of revelation and Deuteronomy both give warnings to those who would take away or add to the word of God . I write this not as one having all the answers but in the Spirit of humility .
Many people in the time when Jesus walked the on earth stopped following Him because what He said offended them and nothing has changed today . Without Jesus Christ no one can even approach God , so stop getting offended and upset at the truth and embrace Him fully . SELAH
Zain, I'm glad this HUB has encouraged you to ask questions. I think any group or religion that doesn't allow one to ask questions is a red flag. If you can't ask, then why did God give you such abilities? All the best in your quest, brother.
peace be upon you as you seek God and truth!
Great Hub but I will comment on one of your comment,
"I cannot tell you how many times I've been to church and heard pastors say that Muslims are going to hell, or Jews. I'm not sure I believe this".
I have heard statements like that as well not only in mosques or Mandirs and as a supporter of inter-religion Dialogue I personally feel that we need to talk about it, Now about the hub I a Muslim by birth and by the time some questions are raised but cannot find answers and have to face responses like "Investigating matters of God is a sin" but your hub encouraged me to raise those question again and have a constructive debate,
Thanks for a great Hub.
no need to apologize. always nice to see you :-)
Me . . . forever . . . if I don't apologize. My bad. My closed head injury must have been acting out.
no problem. let me know how you like it. Thanks again for your repeat visits and thoughtful comments!
Ahh yes all good points :) I also liked when you hit upon that earlier about the mistranslation. I will look into this book, thank you for sharing that! I always like your hubs and where the convos go :)
artist, I agree. The Bible has taken many forms and translations over the years with many books and authors not even allowed into it. The Catholic Bible has more books then the Christian Bible. Words like "Fornication" and "eternal" have been misinterpreted (or taught incorrectly) for many years. As stated in my Hub, the same word we use to describe God as eternal ids not the same word used in the original language to describe hell as eternal. The concepts of sex as being reserved for married couples only and of hell as a dwelling place are very new to church history. I recommend a book called "The Faith" by Daniel Moynahan.It really shares the whole story of the Christian church, beginning with the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
Yes, when I was comparing the rapist with the serial killer, I was being satirical. Morality varies from person to person and from religion to religion. For example, polygamy is considered moral and proper in Islamic cultures, but is considered sinful in the Christian church (despite the fact that polygamy is actually taught in the Bible). I believe sin is sin, evil is evil. if you steal a candy from the drugstore or if you kill someone, you're still doing something wrong. Yes, those are extreme examples, but, hopefully you see my point.
I'm enjoying this discussion. Thanks for sharing.
First the Bible says a lot of things and varies greatly from old testament to new. For me personally 'spiritually guided by God or not 'it is written by man, and man errors by nature, this does not even take into account how many times it has been translated. I take it as a great guide with great moral teachings and values.
Yes 'being good' is relative and I agree, that is what I meant by internal feelings. Without knowing we each have to live with ourselves and our choices and live with what is right for us personally. Since everyone is so different, well this is sounding a lot like an analogy of religion.
I do not agree with comparing two evils and saying the lesser of the evil is 'good'. I don't see how harming another being, robbing them of their life feels good or right, in any sense of the word. It might to another which might be your point, but I guess they will find out when they die, personally I wouldn't want to be there when that is discussed or if you believe in reincarnation when they come back as something worse. ha ha.
sunnieDay and Artist, thanks for your thoughtful comments and for sharing your stories. One thing I've liked about doing this HUB and reading such a variety of comments is it's lead me to pray more and ask God for wisdom. I certainly don't want to go to hell, and I don't think anyone does, but I also don't think you can know 100% what happens when you die until you die. A devout Christian and a devout Muslim are just as sure in their faith as the other and yet one of them is wrong(?)? All I can do is enjoy the quest.
Artist, the idea of people having to be good to go to Heaven was kind of tongue in cheek because, isn't good relative? The serial rapist migt find himself morally superior to the serial killer because he lets his victims live, yet, int he eyes of the law, they are both felons. The BIble clearly says "All have sinned and fallen short." The Bible also says Jesus paid the debt for all mankind and offered his grace as a free GIFT. Gifts, at least genuine ones, don't have to and cannot be earned. It's a puzzling contradiction.
SunnieDay, I really liked this line from your comments: "Man has made religion but God has made relationship" very powerful and true. Thank you both for taking the time to read and comment. God bless you.
Hello PDX,
I have passed your hub many times and thought,”Oh, I don’t know if I can read this because then I would feel I need to comment and what do I know?” This morning it was calling my name. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought about the scenario’s you wrote about. I have been on more spiritual quests than I can count, searching for truth. I was raised exactly as you write about. I have been in hand raising, free, dancing services to quiet, strict, cold services. I have studied, prayed, and studied some more trying to find the truth... How does a loving God send many to hell if they do not believe a certain way or has not come to that truth. I have come to one and only conclusion. I do not know!
We are all given a measure of faith and understanding and it varies greatly. Truth comes to us at different times and many may be different. The relationship with the Father is the most important. I do not want to over simplify but for me, I have given up on things that I cannot find the answers to. I know that may seem slightly aloof and I do not mean it to sound that way. All I can do is love my God with all my heart, and love my fellowman, no matter what he believes or where he comes from. I leave the rest to God and his wisdom. I am sure many will be shocked one day at the teachings they have given, and the truth ends up being nothing as they thoughtit to be. So many think they have it all figured out. The scriptures are deep, and many have drawn different ideas and thoughts from them. Man has made religion but God has made relationship. As our deep relationship grows, I do believe we are given deep spiritual truths and understanding. With that comes a responsibility. Why would God throw his precious truth around to someone who may just use it for their own vanity? Just think how frustrating it is for someone to comment and not read your work. Many talk about the Bible without the relationship, thinking they know things, and in reality, not knowing the author. Thanks PDX...great article... just my thoughts and still do not have concrete answers but that is okay...
Sunnie
OOOOHHHH another great hub.. PDX I feel as if I can just virtually camp out on your hub page and constantly be drawn into conversations that actually mean something, how nice, kudos to you and thanks :)
In reading your hub you ask questions that I think everyone might twinge a little when being taught at a younger age. "What do you mean someone is a good person and they still go to hell?" Personally those were my thoughts around the age of 13. I started in Catholic schools and then went to Christian. In high school I was part of my youth group and it was great for someone so young in the world we live in today, but some of its members as anywhere else in society are some of the biggest hypocrites of all, worse part age 13-18 you see it clear as day. :( When I went to college, I was very interested in the way I was guided and of other religions. I took a world religion course in college and well it was my favorite class. I can not agree with ALL of any one religion and this is a little disconcerting. I also struggle with Religious War, it is as if its the biggest scam of all. NO ONE no matter how much you feel inside, how much faith* you have, it is still FAITH and no one KNOWS* 100% for fact what happens when we die. Yes that is a very hard sentence to read or accept, scary even, especially depending on your religion. I am not saying personally inside you don't feel whats right and personally within yourself know what happens, I mean that in a bigger scale, as a human race. That being said, why do I feel almost forced to *name* God? Cant I not look out into this beautiful world and solar system understand that there is something far greater than myself, can I not love (him,her,it,them) they being so powerful, know that I live my life well and as a good person and understand me internally and externally. See I think they do and when you take out the human need to name (him,her,it,them) you are left with a peaceful feeling of acceptance, of no religious wars where so many loved ones from all faiths die. I don't know these are ramblings of a 26 year old girl who is just starting to enjoy being in this world and researching its massiveness. That is just my take, honestly if anyone after wants to tell me I am going to hell, then I accept that in their faith, but it really is not the God that I love and know, internally, it is not my destiny to be determined by another. I respect other religions though, Buddhism and Hinduism has some of the greatest morals and values I have studied, I just know how I feel inside, the love, the power to help things grow, the ability to accept and create life... I am in heaven and trying to make it an even better one here on earth. Maybe this is all the artist in me taking over, but my greater being made me as an artist, creator, and woman with this feeling of life inside. Sorry if I got off topic PDX, but that's what I love about your hubs, so many different paths it leads me down..
TJG, thanks for stopping by. Those are excellent points. I obviously wrote this with a bias wanting it to be true, i still don't know the answers here but I've really been trying to find the truth of the matter and not merely seek something which tickles my ears. I appreciate your prayers and comments!
As much as I would like to believe this is correct I am afraid it isnt . I too have studied the bible and have a diploma in theology . One only has to read the last chapters in the Book of Revalation to see that Satan along with Death & Hades and all those whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life are thrown into the lake of fire where their torment goes up for ever and ever (Rev 20 : 10 - 15 ) . In our typical hunanistic way and our wish to be totally inclusive it is easy to water down Gods word if it upsets our concept of God .
I appreciate your comment. I'm not in disagreement with you on much of what you said. I read my Bible everyday and get much wisdom from it and I feel peace and spiritual fulfillment when I read it. i believe it to be the Words of God and, to me, it doesn't matter if things in it actually happened or if they were just legends, because wisdom can still be derived from it. I do think, however, there are things taught by the church that aren't talked about in the Bible or are misinterpreted. This doesn't come from a desire to have my ears tickled, but rather from a desire to really understand the Word and what it says to me and the world. It troubles me that things taught as fact now int he church were not taught at all in the church centuries ago despite access to the same text. Reading about church and Bible history really makes you question what the Bible means and how God meant it. I've decided to boil it down to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit being real and taking it from there. That's what I'm doing.
My Esoteric, thanks again for stopping by. your comment speaks for itself.
I appreciate your thoughtful comments!
I hope you don't mind that I leave one more comment. The written Word of God can't be compared to any other book. It's penned by human hands but those hands were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a spiritual, living book. Throughout each book, is something foretold of the coming Messiah, and stories of what pleases and displeases God, the lineage of Jesus through the Jewish people, and how sins were dealt with. The New Testament is the story of Jesus' arrival, His ministry, His apostles, His crucifiction, resurrection, the spread of the church despite persecution, and what still is to come. The Bible is a 'spiritual' book-full of wisdom, and if you read it over and over your entire life, you would still only touch a fraction of the wisdom within it's pages. The Psalms, Job, Proverbs,and all the Books I continually receive a fresh message each time I study them. My spiritual eyes are opened wider each time. The Bible can't be read like any written novel. As for hell, since we can't speak to any one how's been there to tell about it, my opinion is just as good as another's. What I have learned about hell is from my study of it in the Bible-it's only a holding place for those who rejected Jesus as their Savior. Places like heaven and hell are unlike physical places we can understand now. Remember, God is Spirit and these places will be for our spirits to reside. All I know is hell won't be any pleasant holding place. Sort of like jail before prison, therefore I'd rather obey what I know to do to avoid it altogether. If someone does not have the Holy Spirit, there is no way they can understand things of God, for God is Spirit. They can only base their opinion on humanly thoughts, and not spiritually-minded thoughts. God's Word teaches sin separates man from a Holy God. God sent his precious Son as man's sacrificial Lamb, to be your Lord and Savior. You are free to worship anyone you choose, but if there is no payment for your sins, then your worship to that god or prophet will not get your sins forgiven by God? Only Jesus solved your sin debt to save your soul from death of eternal separation from God. God Bless.
Thanks PDX, and you hit on two key points 1)whatever the approach is that gives YOU the most fulling spiritual experience, THAT is the right approach for you and 2) it is what the Bible teaches, and what Jesus teaches, and what all of the other spiritual thinkers teach that is important; listen and distill out of all those messages those things that lead you to a Happy Life (in the Aristotilian sense), and discard the rest; that is the ticket for me.
Had to look up "Thanks PDX, and you hit on two key points 1)whatever the approach is that gives YOU the most fulling spiritual experience, THAT is the right approach for you and 2) it is what the Bible teaches, and what Jesus teaches, and what all of the other spiritual thinkers teach that is important; listen and distill out of all those messages those things that lead you to a Happy Life (in the Aristotilian sense), and discard the rest; that is the ticket for me.
Had to look up "Thanks PDX, and you hit on two key points 1)whatever the approach is that gives YOU the most fulling spiritual experience, THAT is the right approach for you and 2) it is what the Bible teaches, and what Jesus teaches, and what all of the other spiritual thinkers teach that is important; listen and distill out of all those messages those things that lead you to a Happy Life (in the Aristotilian sense), and discard the rest; that is the ticket for me.
Had to look up "UtnaPishtium" and found out that was a character in the epic poem Gilgamesh, circa 2150 B.C.E. My way to the same story you relate was via a book on the formation of the Black Sea around 5600 B.C.E. One theory has it that was the result of a "great flood" when, because of the retreating ice age and the rising sea level, the Mediterainian Sea suddenly broke through a sill in the Bosporous straights and poured into the Black Sea basin for 300 days. There was a substantial civilization that was living along the shoreline North, East, and South; they had to move out in a BIG hurry, or so the story goes; put their animals on boats to float them on the rising water maybe. If true, such are the events that great tales are made of. I suspect similar events might have happened around the world because, I believe the sea level rose many feet in a very short, relatively speaking, period of time 5600 years ago.
Really, the only thing I need to remember is it's all about Jesus. Jesus, nothing more, nothing less. If I remember that, then I don't have or need to sweat or worry about the little stuff. Nuff said. Very good hub.
Esoteric, thanks for sharing your story. I'm not really going to respond to anything specifically because I don't want to take away form your comment. I'm sure I will figure things out. I still go to top chur4ch and when i go to church, I feel lead to worhip and feel content happy and fulfilled when I do, and that makes me happy. That's more important to me then all the evidence in the world.
as far as the Bible, I've had many of the same questions you've raised. it is interesting that ancient cultures like the mayans and the Mesopotamian have very similar creation and flood myths to the none's found int he Hebrew Bible. if you haven't read the UtnaPishtium (i think that's how you spell it) it's a flood myth that is identical to the NOah one and pre dates it. I'm not out to prove or disprove the Bible but, rather, to figure out what the BIBLE teaches. The validity of the Bible is a different issue altogether.
Thanks for stopping by, Esoteric!
BTW, one of the most troublesome questions that I have failed to come to terms with over the last 40 years is the Bible itself. Several commenters have sort of addressed it already but it really is a fundamental issue, the origins of content in the Bible.
From my perspective, you can cite all of the verses from the Bible you want and it doesn't amount to a hill of beans unless you establish these verses are truely the words of God.
For starters, we know for certain that none of the New Testament can be proven to be the actual words of Jesus, just what somebody said they were 30 to 70 years later, words that often disagree with one another. No doubt, some of the statements attributed to Jesus were probably uttered by him, but you can't be certain which ones.
As to the Old Testament, there is now substantial archialogical evidence to show that it is 100% written by the hand of man. So that leaves us with whether that hand was directed by the Hand of God or not. There is no surviving record as to the authenticity of this event either.
From where I sit, that means the only option left is to beleive the verbal tales that God directed the words seen today in the Bible are the same words given to the authors and then verbally handed down by man over a period a couple of thousand years and from there translated into the written word by man over a thousand more years to be true; and this just brings us to the first surviving copies of the Torah in the original Hebrew.
I, for one, simply can't accept this to be reasonable; there are other, more rational, in my mind anyway, explanations for the existance of God and what God is.
PDX, wonderful hub!! You are on the same trail I began back in 1957, when I was 10; I ended up going down a different path however. Before expanding a bit, I need to make a snide remark about Camo Girl and Mira, after reading their comments, one must wonder if they aren't already living in their own personal Hell and just want some company?
For largely the same reasons you present, PDX, I left Christianity and Jesus, but not God back in 1957. I was asked to read the Bible by my teachers in the Methodist church my mother took me to, and I did; I didn't like what I read in either the Old or New Testaments.
The only question I remember from back then that turned me away from the church which my pastors couldn't anwser was, "how could a loving God murder, or direct to be murdered, so many people? My God wouldn't do that!", I told my friends. Another observation from around that period, although it may have been a year or so later, was something similar to what you raised, "how can so many different Christian demoninations have so many different ways of getting to heaven through Jesus with only one of them being right?" My young mind concluded that I would have to wait until they all fought it out and only the right one was left standing. My older mind now tells me that none of them are correct and never will be.
Since then, I have been on a quest for the meaning of life and what God really is; I am almost there and it boils down to something like this - a foundation in Baruch Spinoza for the proof of God, filled out with a little Krishna to account for Free Will and a better explanation of how man, God, and Nature are one in the same, with a touch of Sacrates, Plato, and Aristotle for ethics and morales for good measure. All of this is wrapped up in science to tie it all together.
There is no heaven or hell in this vision, but that is not to say there isn't a before or after-life, but it isn't reincarnation in the Hindu or Buddhist sense either. In fact, I just had an epiphany about how this might work a couple of weeks ago and it all starts with the Big Bang; the moment when God snapped Its fingers and the Universe was born.
Ruchira, I will head on over to your hub. I don’t have the same view point you do but unlike many of the Christians on in this comment thread, I’m not afraid to read something I might disagree with. Thanks for reading!
Lily, I agree with your viewpoint. God does love us and God is just and God looks ta the heart and God does get to decide where our souls go when we die—if they go anywhere. Thanks for reading, lily.
Trimar, thanks for the kind words. I think that’s a pretty sound philosophy. The bible refers to salivation as a gift of grace. If it’s a gift, we3 can’t earn it and if it’s grace, we don’t deserve it. If it’s a gift and I can’t earn it, then why is there so much stress on what I need to do (ie, ask Jesus into my heart) to be saved? It seems like a contradiction to me.
Mira, thanks for your comment. Since you didn’t read my hub and only the comment thread, your context is off, and it also seems like you’re implying that I’m a liar. What I am is a person who loves Jesus (I’m not a Christian. Jesus was not a Christian, Jesus was a Jew.1) and has qwuestiosn about what He was taught growing up and is examining what the Bible actually says. As a church goer and son of a pastor, I’ve read all those verses you’ve cited more times than I can count and they pose interesting questions. I have no doubt that Jesus is the way to heaven, he says so Himself, but, what does it mean to believe in Him? Muslims, Jews, Mormons, atheists, historians, they all believe in Jesus. He’s a historical person. Do you have to believe He’s the son of God, or simply that he is the way to Heaven If you look at the original language in the Bible for words like “hell” and “fornication”, they didn’t mean then what the church has made them mean now. The concept of hell, wasn’t even taught in its current form until the middle ages, when the church used the fear of hell to fill it’s coffers. I appreciate those verses you sent, but, I always ask, do we have to believe or is it a gift? Furthermore, if you’d read my Hub, you’d know my point. In a nutshell, how is it just to condemn someone to hell forever because they grew up in a Muslim country or a Jewish city or in the Mormon church? People who are devout and love God? Doesn’t seem just to me , while faith is good, frankly, none of us will know what happens for sure after death until, well, after death.
I appreciate your comment, but I will not respond to any further comments from you, or anyone, if they have not actually read the article. A lot of what you accuse me of saying would not be said if you’d actually read my words.
These are sincere questions. I’m not trying to lead anyone astray. I'm not afraid to ask questions or challenge my faith and, quite frankly, God is not afraid of my questions.
I think camo girl is right. I'm a Christian. And yes i have not read all of your article because most people lie about what is and isn't in the Bible. There is ONE God. Jesus Christ died for everyones sins, he died on the cross, his hands and feet were NAILED to the cross. And i don't know what Bible you read but i read the King James Holy Bible, and in there it does say you have to accept Jesus Christ as your savior to be saved and go to Heaven. Try reading John 3, and Rom, 3:23, 6:23, 10:9. I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is mine, if you don't like it then don't read it.
PDX - Just remember all books have been written by man and many years ago. Just live by the philosophy that God loves ALL His children. Do your best to be a good person each day and become an even better person the next. We have been given Grace. If you make a mistake, repent with a true heart, learn, try not to repeat the same mistakes, and live in His image. See you in heaven.
hell is not a specific place where souls are toss into to surfer. the image of "the lake of fire" and others things are only use to help listeners have a vivid concept of how hell is. since God is the creator, he has the power to decide what to do with his creations. he has the power to play with us human and toss all of the soul in fire if he want to. but remember, he loves us. God does love human and if you believe that he comes down as human and die for us human, you should also believe that he will do what is just and right to you!
Hi PDX,
You have an interesting topic of hub and your examples were interesting but dunno how you categorized them wheather they go to hell or heaven..
Anyways, I feel the GOD is one and whatever we do in this lifetime, we will have to face it as a karma in our next lifetime. There is no hell or heaven. As soon as the soul reaches the Almighty, it is faced with a log book and then birth takes place according to their previous deeds.
btw..the above is my hypothesis :) you could check out my hub...
Veronica, I know a lot of people who grew up in strict catholic homes who later became atheists and agnostics. any religion or group that teaches unquestionable absolutes is in danger of losing adherents. I'm glad you chose to ask questions and I hope you're on the way to finding those answers.
Aevans, I have to agree with you. I'll check out that article!
Being a Christian as many on HP, I believe Hell is right here on Earth. I do not believe that anyone goes to a fiery pit and their souls burn for an eternity. There are 3 Hells which are spoken of in the Holy Bible. The Bible has been re-written so many times that churches interpret the word of God to fit their churches needs. Sadly many do not wish to pay attention to the truth and they adjust it accordingly to their lifestyles. I found a link that may better explain it.
http://www.heraldmag.org/olb/contents/treatises/TH
William Pomeroy really explains it and based on my History of Religions that I had taken while in College this time I have to agree. But this is only my own personal opinion.
Very true and well-said.
I was agnostic for a few years... mainly because I started questioning the beliefs upon which I was raised (strictly Catholic). I have since found that by questioning (and researching) what I didn't exactly understand or agree with, I have found a true faith in God.
We could probably talk for hours about the topic of religion and God. That's something that I find particularly captivating about it... that there are so many different religions & sects, beliefs, stories, doctrines, and histories, and that it sparks so much debate and conversation.
I agree: you can follow and believe in God without following a specific doctrine. The main aspect of religion that I'm still questioning is the organization. That followed by religion historically instilling fear in people. Telling someone that he/she "will go to Hell if..." is a cowardly approach at sharing God and His word. Just my opinion.
Anyway, off of my soap box... =]
Mar,
when I was 17, I too thought like this young lady. My way of belief was right, everyone else was wrong. God was only big enough to save people through the doctrine I adhered too. Then I went out in the world and realized that my belief was a minority and that my faith came from a rather new religion. Then I really studied the Bible and what the Bible taught. Turns out, the church likes to add things to the Bible that aren't in there. The church teaches things about sex about salvation and even about eternal judgement that aren't actually taught in the Bible. (remember, Jesus Himself came from a Jewish background and, as such, the concept of the afterlife was foreign to His peers)
I find it astounding that people can be so insecure in their faith that they're not even willing to ask questions or conduct research on their faith. That seems like common sense to me. It is scary to realize that many of the things you were taught might not actually be true, but it's also liberating.
I need to remind people that Jesus saved his harshest critiques for the judgmental and the religious. He also taught us to "speak the truth in love". Telling me I will go to hell for not "accepting Jesus into my heart" (neither of which is in the Bible) is not only ignorant, it's also not loving. It's judgmental.
God knows the hearts of man. God is big enough to save anyone He wants to save and man does not know the heart of God. Furthermore, God says it is by GRACE you been saved, not by works, so that no man can boast. Grace is an undeserved gift that you cannot earn, and you certainly cannot boast about. God alone decides who spends eternity with him and I have no way of knowing if that's a small number of people or the bulk of humanity. All I can do is observe the commandments of Jesus to love God and love my neighbor.
God wouldn't give us intellect and the ability to reason if He didn't want us to use those abilities. People like Camo Girl frustrate me because they can't be reasoned with to even look at an opposing viewpoint. I pray that with age that changes. I know hitting thirty for me was life changing. it showed me I can ask questions and figure things out without being a bad guy or making God angry.
Thanks for reading Mar, and I'm pleased I could give you something different to read. Thanks for the comments and the votes!
Veronica, it's interesting to me that the church has been teaching that in order to be saved you need to have a "personal relationship with Jesus" and you need to "accept Jesus into your heart.". None of those phrases are in the bIble, they are an invention of the church. It's odd that people who believe that God is all powerful think that God can only save people under the umbrella of Christianity. Jesus said He was the Way,t eh Truthy and the Life and that non one comes to Heaven unless they go through Him, but who's to say the only way to Jesus is through Christianity (also, not a term int he BIble). Can you follow Jesus and believe in H
im without adhering to a specific doctrine? I think you can. It's sad some people don't and are afraid to to even consider it. The Bible applauds those who investigate what they believe. It never condemns asking questions.
Dear Justin,
What a pure departure from what I usually read in your corner. You have displayed an amazing range and a wonderful ability known as critical thinking.
I am always saddened when I see comments that I can only describe as judgmental. Each and every one of us are born with a free will and the ability to think for ourselves. We deserve for this to occur in a safe and supportive and respectful environment, which what HubPages is all about. I think disagreement can always be expressed in a courteous manner. Just like when we pick up a book 'to actually read it' and it may not appeal to us... put it down. That's OK, not ranting.
I will continue to believe that my God is one of understanding, compassion and forgiveness. I know many people that go to my Church who 'practice' their faith for one hour a week. I also know some very spiritual people who emulate Christ in their devotion to helping others. I believe that God (whatever name one believes) can see the difference all too well.
I will give this a resounding UP & UI and bravo to you for your respectful way of addressing this most controversial issue. Hugs, Maria
Justin, I LOVE this hub.
Funny, it seems as though the people that are most judgmental are those that preach the most about religion and faith (and ironically, judgement). Hmm...
Well, that's the beauty of freedom of religion, I suppose!
Again, fantastic hub. I applaud you for digging deep on this one, asking questions, and putting it all "out there", and doing so in a tactful manner.
well, in the future, if you're going to leave comments, i recommend you at least read the article you're commenting on, because it's clear you didn't and that's a waste of everyone's time. This article sites actual scriptural, linguistic and historical evidence, and raises only questions, no answers. You would know this if you'd read it. I encourage everyone to be a Berean believer. That's in the Bible too. I admire your faith, I really do, but I am concerned by your fear to read something that might force you to ask questions.
Please do not leave another comment without reading this article and actually citing from it. I don't have the time for platitudes.
No I Will Not Read Books From This That Is Ok I Am Good Where I Am At and just Remember I Told You You Will Meet God One Day And Get Judged!!!
I appreciate your visit. I used to feel the exact same way you do! I encourage you to actually read this HUb and maybe some of the books linked to it. It's good to read and view different opinions. Take care!
Yes We are and i will just say this if you are not saved you will go to hell and if you do not think that is what you dont know!!!
I admire your passion, Camo Girl, I could argue with some of your terminology, but I will not. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Thanks for stopping by
Poeple who are not saved will go to hell i dont care if your read your bible or go to chruch that dont save you from going to hell you have to trust in god and know that he did die on the cross for all of us to live and if you have not asked god to come in to your heart and forgive you and live like god wants you to then you will go to hell because you are not saved just read your bible and it says how god want us to live and if we are not saved do it now i am saved and i am 17 i got saved when i was 12 god dont hold kid for what they do because they dont know right from wrong but when you do you better get saved!!!
Tony, I'm glad we can agree.
James, you raise interesting points. My only concern with your comments about agnostics an atheists rejecting God is thew motive. agnostics are people who simply aren't sure if God is real or not. Atheists don't believe in God, though There's reasons can be quite varied. I still appreciate your take very much and thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Thank you for publishing an obviously thought-provoking Hub. I enjoyed reading the journey of your thoughts as you struggled with this issue—which is THE most important subject we could possibly explore.
You wrote: "Do these scenarios bother you like they bother me? A devout muslim, a devout Jew, a devout Mormon; men who love God and their families who, according to the Judeo- Christian church, will die and spend eternity being tortured in hell. An eternity!
If what I’ve been taught is true, then my devout Mormon, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, nonreligious and, (gasp!) democrat friends and neighbors are destined to hell for all eternity."
Firstly I must say that I am an annihilationist. Meaning that I do not believe that our Creator has any interest in making anyone suffer forever. I think that those people who reject God will be burned up by an eternal fire—but not burned eternally.
As far as Jews, Muslims, and Mormons go I believe God when He says He is a reader of hearts (not of doctrines). Those who are Atheists or Agnostics are those who consciously reject God and therefore why should He not reject them?
PDX, good point about illustrating the simularities. Your Hub does that as well. Too many poeple look at religion as a source of confrontation when it should be a place to find common ground.
Debby, I get a lot of my hub ideas from books and tv shows and conversations I have. I really try not to worry about it, but, you know, it's part of life too. I guess we 'll see what happens. Thanks for stopping by!
Dear dear Justin ~ I can't believe I missed another of your major works here at Hubpages from 2 months ago. Anyway, I'm wondering where you get all of your ideas? Please do not worry about hell at all. Just continue on as the wonderful loving and helpful person that you are. Enjoy your life and your wife and doggies. Write, sing and pray. Let joy into your life each day. You are blessed and need not worry at all. Debby
gconey, I think you and I are on the same page. I'm just asking questions many people are afraid to ask. there's nothing worse to me then not understand what your faith teaches and you learn that by investigating and asking questions and seeking answers. That's what I'm attempting to do here. Thanks for reading!
I really thought your title funny. i thought it was satire at first but i see your serious. i respect peoples faith when they truly believe and live their lifes accordngly. but a large percentage are just religion mimics using religion as a form of cover and disguise. it becomes a survival strategy of misinformation and disrespect of the original intention. it becomes corrupted and they are lost w little to learn.
Interesting. This site seems interesting to me. But there are no answer? I have a blog (faruquez.blogspot.com) & i am trying to answer all question about religion. My goal is to find out actually what will happen after death. I wish to write about this & before starting I want to write nearly 100 articles on religion. of which 35 is completed. My blog for readers not for any religion. You can have a visit if you wish to.
-thanks
Audrey, thanks. it's an important but one that ultimately will work itself out.
brian, i appreciate the time you spent commenting on this hub. It's really a difficult issue and I'm leaning toward the udea that God knows are heart and wants us to obey Him. Jesus said that the top two commandments are to loev the Lord your God and love your neighbor. if that's the case, the majority of religions in the world would adhere to that. Jesus also said He is the way to heaven, so universalism is out, but, salvation is also a gift of grace, meaning it's something we didn't earn and can't work for, which leaves out human intervention. It's really quite the dilemma
Tony, I hadn't even considered the Mayan calendar but it makes sense. it's really though just an honest search for the truth. more then anything else. And I disagree that this HUB would cause division., if nothing else, it shows how alike the world's major religions are.
Thanks to you all for reading and commenting!
PDX this is a very interesting hub. It is a topic that will recieve much discussion this year because of the upcoming deadline set by the Mayan's. I am not a pastor, deacon or lay person for that matter. I am a Catholic that is just trying to honor and serve our creator the best I can. I haved sinned and although I try not to will continue to sin; but I confess my sins and will be forgiven. To be honest even as a Catholic, I am still fuzzy on purgatory. The fact is noone really knows. We won't know until the time of judgement how it all plays out and how our sins are weighed against our faith. What I do know is that if your prepare your soul for your judgement day and try to live a life that is pleasing to Jesus then you have a pretty good shot of being rewarded.
The other thought I have about this peice is the potential it has to further divide us. You Hub is researched but still calls on some stereotypes to illustrate your point. I think if all religions of the world start concentrating on practicing their faith instead of the difference between them then the world might be a better place. God will be the ulitimate judge and we should refrain from it. Your piece asks people to judge the various characters in it and while good for debate call on the uunqualified to pass judgement on them.
Thought provoking topic however and one that will be discussed and fought about at length as 2012 rolls on.
I spent a good twenty minutes reading your Hub and breaking down the comments. These are questions I've been struggling with for the last couple years or so. After having a close non-Christian friend of mine pass away, it brought me to an important question, "Does he deserve to burn in a lake of fire for eternity, just because he wasn't a Christian?" I know God is good and just and I keep my faith in that. I do believe in hell, but for us to think we know the ways of God's judgement is giving ourselves way too much credit. No doubt I believe in absolute truths in the Bible, but you've brought up fascinating questions, that if we've ever been honest with ourselves, have asked a time or two. Thanks for bringing up such a great topic for discussion, glad to know there are some other people pondering these things. I could go on, but I won't. Take care Justin, Good work.
You have raised a very sensitive subject for a lot of people. It is a subject that carries intense feelings for most people because the feelings run so deeply. In our journey of the soul, we each must find a place of peace--I hope that you find yours Justin--and I guess I hope we all do.
Colin, these are indeed important questions and I don't claim to have any answers, except I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is real. He's worked in my life and, beyond that, the universe is too orderly for me to accept that it is the result of a cosmic accident. Thanks for reading, Colin, and happy new year!
.....well you have certainly inspired a lot of debate and conversation here and just for that reason alone I will post this epic hub subject of yours to my Facebook page with a direct link back here and a sincere happy new year to you at lake erie time ontario canada 7:32am and I don't mind you calling me a hubber just don't call me pretentious - lol - and I don't necessarily believe in God but HE'S coming up over my lake right now in the east sky - it's called daybreak!!!!!
Ivona
thanks for reading. I really believe God looks ta the heart. I also find it amazing how few people are so afraid to even ask questions on the subject. It's too important to just sit idly by.You should read Love Wins by Rob Bell. I have a link to it in the article.
I'm glad this issue has been raised: I've also wondered on the topic myself. There are people born in parts of the world who will easily live and die without ever hearing about Jesus and the bible: simply because of the 'location' they were born in, and because they live in areas where Christianity simply is not known
Thanks for sharing, NM. your story is not unfamiliar. I too struggle with the idea of a loving God allowing people to be tortured for eternity simply for rejecting him. My dad would never do that, why would my Heavenly Father? Sure, it would make my dad said, but he wouldn't eternally punish me. Remember the prodigal son...
When I was a little kid in Sunday School (Baptist.) I asked the teacher if a little kid somewhere else died without ever being told of Jesus did they go to hell and burn in eternity in horrible pain? That didn't seem right or fair. After all Jesus said the greatest commandment was love.
She ignored me and wished that I would just go away.
Well, I did go away....away from those kinds of religions.
I know there is a God. I know that the greatest commandment is love. I think that God must have made all kinds of entreaties to us.
Another thing, when God is made out to be such a MEAN entity I point out how God is supposed to be better than any earthly father AND that my earthly father was soooo wonderful! (I was lucky and I know it.) My earthly father would not be THAT mean...
etc etc
No moral just a couple of snippets of my early faith development.
curry, I value the time you've given me. I know time is valuable, it is for me to. I've never visited the forums. Forums in general don't appeal to me so this probably explains why it took me a second reading to fully grasp your comment.
What I find interesting about every culture in the world, past present and presumably future is that they all do have a great sense of spirituality, myths and legends that they believe as fact and/or faith. In fact, if one does a study of different cultures, one will discover how similar many of the stories are; they just change with the culture telling/interpreting them.
What i found interesting about this HUB is I a started it by saying I was only expressing an opinion based on my own research and conclusions. Most people are understanding of that and offered relevant feedback, advice and counter claims (Such as you) Some people actually got angry at me for even asking questions. This is the only HUB I've ever had to delete comments from. it is very interesting.
Thanks so much for your time and feedback. i greatly value it.
Time is money. I don’t have much to spend. I am spending some with you. I hope you appreciate it. Now, I came here on a recommendation from one of my readers in the real world. He had an errant impression of the venue. I have noticed that there is a culture of limited thought.
I was perplexed that you didn’t understand my comment. I broke it down. Later I realized, “He probably didn’t get ‘forum face’. It is a new phrase.” On a forum, you are dealing with an avatar (I hate the term), which is usually a face of a person, animal or whatever. You are probably not even aware of the profile behind the face, much less the person. It is just a “forum face”.
I was expecting a venue for writers who are either professional, or have aspirations to be. This is just twitter for people who talk too much. Let me give you an example. You put this hub out to start a discussion. Here is a response,” . . . you were pondering Purgatory. I assume that the Christian background you came from was Baptist or something like it?”
A serious writer would never throw out a statement like that. Why advertise your ignorance? Baptists do not believe in purgatory at all. That is a Catholic teaching that isn’t found in the bible. It doesn’t have much relevance today, since priests quit taking “indulgences” to help buy dead relatives out. There is a lot of that kind of stuff around here. If you don’t know, research. If you don’t research, don’t blurt out. It undermines the integrity of the piece.
Now, people might think, ”Who does this guy think he is?”
I am a formally trained artist and journalist. This is a writer’s forum, and as such, we open ourselves to critique. I am not making a personal attack, as is most often the case around here. I am pointing out a faux pas in the body of copy. Now I have some knowledge of primitive peoples. You can’t find a group that does not recognize the spiritual realm. They don’t give much thought to considering hell, they are usually too innocent.
Please, do not call me a hubber.
Makes more sense now... and of course it was well written!
I'll break it down for you.
I went in forum. Jerks were hurling insults. I held my own.
I used the surrender speech by the Indian to show awareness of the "great spirit" (faith not from the bible) and holiness. He called God Wankan-Tanka. I called God, Jehova Gyra (provider) . . . Like Wankan-Tanka provided buffalo.
The bilbe says,"God has a name that only he knows." You can argue about what to call God, but no one knows that name. He hasn't announced it yet. If you get close enough to God, you will find out what his unknown name is. That will not be on this side of the grave.
Read it again . . . it was really well written. World class, brother.
WD, I'm going to be honest. i don't think I understand your comment, but i think I get your point.
I do find it strange that the only group of people is it okay to make fun of are Christians. Sure, we bring it on ourselves, but Christians are the only group routinely mocked without consequence nowadays, it seems.
Hillbilly Zen can do some good describing. I got a very clear picture of a house in Ocracoke, NC (outer banks). It was started a hundred years or more ago with cypress lumber from the Cherokee saw mill. It was a solid, well designed, quaint "bungalow". Through the years, they "cobbed together" a sprawling, eclectic maze of additions from hurricane driftwood.
I wandered into the religious forums my first day here. I couldn't believe how crass people were, and I messed with them pretty hard (KMI). It is funny. I get kicked off the forums every time I go in there, and I have yet to match the level of crude meanness that is directed towards the person that they think they are talking to. Since this hotrod runs on auto . . . they got razzed and squealed. I must have put a bug up their booty and that was all they were trying to do to sweet people of faith.
Anyway, I got into a running duel of sharp tongues with one hard case forum face. The forum was "Why do Christians always use the Bible . . . "
I explained that faith was not limited to or by the Bible. He began to soften up. Please let me share my example.
"From Wankan-Tanka, the great mystery, comes all power. It is from Wankan-Tanka that the holy man gets his wisdom and the power to heal and to make holy charms (art). Man knows that all healing plants are given by Wankan-Tanka; therefore they are Holy. So too is the Buffalo Holy, because it is a gift of Wankan-Tanka Flat Iron (Maza Blaska) Oglala Sioux Chief
A good translation of Wankan-Tanka is Jehova Gyra. The bible says that God has a name that only he knows. That is the name that I want to know him by."
WD Curry, I was very glad the prodigal son was mentioned. That was something I hadn't thought about in writing this, and I think it's very apropos, especially because it was a story told by Jesus himself. It's interesting that you said have fun at church. I rarely go to church anymore and, if I do, it's primarily to worship services. I have little desire to hear a pastor give his version of the Bible, but I do long to sing those songs...
Apryl, thanks for those quotes. I'm glad this got your synapses firing. I just want people to think and question. I'm not trying to start a rebellion!
Dewtte- I'd love to take a link. Do you have a link?
love it. I just wrote an article about this topic, sort of, on another site.
In my mind, religion is like a house that's been overbuilt. It started out as a sturdy little one-room structure, true spirituality, but has had so many rooms added on, cobbled from scraps of superstition and ignorance, that it is now incapable of supporting much of anything. There are jungle tribes that know nothing of Christianity, yet can recite the story of the Great Flood almost verbatim as it's told in the Bible. There is a Creator, of that I'm sure, and this Creator sent an emissary to be an example for humankind, to encourage us to live in light, to shine. I call that Creator God, the emissary Jesus, because that's how I was raised and what I've come to believe in. But I cannot, will not, condemn anyone who calls them by other names, because they are equally sure in what they believe, and in this cobbled house, there is no way of knowing which is the original room.
"There is only one religion, though there are a hundred versions of it" - George Bernard Shaw
"Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths." ~Muhammad Ali
And finally, just because it's funny:
There are three religious truths: 1) Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 2) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith. 3) Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store or at Hooters. ~Author Unknown
Wonderful Hub, Mr. PDX. Thanks for firing up my synapses. Voted up and awesome.
It's funny that the prodigal's son was mentioned. I was just talking about that with someone in the real world. Remember the older son? He was bent because Daddy threw the wayward son a party on his return. The Father explained it to him and that was all you ever heard of the story.
I was in the pig sty when I started home. I can tell you the rest of the story. The older brother who had never been bad . . . never got over it.
Have fun at church.
Till, Thanks for reading. I'm glad this HUB raised some questions. That's all I wanted. Questions are good. Questions are vital. I know that I am not God and I know God is real. I know God will sort things out (as my late uncle used to say. "I'm a panthiest. It will all pan out in the end.")
Church doctrine is interesting, what's taught and not taught and when and why. I recommend a book called the History of Christianity by Daniel Moynahan. In fact, I'll add it as an amazon link so you can throw me a bone :-)
Very good book. Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
God is not only judge, He is Father. What loving Father would turn his children away? Have you ever heard of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? Believing and living a loving life is what counts, not what religion you belong to or how "holy" you are behind doors. The two great Commandments: "Love the Lord they God" and "Love they neighbor as thyself." No where does it say you have to be a Christian, or a Jew or any such denomination. I wrote a hub about the Catholic Church called "Whatever happened to Purgatory and other past practices of Catholics?" In it, I question why past practices in the Catholic Church have disappeared...things change and times change but God/Allah/Yahweh remains. Your hub has definitely raised many questions and as always is very interesting. Voted up and interesting.
WD, I agree with you. I think the LORD looks at the heart and is just. I also think it's interesting that Jesus was a Jewish rabbi and the tradition he came from did not actually believe in a hell. It also concerns me when people are afraid to ask these important questions. Even the Bible praises the Berean believers for questioning what they were taught. Why are so many Christians afraid to ask questions? God gave us brains and the ability to reason, why shouldn't we use it? I understand the need for faith, but I don't understand why asking questions is frowned upon; especially questions with eternal consequences. Thanks for your insight, WD.
Apryl, that's a good way to live. Christians forget that Jesus saved his harshest criticisms for the overly religious. It's the overly religious today who are the worst example of Jesus.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I was raised in a Christian household, and still hold Christian beliefs. I, however, am as disturbed as you at the hypocritical nature of most of the Christians I grew up around and the attitude of the Church as a whole. I'm college educated and have friends from many walks of life. The decision that I have come to in my life is that empathy is probably the most important trait that one can have. If I teach my children to be empathetic and respectful of others and their beliefs, then there is no need to focus on differences. The bible tells us that it is not our place to judge, so I don't. I live my life in the best way I can according to my beliefs and I respect others that do the same, even if their beliefs are different from my own.
Dave Price raises a very interesting point. That passage is directed at the "pew perching perfect" that had an our way or no way approach to the matter. The implication seems to be . . . even those who have never even heard of their perfect way are following it on their own. The way (law) has been written on their heart. Exonerate can be swapped for excuse.
I can't say for sure, but this may answer my life long wonder, "If there is onlyy one way . . . what about someone in the day, up in Nepal, or out on the American plains, that never heard the word? Are they going to hell?"
Now, what do you think, brother Dave. I am sure it is rich.
WD, I appreciate you stopping by! I'm always wary of putting up hubs or blogs of a sensitive nature, such as religion or politics, but I don't feel like I'm being honest if I don't at least raise some questions I've been having. I don't claim, with this hub, to have any answers, just questions that I'm seeking answers too. Life is a journey, my friend.
Dave, I really appreciate your comment and your scripture reference. I will admit that is not a verse I considered when writing this hub, but it is one I have read numerous times. I'm not entirely sure that it answers any of the questions I raised, but it certainly begins too. I think the questions I raise are important ones and I only hope and pray that I continue to approach this in an honest and respectful manner.
Thank you for your visit, your read and your comment. it's always nice to hear from you and I hope to see you again!
For all the arguments that abound, I've never seen one take up the issue of the meaning of Romans 2:15,16 - where, after two chapters of explaining the depravity of man, Paul ends by saying "who show the work of the law written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing OR ELSE EXCUSING THEM in the day when God will judge the secrets of men..." No one wants to take up the last portion of that sentence that obviously says some thoughts accuse and some thoughts EXCUSE. Let me hear a theologian honestly address that and I will begin a discussion, but not until then.
Never discuss religion or politics. We are like family here? We discuss at the thanksgiving table, have a row, but don't unfollow? Two ways to go - one tolerates no sin (none). The other is an eternity of conscious non-existence (there is not flesh to torture). I have had a foretaste here. I have had a glimpse of the other. Which to choose? Duh!
absolutely that makes sense. Thank you for stopping by! Always a treat to see you!
Terrific Hub!
A reasonable view of this place is that everything exists, everything is "true". God is everyhthing and everywhere so the better one is willing to accept all things the better one understands all things.
That kind of makes sense, oui? Best wishes!
Rebecca, thank you for reading and commenting. I'm not entirely sure I understand your point.
My name is Rebecca and I believe in One God that should not be given a universal name.
Nenty, you've kind of hit the nail on the head. Thank you!
I think holding what we believe and applying to our life is our duty. What will we get someday is not us to decide. I believe we still have the chance to answer the question from our creator if we have done everything right according to what we believe, because It is not our fall if what we believe turn out to be wrong. Life is so simple. But this hub is great anyway, I like it. Thank you PDXKaraokeGuy!
thanks Pam fr reading again and leaving another thoughtful comment. Many blessings to you!
Hey again PDX. Thanks for starting this topic, good to see your getting some good response !!! Few are willing to leave the doctrines of men and fewer still willing to question them..
And remember this, his kingdom is not of this age !!! Jesus himself said he would draw all men to himself but that is yet to come !!! Jesus himself said that few would find life in this age but we read in Rev.7 that a number which cannot be numbered were before the throne and the Lamb would lead them to life.. Our Father is the God of the Future Perfect Complete Tense !! First the revealing of the Great One and those Sons of God with him.. Then comes the fulfilment and filing (remember like a mustard tree ) of the kingdom of God.. Inside or outside the gates, this is the starting place for all men.. For outside are the dogs, uncircumsied Philistines, those still in the flesh yet under the second death.. which is the second life but a life still yet in the flesh subject to death. These are under probation till they have cleansed themselves and gained entry into the gates.. Oh indeed the words of the Prophets are but mud in the rain, even now as they were then..
Grace and Peace be into you and joy multiplied for seeking the truth, continue to do so for God is seeking those to worship him in Spirit and in Truth ..
highvoltage, I agree. I'll visit your HUB in the next day or two and grab the link from you! Thanks for reading and responding!
Great job on that hub, very well done! I will diffidently link to yours and you should always feel free to link to mind! The bottom line for me is that God is the judge and only He can read a man's heart! It is up to us to live the best lives we can according to our beliefs!
This Doctrine of Hell, this desecration of His Holy Name, This Lie Broadcast by the False Prophet , this is the very doctrine of demons and devils the scripture warns of us !!!!
Soon the Great One will come and punish those who have spoken evil of his Great and Holy Name .Accusing him of things that only the most vile of men would do. This Eternal Torment instead of the the individual dicipline which Scripture and Common Sense and any definition of Love require.. Judgement is good news for the judgement given at the ressurections leads men to life for all who except the counsel of our Lord will find life .. Shall any turn down the Risen Lord ???
Those who teach the doctrine of demons and devils will share in the fate of the demons and devils even as Jesus,The Elect One Himself, did say .. Depart from me F
alse Prophet into the Lake of Fire .. Fire they called for , Fire they shall recieve.. Fear Not then little children and don't believe in Fairy Tales and Lies and Jewish Fables and such.. For God Is Love and Love cannot be Hate ..
Thanks for stopping by, my pantless friend. i'll check out your HUB and pass judgement on it tomorrow!
I'm totally impressed. A very unique and fresh way of expressing the confusion regarding the doctrine of hell. My compliments to the chef!
You can check out this hub I wrote. I've got some other stuff where I take this apart more completely and put back together, but not here on the Hub. I wrote this about a year ago. Check it out when you've got the time!
http://themanwithnopants.hubpages.com/hub/The-Devi
jim
i just don't think anyone, no matter how confident they are in their faith, knows for sure what happens when we die. I understand the importance of faith, but if hell and heaven are real places, why doens't God show them to us, literally?
Very interesting and thought provoking.
I believe in God as a life energy that flows through all living things. I think people should worship who they choose whether that be Jesus, Muhammad, or Buddah.
I would like to think that there is a heaven. Then that means there is a hell but to say only those who follow Jesus will go to heaven is plain wrong.
Voted up and awesome.
God is the judge. It is God, not jesus who knows the day, the hour etc. Lake of fire???? How could a loving God toss his creation into a burning fire for eternity?
Great Hub!
As far as religions go,man created religion, God did not.
Sonfollower, thanks for writing. I appreciate your response and agree with everything you're saying, but I vary with you on application. 1.) I don't think ETERNAL punishment for a FINITE life of sin is in anyway just. 2.) I agree Jesus is the only way to God, I just don't think God hides within any particular dogma and I don't necc. believe that that means you have to "accept Jesus into your heart" whatever that means. He's the gate keeper. He determines who gets in and who doesn't and why. 3.) Christians (myself included) are so sure that our "religion" is the one true one, but there are roughly 1 billion muslims in the world who are as sure about their faith as Christians are about theirs. Who's to say they're wrong and we're right? Furthermore, why would God create people knowing they would go to hell? This doesn't seem like the acts of a loving God worthy of worship. Something doesn't add up.
Interesting hub and well written. I agree that Jesus' teachings are very narrow and exclusive. Jesus Himself made them that way. He was very clear that salvation is through Him alone.
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."
It's difficult and disheartening to believe in Jesus and believe in the teachings found in the Bible and live side by side with people that we know are not Christ followers. I very much agree with you on this. But when I read the Bible, I don't see a loophole that would allow non-Christians regardless of their affiliation to go to heaven. The New Testament consistently says that salvation is through Christ alone.
We humans like to chastise God the Creator that it's unfair for Him to expect us to worship Him rather than the gods we made up to replace Him. The Bible is clear that there is only one true God. And yet we've decided that He shouldn't mind if we worship a God with characteristics unlike His and teachings that are completely unlike those He gave us. A person might want to tell God that he worships something else that is "God" to him, and that should be good enough for God. But I think the one true God would say, "That's not me. You don't know me." God wants us to worship Him for who He is. He has shown Himself to us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, chosen to forgive us if we will come to Him... But we must come to Him. This should motivate us to be concerned for those around us and to reach those who need Jesus.
I certainly respect your honesty on this subject. It's something I definitely struggled with for a while myself when I was younger. Some of my hubs go deeper into these topics as well (salvation, existence of hell, etc.).
Good point Always. God is colorblind indeed
I wanted to add that God is color blind, all are equal.
@Always exploring, I believe God is bigger then any chrurch, religion or dogma and to say God can only save people through one religion, I think borders on blasphemy. Jesus was actually not even a Christian, he was Jewish, and the term Christian was actually used as a derogatory term.
Interesting topic. I believe God is a loving God who looks on the heart. If one likes to go to church, that's fine, but it will not get one into Heaven. There's much i don't understand but it all will become clear when the time is right. Thank you for a thought provoking hub...
I agree with North Wind that this hub is thought provoking. As usual, your writing is excellent, solid and hearty. I find myself returning to your hubs often and savoring them anew. You have something to say PDX...and fortunately, the talent to say it well. Keep it up.
It seems like my generation (Gen-X) isn't willing to ask the questions raised in this hub; we are too afraid to offend, look unintelligent, appear judgmental or even be judged ourselves. PDXKaraokeGuy, I appreciate that you were willing to start the conversation; one that I too believe to necessary.
Hi North Wind
Thank you for stopping by and taking time to read and leave a thoughtful response. Thanks also for the compliment on my writing.
My main point in writing this hub was to comment on the black and white nature of Christianity, that's why i chose five characters who's beliefs were derived from the Holy Bible. Buddhism, athiesm and other religions do not so I didn't include them. I also didn't include naturalistic religions nor peoples who will not have an opportunity to hear about Jesus because, as you said, I believe Jesus looks at the heart. I also wanted to lmit the length of the hub.
I agree with you that I don't think God gives a rip about our dogma or what we call ourselves. He knows our hearts and our desires. however, I cannot tell you how many times I've been to church and heard pastors say that muslims are going to hell, or Jews. I'm not sure I believe this. I admire the devotion of Muslims. They are more devoted to religion then many people who think they are on the way to Heaven. I also don't think the church does any favors to itself or "non believers" when they claim that God loves you" and then "If you don't accept Jesus, God will send you somewhere to be tortured forever." Scare tactics are not a good way to share the love of Jesus. Just saying...
First let me say PDXKaraokeGuy that I hear your voice in the words you write.
Now for the hub :)
It was interesting to say the least. Funny thing but I know a type of each person you painted. The conclusions at the end of each scenario were not all what I came up with though.
There were two portraits you failed to paint: One of the native in the jungle who has been cut off from modern civilization and the Gospel and the other of the man who believes in multiple gods and reincarnation. Maybe you would like to include those.(I met them too, by the way)
There are indeed may questions that come up when the topic of hell is faced. As you said, eternity is a very long time. I was intrigued when you said that you have been pondering Purgatory. I assume that the Christian background you came from was Baptist or something like it? I, too, have examined Purgatory but I have not come close to that conclusion as a matter of fact I am definitely quite in the opposite direction of believing in its existence.
God's name is to be glorified. One thing is certain - the lake of fire, as the Bible says, was created for the devil and his angels but the Bible does say that whosoever was not written in the book of life would be cast into it.
Can I say who will go and who will not? Can I name names or say from which religion they will be from? No I cannot because I am not the Judge - Jesus is. He did say that those who will enter into His kingdom are His elect. That means those who belong to Him.
It is a difficult topic and for me to state everything concerning my beliefs would really be the length of a hub but I will say I do believe that there are those who go to hell. I don't think that it has to do with their religion or how they lived their life. It has to do with God Himself and what He sees in their hearts. Appearances can be deceiving and there are those who say they serve the Lord and do not. There are those who profess to know Him and are a stranger to Him. Indeed there are wolves and goats as well as wolves in sheep's clothing. One thing I do know is that He will do the separating. He said so in The Book of Revelation.
Your hub was very thought provoking!
PDXKaraokeGuy Hub Author 12 days ago
Myminds eye and DMop, thanks so much for contributing this conversation with thoughtful and well considered comments. I appreciate that very much and appreciate your continued prayers, thoughts and readership.
God bless you both.