Posted on 11/03/2014 5:02:42 AM PST by Sam's Army
The idea that the Bible declares hell a real and literal place is no more valid than the toxic lie that the Bible condemns homosexuality.
Yet the idea that hell is real persists. Why? Because over the centuries those in positions of power within the institutions of Christianity have methodically, relentlessly, and with great art used the doctrine of hell to exploit the innate fear of death that is harbored by one and all.
Show me a Christian terrified of hell, and I’ll show you a Christian ready to pay good money for the assurance that he is not going there.
If you don’t think the “doctrine” of hell is about the accrual of money and power, then … then God bless your naiveté.
For the rest of us, it’s certainly worth asking what a Christianity without hell would look like. Well …
A Christianity without hell would be literally fearless.
A Christianity without hell would have nothing to recommend it but the constant and unending love of God. It would allow Christians to point upward to God’s love—but never downward to His/Her wrath.
A Christianity without hell would be largely unevangelical, since there would be nothing to save anyone from.
A Christianity without hell would trust that God’s loving benevolence towards all people (emphasis on all) extends beyond this life and into the next.
Bringing peace about the afterlife, a Christianity without hell would free Christians to fully embrace this life, to heed Christ’s commandment to in this life love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
In short, a Christianity without hell would be a fearless, trusting, loving, divinely inspired source of good in the world.
And this Christianity would be more biblical—would be truer to not just the words but the very spirit of Christianity—than any Christianity that posits the reality of hell.
I want that Christianity. I insist upon that Christianity.
Tell me I’m not alone.
I can’t imagine its possible to have a reasonable conversation with this person.
You may not be alone, but you are utterly wrong.
I read the first sentence and no more. If he’s so closed minded that he won’t see what’s clearly in the Bible on homosexuality, then he can have nothing to offer me. He’s blind, if not stupid.
Well, I checked out the patheos website, and it seems to me that it’s purpose is to eliminate Christianity by watering it down and including it in the world of religious soup.
His “bible” is obviously 2 pages long. And his editing pen and scissors are smoking.
Just check out the comments. Very interesting.
You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So a world with no ultimate justice is a good thing? How can there be meaning to life and any objective ethic without a final reconing. And if Jesus didn’t save me from anything, what makes good news good? Why should I care at all.
No hell, so nothing to lose. No consequences for your actions. And no personal responsibility. “Did someone say Columbian Hookers?” LOL.
Unfortunately human nature being what it is necessitates the hell of the spiritual to make the point of accountability.
JMHO.
According to fundamentalist Christianity, missing hell is a free gift. Didn't cost me a cent.
the toxic lie that the Bible condemns homosexuality
This guy doesn't read his bible very well. He'd make a good mainline methodist.
This person sounds like they’ve been sniffing paint.
Wishful thinking, bub. The way I see it, not only is Hell real, there are actually two of them. The first is the hell you make of your existence on earth when you walk alone through this vale of tears. That’s a man-made torture that you can change. The second is that eternal pit, the Abyss, which cannot be bargained away.
Jesus himself preached on hell in Luke 16: 19-28, so it is not so easily dismissed. I wonder if the author of that article has ever read the Bible?
Imagine there is no heaven
Jesus had more to say about hell than everyone else in the bible combined. "where the fire is never quenched and the worm never dies"
Definitely do NOT want to be handcuffed to this dude when he assumes room temperature......fo shizzle!!
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