Hellfire and Damnation 101

Christians claim to believe in a God that is love and simultaneously believe in eternal damnation. How do our heads not explode? Watch and find out.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• christian
• christianity
• hell
• damnation
• tillich
• merton
• existentialism
• mysticism

[Ironmaw1776]

Over priced phlegm margaritas ... Awesome!

[gCuezy]

Are you a part of Orthodoxy? Your eschatological theology is.

[AuroraBorealis1990]

Good point. Seems a possible and plausible interpretation.

In Religious Education class last year we also heard the interpretation that God doesn't force his love on us humans and that those people who don't want (and thus reject) his love will stay separated from God with no means to ever bond with him - not because God doesn't want to but because these humans don't have any possibility to, because they don't know how to love.

(Basically very similar to what you said. ;) )

[axisares]

I once had a philosophy teacher describe spiritual death as "meaninglessness, boredom and guilt." He was a true Platonic Christian. If consciousness continues after death, it is certainly hoped that we will not be stuck within the narrow confines of our earthly prism. The question I always ask myself is, "How can I change my heart?" I can not think myself into heaven, so to speak. In fact, in my anguish I often feel powerless to do anything at all.  This must be what hell feels like.

[godequaljesus]

So true.

[antiderivativeman]

This is what the church taught before Thomas Aquinas.

[BelovedSpear]

Uh oh! Exit Script Alert! Quit talking? But why? I know there are plenty of Christians out there who enjoy pitching hate at atheists and Muslims..and other Christians, frankly. I just can't see how that meshes with the living core of what we profess to believe.

Your point, as I understand it, is that Christianity's condemnation of all infidels to Hell is monstrous, evil, and inhuman. You view it as both false and a sign of the inherent evil of all religious systems. What have I missed?

[TheLogicalTheist]

"My only choices are 1)hypocrite/charlatan or 2)heretic, eh? Ummm... Door Number 2!"

Beloved Spear, I find it hard to quit when I believe I am so close to making a point clear to another human being. I think, however, that you want me to quit. No...that was dishonest. I want you to want me to quit. I dont really need an excuse I guess. Well...its been fun not talking to you. I hope we can have a similar nonconversation in the future.

[BelovedSpear]

No, my friend, Romans is coherent, but only if you understand the way Greco-Roman rhetoric works. You've also read the wrong part of Matthew 25. We were talking about judgment, so I assumed you'd look at the "last judgment" part. Mea culpa. Riddles? Is that what they're calling subtlety nowadays? Argument? But I'm not arguing with you. Ploy? That assumes I harbor the desire to convert or "beat" you.

My only choices are 1)hypocrite/charlatan or 2)heretic, eh? Ummm... Door Number 2!

[TheLogicalTheist]

Now...is Jesus the only way or not? If you say he is, you are a hypocrite and a charlatan. If you say he isn't, you are a hypocrite and a charlatan. Your loose interpretation of scripture is dishonest. Either you make black and white absolute statements or you're a heretic. There is no middle ground. I will ask again, is Jesus the only way to salvation?