Do you really care that I am going to hell?

[Cmass]

I don't think you really believe I will fry in Hell for being an Atheist. I don't think you really truly believe any of your non-believing family will either. I think deep down, you know it just isn't true.

If you do believe they will all fry and are not doing absolutely everything in your power to stop it, I would suggest that you are a very cold, dispassionate person. If you really believed your dearly beloved mother was going to burn in hell right next to Cmass and Charles Manson then you would stop at nothing to convince her to accept Jesus. You would not just gently encourage, you would be emotionally and perhaps even physically engaged on a daily and hourly basis. You most certainly would not be reading this silly OP right now. Not if you REALLY cared.

Think about it. If you saw your mother being beaten by someone on the street, would you stop to help save her? Would you put your own life at risk to keep her from drowning? Is there anything you would not do to help her? OK, what about eternal torture in hell? Doesn't this concern you? What about all the other people in your life who are going to hell? Doesn't this leave you feeling devastated? If I believed there was a hell and that so many people would be going - especially any of my friends or family - I would be in constant agony myself and would devote my life to stopping it. Or, I would be numb.

Does your knowledge that so many people will be in eternal torture bother you very much on a daily basis?

This OP came about after reading commentary by some of our more conservative Christian friends in here. Some seem to have no real problem with all us atheists burning in hell forever. Granted, there are probably some personal anger issues involved but still, I have always been uneasy with how casual many Christians are when it comes to discussing eternal damnation. Some get more upset over running over a kitty than the eternal torture of their best friend.

Nonetheless, I give most the benefit of the doubt: I don't think they are really that cold. I just don't think they really believe as much in the hell concept as they report.

[Biker]

This is very entertaining! Atheists in a conversation with themselves about a place they don't believe in and God who "isn't there"?
This is more fun than "John from Cincinnati"! And about as understandable!
LOL!!!

Biker

[Zzyzx]

This is very entertaining! Atheists in a conversation with themselves about a place they don't believe in and God who "isn't there"?
This is more fun than "John from Cincinnati"! And about as understandable!
LOL!!!

Is that any funnier than weekly meetings of Christians to kneel before invisible gods to worship, and sing "hymns", and pray to invisible gods for "help", and perhaps roll in the floor and talk in strange languages, and beg for forgiveness for "sins" committed according to a book that cannot be shown to be anything more than fable, fiction or fraud -- and to go forth feeling smugly superior (by virtue of being “saved”) to "heathens" who are all going to "hell" because they don't worship properly?

I realize that there are many Christians who do not engage in most of the above; however, there are Christian services that DO meet some or all of the conditions described. Which seems sillier -- those church services or an Atheist convention?

Perhaps Mr. Biker should not throw stones.

[Confused]

This is very entertaining! Atheists in a conversation with themselves about a place they don't believe in and God who "isn't there"?
This is more fun than "John from Cincinnati"! And about as understandable!
LOL!!!

Biker

Before you humor gets overwhelming, perhaps you should review my tag. Then see if you can give me an honest answer rather than avoiding the question or making fun of the truth you have obviously overlooked.

Poor evasion with sad comments are beneath you. Shall we try again?

[adlemi]

Are you honestly so certain you aren't going to hell? Before you answer, I might remind you that we are all sinners. As such, none of us can be certain of our fate. For if we were, tell me, would we not just be practicing another form of arrogance? Mother Theresa wouldn't even give certainty to her fate. Has your life been so much more faith following than hers?

Though we can be certain that salvation and eternal life is being given to us ahead of our death, but we cannot be certain that we have it automatically once we die. The only thing that we can do best is to be always subservient to the Lord unto our death so that we may not lose our salvation and eternal life. Let us avoid being caught prey of this so called "self righteousness". You do it fine this time bro.

[Cmass]

Biker wrote:

This is very entertaining!

Yes indeed. As ever I appreciate your contribution to the entertainment!

Biker wrote:

Atheists in a conversation with themselves about a place they don't believe in and God who "isn't there"?

Have you ever taken a class on mythology? I did - both in High School as well as in College. I have also taken courses on Christianity, Cults and and Fiction. These courses usually involved a whole quarter of reading, learning, discussion.....and yes debate concerning various gods and the myths that surround them. I often discuss/debate Bible God, the concept of Hell and other various aspects of Christianity and religion with other atheists as well as my numerous Christian friends. Discussion and debate of mythological creatures: Good entertainment and sometimes educational.
You may have noticed that in many of my OPs, I assume the Bible is a factual book with real characters. I am especially interested in the consequences of certain interpretations of the stories and actions of the characters. In this case, I propose the consequences of believing in Hell are horrific for an empathetic person.

Are you a highly feeling and empathetic person? Do you have close, loving, giving relationships with others (besides God)? Are there people in your life you would be willing to die and be tortured for? If so, I would think the mental and emotional consequences of believing in Hell would be astronomical.
I thought Adlemi's answers were fascinating in that she believes that once she is in heaven, God will erase her memories so it won't matter to her that her loved ones are being tortured. This viewpoint has enormous implications but I did find it interesting.
I may not have communicated my intentions well enough in either my OP or the above post.....but I will try again if you request it.

[Cmass]

Adlemi wrote:

Though we can be certain that salvation and eternal life is being given to us ahead of our death, but we cannot be certain that we have it automatically once we die.

This is confusing and contradictory. We are certain of our salvation yet might not get it?

[Confused]

Are you honestly so certain you aren't going to hell? Before you answer, I might remind you that we are all sinners. As such, none of us can be certain of our fate. For if we were, tell me, would we not just be practicing another form of arrogance? Mother Theresa wouldn't even give certainty to her fate. Has your life been so much more faith following than hers?

Though we can be certain that salvation and eternal life is being given to us ahead of our death, but we cannot be certain that we have it automatically once we die. The only thing that we can do best is to be always subservient to the Lord unto our death so that we may not lose our salvation and eternal life. Let us avoid being caught prey of this so called "self righteousness". You do it fine this time bro.

Bro?? Try Sis, LOL.

Aside from the subservient part, I might have to concede that this is one of the best responses you have given.



No. Subservient isn't a word I would use to describe it. Rather, consider us equal and worthy of the same respect and honor He wished us to show Him.

[Cmass]

Biker wrote:
Incredibly wrong question!
Unbelievers ask the wrong questions!
Do YOU really care if YOU are going to hell?
Biker
In an attempt to keep Biker engauged, I wil asnwer his "better" question. Do I care if I am going to hell? If Hell exists and the rules to get out existed in the Bible I would be a fool not to. OK. So what?

[Biker]

Biker wrote:
Incredibly wrong question!
Unbelievers ask the wrong questions!
Do YOU really care if YOU are going to hell?
Biker
In an attempt to keep Biker engauged, I wil asnwer his "better" question. Do I care if I am going to hell? If Hell exists and the rules to get out existed in the Bible I would be a fool not to. OK. So what?

You've been told and rejected and mocked it!
So go with what you've got!


Biker

[Biker]

This is very entertaining! Atheists in a conversation with themselves about a place they don't believe in and God who "isn't there"?
This is more fun than "John from Cincinnati"! And about as understandable!
LOL!!!

Is that any funnier than weekly meetings of Christians to kneel before invisible gods to worship, and sing "hymns", and pray to invisible gods for "help", and perhaps roll in the floor and talk in strange languages, and beg for forgiveness for "sins" committed according to a book that cannot be shown to be anything more than fable, fiction or fraud -- and to go forth feeling smugly superior (by virtue of being “saved”) to "heathens" who are all going to "hell" because they don't worship properly?

I realize that there are many Christians who do not engage in most of the above; however, there are Christian services that DO meet some or all of the conditions described. Which seems sillier -- those church services or an Atheist convention?

Perhaps Mr. Biker should not throw stones.

No, but it is far more understandable than "weekly meetings" of unbelievers who worship themselves, and the work of their hands and things, anything EXCEPT God, and sing songs to themselves and to the work of their hands and to things and to other people, anything EXCEPT God, and look to themselves and other people and the work of their hands and things for help, anything EXCEPT God, and roll around on the floor talking gibberish because they have self medicated themselves due to anguish and fear and hopelessness because they harbor unforgiveness against everyone around them and hatred and malice and judgment and sin and guilt and stubbornly resist a free gift offered to them by a loving and kind God who loves them, and they hate those who have accepted this free gift and are forgiven and have been set free from all the things that unbelievers are trying to handle stubbornly in their own strength, and their own power and their own brilliant mind, all the while blaming God and those nasty, smug, superior, Christians, who don't feel that way or have those thoughts. We are to busy being thankful to God rolling around jumping up and down,shouting, clapping, yelling thanks to God for setting us free from the wages of sin for all eternity. Just like the unbelievers do every weekend at NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL,PGA, NASCAR, HOLLYWOOD,MUSICIANS,WRITERS, childs games grown men do who are getting paid more than you to play childs games and you worship them and throw money at them and clap for them and shout for them and worship them.
Perhaps Zzyzx shouldn't throw stones!