Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Lindykim
I am not a Christian. But being familiar with the axioms of Christianity, I'd say that the argument would go as follows:

The decision to send someone to Hell is wholly in the hands of God. If He wishes to damn someone, no power on Heaven or Earth can prevent Him, and likewise if He wanted to save someone. Given the God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent, His decision on an individual's condemnation is by definition just.

To hope that someone is damned is to hope that God judges him worthy of such damnation. Again, since God's judgment is infallible on this matter (and on every other matter), to say "I hope he goes to Hell" is equivalent to saying "I hope that his conduct justifies damnation." In other words, if you hope that Osama bin Laden goes to hell, you are hoping that in God's rulebook slaughtering 3,000 innocents is sufficient to keep one from Heaven.

So it's just a statement of preference regarding the unknowable mind of God. I see nothing morally objectionable about that.

But again, keep in mind that I'm not a Christian and do not believe in the Christian God.

62 posted on 12/06/2004 1:00:26 PM PST by Politicalities (http://www.politicalities.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Politicalities
Christians believe that we are saved by grace (we don't deserve it and cannot earn it) and not by works (so that is is God alone, and not we, who saves).

Muslims believe that our good and bad deeds are weighed on a scale on judgement day and that this determines where we spend eternity.

116 posted on 12/06/2004 1:18:28 PM PST by derheimwill (Tagline, Schmagline)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies ]

To: Politicalities

"To hope that someone is damned is to hope that God judges him worthy of such damnation."

Precisely. In my mind, wrong or not, I hope that some deeds would be considered worse than others. I know that a sin is a sin, but how can one compare say, taking the Lord's name in vain and murder as being equivalents. I hope that one who leads a genuinely good life, and one who has been a dreadful human being and unrepentant before death, do not have the same fate. I would agree that one who has been truly repentant should recieve mercy, but what about those who do not? I know most will say that it is not for us to judge, and I suppose it isn't, but in my line of reasoning, if there is a Hell, then the terrorists should be there.

Consider though, when one dies and is fortunate enough to make it to heaven, once there, I doubt any care is taken in who is or isn't present in heaven. No more worries. These contemplations about Hell are for the minds of the living and fearful to ponder.


126 posted on 12/06/2004 1:20:51 PM PST by conservativebabe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies ]

To: Politicalities

It's not just God's decision. It's OURS. If we turn our backs on Jesus Christ and never allow Him into our lives, then we will not go to heaven. It's as simple and as complicated as that. God wants all of us to go but He knows many will reject His Son. He doesn't want any of us to perish but to have everlasting life through His Son. He doesn't sit up in the heavens and decides who can go and who can't. We do that ourselves, sadly.


324 posted on 12/08/2004 6:30:33 AM PST by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson