Do You Believe in an Eternal Hell

[Lara]

But not everyone believes in the Bible -you should be sensitive to other religious beliefs or disbeliefs. I urge you again, to start you own thread on your beliefs where people who want to comment can and be free to agree or disagree with you.

The question, on this thread, is do you believe in eternal hell?
I have my own little personal drama going on so I may have missed your answer to the question in the thread. Do you believe in an eternal hell?

Don't forget that the subject of Eternal Hell came from the Bible...so there's no getting around discussing it here.

I am very respectful and tolerant of everyone's right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. You should be that way towards my beliefs as well. I don't need to start my own thread when there are already many active religious threads going that are asking us all for our opinions.

I'm sorry if my faith makes you uncomfortable. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind nor do I expect to on the internet. I always let others agree and disagree. Why not? It's really odd that you said that even.

I thoroughly answered the eternal hell question in Post #26

 

[Aneeda72]

I thoroughly answered the eternal hell question in Post #26

I am very respectful and tolerant of everyone's right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. I don't need to start my own thread when there are already many active threads going that are asking us all for our opinions.

Don't forget that the subject of Eternal Hell came from the Bible...so there's no getting around discussing it here.

I'm sorry if my faith makes you uncomfortable. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind nor do I expect to on the internet.

Oh, thanks, didn’t see it, will check it out when I get back from the doctors. Your faith doesn’t make me uncomfortable but I don’t want to drift too far off the thread subject as I tend to do that, a lot. I like Bible discussions and religious discussions and simply think it would be a better way to have a discussion with you. I am curious always about others beliefs.

But if you are not comfortable starting a thread, then no problem. But it would be wrong to deep dive into these issues on this thread, IMO. And I can’t do it now anyway, cause I am having a bit of a crisis and my guardian angel says to keep my big mouth shut. Alrighty then.

 

[Keesha]

I sometimes get confused reading the Bible too, but I know in my heart that God is not the author of confusion. So I pray first and ask him to open my eyes, fill me with his Holy Spirit, clean me up inside, and then reveal to me what he wants me to know.

If I'm still confused then I become pro-active and start studying, cross-referencing, and maybe going to someone I trust like my pastor to discuss it. There's one online source I really trust and that's GotQuestions.org.

I think that's why the Bible leaves us with many questions....He wants us to "study to show ourselves approved" 2Timothy 2:15

Which is why I purchased a new book to see if I could understand it any better since I’d prefer to be led by spirit and not my own ego. It’s not that I’m a new believer in God. I’ve always believed.

 

[Lara]

@Keesha I love your spirit of openess to all types of threads and subjects.

I got to thinking that the Senior Forums offer a little of everything for all of us to enjoy.
From discussions about Eternal Hell to a popular discussion about toilet paper on a boat
It's a beautiful thing that Matrix has made possible for Seniors...we can all find something of interest.

 

[Serenity4321]

What loving God would condemn anyone for eternity?

One who has been rejected by unbelievers. One who refuses to accept evil in the kingdom of heaven. That's what God.

I believe that God is unconditionally loving and understands not everyone learns at the same pace, so He/She will give everyone as many chances as needed until they finally 'get it'

 

[Serenity4321]

Here's a thought of mine: Meriam Webster says that one of the definitions for punishment is "correction." And I think that most good parents punishing a child or a good pet owner punishing a pet, let's say, is doing it to *correct* wrongful behavior, to teach correct behavior, etc. Sooo, what would then be the point of *eternal* after-life punishment? So then that leads us to the punishment not being done to correct or teach but because of meanness. JMO, of course.

officerripley ..I like the idea of correction..and think there is truth in your idea...

 

[Serenity4321]

Which is why I purchased a new book to see if I could understand it any better since I’d prefer to be led by spirit and not my own ego. It’s not that I’m a new believer in God. I’ve always believed.

I have read a lot about following spirit not ego. Have you ever read Vernon Howard or E Tolle? Or ACIM?

 

[Sunny]

The three top religious "beliefs" in the world are Christianity, Islam, and Atheist. The Atheist segment is growing rapidly.

One thing I wonder about is: Is the belief in a place of eternal punishment, usually called Hell, only a product of the Christian religion? Or do other religions believe in Hell also? I have only heard it referred to in a Christian context. It is an evil idea, and comes from a place of fear, superstition, and a need for power over others. There is absolutely no evidence of its existence. And saying, "That's where faith comes in" is no answer at all. You can say that about anything. Faith is a nice-sounding world for echoing beliefs that are mostly ancient, repeated and taught down through the centuries, with no real evidence to back them up.

I am hardly an expert on Christianity, but I get the feeling that most Christian denominations have cut down on all that "hellfire" stuff, as people just weren't buying into it. I think there's much more emphasis on "heaven." An improvement, at least.

 

[Serenity4321]

Maybe not fire and brimstone, but something. My feeling has always been, that if your faith allows for your to believe Heaven exists, it seems the opposite must also exist. Seems a rather simplistic belief, but one to ponder.

I think there needs to be atonement for wrongs done but IMO there is an infinite amount of time and opportunity to achieve that so there would not be a need for hell.

 

[Serenity4321]

In my opinion, the fact that the Bible is so filled with frustrating contradiction is the very reason why I could never finish it. It’s certainly some of the most confusing literature ever written. Again, in my opinion. I do however think it has some very beautifully written relatable verses . These lessons are also shared in other books besides the Bible.

For me the Bible is open to many interpretations. Like a great work of art, it can 'speak' to an individual where they may need it and even changes as a person's need changes..

 

[Serenity4321]

I sometimes get confused reading the Bible too, but I know in my heart that God is not the author of confusion. So I pray first and ask him to open my eyes, fill me with his Holy Spirit, clean me up inside, and then reveal to me what he wants me to know.

If I'm still confused then I become pro-active and start studying, cross-referencing, and maybe going to someone I trust like my pastor to discuss it. There's one online source I really trust and that's GotQuestions.org.

I think that's why the Bible leaves us with many questions....He wants us to "study to show ourselves approved" 2Timothy 2:15

Lara...I agree the Bible can be confusing but I also think it can say different things to different people and that is the beauty of any great work.

 

[Lara]

I think there needs to be atonement for wrongs done but IMO there is an infinite amount of time and opportunity to achieve that so there would not be a need for hell.

I'm thinking your post perhaps assumes one is going to live long enough to atone for all their wrongs (covid can take one in a matter of a few hours) and it assumes that the atonement for those wrongs is going to be a quick and sufficient fix....and it assumes there aren't as many wrongs committed as is possible. I believe we do wrongs multiple times everyday and there's no way we can pay the punishment all alone...not enough to be counted worthy to enter God's Kingdom.

Wrongs can be what we consider little but are wrongs none-the-less. Eating too much, too much money, too much of anything is gluttony and greed for instance...and that's one of the ten commandments. Having an unkind thought, selfishness, lack of self control...on and on. That's where Jesus stepped in, to atone for our wrongs for us.

 

[Aneeda72]

I think there needs to be atonement for wrongs done but IMO there is an infinite amount of time and opportunity to achieve that so there would not be a need for hell.

But it’s not what “we” human beings think, it’s what GOD thinks, not JC but God the Father, and we have no insight into his thoughts. He was not a GOD of love, but an angry God, a God of revenge, the God of the Old Testament.

A lot of people use God and JC interchangeably as if they are the same, they are not the same. God rules heaven. God demanded the sacrifice of his son (Christian belief of course) via the cross. It was God, I think, that threw down angles from heaven. It will be God the father, who judges, not JC IMO.

 

[Aneeda72]

I'm thinking your post perhaps assumes one is going to live long enough to atone for all their wrongs (covid can take one in a matter of a few hours) and it assumes that the atonement for those wrongs is going to be a quick and sufficient fix....and it assumes there aren't as many wrongs committed as is possible. I believe we do wrongs multiple times everyday and there's no way we can pay the punishment all alone...not enough to be counted worthy to enter God's Kingdom.

Wrongs can be what we consider little but are wrongs none-the-less. Eating too much, too much money, too much of anything is gluttony and greed for instance...and that's one of the ten commandments. Having an unkind thought, selfishness, lack of self control...on and on. That's where Jesus stepped in, to atone for our wrongs for us.

I read your post #26 before and I have read it again, but I still don’t see a simple yes I believe in an eternal hell, or no I do not. I have thought I over, and I believe you do believe in an ever lasting hell. I do not.

The Pope said, a while back, everyone will go to heaven. Then the Vatican tried to back walk it, and, like everything else, it became political. . But I am going with the everyone goes to heaven concept because our time on earth is enough hell for us all, IMO. And the Bible is just a history book.

As I said, and the Bible is clear, leave what belongs to the Romans to the Romans and what belongs to God to God. God The Father will judge us all. The rest is all rustlings in the wind. IMO.

 

[Keesha]

I have read a lot about following spirit not ego. Have you ever read Vernon Howard or E Tolle? Or ACIM

Absolutely! I’ve literally read hundreds of books and listened to hundreds of tapes, videos, DVDs & podcasts on spirituality and when I actually practice what I’ve learned, my life goes smoothly and I’m blissfully in peace.

I’ve learned from the best spiritual teachers including Deepak Chopra, Byron Katie, Marianne Williamson, Elkhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer ( almost every book he wrote ) Jack Kornfield, Don Miguel Ruiz, Abraham Hicks, Neal Donald Walsh and others. The list is endless. When I read these types of books, life runs smoother and makes more sense. Life miraculously works.

When I get off track, I get stuck in negative patterns of behaviour that does not serve myself or others and instantly self sabotage.

Oddly enough a few months back my husband and I came to a roadblock where we decided to make some huge changes. We didn’t really have an exact plan. We just told the universe/God energy what we wanted , stood back and trusted that it would work. Coincidences kept happening to us where everything snapped together in synchronized perfection. There’s no way we did all that all on our own. It isn’t something I can not explain but it’s miraculous when we believe in it.

For me the Bible is open to many interpretations. Like a great work of art, it can 'speak' to an individual where they may need it and even changes as a person's need changes..

I completely agree. It meets you where you are so is timeless in its teachings. I just find it a confusing read and probably always will.

 

[Sassycakes]

After reading all the posts and being a Catholic myself it makes me wonder that if God is all-powerful and sees someone committing a heinous crime, like torturing and then murdering a child,why doesn't God just intervene and kill the villian right then and there and not let the child go through any pain. Then there would be no need for Hell.

 

[Nathan]

Google search: "first mention of hell in the Bible"

Answer:

THE BIBLE GIVES THE LOCATION OF HELL

And in Matthew 12:40, Jesus Christ says: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the HEART OF THE EARTH. " The Bible is clear — Hell is inside the earth!

I'm rather surprised, I would have thought the concept of Hell to originate in the Old Testament. I wondered if Jesus himself ever referenced Hell, here's what Christianity.com says:

What Did Jesus Actually Teach about Hell?

We can summarize it like this: hell is the place of conscious, eternal torment where people experience God's punishment for their sin. Yes, hell is "the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matt 25:41), but also for those who join them in their rebellion against God (Matt 11:20–24). The horror of hell is such that Jesus says, "if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43). For those who do not enter the narrow door of faith and repentance in Jesus (Luke 13:24) a place of weeping and gnashing teeth awaits them (Luke 13:28).

At the end of human history, everyone will appear before Jesus Christ, where he will divide humanity into "sheep" (those who demonstrate their faith in Jesus through their good works) and the "goats" (those who did not trust in Jesus Christ). The sheep will receive eternal life, while the goats "will go away into eternal punishment" (Matt 25:46).

Jesus uses strong language about hell because it is real and unspeakably horrible. But he not only warned of the dangers of hell; he offered the way out. He lived a life of perfect obedience, died a sacrificial death on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead to defeat sin, death, and the devil. He invites everyone to trust in him to receive eternal life rather than the eternal punishment that everyone deserves for their sin (John 3:16-17).
Is the Bible’s Language about Hell Literal or Metaphorical?

“For people who believe in hell, there’s some debate there,” Andy Naselli, seminary professor, said in his video below. “I’m not positive it’s either literal or metaphorical – there are good arguments for both of them. The metaphors that the Bible uses about hell describe a reality that we can’t relate to immediately on earth.”

 

[Keesha]

After reading all the posts and being a Catholic myself it makes me wonder that if God is all-powerful and sees someone committing a heinous crime, like torturing and then murdering a child,why doesn't God just intervene and kill the villian right then and there and not let the child go through any pain. Then there would be no need for Hell.

I’m certainly no authoritarian in this subject but I believe it’s because he gives us ‘free will’ to do what we wish as humans. To intervene IS taking away our free will which is our greatest gift given.
It’s not Gods fault humans use their free will to do horrible things that hurt others.

 

[Lara]

the Bible is clear, leave what belongs to the Romans to the Romans and what belongs to God to God.

Huh? I'm unclear as to what this is. The Bible is clear where? I would like to read it. I'm not trying to make you prove it...I just want to educate myself because I'm confused

 

[Aneeda72]

Huh? I'm unclear as to what this is. The Bible is clear where? I would like to read it. I'm not trying to make you prove it...I just want to educate myself because I'm confused

Oh gosh, I will try and look up the reference later

 

[ohioboy]

Huh? I'm unclear as to what this is. The Bible is clear where? I would like to read it. I'm not trying to make you prove it...I just want to educate myself because I'm confused

She is referencing when the Lord is shown coins with Ceasars image on it and the Lord says something like "What bears his image belongs to Ceasar, what bears my image belongs to me", or some such words.

 

[Lara]

It's okay Aneeda. You don't have to if you dont want to. I was just curious.

Oh thank you Ohioboy.

 

[Aneeda72]

It's okay Aneeda. You don't have to if you dont want to. I was just curious.

Oh thank you Ohioboy.

Oh, no I am pleased to do it and surprised you are not familiar with it. There are several translations, basically its Mark 12:17. Took very little time to find it but I am eating popcorn and taking my medicine in a bottle of crystal light so both hands are busy.

Anyhow it goes like this, some dudes are talking to JC about a Roman gold coin, “The Roman emperor’s people demand taxes from us.” And JC says, “Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine.”

I like this translation because it MAKES clear God is separate from JC, and each entity has their own agenda. Everyone always has their own agenda, even the holy ones.

still confused?

 

[ohioboy]

Aneeda "Render unto Ceasar what is Caesars".

https://biblehub.com/mark/12-17.htm

 

[ohioboy]

Cross posts!