Did anyone else not think Eternal Hell makes sense?

[Universalist Catholic]

In Catholicism, they teach that one who dies from unrepentant mortal sin is doomed to hell no exceptions.   However, someone lived a righteous life, and tried their best.  But one day, this person finds a playboy magazine, and looks through it.  After putting it away, this person falls down the stairs and dies, they go to hell by default.  Yet, in another scenario, you can only repent of a mortal sin if you go through a priest.  Problem is, what if you cannot get to a priest, too bad? 
In Protestantism, they teach that one must be born again, and that all that matters is that you except their doctrine(Dogma).  Problem is, some horrible hypocrite is "Saved", but is justified.  Then, there is another man is very righteous, and loves God and his neighbor, but has not accepted the correct Dogma, and did not except the right Christ, so they're on the road to eternal hell.  See the inconsistency?  The Saved Hypocrite is redeemed, and never has to leave his sinful ways behind to go into eternal salvation, while the man who tried to life righteously is doomed to eternal misery just because they did not accept the correct dogma?

[Paul Hazelwood]

I have never thought eternal hell made sense, I followed along for a time because of my upbringing and circumstances that placed me in an emotional battle that told me I knew I would be rejected by people who's approval I needed at the time.


I have always believed that in some manner, no matter what religion a person may profess or what kind of belief system that was given that the only thing that made sense is exactly what we experience on earth for the most part.

Consequenses of actions,  the problem is discerning what is true bad behavior and what is asserted through a belief system to try to conform someone in a false manner.

I think because of the factor that no religious point of view evercan be proven that no one should ever suggest that there is no consequenses to our actions.

It actually is not reasonable that God who ( as some may say) wishes all men to be saved to actually have a consequense that contradicts the wish of God and would prevent it from ever happening.

It is also as unreasonable, as some do, to teach that there is no fear in living and acting without any standards except how one may feel about it.   

[WhiteWings]

you can only repent of a mortal sin if you go through a priest.

I think you can only ask a few persons for forgiveness.
Say it's a case of theft.
Obviously a law of God is broken. So God can forgive. But I also think the one you stole from can forgive you.
To a lesser extend the judges of your country. But a priest? Unless you call a priest a judge.

[WhiteWings]

Then, there is another man is very righteous, and loves God and his neighbor, but has not accepted the correct Dogma, and did not except the right Christ, so they're on the road to eternal hell.

What about the people that never heard about Jesus? Like people that died before Jesus started His ministry.
All in hell now? Noach, David, Daniel, Job, ..... all in hell?

[ducktapehero]

I've always thought something was wrong about it but I didn't really start contemplating it deeply until I got cancer. With the threat of death staring me in the face it suddenly became much more important. My Southern Baptist preacher told me I had nothing to worry about because "I was saved" but what if I "chose" the wrong God? What if the Catholics were right? The Muslims? After I had surgery and the cancer was removed I seriously started studying it and kept an open mind.

I am 100% convinced that Christ did come and was resurrected but I wasn't convinced of "hell". I studied it further, and thought about it further and came to the realization that IF we are his children, and he loves us the same way he would be eternally patient with us, as I am my son. No matter what he does wrong I could NEVER punish him eternally. Of course I have to punish him when he does wrong but I certainly don't torture him. The punishment fits the crime. And it's always done with love. I hate to do it but it's the only way he will learn.

If God is truly our Father and loves us then he HAS to be the same way. To claim that he gives up on us when we die makes no sense. He certainly won't force anyone to accept him but he has forever to change minds.

There is simply no way that God could be considered fair if hell exists. Some people get lots of chances to repent, some a few and some get no chance at all. Of course the ET'ers claim that those who never got a chance due to being aborted or dying in childhood get to Heaven because of something called the "age of accountability" but yet no one could show me where that is in the Bible. And even if that were true then why do they get to Heaven so easily? That's not fair. Also, if that were true then Christians should be the strongest supporters of abortion. I mean it's guaranteeing these people a one way trip to Heaven. Yeah it's ugly but we're saving souls right?

There are simply too many flaws in that belief. The turning point came for me when we had a guest pastor. He was a hard core fire and brimstone preacher and he seemed to enjoy telling people they were gonna go to Hell. When he started his "everyone's gonna go to hell and we're gonna be happy about it" routine, Matthew 7-16 "You shall know them by their fruits" popped in my head. This guy seemed to cherish the thought of "bad people" being tortured. It made me sick.

But now I know the truth. I don't know all the details but I am very reassured that God will not give up on me. I probably sin more than most but I try to do my best. God loves me and some day I'll be with him and all my loved ones. And so will you. 

[Johnny 27]

ducktapehero - that was a super post. Your reasoning about "the age of accountability" in young children was an issue that gripped a lady in Texas USA when she drowned her FIVE children in the bath tub - to save them from the ridiculus "hell fire". She took that "hell fire" threat quite seriously and killed her kids before taking any chances on God torturing them forever. In her mind it was a good risk management move. This insured they were safe from God's perputual penal colony!!!

Johnny

[SQ]

That is so sad how the doctrine of an Eternal Hell can mess up ones mind.
Yet it seems most have believed that doctrine at some point. :thumbdown:

[IceMan84]

ducktapehero....very good post!