Does God torment the wicked forever

[happypioneer]

1 John 4:8:"He that does not love has notcome to know God, because God is love."

Some believe that God torments the wicked forever in a burning hell. Others feel that such an idea is inconsistent with what we just read at 1 John4:8. What do you think?

[Good Luck Chuck]

What an odd question for a happy pioneer to ask. You should change your name to fireandbrimstonepioneer.

[Valdostan]

Think happy thoughts, happypioneer! Eternal hell burning is a little too sadistic for my taste. Even our government doesn't believe in "cruel and unusual punishment". Some people make God sound worse than a serial killer, scary!!

[Valdostan]

Huh? I didn't write that.

[Cornbread]

Would you like some cornbread with those turnip greens!!! LMAO

[Valdostan II]

Looks like there is more than one Valdostan, Valdostan.

Cornbread, I'll have to decline your cornbread and turnip green offer, I'm watching my girlish figure. You can have a double portion for me.

[Ivelostmimarblez]

Dante's Inferno is mostly what shapes the modern view of the Christian version of hell. The idea of hell itself was a concept borrowed from the Zoroastrians and before the Babylonian exile the Jews didn't even believe in an eternal resting place of any kind.

[Valdostan II]

That is very interesting. I am not interested in any religion that uses such horrific scare tactics. Eternal excrutiating burning in a pit is a little too gruesome for me. The God I believe in would want me to use the brain I have been given to sort out fairy tales from reality, and is a little less sadistic.

[lighteredknot]

happypioneer wrote:

1 John 4:8:"He that does not love has notcome to know God, because God is love."
Some believe that God torments the wicked forever in a burning hell. Others feel that such an idea is inconsistent with what we just read at 1 John4:8. What do you think?

I believe it is the devil that will be doing the frying in the hereafter, not Jesus. You have the choice to accept him or take the route of sin to the devil's hell. A lot of these people killing and robbing others should take note.

[PMC Member]

Don't know, ask Mike Everson and all his disciples.

They will be there.

[Valdostan II]

The "devil" reminds me of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Loch Ness Monstor, Leprachauns that hang out by rainbows, and the Easter Bunny. Does he have a red suit, pointy tail, and a pitch fork?

I prefer to take ownership of my bad decisions, not give them an external locus of control and blame the "devil". Good people do bad things and bad people do good things. Or....is it a tiny little angel and a tiny little devil sitting on their shoulder controlling their brain? Hmmmm

[lighteredknot]

I have no problem with your belief Valdostan II, it is a free country. Just leave me alone to believe what I want. So many people can't do this. I have a problem with the muslims cutting the heads off people that don't believe in Islam. I find no logic in their murderous logic.

[Valdostan II]

I appreciate the open mindedness lighteredknot. I agree that everyone has a right to their beliefs. I have a problem with beheadings in general, for any reason. You can never expect rational behavior from irrational people. Extremism in any religion is dangerous. That has proven itself throughout history, and there seems to be no end in sight.

[Ivelostmimarblez]

I respect everyone's right to believe or not believe however they see fit. If someone believes that covering themselves in chocolate syrup and doing the macarena will protect them from evil spirits it's none of my business.

My big problem with religious folk are the ones who seek to enact legislation that forces others to follow basic tenements of their beliefs regardless of whether or not the person believes in these things themselves so I completely understand the "leave me alone" mentality and would never dream of busting down the doors of your church or home and telling you what you should or shouldn't think.

The world would be a lot more of an agreeable place if we all would quit being so sure we know what's best for everyone else, IMO.