Does ANYONE deserve eternal suffering?

[Rich86]

Having recently watched a Youtube video where a theist practically gloated at how an atheist he had been arguing with was going to spend all eternity burning in hell I couldn't help but think;

what kind of person would want to see, or be happy with another human being spending all eternity suffering?.

Ask yourself this; Do you believe in forgiveness?

If you do, do you think it's ever acceptable for someone to burn in hell for all eternity?

Whilst some people do perhaps need to be punished for their crimes - is there any crime so bad that someone deserved to be punished forever with no respite? :hmmm:

[knight of virtue and valor]

I believe in God, I believe the Bible, and yes I believe in forgiveness. unfortunately God has a few self imposed rules that he cant violate for the life of him, and perfect judgment is one of those rules. NOBODY no matter how good deserves to go to a perfect place forever. unfortunatly their is no in between. please don't ask me to try to explain such things, they are unfanable to the human mind.

[The Dude]

please don't ask me to try to explain such things, they are unfanable to the human mind.

That's ok. If you won't ask me to explain how Sauron managed to put so much power into a single ring.

[Old_Scratch]

This has happened to me many times. While having discussions with particularly hard core theists they usually end up saying something like, "Yeah, I'll remember that when you're burning in hell!"

It's not so much what they said that disturbs me, but the look in their eye when they say it. You can tell that they're really enjoying the thought of me being tortured for all eternity. I'm somewhat dismayed that there are still so many torture fans out there.

[knight of virtue and valor]

honestly that some people people talk about hell like they WANT for you to go their instead of how they are supposed to, like they want to save you from it, disturbs me to.

[Taiji]

1, A misguided person

2, Eh? I know about forgiveness and I use it often but "do you believe in forgiveness?" as in do I believe it's the right thing to do, no matter what? No. There'd be no point to anger and blame and all that other good stuff if we just forgave instantly (not sarcasm).

3, Depends who is doing the accepting but me personally and unless 'burn in hell' is a metaphor for something nice I'd have to say no.

4, Sounds like a waste of time, so no.

I agree it looks funny when a 'moral' religious person is visciously wishing an eternity of pain and suffering on someone. Funnier still when 2 'moral' religious people of different faiths are wishing it on each other. They have such a vested interest in being right about it, even the less palatable bits because not believeing them throws it all into doubt. Defending it tooth and claw is a good idea, losing your religion ranks very highly as a trigger for depression and this is perhaps because religion helps some people feel good when according to their own values they shouldn't.

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

The notion of eternal suffering in hell has passed since ages in Christianity, at least in Roman Catholicism. Hell is a metaphor, and the Scripture should be interpreted as such.

In the words of Pope John Paul II, "The images of hell that Sacred Scripture presents to us must be correctly interpreted. They show the complete frustration and emptiness of life without God. Rather than a place, Hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy". The traditional image of the suffering of those in hell is that of "fire", as described in an earlier catechism.

Therefore the question that the poll poses

Do you think *anyone* could ever possibly deserve an eternity burning in hell?

is false, and is based on a false interpretation and the lack of understanding.

[Copperknickers II]

what kind of person would want to see, or be happy with another human being spending all eternity suffering?.

Ask yourself this; Do you believe in forgiveness?

If you do, do you think it's ever acceptable for someone to burn in hell for all eternity?

Whilst some people do perhaps need to be punished for their crimes - is there any crime so bad that someone deserved to be punished forever with no respite? :hmmm:

No. Some people believe that that is the case, and i pity those people. Of course i don't believe in Hell, nor any rubbish about it being a metaphor. If God is the source of all joy, how can i as an atheist ever be happy? But i am .

[Garrigan]

PW, isnt that yours and some other peoples interpretation? It always confuses me when people say the "Official Line" has changed, therefore the entire meaning has changed. Isnt that just, maybe a very well-informed, opinion of how one should interpret the scriptures?

[Copperknickers II]

The Pope is God's representative on earth, and all papal decrees are supposedly divinely inspired. God seems to have changed his mind ona lot of matters since science came along.

[knight of virtue and valor]

The Pope is God's representative on earth, and all papal decrees are supposedly divinely inspired. God seems to have changed his mind ona lot of matters since science came along.

no, that does not count for all Christians. the pope is full of crap, God said NOTHING about using some guy in a funny hat. I care very little what the pope said, one pope even said that if he was not let into the gates of heaven, he would storm them.

[Garrigan]

Maybe he's just naturally indecisive? Enough humans are...

[Chaigidel]

only god suffers eternally, as long as we exist god must suffer that existence.

the only hell is suffered by god, for us.

so that we may taste life.

[knight of virtue and valor]

are you christain? or some other theist?

That's ok. If you won't ask me to explain how Sauron managed to put so much power into a single ring.

strange isn't it? he put more power in that ring then he had!

[Rich86]

There'd be no point to anger and blame and all that other good stuff if we just forgave instantly

I don't mean do you believing in forgiving everyone right away - I mean do you believe in forgiving everyone - even if it is in some cases eventual forgiveness.

based on a false interpretation and the lack of understanding.

......according to your interpretation. Other theists disagree with you and their interpretation is as valid as your own. So the question is not false, and is not based on a lack of understanding.

[basics]

Rich86,

Since we talk of the next life, something sinners obviously, for many reasons, repudiate, then what will happen to them, in spite of all the warnings, is not in our hands but God's. So what is unfair that despite the warnings there are those that willfully chose to ignore them?

No born again Christian takes pleasure in knowing that another may well end up in a position that he or she as it happens will never experience just because they have been saved. After all but for the grace of God...... But for sure why wrestle with God at all? Why take the chance when the keys to everlasting life are available?

[Rich86]

So what is unfair that despite the warnings there are those that willfully chose to ignore them?

So you do think some people deserve to burn for all eternity for their crimes? With no forgiveness?

in spite of all the warnings,

What? A book written thousands of years ago and a group of believers who often preach contradictory messages?

Surely followers of other faiths would say you are ignoring their warnings?

[boofhead]

Nobody deserves it, and the Bible doesn't say it.

Do some research on the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna).

Also, again, read the Bible.

When a man dies, "his breath goeth forth, he returneth to earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." [ PSA 146:4 ] And Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10 tells it very clearly: "the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything.

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

PW, isnt that yours and some other peoples interpretation? It always confuses me when people say the "Official Line" has changed, therefore the entire meaning has changed. Isnt that just, maybe a very well-informed, opinion of how one should interpret the scriptures?

It's not an opinion, it's the interpretation or rather understanding of the divine truth. The true meaning of the Bible has never changed and never will.

Also, again, read the Bible.

They rarely do. It's easier to have an opinion than to try to know the truth.

[basics]

" So you do think some people deserve to burn for all eternity for their crimes? With no forgiveness?"

Rich86,

That there is an elect according to the promise made by God to Abraham, them called the children of God or Israel of God, long before basics ever came on the scene, it is therefore not my place to question my Creator. I often wonder why me and not my brothers, my parents or any others I know.

That is God's decision made before He made the worlds. You ask me questions and I answer according to what is laid down in Scripture, the same Scripture that was the tool of salvation on my part and the tool of salvation on many others that I now know when once I didn't.

These are not assumptions, rather the experiences of them that are in accordance with that book you denounce just as others do. So accordingly why should I feel for them that disregard what it says? I'll tell you I do for none who knows God wants people to have eternal anything other than the hope and joy of a better life.

But then why should anyone who denounces the book that is the power of God to save want to argue about what it says regarding all them that feel the same unless of course that book fills you with doubt? If it is that bad in your eyes why do you bother at all? I could understand if you were seeking but not if there is nothing ahead as you fervently imply.