What is the Biblical view of hell?

[otseng]

The concept of Hell is one of the many unmarketable, embarrassingly unbelievable religious concepts that has been recently swept under the altar in the severely diluted quasi-belief system that passes for Christianity in certain circles.

In fact, I think this is why Christianity invented eternal punishment in hell. They started to realize that just plain dying wouldn't be compelling. So instead they invented the concept of "Everlasting Punishment" for those who refuse to comply.

Questions for debate:
What is the Biblical view of hell?
What concepts do we have of hell that are not in the Bible?

[PinSeeker]

In my experience, though -- and probably yours, too -- actions speak louder than words.

They do they do. But in a word only format, words is all we have.

Yet more "dancing." Would you not call writing what you have written here an action on your part, nobspeople? Surely you would.

For the better part of 10½ years now and counting!

You're 10 and a half years old? Hm. Well that explains a lot...

Respond to my post (545), nobspeople. I mean, you don't have to, of course, but if you would actually respond to that post, then it might be worth continuing. But that's your choice, of course.

Hey, on the grace and peace thing, do you think by saying "grace and peace to you" that I'm somehow questioning your personal grace and peace (or lack thereof)? Really? Or are you just lashing out, trying to "one-up" me or get the last word? Either way... Oh well. No answer to this required or requested; do what you want with it.

Grace and peace to you.

[nobspeople]

[Replying to PinSeeker in post #553]

You're 10 and a half years old? Hm. Well that explains a lot...

I was going to respond to your post, but with this juvenile comment, I can tell you're more about personal attacks and not a real discussion.
Happy posting to you!

[The Tanager]

For the better part of 10½ years now and counting!

You're 10 and a half years old? Hm. Well that explains a lot...

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[William]

Through observing the data of this thread it appears to me that Christians cannot use the bible successfully for an authoritative view on the subject of hell.

Therefore there is no requirement on any individual to take the subject of hell as an authoritative doctrine of Christianity due to the obvious confusion Christians have regarding the subject.

This means that Christians should refrain from using hell in any context of threat in relation to the fate of unbelievers of Christianity as this is only and attempt to guilt/shame/cause fear [attack] in the individual unbeliever with any references of that nature.

I move that it should be against forum rules for any member to threaten or otherwise imply other members will go to hell or any other related phrasing (such as damnation, eternal suffering etc.) in a similar way as no member may refer to another members religion as a "cult". It should be treated along the same lines as personal attack.

[tam]

[Replying to William in post #556]

I believe that already is a rule, William (peace to you), under guidelines for preaching:

Do not proclaim where another person is going to go in the afterlife. Do not pronounce that God should judge another person with any sort of punishment.

viewtopic.php?t=22302

[otseng]

As for me, the lack of understanding and discernment among unbelievers despite obvious admirable levels of intelligence just never ceases to amaze me. What it does show, though, with shocking clarity, is that intelligence or lack thereof is not the issue at all, it's -- in Biblical terms -- hardness of heart. And, quite frankly, it's heartbreaking.

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[otseng]

Or maybe this is better:

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[PinSeeker]

[Replying to PinSeeker in post #553]

You're 10 and a half years old? Hm. Well that explains a lot...

I was going to respond to your post, but with this juvenile comment, I can tell you're more about personal attacks and not a real discussion.
Happy posting to you!

Come on, man. Come on. I was joking. There was no "personal attack." Obviously. Holy moly.

However, in response to this post, I can tell -- and certainly could tell, long before this post -- that you seem to be "about" avoidance of anything pointing out the inevitable dead ends to which any of your comments lead. And I can understand that, actually, but still, it is what it is.

Okay, good enough. Grace and peace to you.

[PinSeeker]

Through observing the data of this thread it appears to me that Christians cannot use the bible successfully for an authoritative view on the subject of hell.

Well... some can't. But that doesn't mean it's not. Here in the good ol' USA, half the populace of the country can't -- or refuse to -- use the Constitution as an authoritative treatise regarding the governance of the nation. But that doesn't render its authoritative status null regarding any subject therein.

Therefore there is no requirement on any individual to take the subject of hell as an authoritative doctrine of Christianity due to the obvious confusion Christians have regarding the subject.

I agree that there's no requirement on any individual of that nature. But again, its status as authoritative is not rendered null. And neither are the consequences for disregarding and/or ignoring it's authoritative status.

This means that Christians should refrain from using hell in any context of threat in relation to the fate of unbelievers of Christianity as this is only and attempt to guilt/shame/cause fear [attack] in the individual unbeliever with any references of that nature.

As said, no one does this. But any Christian -- or otherwise -- is free to point out the consequence of transgression (unbelief) administered by the Author of the "Treatise."

I move that it should be against forum rules for any member to threaten or otherwise imply other members will go to hell or any other related phrasing (such as damnation, eternal suffering etc.) in a similar way as no member may refer to another member's religion as a "cult". It should be treated along the same lines as personal attack.

I would agree, but to my knowledge, no one here has done that. Certainly not me, except in the sense of repeating what Christ Jesus Himself said, that "the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13) and "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven." Again, the Authority and His "Treatise" is far above that of any mere Christian.

In closing, it's one thing to feel personally attacked, but its quite another entirely to actually be personally attacked, verbally or otherwise. Merely being offended does not constitute a "personal attack" in any shape, form, or fashion.

Grace and peace to you.

[William]

[Replying to William in post #556]

I believe that already is a rule, William (peace to you), under guidelines for preaching:

Do not proclaim where another person is going to go in the afterlife. Do not pronounce that God should judge another person with any sort of punishment.

viewtopic.php?t=22302

Hi Tam

Yes - but it is not just proclamations and pronouncements which should be dealt with - it should also be against the rules to even imply - such as pinseeker did in his/her post :

whether one chooses to fear and tremble at the real-world (not to mention eternal) consequences of rejection of Christendom -- or react at all any other way, which itself is an implicit rejection of it -- is entirely the individual's choice.

post#525

the implication therein being, that if one rejects Christianity in any way, there will be "eternal consequences" and as we know, Christianity has been spreading the idea of hell and damnation into the real-world situation for too many centuries already as a means of blaming shaming guilting creating fear in people for the purpose of either netting individuals or condemning those who managed to escape said device.

My point is that since Christians cannot even agree on how to interpret their bible correctly on the subject, it should be ignored as a subject used to argue against non-believers with and any mention of it in argument should be treated in the same manner as wishing someone die a horrible death and saying so....