yeah, i know, that's what i was referring to as to the reasons i think Christianity is impossible.

it seems impossible that God could be such a jerk as to condemn anyone to eternal torment just for not believing in Him if they're otherwise good people. and if it were true, it would mean that He is not the sort God that i am interesting in worshipping.

again, no. it's bollocks. if God is merciful, and i believe that He is, then there can't be a hell.

Could you do me a favor, Cobalt, and please explain why that is? I have an answer, but I would like to know your reasons, first, just to make sure that I'm following you correctly.

because there's no way that a merciful God would ever condemn someone to an eternity of suffering, period. particularly just for not believing in Him, if they're otherwise a good person.

"good" is a relative term, though. What you consider a "good person" might not be what an all powerful being considers a "good person".

but according to Christianity you can do everything that the Bible tells you to do, except you don't believe in Jesus, and you're going to hell. that is unacceptably cruel.

because there's no way that a merciful God would ever condemn someone to an eternity of suffering, period. particularly just for not believing in Him, if they're otherwise a good person.

there is nothing loving about even the possibility of torturing someone for all eternity for any reason. that's kind of the exact opposite of love. in Judaism, you spend a maximum of twelve months being purged of your sins after death before going on to heaven. do Christians think that it's beyond God's power to cleanse a soul of sin?

I will tell you, though, that I have often wondered how someone who is relatively good have to suffer the same fate as someone like Hitler.

But, some things aren't meant to be understood.

i guess that's why i could never be a Christian.

I really meant that "some things are beyond our ability to understand". Of course, that would, in effect, mean that they aren't meant for us to understand.

I really meant that "some things are beyond our ability to understand". Of course, that would, in effect, mean that they aren't meant for us to understand.

i am willing to accept that there are things we are not meant to understand. that's not the problem. i understand perfectly that it is impossible for a merciful, loving God to damn someone for eternity. it's simply impossible and i cannot believe that. the end.

i am willing to accept that there are things we are not meant to understand. that's not the problem. i understand perfectly that it is impossible for a merciful, loving God to damn someone for eternity. it's simply impossible and i cannot believe that. the end.

That's your opinion.

It's pretty obvious that neither of us are going to budge here (and I would lose respect for you if you did), so let's just shake hands and go make fun of the "I don't fall for fairy tales, so I'm better than you religious people" athiests.

God is merciful, and thats why he is letting us come to heaven with him.

He hates to see us go to hell. Like a father seeing his child go to prison for the rest of his life, no bail. He wants you to do the right thing, and accept him, and obey his laws, so you dont end up like that.
God doesnt sit up in heaven saying "oh well, antother one gone, well he had it coming!!!!"
He loves us more than we can ever imagine, and wants us with him. He doesnt want to get rid of hell, because we wouldnt have a choice to love him.

what would you rather, be loved by real children, or be loved by robots you programed to say "i love you" but no emotion?

After reading the above posts, both sides make good arguments. However, if god loves us, and gave us free will, why is not believing that there is a god a sin? Didn't he give us that right? It just doesn't seem right.

I'll see if this analogy works:

Let's say your in school, and the teacher gives you your homework and other assignments. You can always choose to do, or not do the work, but regardless your choice will have a consequence. If you do your homework, you will do well in the class. If you don't do anything and just sit on your hands all year, you will fail the class.

Chosing to do your work in this senario is roughly equivalent to believing in God. You have the right to not do either, but that's not to say you won't have consequences for doing so.

We have that option as an inherent part of Free Will, and where you end up for eternity will be a result of making that decision.

Yeah, but why does he care? If god loves every one of us, it shouldn't matter whether we believe he exists or not.