03-25-2010, 06:47 PM
(03-23-2010, 02:42 PM)carrie Wrote: Maybe it does not exist and just a figment of someone's imagination to scare people?
Carrie, here is something I found on another discussion forum that I thought really got down to the core issue of the 'hell' doctrine.
Quote:Why the doctrine of hell is illogical and morally corrupt:
1) It is based on the premise that the guilty can be pardoned by the death of an innocent - a notion embraced by many of the most barbaric religions of old.
2) It punishes without the possibility of reforming those being punished. It serves no purpose, other than to inflict torment.
3) It punishes intelligent enquiry (doubt) above all other offences.
4) It allows murderers, rapists, pedophiles and sadists into heaven, while excluding those of saintly character who happen to be unbelievers, potentially resulting in a heaven populated with criminals, and a hell populated with philanthropists.
5) Recent studies have shown that, on average, 97% of people never change from the religion into which they are born and raised. Most are conditioned from birth to distrust all other faiths and to hold fast to their own. Supposing the Bible is true, this means that a person born in Iran is almost guaranteed a place in hell. He will resist Christianity in the same way that a Christian would resist Islam. Heaven or Hell then becomes a lottery, largely dependent on ones place of birth. Is it conceivable that a wise and loving God could have devised a plan whereby the majority of humanity, due largely to factors beyond their control, must suffer forever?
The 'hell' doctrine is not very loving or compassionate. I think the Creator set in motion natural laws that are much more loving and compassionate than that. I suspect the doctrine came from religious and political leaders trying to control the masses thru fear.