Originally Posted by maniclion

Maybe I want to go to "Hell". What if I like dark mysterious gothic dungeon looking things better than fluffy cloudy, white heavenly things? Being surrounded by a bunch of Goody-Goody Gumdrop Gimps sounds more like hell to me than being around some awesome Demon Biker Ghouls and a bunch of hot micro-bikini clad Dolls, maybe a halo of glimmering gold with a harp doesn't appeal to me as much as a helmet of smoldering iron and hellish looking electric guitar.

Originally Posted by Pepper

So, how do you take "lake of fire" figuratively?

Originally Posted by dougnukem

Matthew 5:28-30 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

2 Peter 2:3-5 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them into gloomy dungeons[b] to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

Originally Posted by Pepper

clearly a world without God would not be a place I'd want to live.

Originally Posted by Rocco32

This is a poll for those who profess Christ as their Saviour. Non-christians can respond in the forum but not take the poll please.

And this is not a debate on if Christ existed and died or anything. Let's assume it's all true, I want to focus on the reality of salvation.

Originally Posted by Pepper

To be honest, I have always understood Christian teachings to be that hell is the to not be in the presence of God. Whether there will be torment or not, clearly a world without God would not be a place I'd want to live.

You said there was not mention of Hell in the Bible and that is simply ridiculous.

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

Why would hell even apply to a non-christian? I happen to worship Bigfoot, and in the Bigfoot bible it specifically states that all non believers will spend eternity shaving Bigfoots balls and eating his dingleberries. This is not a debate of whether or not Bigfoot exists, lets assume he does. So do you think all those who don't believe in Bigfoot are in for an eternity of teabaggery?

Do you see where i'm going with this?

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

That makes no sense. If God exists, you don't get to by-pass his rules just because you don't believe in him.

Hmmm, I don't believe in gravity so I should be okay to jump out of a plane right?

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

I have a serious question.

Why is it that Christian beliefs apply to non-Christians (as this thread implies), but Islamic, Buddhism, or Jewish beliefs don't apply to non belevers of their faiths (in this case Christians)? Surely Christians do not follow what is outlined in the Islamic faith, so are you succeptible to the consequences of non-Islamic belief and destined to spend eternity in what they see as "hell"? If not, then why would a non-Christian suffer the consequences that Christians see is a result of not believing?

God is the sole creator of everything, so what happens to people who follow other organized religions? Are Islamic or Buddhist followers destined to burn in hell because the beliefs of their religion are not outlined in the Christian bible? Or does God say "well you believed in a religion, so no hell for you"

These aren't satirical questions, I'm being serious.

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

That makes no sense. If God exists, you don't get to by-pass his rules just because you don't believe in him.

Hmmm, I don't believe in gravity so I should be okay to jump out of a plane right?

Originally Posted by Pepper

What passage tells you believers will go to hell?

Originally Posted by Pepper

The Bible is clear...you accept Christ as you Lord and Savior, you go to Heaven. You don't, you don't.

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

So which religion is correct in their belief system? They all differ, so is Christianity the only one that got it right? The Jewish faith does not accept Jesus as the messiah, so are they going to hell? Surely they can't by-pass His rule, or does God bend the rules? If there is a sole creator who has outlined specific rules in the Bible, what does he do about other religions? Can you tell us which religion is the correct one, making all other religions incorrect.

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

So which religion is correct in their belief system?
They all differ, so is Christianity the only one that got it right?
The Jewish faith does not accept Jesus as the messiah, so are they going to hell?

Originally Posted by Pepper

Yes
Yes
Yes

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

So if the bible is not the book of your religion, you go to Hell?

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

"the grave" here was Sheol in Hebrew... this same word is translated elsewhere as "hell"

Also there are accounts of other good bible people going to hell or like Job hoping to go to hell. And then before judgement hell gives up its dead to be judged. If there were just bad people in hell... what would the point be?

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/ifhellisreal.htm

Originally Posted by Pepper

Christianity
Yes
Yes

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

Then again a lot of Christians believe you are screwed if you don't pick the right Christian religion out of all the possible Christian religions too

Originally Posted by NeilPearson

According to most Christians - yes

Then again a lot of Christians believe you are screwed if you don't pick the right Christian religion out of all the possible Christian religions too

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

I can't tell if you are being serious or not. Are your answers serious or are you just being sarcastic?

Originally Posted by Pepper

I violently disagree with the the term "a lot." Some do. Most argue about differences and disagree on their importance, but there is little debate on how one is saved.

Originally Posted by Pepper

I'm serious. the Bible says those that believe will be saved, others will not.

There is little wiggle room. It is a harsh message but that's what it says.

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

But which belief system is the right one? Which one did God, the sole creator of everything, specify as the correct one?

Originally Posted by Pepper

Denominations disagree on many things:
Method of baptism
Age of baptism
Predestination - God chose us, rather than we chose God
Age of Communion
Church Government - Baptists govern by the masses, Presbyterians by elected elders.
Creation - 6 literal days or 6 "ages." - this is my favorite one to discuss.
More liberal denominations say homosexuality is OK.

Originally Posted by gococksDJS

So have you told all your Non-Christian friends, even the ones who follow other religions, that they are destined for hell? Were they upset or did they laugh at you?