Hot Topic (5/20): Do you believe in hell?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

From PewForum.org: 

In a survey released [in 2008] by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, just 59 percent of 35,000 respondents said they believe in a hell "where people who have led bad lives, and die without being sorry, are eternally punished."

That's down from the 71 percent who said they believed in hell in a 2001 Gallup survey. And it is lower than the 74 percent who said they believe in heaven in the recent Pew poll.

* * *

Do you believe in hell?  If so, what do you think hell is like?

If you do not, why not? 

[Eilish]

The greatest lie that Satan has pulled off is that he and hell don't exist.

[PurdueMom]

I'm Agnostic.  I believe the only Hell that exists is that which people create for themselves or for others. 

[momandvet]

I find hell to be a silly notion.  I don't think religion is silly just the notion of hell.

[WImom2]

Yes- I am Catholic.

[PurdueMom]

Quoting Eilish:

The greatest lie that Satan has pulled off is that he and hell don't exist.

This never made sense to me.   If God is the creator of everything, plus omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnivorous - then he created Satan, has control of Satan, is always with Satan, and is of Satan's mind.  So, basically, God 'has pulled off' that Satan and Hell don't exist. 

 

[blondekosmic15]

Quoting Eilish:

The greatest lie that Satan has pulled off is that he and hell don't exist.

Thank you Eilish...my mother shared that w/ me many yrs. ago! Never is the devil more powerful than when he has convinced someone that he does not exist~

[blondekosmic15]

 

Quoting PurdueMom:

Quoting Eilish:

The greatest lie that Satan has pulled off is that he and hell don't exist.

This never made sense to me.   If God is the creator of everything, plus omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnivorous - then he created Satan, has control of Satan, is always with Satan, and is of Satan's mind.  So, basically, God 'has pulled off' that Satan and Hell don't exist. 

 

God did not create Satan....God created Lucifer the most angelic & intelligent being amongst the Angels. Lucifer rebelled & 1 third of all the stars { angels } fell from Heaven w/ him. There are 9 choirs of Angels & during the time of Lucifer's rebellion Michael the Archangel stepped forward from the 2nd to the lowest choir of Angels { Archangels } to fight Lucifer & his fallen Angels.  Michael * Gabriel * Raphael defeated these Angels & drove them from Heaven. Than God elevated Michael the Archangel to be @ the right side of his throne in Heaven...Michael means....who is like God! Lucifer & his demons than plotted the many ways to deceive ppl. b/c their sole purpose is to take us into hell w/ them! Lucifer " the father of lies " & the master of deception relishes his efforts when he has convinced someone he does not exist b/c he is than successful in convincing ppl. that sin does not exist * no need to repent & therefore no consequence to sin ultimately causing the loss of a person's soul for all eternity!  

Yes, God has control of the devil but due to the fall of Adam & Eve...free will entered the world. Prayer & fasting + the Scriptures are the weapons to combat the devil.  Humbly offering up these weapons to God will ward off the devil & his attacks. God chooses to control the devil thru these weapons~

 

[Kaelaasmom]

 Nope. Not even a little bit. I believe that a truly merciful deity wouldn't send anyone to a fiery pit of torture for their misdeeds but would forgive all. That's just me, though.

[luvmygrndhg]

Quoting Kaelaasmom:

 Nope. Not even a little bit. I believe that a truly merciful deity wouldn't send anyone to a fiery pit of torture for their misdeeds but would forgive all. That's just me, though.

God doesn't send people to hell.  People chose to go there by their own  choice (free will).  Think about the law for example.  If you break a law, even if you were not familiar with the law, the judge will  not exempt you.  You are still responsible and if you have to pay a fine or go to jail, it is not the judge who is to blame for you having to do the time but your own actions.  It is up to each individual to be familiar with the law and to live a life in accordance with such or if choosing not to do so, abide by the consequences.

Jesus came to make sure we understood there is peril ahead.  Kind of like a big sign before a precipice telling us not to go there.  Except some choose to ignore the warning and step out into the abyss as if it isn't there.

My favorite bible verse is "God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

[amanda_g]

I think hell is an invention of religion. People feed off of a basic reward and punishment system, you can't tell someone to be good "because I said so", there has to be a punishment, I think religions(like all other institutions) needed a way to control people and hell was a good way to do it, I mean who wants to spend eternity in fire? It also gives religions credibility, if you don't follow their rules and standards you will end up in a not so nice place. I don't believe in hell, I believe in reincarnation, but I do believe in karma, there are reactions to every motion in the universe and I think there are effects that we cause that can haunt us in our next life... But that's just what I believe.