I grew up as a Christian, and although I can not confirm the strength of faith I have now, I have been immersed in all things “Christian” for many years. Growing up with this, I was taught many different reasons for the way that certain things were when it came to God, in attempt to explain them fully. These reasonings have left me confused now that I am older and processing things more deeply. One of the examples I often think about is that the explanation for “Hell” was that it was the place where people who do not believe in God go.
For example of where this belief may have come from, I look to Psalm 17 : “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.” The “realm of the dead” of course meaning hell- and the “nations that forget God” being the people that don’t recognize Him as their God. — whatsgoinon
The idea that I was taught is such as this (ish):
1. Person learns about God.
2. They then get to decide whether or not they believe in Him and accept Him as their savior.
3. If said person accepts God as their savior while they are alive, they will then get into heaven.
4. This godly person will get into heaven.
— whatsgoinon
For those not so “lucky”-
1. Person learns about God.
2. Person decides whether or not they believe in Him and accept Him as their savior.
3. Said person does not accept God as their savior, they will not go to heaven, but rather sent to Hell.
4. As the Bible says, Hell is the lack of God and all things God created- — whatsgoinon
thus leaving hell to be a fiery burning apocalyptic like land with no sense of time or space.
5. Person goes to the place without God, aka Hell.
I just have so many questions when it comes to a faulty argument such as this. First of all, what about people that don’t know about God or haven’t had access to the bible or teachings about Him? — whatsgoinon
What about people that accepted Christ when they were really young, or didn’t exactly understand the religion fully? — whatsgoinon
What about the people that believe in their own Gods, do they go to the Christian Hell as well as whatever their religion considers to be the idealized end of time for them? — whatsgoinon
Basically, I’m just wondering how this could even be a justification for how Hell would maybe work. I haven’t read the bible from cover to cover, so I’m sure I am missing out on things. But does anyone have any thoughts to add to this? — whatsgoinon
I just have so many questions when it comes to a faulty argument such as this. First of all, what about people that don’t know about God or haven’t had access to the bible or teachings about Him?
What about people that accepted Christ when they were really young, or didn’t exactly understand the religion fully?
What about the people that believe in their own Gods, do they go to the Christian Hell as well as whatever their religion considers to be the idealized end of time for them?
It smacks of the antichrist's doctrine. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone saying 'Lord! Lord!' to me will enter heaven. Only those who do my father's will: for many will say to me "See, I have done many great things in your name!" yet I will say to them "I never knew you, you cannot be with me, for you are a worker of iniquity".
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