Do you really think eternity in hell is a just punishment for not believing in God?
407441
I believe that this is clap-trap, aimed at putting the so called fear of God into children and uneducated people of the Christian and Roman Catholic world.\nAn effective method of controlling and fleecing the masses, over the centuries, remember that this conspiracy has been given foundations to sit on over the mist of time, some 2000 years of honing the so called truth, in order to suit individuals and their ambitions.\nThis is why it needs to be enforced into people from all angles and at all times, it never leaves us, there is always someone ready to reinforce it at every turn.\nBelief in God is a personal thing, without being threatened.
1098122
Well, I know what church doctrine says, but only God knows the heart of any one person.  Fact is, we are all just guessing about it.  Noone can do that and come to tell us what happened next, so we will never know.  I can't imagine God punishing someone for dying as a result of mental illness. Church says they go to hell.  However, if it's true that we go to heaven as a result of having faith in God ( specifically in Christ's death in our place)  rather than by our works; then  suicide, which would be works, couldn't keep a person out of heaven
722671
There isn't a hell. The bible speaks of going to hades or sheol, which are both terms for mankinds natural grave without any afterlife. Belief in God can come by reading bible books like Job and Psalms and taking a look at our surroundings. Someone must have made all this. Next, turn to Matthew chapters 5-7 and read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and use his "outline" of how to pray to do that; to pray to God. Ask for support and forgiveness in an honest and true way. This is where faith then comes in. Works without faith is dead, so have faith in your creator to guide you. May God be with you.
1124378
I agree completely. Here's Penn Jillette's take on this one. I think it speaks for me:\n\nBelieving there is no God means the suffering I've seen in my family, and indeed all the suffering in the world, isn't caused by an omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent force that isn't bothered to help or is just testing us, but rather something we all may be able to help others with in the future. No God means the possibility of less suffering in the future.
258858
Jesus saved us from our sins ONLY if we are truly sorry and ask for forgiveness.  I don't believe not believing in God is a sin, but that person is a member of the LOST and therefore not a candidate for heaven.....)(
1171783
I DON'T THINK THEY CONDEMN PEOPLE TO HELL THEY'RE JUST TELLING PEOPLE THAT IF YOU SIN GOD WILL CONDEMN YOU TO HELL.\n\nTRUST ME.NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBODY IS GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME IN HELL.
350405
NO, because if there is God. He is just. Then he rewards the good and punishes the evil. The way he rewards is to spend eternity in heaevn; the way he punishes is to spend eternity in hell. So it is not strange. And fot a Christian, it is not unpredictable.
1054398
It's an interesting story. Although, I believe that heaven and hell is much different. I believe that to get to either one or the other, we choose. Now this is where people get lost. Obviously no one chooses to go to hell (not that they know of). I believe that hell is a place where we are separated from God. Therefore our soul burns with grief and we gnash our teeth. Heaven is a place where we are connected with God. We are designed to be with God and that is why it burns to be separated. You see, people choose all their lives to live without God. God simply gives them what they have always wanted. Separation.
620446
I would say yes, it is a form of judgement, but I don't want to judge.  :D  BTW, more Christians should read the verse you posted and the verse after that.  It says that whatever whatever judgement you judge, you shall be judged and whatever you meet, (out to someone) shall be measured to you again.  To me, that would mean that if you say, "You're going to hell," you will go to hell if you don't repent.
899389
As children we envision a devil who sits among the flames and sticks our burning body with his pitchfork.  We think we are hurting so badly from the constant burning that is neverending.  That's enough to make a child at least try to keep the Ten Commandments.  \n\nWhen we grow up, we can hardly believe in that concept anymore as we believe God has a plan for "hell" and the way it will be.  I have no idea about what hell is going to be like.  Some people say we are living it.  If we didn't believe there was a punishment for unrelenting evil people, there would probably be more because there is nothing to dying and just not exist anymore.
726849
Yes, I absolutely believe there is a heaven and a hell. I know there is because when my son was born I looked at his face and saw that there was no way that he could turn out so perfect without divine intervention. With God comes heaven and hell. If you believe in God you have to believe in the devil and all of the havoc he makes. It is the devils mission to make you believe that he does not exist because that makes it easier for him to work his evil
629628
If there is a God and this God designed you and me with a brain designed to think, use logic and reason to solve problems and determine truth, then he would expect us to use it.  How in heaven and on earth could a just God punish us for questioning what is very illogical and very unreasonable?  To believe in something that we can't see and that which can't be proven.  Would God punish us for using the brain he gave us?  I don't think so.\n\nSo, if I am wrong about not believing the God described in the Bible, then it is just as well.   Because he would be a cruel joker to give me a brain and then punish me in eternal fires of hell for using it.  And how about all the good Buddhists in the world who don't believe in the God of the Bible.  He's going to damn them to hell also?\n\nThat would be a cruel and unjust God.  Right or wrong, I don't want any part of the Judeo-Christian God.
5647
I don't believe in Hell.
238719
Interesting question. A lot of people say that in order to avoid hell, you must accept (insert religion) as the truth. To them, I say, if God can't understand why I have my doubts about (insert religion), he's as stupid as...well, you. (You, meaning them, not you.)
528423
it that's true than it is screwed up\n\nbut then again I think the concept of eternal Hell is evil to begin with. A merciful creator would not not allow any person to suffer for all time.
229807
Indeed, I agree with the view that pain is not intended as a punishment, but as a mere defense mechanism against natural dangers and death. These defense mechanisms are what help animals, including us humans, to survive in the world, by forcing us to stay away of behaviours, things or places that may harm us and cause our death.\nI don't think this is any kind of proof, not in favour of the existance of a God, nor against it. The only things that can be actually and empirically proved are those that belong to the realm of science and the physical world, and religious beliefs don't fall into that category.\nReligion is matter of reason, but also one of faith, as it aims to find an explanation to questions that mankind will never be able to answer through empirical or scientific methods. (Such as "Why do we exist?", "What's the purpose of life?", "When will our plane of existance end, if it ever does?")\n\nPersonally, as a Naturalistic Pantheist, I believe we should just wonder at how complex and beautifully crafted our world and existance are, the most perfect and intelligent creations, of whose perfection we can only grasp but a minimum fraction, and not worry with methaphysical questions that we will never be able to answer for sure.\nAll we know for sure is what we can see - How wonderfully composed our universe is, from gigantic planets to microscopic quarks, and how complex and puzzling human life is.\nWe should enjoy life and the gift of counciousness, and rejoice with what we have, trying to trascend in eternity by making this world better with our actions and by preserving it for our own subsistence and those of our children, instead of worrying or repressing ourselves with metaphysical questions that we won't be able to answer in our entire human existance.\n\nVery good question, by the way.
922950
Outstanding question.  The first three answers address God not allowing "those that don't choose Him" to enter into his presence in heaven, but it doesn't address the eternal punishment issue.  What is wrong with letting alone those who don't accept God?  Why MUST they be dropped into the lake of fire?  If we're free to decide for ourselves, but choose to live moral lives without believing in a god, why should we be punished for using our free will?\n\nAdam: "[W]ith love comes judgment[.  W]hat is seriously so difficult about this[?]  [I]f you have a kid that bad mouths you from when he can speak, leaves you abandoned as you are old and feeble, but then at your death bed says 'Hey Pops, why Ain't I in your will, Don't you love me?'"\n\nWhat about the child who just wants to live his own life, who doesn't "badmouth dear old dad," but also doesn't care about inheriting anything?  He just wants to live a moral, useful, fulfilling life on his own.  "Pops" in your scenario isn't just leaving his son nothing in the will; he's having him sentenced to hard labor in a maximum security prison for life just because his son didn't stick around the house and praise him daily like Pop wanted.