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]

Biker wrote:

Wrong! It is the more relevant and meaningful question!

You are welcome to start a thread with your more meaningful questions and I would be happy to participate in it. For now though, since you are participating in this thread, please address my OP as it was written.

At the expense of veering off topic myself. As for the rest of your comments:

Biker wrote:

Are you implying Christianity invaded Iraq? I thought you had more on the ball than that cmas? Who was it those pesky Catholics? Maybe those liberal protestants? I didn't know either had a standing Army?

Nope. Christianity is an institution, not a person and as such cannot make decisions to go to war. Only people can do that. However, I am implying that a talking sheep with revelations from God may have influenced the decision. (see bottom of page)
(I apologize for not having as much on my ball as you thought)

Are you implying God is persecuting gays?

Nope. Once again, I think the sheep may be responsible through their revelations.

I think your losing it cmas!

And you are not helping me get it back

Cmass wrote:

neither you nor I have any evidence sheep are receiving revelations from God

Biker wrote:

This sheep is! But you wouldn't know. Your not of the fold!

Don't you mean "not of the flock"? Either way, you are correct, I do not appear to be able to hear God or understand the revelations of sheep. Sorry.

Biker wrote:

I would characterize it as highly intelligent people who recognize genius, and sovereignty, and royalty, and kindness, and goodness, and love, and who like to hang out together and hear the voice of their Master and who follow Him and have faith in Him.

People like you I assume?

Biker wrote:

But again you wouldn't know, your not of the fold! It's hard to be critical of perfection!

Right again. Nope I'm not of the fold.

Biker (with help from Bible God) wrote:

"And the disciples came and said to Him, 'Why do You speak to them in parables?'
And He answered and said to them, '......HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES LEST THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM etc.. etc...'"

Is it intentional?

Intentional? I suppose so. It was certainly written intentionally by the authors of an ancient book of mythology.
I still can't hear God and I don't think the sheep are getting revelations from God. If God wanted to communicate with me, as an all-powerful, all-knowing Super Being, He could most certainly do so.


Bush: God Told Me to Invade Iraq
President 'revealed reasons for war in private meeting'
by Rupert Cornwell
"...President George Bush has claimed he was told by God to invade Iraq and attack Osama bin Laden's stronghold of Afghanistan as part of a divine mission to bring peace to the Middle East, security for Israel, and a state for the Palestinians...."

DO YOU REALLY CARE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HELL?

Biker

[Zzyzx]

DO YOU REALLY CARE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HELL?

Only religious people and religious nuts care about "going to hell". It can evidently occupy quite a bit of their time and energy.

Non-religious people need not be concerned about the empty threats made by religionists in an effort to frighten people into conforming to their wishes and to worship their gods.

Life without fear of hell is very pleasant. Those who think they have a free ticket to heaven fail to realize that they could "lose their faith" for any number of reasons at any point in life (it happens to real people). There is another thing to fear -- losing the faith.

Perhaps if one shouts and yells loud enough about how “Christian” they are they will convince themselves and others.

[Biker]

DO YOU REALLY CARE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HELL?

Only religious people and religious nuts care about "going to hell". It can evidently occupy quite a bit of their time and energy.

Non-religious people need not be concerned about the empty threats made by religionists in an effort to frighten people into conforming to their wishes and to worship their gods.

Life without fear of hell is very pleasant. Those who think they have a free ticket to heaven fail to realize that they could "lose their faith" for any number of reasons at any point in life (it happens to real people). There is another thing to fear -- losing the faith.

Perhaps if one shouts and yells loud enough about how “Christian” they are they will convince themselves and others.

Only religious people and religious nuts care about "going to hell".

So the reason for this thread is what?
I find it interesting you spend your whole retirement, talking to "nuts" about something you don't believe in!
Ranting and raving about supposed "myth's."
Zzyzx, who is the nut?

Biker

[Zzyzx]

Zzyzx, who is the nut?

I "went fishing" for "nuts" . . . . . .

I find it interesting you spend your whole retirement, talking to "nuts" about something you don't believe in!

I'm a member of the ekklesia and a bond servant of the Most High God.

I have spent approximately 1/1000 of my 236,000 hours of retirement encouraging un-indoctrinated people to avoid being coerced or induced to accept invisible sky daddies and nature-defying "miracles" as being anything more than fiction, fable, or falsehoods without verification with independent, impartial evidence.

I am gratified to have the assistance of people who demonstrate the negative outcome of their religious beliefs (intolerance, bigotry, hatred, ignorance, rigidity, elitism, etc).

Thank you for responding.

[twobitsmedia]

I am gratified to have the assistance of people who demonstrate the negative outcome of their religious beliefs (intolerance, bigotry, hatred, ignorance, rigidity, elitism, etc).

Even if they do, do it in a intolerant, bigoted, hateful, ignorant, rigid, and elite way......

[Openmind]

So the reason for this thread is what?
I find it interesting you spend your whole retirement, talking to "nuts" about something you don't believe in!
Ranting and raving about supposed "myth's."
Zzyzx, who is the nut?

Are you judging him on how he spends his time Biker? SIN ALERT!!!

[Cmass]

So the reason for this thread is what?
I find it interesting you spend your whole retirement, talking to "nuts" about something you don't believe in!
Ranting and raving about supposed "myth's."
Zzyzx, who is the nut?[
Actually, since I'm the one who wrote the OP, lets take a moment to review the basics:

I don't think you really believe I will fry in Hell for being an Atheist

.
f 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. Yet you don't

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

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

Code: Select all

x

[Confused]

If anyone would like to (a) not be thrown into the lake of fire (b) get their name written in the book of life.

May you please tell us Biker who told you that there will be books of life to be opened come judgment day? Whom did you get this information from?

Ask me I would be more than happy to help you out!

Biker

How can you be of help to anyone who likes to escape hell? Have you seen hell? Do you know where is hell?

Post 140, Revelation 20:11-15. You can read about the books in the inerrant word of God! Everything in your life is being recorded in the "books".
Hell is in the center of the earth. I have seen hell in a dream, or I was taken (my spirit) by angels to view it, I'm not sure which! I didn't go into hell proper, but was in the foyer or entrance way. I could hear hell itself and smell it. It is real, I have been to the entrance and seen a very disturbing scene, that shook me to the very core of my being.
I can be of help by telling you how you can escape hell by receiving God's free gift of eternal life through Jesus the Christ.

Biker

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?

[Zzyzx]

I can be of help by telling you how you can escape hell by receiving God's free gift of eternal life through Jesus the Christ.

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?

Some Christian beliefs presented here (and elsewhere) guarantee "heaven" strictly on the basis of BELIEF. Sins apparently do not matter. Just BELIEVE in the "savior" and you get a free ticket to "eternal bliss".

Mother Theresa probably did not expect a free ride for simply believing -- but thought that one's actions count.

[Confused]

I can be of help by telling you how you can escape hell by receiving God's free gift of eternal life through Jesus the Christ.

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?

Some Christian beliefs presented here (and elsewhere) guarantee "heaven" strictly on the basis of BELIEF. Sins apparently do not matter. Just BELIEVE in the "savior" and you get a free ticket to "eternal bliss".

Mother Theresa probably did not expect a free ride for simply believing -- but thought that one's actions count.

I would have to highly disagree with scripture guaranteeing anyone heaven. This would be one thing I would definately chalk up to arrogance. If it was all based on simply believing, then Christ wouldn't have bothered with "the gates are narrow", implying that less will get into heaven than we would assume. Hmmmmm, a believer who is arrogant??? Nooo, say it isn't so!!!!!!