Why do intelligent people still believe in hell?

[chester-blowfold]

Here we are in the 21st century. We've more knowledge today than in any time in history in the miss translation of hell. Yet seemingly intelligent people still believe in hell. It was more understandable in the '80's and before, but today we have the internet to help you study and question...why?

[Lazarus Short]

It's mostly because the KJV and its progeny still use the word...and it's a word not found in Hebrew or Greek.  You just can't faze these folks:  "Well, it says "Hell" right there in the Bible!"  :punish:

[chester-blowfold]

Dr. Peter Williams, Warden (CEO) of Tyndale House, Cambridge, he is a hell believer. How the hell did he get a position at Cambridge?
He's a lecturer of the Hebrew language. Surely he'd know hell is a miss translation?

[MusicLover123]

2 Corinthians 4
4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

1 Corinthians 1
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
29 so that no one may boast before him.

Yes, even those who profess Christ are blinded by the god of this world in this area. If all these things were based on our ability, instead of His ability, any of us could boast that it was all us. That even includes your "intelligence."

[chester-blowfold]

Sorry, you'll need to expand your answer to show me what you mean?

[MusicLover123]

Well, I mean that Satan has blinded us to the Truths of God, and until God shines that light on us and removes those blinders, it is impossible for anyone to see and understand the Light and Truths of God.

For example, most people are still blinded by hell, and because they have been blinded to seeing that God will save everything, they believe that God will only save a few, and burn the rest in a torture chamber for all eternity. No amount of arguments will persuade them, because they cannot see that truth.

If we could remove those blinders and see the Light on our own ability, we could boast and say that we did it instead of God.

Hope that helps.

[chester-blowfold]

It does, to a point.

But, we (and I mean those that post in tentmaker etc) need to shout louder with the truth. We're not doing Jesus's good work hiding away in here telling ourselves how silly hell believers are.

Also my point is. How does someone like dr Williams (a supposed Hebrew expert) get away with his lies and nobody calls him out on it?

[MusicLover123]

How does someone like dr Williams (a supposed Hebrew expert) get away with his lies and nobody calls him out on it?

Well, most still believe in the lie of hell, so of course they would not realize that it is a lie and call him out on it.

Those of us who do know the truth, well, let's just say fear has a big part of not talking about it.

I now make comments on how I believe all will be saved by Christ. Most of the time it gets ignored. The only time people like it is if they already believe it (very, very few honestly). And those who comment always respond with the same old arguments for hell, and still blinded to this truth. I use many Scriptures at times, and they give a couple ones that they think contradict, and they think they won. Not even the most clever argument will convince them.

[marie glen]

Yes, it's pretty crazy isn't it! It's not the only outrageous, easy to be seen through lie the world believes! But they're "strongholds"/ so very strongly believed..

I figure most of the time all we can do is plant seeds/verses. And just let God water as He will. I find non- believers never have a problem with UR.

Dr. Peter Williams, Warden (CEO) of Tyndale House, Cambridge, he is a hell believer. How the hell did he get a position at Cambridge?
He's a lecturer of the Hebrew language. Surely he'd know hell is a miss translation?

I know, right? It defies logic. That's one way I know the rebel angels are alive and active.. because it does SO defy reason (logic)! Like a spell or enchantment. ..Which God allows.. (Also a fruit of the wrong road of life - there being 2 roads of life - with God or not so much with God! One is life, the other,not life. But on this false waay there is naturally, or bound to be, untruths, oppressions, wars.. all manner of wrongness.. But if God didn't allow any of these, how would He PROVE to "all in heaven and earth" the stark (and all important?) difference between the two roads?

That's how I think of it anyway. Keeps me sane, lol! In this twilight zone (man's world, which still is upon the wroNg road).
:gsmile:

[DavidFord]

Here we are in the 21st century. We've more knowledge today than in any time in history.... Yet seemingly intelligent people still believe in hell.

Do you believe in the existence of:  Sheol?  Hades?  the Judeo-Christian God?

[chester-blowfold]

What do you think sheol, hades mean?

[Patinak]

Here we are in the 21st century. We've more knowledge today than in any time in history.... Yet seemingly intelligent people still believe in hell.

Do you believe in the existence of:  Sheol?  Hades?  the Judeo-Christian God?

I think that b.c. there was Sheol.  I think that our savior "unlocked" Sheol for good.  I think that since the cross, to be absent from the body is to be present with The Lord.
I stumbled on this article, and I think it is pretty special.  I hope I don't offend anyone by posting it.
-Pat

This is an excerpt from "The Faith" by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

In the Creed, we say about Christ's journey that He "descended into hell." What happened then?

Since we have no knowledge of the world of death, we can only imagine His triumph over death with the help of images that remain very inadequate. Yet, inadequate as they are, they can help us to understand something of the mystery.

The liturgy applies to Jesus' descent into the night of death [in] the words of Psalm 24: "Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, O ancient doors!" The gates of death are closed; no one can return from there. There is no key for those iron doors.

But Christ has the key [see Rev 1:17–18]. His cross opens wide the gates of death, the stern doors. They are barred no longer. His cross, His radical love, is the key that opens them. The love of the One who, though God, became Man in order to die — this love has the power to open those doors. This love is stronger than death.

The Easter icons of the Oriental Church show how Christ enters the world of the dead. He is clothed with light, for God is light. "The night is bright as the day, the darkness is as light" (Ps 139:12).

Entering the world of the dead, Jesus bears the stigmata, the signs of His passion. His wounds, His suffering, have become power; they are love that conquers death. He meets Adam and all the men and women waiting in the night of death. As we look at them, we can hear an echo of the prayer of Jonah: "Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice" (Jonah 2:2).

In the Incarnation, the Son of God became one with human beings — with Adam. But only at this moment, when He accomplishes the supreme act of love by descending into the night of death, does He bring the journey of the Incarnation to its completion. By His death He now clasps the hand of Adam, of every man and woman who awaits Him, and brings them to the light.

But we may ask: What is the meaning of all this imagery? What was truly new in what happened on account of Christ? The human soul was created immortal — what exactly did Christ bring that was new?

The soul is indeed immortal, because man in a unique way remains in God's memory and love, even after his fall. But his own powers are insufficient to lift him up to God. We lack the wings needed to carry us to those heights.

And yet, nothing else can satisfy man eternally, except being with God. An eternity without this union with God would be a punishment. Man cannot attain those heights on his own, yet he yearns for them. "Out of the depths I cry to you." ...

Only the risen Christ can bring us to complete union with God, to the place where our own powers are unable to bring us. Truly, Christ puts the lost sheep upon His shoulders and carries it home. Clinging to His Body we have life, and in communion with His Body we reach the very heart of God. Only thus is death conquered, we are set free, and our life is hope.

[marie glen]

Amen, some very nice words.. "He has the keys to death and the grave" ..."some will rise to a resurrection of life, and some to a resurrection of (initial? self?) Judgment.." (wherein? "all the ends of earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all families will worship before Him" ps.22:27.) :cloud9:

:Chinscratch: If we allow ourself to be offended at a differing view or opinion, we might find ourself being offended at all times! :laughing7:

:Peace2: :girlheart: