The Hall of Fire

I don't know the fate of infants, children, people that never get a chance to hear about Christianity. There are only two options I can think of... either they'll get a chance to make that choice with the appropriate knowledge... Or, obviously, God can know what their choices would have been, and th...

JS, if we were talking about something that only effects the girl or woman... then I'd agree with you 100%. If you think that unborn child is a person, though, they have rights, and outlawing abortion is not only a good thing, it should be the ONLY choice. You're right there will always be abortions...

I hate this debate...






(but carry on )

Sorry, Jewel, wasn't thinking straight (it was a long post :) ). I meant to say Jesus spoke about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible... thus, it was important to him... You're certainly right he talked more of other things :). However, if one is to believe in him, you can't pick and choose what...

Alatar, if it was just the Church that came up with heaven and Hell... I'd be right there with you... but it was the subject Jesus spoke about more than any other (Hell, that is). If one is to believe he is the Messiah... it would be silly to think the subject he talked about the most was an inventi...

Teremia, I don't know that "fairness" is the right way to view heaven and hell... it's a very human and subjective determination. Is it "fair" for a horrible person seeking redemption to be saved, while a good person who no person would ever think needed redemption is not saved? ...

Love your neighbor is the 2nd commandment... the first is to Love God. Part of loving God is asking for his forgiveness, seeking to be with him in Heaven. This is the Greatest commandment... (Matthew 22:37-38 ), and I'm not trying to be confrontational or anything... I just think that makes it impor...

WHEN they choose that, is of no real consequence... if it's when they're 5 in sunday school, or 95 on their deathbed... Or a billion and two in their lake of fire? I think you're missing my point. I don't think Hell is a place you can go to... then decide you don't like it and change your mind. It'...

All we need of "hell" is available right now, right here on earth. Cruelty of that kind is a human talent, not a divine one. I think it is rather awful for us to project such a thing on the Light. The stories we tell of heaven and hell are human stories. They fall apart logically when one...

I don't see a conflict. God offers everyone forgiveness and infinite mercy; we still have to choose to avail ourselves of it. ... I believe our final disposition after the judgment will be eternal The (apparent?) conflict is in the finality of the judgemnent. Once the judgement is made, the forgive...

Cerin & hal, could you address this question from the first post: Is there any conflict between this belief and the view of God as a God of forgiveness and infinite mercy? Forgiveness is what God offers us as long as we ask for it. If you do not ask for it, however, why would you expect to get ...

I personally believe Hell is a place of eternal torment that is inescapable. Now, "eternal" is a concept in time, and I'm not sure time will exist in the afterlife in any way that we can conceive of.... but it also implies the inescapable bit. For people to have free will, there must be a ...

yes

the picture didn't really capture it, but oh well

What about someone in a coma they might never recover from? But there's still a good chance? Or other recoverable illnesses where people are unaware of their surroundings. There are exceptions to all such "rules." This law makes no sense, as you say, VtF. It's another in the long line of &...

I posted on B77, but I agree with VtF and Whistler.

I didn't mean the New TEstiment teachings aren't enogh for us to live our lives by. However, without the Old Testement, the foundation of why a covanent between God and Man is even necessary is not there.

I hope that makes sense

I know what truehobbit means, but I do view it like Whistler says... the Sil and LOTR analogy is accurate. Without the Old Testament, the New has no meaning. However, with the New Testament, the old COVENANT, is replaced. The New Testament explains what it means to be a Christian. Specifically, the ...

Well, I disagree, tinwë, as I don't believe thinking others haven't found the truth is "condemning" them. That implies a judgment based on someone else's faith. Of course there are Christians that use that verse that way, but that is thier problem, not the Scripture's problem. I also do no...

A basic belief of Christianity is "love your neighbor as yourself." This, if followed, makes it impossible to treat people of other faiths negatively because of their faith. It doesn't matter if I think they're going to hell, or doomed, or lost, or anything like that. All I can do is love,...