Will Non-Christians go to Hell?

[NeilPearson]

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.

Why not... Job wanted to go there to get some rest

 

[NeilPearson]

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

It is used mostly in Revelations where everything is figuratively. It is also mentioned as Gehenna which was a real place of fire on Earth that people were burned... but the burning only lasted until they were burned up... not eternal. It was used as lots of comparisions in the bible when they compared it to the second death after judgement - but only because of its destructive power, not because of the physical pain involved.

 

[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.

 

[NeilPearson]

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 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;

There is definitely a punishment in the bible for sin... hell or death or the grave... depends on how you translate the word but they all mean the same thing.

No fire

 

[Pepper]

I still can't beleive that you believe the Bible but don't interpret those passages to mean that Hell will be a pretty awful place.

Seems you are going well out of your way to fit the Bible into your view of how things should be.

 

[maniclion]

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

In most theistic religions there would be no world without God or God's.

 

[gococksDJS]

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.

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?

 

[NeilPearson]

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.

You're right. I should have qualified that. The common idea of what hell is isn't biblical (in my opinion). The way I read it, hell (death) is the unconscious state of being dead and everyone (followers, sinners, Jesus) all have to go there. When judgement comes you either live forever or are destroyed.

Hell would suck but its not really a place you "live" - you are dead, you don't think and it's not really a permanent punishment. Just a place to hand out until you are judged.

 

[Pepper]

What passage tells you believers will go to hell?

 

[NeilPearson]

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?

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?

 

[Pepper]

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?

Well done.

 

[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.

 

[Pepper]

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.

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

 

[gococksDJS]

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?

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.

 

[NeilPearson]

What passage tells you believers will go to hell?

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

 

[gococksDJS]

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

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

 

[NeilPearson]

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.

That's the tricky part. Follow one and the rest say you are screwed

 

[Pepper]

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?

Christianity
Yes
Yes

 

[gococksDJS]

Yes
Yes
Yes

So are you telling me all rabbis, monks and other figures who devote their lives to their religion are going to hell simply because they chose to give their lives to the "wrong" religion? That's the biggest crock of shit i've ever heard.

 

[NeilPearson]

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

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

 

[Pepper]

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

My body will go in the grave. The soul goes to heaven or hell. That passage does not support you position at all.

 

[gococksDJS]

Christianity
Yes
Yes

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

 

[Pepper]

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

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.

 

[gococksDJS]

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

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

 

[Pepper]

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

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.

 

[gococksDJS]

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.

There is plenty of debate on how one is saved. Who has the correct "Save Yourself Manual" that God wrote? Is this not a valid question to debate?

 

[gococksDJS]

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.

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?

 

[Pepper]

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

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.

 

[gococksDJS]

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.

What about an orthodox jewish Rabbi? You say he's going to hell, despite the fact that he has devoted his life to the Jewish faith, just like Priests do. But he's going to hell because he's Jewish?

 

[Pepper]

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?

Yes, but not like that. Telling someone that they are going to Hell is a lousy and inappropriate way to discuss this. Many people do this and it is a shame.

Just read some of the threads on this site, yes, there is plenty of laughter.