Do you really care that I am going to hell?

[Cmass]

I don't think you really believe I will fry in Hell for being an Atheist. I don't think you really truly believe any of your non-believing family will either. I think deep down, you know it just isn't true.

If you do believe they will all fry and are not doing absolutely everything in your power to stop it, I would suggest that you are a very cold, dispassionate person. If you really believed your dearly beloved mother was going to burn in hell right next to Cmass and Charles Manson then you would stop at nothing to convince her to accept Jesus. You would not just gently encourage, you would be emotionally and perhaps even physically engaged on a daily and hourly basis. You most certainly would not be reading this silly OP right now. Not if you REALLY cared.

Think about it. If you saw your mother being beaten by someone on the street, would you stop to help save her? Would you put your own life at risk to keep her from drowning? Is there anything you would not do to help her? OK, what about eternal torture in hell? Doesn't this concern you? What about all the other people in your life who are going to hell? Doesn't this leave you feeling devastated? If I believed there was a hell and that so many people would be going - especially any of my friends or family - I would be in constant agony myself and would devote my life to stopping it. Or, I would be numb.

Does your knowledge that so many people will be in eternal torture bother you very much on a daily basis?

This OP came about after reading commentary by some of our more conservative Christian friends in here. Some seem to have no real problem with all us atheists burning in hell forever. Granted, there are probably some personal anger issues involved but still, I have always been uneasy with how casual many Christians are when it comes to discussing eternal damnation. Some get more upset over running over a kitty than the eternal torture of their best friend.

Nonetheless, I give most the benefit of the doubt: I don't think they are really that cold. I just don't think they really believe as much in the hell concept as they report.

[Lainey]

So you're not entirely sure you believe in it, then? That's what I'm getting from this. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

you're wrong

But earlier you said that you have no idea where they are going to end up. So do you believe in Hell, do you not believe in Hell, or are you not sure if there is a Hell?

You must be easily manipulated or it wouldn't bother you.

What does this ad hominem have to do with anything?

How a person judges something usually says more about them then what they are judging. I don't see how the comment even suggests manipulation. You, on the other hand, judge it based on personal crieteria from somewhere.

I am trying to understand the comment. What does it suggest to you?

So is everything people say that they believe a manipulation or an attempt to teach something?

How should I know? What I'm interested in is what your teacher meant. "Never speak about Hell without tears." Why? What do you think he/she meant? Because it's a horrific thought, and you should be upset about it? Or to appeal to the guilt or sympathy of your audience, and so win people to your way of thinking? Or some other reason I might be missing?

Let me get this straight. You already made the unfounded "manipulation" critique on my comment, and then say "How should I know?" You assumed then, and now you don't know.

You said:

So is everything people say that they believe a manipulation or an attempt to teach something?

How should I know what people's motives are? Everything they say? Probably not. But we are talking about one little comment. I also don't know if my opinion was unfounded. I said it sounded manipulative to me. Perhaps it was intended differently, which is what I'm trying to determine. I am not sure what you think I've assumed. Are you dodging my questions? Let me refresh your memory:

What I'm interested in is what your teacher meant. "Never speak about Hell without tears." Why? What do you think he/she meant? Because it's a horrific thought, and you should be upset about it? Or to appeal to the guilt or sympathy of your audience, and so win people to your way of thinking? Or some other reason I might be missing?

I really want to know! I am being sincere when I ask you what you think it meant. I'm not trying to trap you or anything, if that's what you're thinking. Can you be sincere in return and answer my questions?





As an aside, to anyone who cares to answer, where am I going wrong with the quote thingy?

[Cmass]

(I'm glad to see Easyrider chime in on this one!)
Easyrider said:

Au contraire. I believe those who reject Christ are going down to the Pit for eternity, whether they are family or atheists. It's on you, not us.

I never said it was "on you" (to save me). Instead, I am suggesting that on some level you are either extremely cold, or you are numb, or you don't really believe what you are saying. Your tone is cavalier.

I think this comment from Twobitsmedia's teacher is more in line with what I would expect if someone really believed in hell and it's consequences:

A teacher told me years ago "never speak about hell without tears." That has stuck with me.

I would go a step further and say that thinking of your loved ones in hell would bring you hell on earth. I cannot fathom such a thought without a great deal of distress. How can you?
Easyrider said:

We're (Christians in this forum) here to try to lead people to the truth.

Do the others know you speak for them? If there is one thing I have learned from this forum it is just how fractured Christianity is and how diverse people's beliefs are. There are numerous Christians here who don't believe in hell like you do.

Easyrider said:

Yeah, it saddens many of us that people reject Christ. We can only do so much. There's other people to reach and not much time.

Yeah, bummer. Torture and agony for eternity. Poor old Mom. Oh well. If it's God's will then so be it. At least it's her and not me.
I can't help but hear this when I read your post. You are either incapable of true, deep, empathy or you really don't believe what you say. If I believed in hell in the way you do, I would be absolutely agonized that members of my family - especially my child - would be tortured forever. This would be my #1 issue in life - all consuming - and I would spend all my time trying to figure out how to convert them.

If you're fortunate, God will send someone else to give you the Word after us. But perhaps not. But I'm not going to feel guilty if people continue to reject Christ. I can feel sad for them, but not guilty.

It's not guilt I am keying in on here. It is a certain coldness that I sense. A darkness in what you say. A part of you that is either suppressed or has never developed. You may indeed be a wonderfully warm, fun person to be around so I give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you really don't believe....on some deep emotional level. Or, you have shut down a part of yourself to deal with the pain.

And here is your quote for the day:

Deuteronomy 28:53 (King James Version)
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee
Isn't that inspiring?

[Cmass]

And so the Christians, once again, slink away to another thread.....

It is not easy to think about your family being tortured for eternity.

It is not easy to think about enjoying your time in Heaven while they fry.

Either your religion is wrong, your interpretation of it is wrong, or you have made yourself numb to the reality you espouse.

[bernee51]

And so the Christians, once again, slink away to another thread.....

It is not easy to think about your family being tortured for eternity.

It is not easy to think about enjoying your time in Heaven while they fry.

Either your religion is wrong, your interpretation of it is wrong, or you have made yourself numb to the reality you espouse.

Tertullian, an early 3rd century church leader and prolific author of early christianity who was also a notable early christian apologist thought that part of the joy of heaven was not only knowing but seeing the eternal torture of those in hell.

[Cmass]

Bernee51 wrote:

Tertullian, an early 3rd century church leader and prolific author of early christianity who was also a notable early christian apologist thought that part of the joy of heaven was not only knowing but seeing the eternal torture of those in hell.

Whoa.
Now there's a nasty thought.

[Confused]

And so the Christians, once again, slink away to another thread.....

It is not easy to think about your family being tortured for eternity.

It is not easy to think about enjoying your time in Heaven while they fry.

Either your religion is wrong, your interpretation of it is wrong, or you have made yourself numb to the reality you espouse.

Fear not, I will always care about you going to hell. We shall keep each other company and perhaps you can shrink some of my problems away in between the sessions of being eaten and regurgitated by satan and the daily saunas in the burning lakes.

[bernee51]

Bernee51 wrote:

Tertullian, an early 3rd century church leader and prolific author of early christianity who was also a notable early christian apologist thought that part of the joy of heaven was not only knowing but seeing the eternal torture of those in hell.

Whoa.
Now there's a nasty thought.

But imagiane how much more you would enjoy heaven.

Despite the cries of torment and agony of your mother.

[Cmass]

Confused wrote:

Fear not, I will always care about you going to hell. We shall keep each other company and perhaps you can shrink some of my problems away in between the sessions of being eaten and regurgitated by satan and the daily saunas in the burning lakes.

We can plot our escape!
Which makes me wonder.......Has anyone ever left hell?

[Confused]

Confused wrote:

Fear not, I will always care about you going to hell. We shall keep each other company and perhaps you can shrink some of my problems away in between the sessions of being eaten and regurgitated by satan and the daily saunas in the burning lakes.

We can plot our escape!
Which makes me wonder.......Has anyone ever left hell?

Of course silly. Christ did. Someone was sleeping through sunday school. Bad boy!!!!!

[adlemi]

I don't think you really believe I will fry in Hell for being an Atheist.

I DO should you really cleave and cling on to your faith of being an atheist unto your death, and that is no joke on my part.