Then why bother even commenting? Everyone knows your present stance on the subject but it seems that you’re trying to convince yourself more than anyone else. Not one person on this forum needs to be told something more than once but you keep repeating yourself over and over giving one pause to wonder how truly convicted you are. It’s like the person who keeps telling themself the same thing over and over until they themselves believe it. Salespeople do it all the time.
When people tell me that they do not believe something (or believe) it is generally because they have some sort of basis for their beliefs. There must be something, anything that gives some sort of confirmation that what they do believe is true otherwise it lacks substance. Gut feelings are not substantial enough to be a confirming experience. In this case we’re talking about hell which is an extension of He who created such a thing or rather an omnipotent entity which many including myself call God. Now, to say that one doesn’t believe in hell or God is somewhat normal except for the confirmation process needed to give the statement credibility. * Do note that many believe in God but do not believe there is a hell but the scriptures plainly say there is such a place which means that whilst one may believe IN God they do not Believe He who made it plain that there is; ergo, God must be a liar which is an oxymoron because He does not lie. Hence, man made convenience and a god made in OUR image. Is Hell a threat? I sincerely do not believe that for a second. More is written about the grace of God and the things He has done to make sure that mankind has every opportunity to seek and receive life everlasting than anything else written in the scriptures yet hell seems to be a focal point. When I walk past a flower I focus on the blossom and rarely if ever look at the dirt that it’s planted in. Yes, everyone knows that there is dirt but unless one is absolutely enthralled with dirt and manure it is the flower that we see and smell. So why do the scriptures speak anything about Hell? Every honest and concise contract has the pros and the cons firmly listed which can be read and understood by all. God has made a covenant with man and the details are plainly and well defined and with that the subject of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven and Hell are discussed fully. So, getting back to the beginning of the post, the confirmation process by which we make a judgment has to be something substantial enough to be more objective than subjective. Whether there is an Omnipotent and eternal entity (called God) or not lacks empirical data on both sides of the coin but experiential evidence I have personally witnessed and have been involved with give me enough confirmation to come to a fully rational judgment that yes, there is an entity called God so therefore there is a hell as well as a heaven.
Just because you don't believe in hell does not means it does not exist Lon. With all that free time you have now days...you could easily find the truth if you wanted it. Jesus' says. "Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened." Let pride go Lon and seek your salvation.
If hell is not a threat, then why does it exist (not that I believe that it does)? As a parent, I cannot fathom condemning a child of mine to everlasting torment, no matter what their transgression. But for "God, the Father" apparently it's A-OK. I have such problems with this stuff.
@Beth Gallagher, agreed! Internal contradictions like that in any belief system blows holes in their credibility, as far as I'm concerned. Used to really tick me off. Now I just laugh at it.
I try very hard to reconcile it all, D'Ellyn. I actually envy true believers because I am unable to get to that blind faith thing. "Keeps me searchin' for a heart of gold, and I'm gettin' old..."♪♪
Thanks for your concern Babs. I do believe that some people are experiencing HEll On Earth in their lifetime. I am not seeking or knocking on any doors.
I agree with many statements here (but not all). But I also must give an answer (as God requires in (1st Pet 3:15)). So I decided that I would quote a few lines from scripture concerning what will happen in the coming (months, years, decades..). My reasoning is that since my opinion would not mean much, God's does. In my experience and studies, He has never been wrong! All of these are from the well-known books of Matthew and Luke, chapters 24, and 21, respectively. ...and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Matt 24:7) But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass … (Luke 21:9) ...because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold (Matt 24:12) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt 24:31) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matt 24:37,38,39) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36) ...pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass … (Luke 21:36)
Ah, I see the difference you are talking about, @Beth Gallagher. I started questioning the value of blind faith early in life, especially when that was dependent on someone else's understanding, definition, rationale, myth, or experience.
True Believers do not go by blind faith in their beliefs. There is lots of historical proof that God our Creator exists. But the real proof lies in opening your heart and mind and asking Him to show you that He is real. God says that you will find him when you seek Him with all your heart, etc.