Absurdity Of Hell

[nailit]

Some religions ( and some R&S posters) postulate that hell is a just and final destination for unbelievers.
Apart from the obvious (eternal punishment for finite sins is unjust) can anyone conceive of a more sick doctrine in religion than that unbelievers will be tortured beyond belief...for eternity...for simply believing something different?

All religions have their own ideas of hell but even the Christians that I know have a hard time with this and struggle to cope with it.
(I actually know one Christian who lost his son to drug OD and cracked up after, with the thought that his son was burning in hell)
This idea that people will be tortured/burned for all eternity for the sin of not believing in the right God is one sick doctrine.

Anyone comfortable with the idea of eternal torture?

[Baldric]

No.

[maggiebee]

Nope

[cassa333]

One of the many reasons I don’t believe in God or would follow a religion.

Very contradictory at the very least.

[ummmm]

My mum is a born again but she doesn't believe in hell.

[AuntLydia]

nakilit //All religions have their own ideas of hell //

Wrong! Some forms of Paganism, especially Wicca have no Hell and no Satan either. Followers of Wicca do not believe in the devil. The concepts of the devil and hell are part of Christian theology and have never existed in the Wiccan religion.

[rockyracoon]

I hope there is a hell. Not for non believers though.

[Mamyalynne]

In 65 years have never been beaten with the Hell stick, at home,in Church or at school.

To me it's a concept.

[AuntLydia]

Sikhs have no hell either

[Tilly2]

I doubt that anyone will say 'Yes' to your question, Nails.

[wolf63]

My mother had a good description for all of this -"makey uppy". Religion should be used for good, to help people in their time of need. It has been used as a way of controlling the masses.

If people want to be religious I have no problem with that at all.

If people use religion to justify murder, rape etc - well, they should be sent to hell.

Hell can't really be much worse than living for many people.

[MallyJ]

I believe it has always been a way to keep the working classes down...the 'if you don't do what you are told you will be punished for eternity but if you do all that the (for example) the local landowner/ mill owner tells you to then you will be rewarded in heaven'. The untouchable caste in India is another example. Keep the poor down and make money from their hard work......

[Eleena]

Doesn't keep me awake at night.

[nailit]

//Wrong! Some forms of Paganism, especially Wicca have no Hell and no Satan either. Followers of Wicca do not believe in the devil. The concepts of the devil and hell are part of Christian theology and have never existed in the Wiccan religion.//
Quite correct AL, my bad, sorry!

[Neveracrossword]

Nailit, none of my 'religious' friends believe 'that unbelievers will be tortured beyond belief … for eternity … for simply believing something different'. Why would they?

[retrocop]

I’m off to hell as soon as that hand cart that Dick Littlejohn promises me turns up. Worse than SE Trains.

[nailit]

Neveracrossword…
Im thinking mainly of Biblical Literalists and muslim fundementalists (and a few other religions which teach some kind of hell in the afterlife)

[gness]

Years of being told about hell by nuns and my own holy family still sickens me....I was so scared of ending up there....so you know my answer, Nailit...x

[nailit]

Thanks gness, Yes I know ur answer....
The doctrine of hell, (whichever religion) is sick beyond belief!

[nailit]

But somehow got to *respect* religious belief????

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Nailit. I've never met a Biblical Literalist or a Muslim Fundamentalist.