[Invincibly Ignorant]

What do you think it means? I think it means when that without a God in the picture who is wiling and able to punish evildoers, evil will reign. Religion works as a check on selfish impulses, especially on those in power.

I have a couple of problems with this. One, there are wicked religious people and moral non-religious people. Two, its my view "hell" is not a place where God continually tortures people for eternity by burning them.

[SoothingDave]

I have a couple of problems with this. One, there are wicked religious people and moral non-religious people.

Yes, but in general threat of punishment serves as a wonderful deterrent. Call it divine retribution, or karma or whatever.

Two, its my view "hell" is not a place where God continually tortures people for eternity by burning them. SD

[SoothingDave]

I have a couple of problems with this. One, there are wicked religious people and moral non-religious people.

Yes, but in general threat of punishment serves as a wonderful deterrent. Call it divine retribution, or karma or whatever.

Two, its my view "hell" is not a place where God continually tortures people for eternity by burning them.

Be it torture with fire, mental anguish of separation from all things good, or simple annihilation; they all suck compared to an eternity of bliss.

SD