| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/16/2006 2:48:52 PM | "Hell" (as in the figment of imagination that some of the deluded proclaim to exist) is nothing but a tasteless joke; it's also a psychological threat, just as the Lord raining down "fire and brimstone" and any number of power based lies you can read in the bible. I'd even go as far as to say it was an ancient form of terrorism. I am totally bemused why anyone would take it as read today.
So yes, Religion, in the form of God and the Bible, is for people who are afraid of hell.
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/16/2006 4:05:20 PM | We should all be afraid of Hell!!! Just think, an eternity of Hell versus an eternity with God. There is no choice for me....I will choose God.
Sprituality comes from both good and evil and it you do not know God, it is very easy to get tricked... | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/16/2006 5:00:23 PM | Yeah, but you wouldn't have to listen to him whine and plead for attention all the time either....Man, that would be hell for me! An eternity of preaching! Thou shalt not this and thou shalt not that! It would drive me nuts!!  | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/16/2006 11:42:34 PM | Gentlenrowdy: "What's to fear? It's just your brain telling you where you need fixin'. It's not nice to go through, but that's not scarey....It just sucks...."
If a large man was to raise his fist at you in anger with the real threat of a high amount of pain, why do you dodge/block? Aren't you afraid of the pain? | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/17/2006 9:34:50 PM | | this doesn't even deserve a response...Grow up? What is that? What does this comment have to do with this discussion...because I believe in God, I need to grow up? Give me a break.... | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/17/2006 10:10:35 PM | DXXXVIII
"Never visit a hell. If you do, be careful to take no money with you, otherwise the chances are that you risk it all on the game, and, in all probability, get fleeced for your folly. The fascination of gambling is most unaccountable, and exceeds that of the basilisk. The sight of the thing tempts lookers-on to try their luck; and, when once they fairly begin, and more especially if the chance goes against them, they absolutely lose all idea of the value of money. An accursed demon is constantly whispering in their ears, "play, play, play;" and, urged by the infernal advice, they risk everything - their cash, houses, pictures, lands. Were their souls gameable, or of any use to the other party, there cannot be a doubt that they would gamble them away in this traffic of ruination and madness. Mortgaged estates, pennyless rakes, bankrupt landlords - what brings nine-tenths of them into these conditions but gambling, whether it be in the shape of faro, rouge et noir, horseracing, or other infinite modifications of this destructive propensity? Many a man has entered the gaming house endowed with all manner of wealth and happiness, and left it. Fleeced by an hour's insanity, to drink the poisoned cup, or apply the loaded pistol to his distracted head, or, if he shuns these alternatives, with perhaps a ruined family to deplore the infatuation of their wretched parent. Such is gambling."
A quote from The Book of Aphorisms ... by A Modern Pythagorean (1850).
Well, it's not really what I think ... but nonetheless.  | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/17/2006 10:30:20 PM |
If a large man was to raise his fist at you in anger with the real threat of a high amount of pain, why do you dodge/block? Aren't you afraid of the pain?
No.....I'd know I don't enjoy pain, so I'd block out of respect of pain. Not from fear of pain.....There's a difference. Just like if a person is not afraid of death, it doesn't mean they'll live their life recklessly. They can still respect life and death at the same time. The difference between fear and respect is like the difference between calm and panic. If you fear your opponent, you will panic and lose. If you respect it, you can face it calmly and have the upper hand. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 8:13:30 AM | religion is actually for anyone who hasnt the imagination or capacity to think anything differently other than what was pre-programed into their mind probably pre-conception, almost a genetic flaw.
there are 7 main religions in our world with many cults spawned off of each, most are radical fanatics who use the power of their religion/authority to dominate and abuse those panting to believe in anything. just like world governments, including that of america!
how ignorant is it that a government founded on the premise of religious freedom, can condemn 3rd world governments for protcting supplying and harboring terrorists, when
on the other hand it protects under constitution groups and organizations who daily: practice,
preach and teach racial ,religious and ethnic hatred terrorism, all the while hiding behind
the protection of the bible. talk about ignorance!!
religion is a creation within itself and the theory of creation is a cover up of the truth about
human origin and purpose. enough for now, peace friends j.c.
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 8:23:42 AM | how can one be afraid of something that doesn't exist anywhere other than on this planet?
hell! we don't even know if death is final, let alone able to believe in another side, sure it's nice to hope or believe in something, but not a theory. wake up people! let the haze clear
you are being controlled by the powers of religion controlled government or government controlled religion.
it always cracks me up, white people came to this country for freedom of religion and what is the first thing they did? tried to tell the natives here, that they can't practice their spiritual beliefs anymore, do you know the ghost dance is still prohibited by the united states government? what are they afraid of? hell? or the truth? peace ya'll j.c.
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 11:35:05 AM | I'll jump feet first into this one. Been resisting the urge to do it....
In our day an time minus all the superstitions/irrational beliefs of the 19th century, Christians are no longer afraid of hell. The word does not even affect most people guided by spirituality/religious beliefs. So religion is not for people who believe in hell because most Christian religions do not believe in hell as it once was described. Many Christian religions do not believe in hell at all.
A long time ago Hell was a very descriptive place of half man/animal type beings and little things flying about with a tail and wings with the body of a child, humping male and female humans brought to hell. It was a place with flames all over, destitute of food, water, clothing, morals, happiness...ect. The Catholic church held a monopoly at one time of what hell was like and even had paintings done to scare the public with.
Today, religion is for the same people who cling to evolution/atheism. It gives an answer to an age old question of where we are from and where we are going to end up. The ignorance of those having these beliefs is when they try and convince each other the other person's belief is sooooo wrong.
No one can prove what happens before birth and no one can prove what happens after death! We can only show what happens while we are alive and what we observe from this state of being. We do not know where intelligence comes from. We do know how it developes. We do know what happens to intelligence as you get very old, but we have no idea of what happens to it after death.
I personally do not think hell will be a lot different than heaven, except both places will have two very different guidelines to live by.
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 1:45:22 PM | Afraid of Hell? Not me. Can't be anything like what we call earth. I've been thru so much here on earth I say bring it on.
And yes I am a Christian.
Ignorance is bliss.
Not trying to call names but to actually think someone has to be scared of hell to become religious is like saying someone drives a car because they are scared to be run over while walking down the road. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 3:11:54 PM | Oh Alaska, Here again you are airing your slant/coincidence? to Mormonistic views (albeit your personal opinion) on the state of hell..(salvation for all eventually>>>can't find that concept in my Bible) .....If the concept of hell that the OP is understood to be the Biblical meaning, then we need to see what the Bible says about hell.....And it certainly is NOT eternal punishing , but in more understandable terms , the punishment (ultimately, separation from God for all eternity) is permanent.....According to the Bible,when one is physically dead,, one ceases to exist.. (Eccles. 10:12, Eccles 9:Psalms 146:4 Job 7:9 5 Eccles 9:10) All will be raised in one of 2 resurrrections. (Rev. 20:6,) one to glory and eternal life and the other to damnation...(punishment followed by what the Bible terms the 2nd death which is total and permanent separation from God (cease to exist) ......One of the devil's first lies was that "Ye shall not surely die"....and this lie has been propagated through fear, and in beliefs of reincarnation, purgatory, consciousness in death, disembodied spirits of humans, pre-existence of life, eternal PUNISHING in hell etc. etc. ......Hell does not exist at the moment (11 Peter 3 :7,"But the heavens and the earth,which are now, by the same word, are KEPT IN STORE, RESERVED unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men." ) also see>>Proverbs 11:31 11 Peter 2:9) ......There are those such as during the dark ages that used fear of hell and /or eternal tormenting, for their own greed and power, and there are those today,(e.g. Mary Katherine Baxter who says she has been to present-day hell and back) and through fear and false preaching, keep people away from the truth......Hell will exist for a time according to Scripture, but it is not an eternally forever burning or tormenting of the wicked, the devil and his co-horts, in some obscure corner of a vast universe. The effects of hell exucuted here on the earth, are eternal , but not the act of destruction....(see Malachi 4:3) .....We are told "the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal LIFE".....nothing mentioned here about an act of eternal dying .
The OP perhaps could have read "the Christian religion is for people who are afraid of hell" because many of the world religions do not have a "hell" as part of their beliefs.....Even in mainstream Christianity there are varying beliefs of what, where and when hell is and even what the dead are up to, if anything....and this can only be ascribed to the author of fear, lies, scripture twisting, confusion, and hatred of Jesus, and his followers, and that being ,satan......Religion for people afraid of hell??? >>>absolutely not necessary. but sadly it's out there........
..............Chipits | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 6:38:35 PM | Chipits! I think you need a big from someone nearby to help you cool off! Such a tongue! Your reading between the lines again girl. You should really stick to what is written, it helps to understand what is being said.
My post was my personal opinion just like yours was. My post was not a concept as you stated it was from any one Biblical source. I stated somebeliefs of the Catholic church and how Christianity feels about hell. Now, if you need me to repost anything let me know. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 8:39:17 PM | faithfulchristian;
Forgive my directness but...
Not because you believe in "God" at all but because you don't see that hell is a metaphor, just as God is when seen sitting on a throne surrounded by white fluffy clouds... it's a vision (as is hell). Like so many of the things in the bible, they cannot be explained any other way.
To me hell is a state of mental tumoil and it's right here on earth. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/18/2006 8:56:23 PM | | Im my opinion....Religion has been created by man and has caused problems and division....spirituality is a cheap cop out for all the flakes out there that can't decide what they believe and want to seem like they are deep and believe in something at least....and truth comes from having a relationship with God Through Christ! | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/19/2006 1:08:15 AM | Gentlenrowdy: "What's to fear? It's just your brain telling you where you need fixin'. It's not nice to go through, but that's not scarey....It just sucks...."
If a large man was to raise his fist at you in anger with the real threat of a high amount of pain, why do you dodge/block? Aren't you afraid of the pain?
No fear. I'm just smart enough to put in place healthy boundaries so I'm not put in a dodge/block position. Why would I walk dwn a dark alley alone? I wouldn't. Which brings me to Hell. Why would I take my chances that there is a Hell and not find a way to get out of going there. See boundaries. Unless u have a NO self control, No morals, or severe personality issues then ur will want to live ur live hurting ur self and others and say THERE IS NO HELL to justity ur spritual inactions and subdifuseing God. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/19/2006 5:16:11 PM | LOL
No forgiveness needed...I was a bit surpised with your response to me as these forums are for questions and opinions on what we feel and think.
It was just an opinion on my part and I shouldn't be slammed for that. It's why we call this a free society...
I do understand that hell is just a metaphor but it is very real to christians around the world who believe the bible and what God tells us about what hell is and will be like at the end of this world as we know it. I agree with the fellow who wrote about Hell being separated from God at end times as to the meaning of Hell, but I think it may be much more than this...
I am a new Christian and I cannot quote from the Bible. I can only respond about my experiences and the things I feel from within myself.
I agree that Hell is a state of mental turmoil as well and it is very real here and now to many many people including myself. Some of it is has been created by own doing and some by (this is my opinion only) the works of evil. Satan is the author of confusion. But this response isn't about that. I can't and won't debate with you about Satan. I can only say that my experiences with the spiritual world are very real to me... | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/19/2006 7:46:52 PM | Msg 4 Lord Dave.
If it has to put in a nutshell, then I can buy what you've said. As long as we can agree that religious people are capable of spirituality and overcoming the fear of losing hope. | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/19/2006 8:25:00 PM | Additional comments:
This is a true story.
As an single parent with a young child, I had found myself in a situation of destitution in a country, that was not my own. There was no immediate source of money, only enough food to last several days, and no laundry soap to wash our clothes, which had not been washed for some time. For three days I prayed for soap. On the third day I also added "Lord by now we stinketh". Well you can imagine my delight when there came a knock on my door, upon which answering, a man practically shoved a small box of tide in my face. It was a vaccuum cleaner salesman who just happened to be carrying samples of soap.
I think hell is here on earth and is evident through poverty and pestilence. Without religious instruction, I may not have learned to pray. And without faith I would not have believed I could have done anything to improve my predicament. Coincidence you say. Perhaps, but if I believed that then I would be cheating myself out of joy and hope.
Al | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/19/2006 9:33:55 PM | | It's amazing what can happen in our lives when we have faith and we believe. There are no co-incidences in life. Things happen for a reason, good and bad. Sometimes to bring us to a better place and sometimes to a worse place... | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/20/2006 4:25:16 AM | devilsplayground's "religion sucks....."
Yes it does... it takes your life and guarantees NOTHING in return, unless you have faith. Well my faith is in what I feel too but my inner light is not full of promises as to what will be returned. I'm not looking for rewards for commitment or salvation from a life here on earth. I'll happily take what comes for believing in ME and THAT which is a part of me.
And
If it's nothing I've nothing to worry about! :) | |
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| Religion is for people who are afraid of hell...
Posted: 8/20/2006 5:38:03 PM | Actually, the existence of hell, is a demand of divine goodness!
Suppose God would eliminate Hell...
Well, then the bad men would feel completely free to commit all manner of evil in their personal lives as well as in society, hurting others as well as themselves. So, even among evil men, life would be much worse on earth.
The good men would be discouraged from seeking good ("the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom") and, similar to his evil brother, he would be less likely to combat the evil tendencies of his behavior. Furthermore, since God no longer punishes evil, the good man, would have to do likewise. To imitate God would demand that he give liberty to evil in life and society.
To make a long story short, if Hell was eliminated, the fight against evil would disappear and life would become a Hell on earth. To avoid all this suffering God created and maintains Hell as a place for the condemned. This is not only a demand of divine justice, but also a demand divine goodness for the persons who are living. | |
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