• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Why would God send good people to Hell just because they dont believe he exists?

smidjit

Member
Im going to get straight to the point.

I am no Athiest. I believe there IS a higher power but I do not believe he is as wrathful as most Church's make him/her out to be.

What gets me angry about alot of Church's is that unless you follow their particular way of worship you will go to hell. What kind of rubbish is this? I thought Jesus taught people to love thy neighbor not judgeing them on Race or Religion? Or am I wrong here?

Nearly all people who participate in Church are very Judgemental, I have been told numerous times by Christians I will go to Hell if I dont change my ways..

I Don't Smoke
I Don't Gamble
I Do Partake in Alcohol but I Don't get drunk or drink to get drunk
I am a Virgin so no Sex either
I do not commit crimes

I guess they judge me wicked because I don't go to Church?
But why should I go to Church? How does going to Church make me more good?

I think God doe's Exist but I dont believe he will send people to Hell (If that place even exists) simply for " not believing in him " or not following a specific Church's practice.

Heres a Scenario.
(None of this is real it is made up as an example)

Jeff is a 43 year old man with 3 Kids aged 3,9 and 16 and a 39 year old Wife named Brenda.

Jeff is driveing home from work on a rainy night and a Truck who is driveing too fast lose's control and Smashes into Jeff's car. Killing him Instantly.

The Driver of the Truck is Arrested, Trialed and Sent to Prison for Manslaughter.

Jeff was a loveing Husband and Father and a great Friend to many.

Jeff was involved in many Charitys and raised lots of money to help Kids with disabilitys.

Jeff was an Athiest and did not believe in any god.

Uh Oh! Jeff did not believe God existed! Any Church Zealot would condemn him to Hell for this ungodly Sin...

My point is I cannot imagine God saying this.

Jeff. " But im not a Bad Person! ive made mistakes in life like a normal Human being but ive given most of my life to help people! "

God. " To bad you didn't believe in me so now you will burn in Hell for all Eternity "
---
God would not Punish anyone for being a Good Person. Never.
Shame on you for believing he would.
---
And for anyone who is too lazy to read this the Question is pretty much.

Why would God send people to Hell for being Good Careing Decent people?

God doesn't send anyone to hell. People choose to go there.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
oh i see, i guess this interpretation is more like the original jewish interpretation than that of the mainstream christian interpretation...
I'm not sure what the original Jewish interpretation actually was, so I couldn't say.

nevertheless, the god of the bible set man up.
Depends on what you mean by "set up." Offhand, it seems to me that the phrase has some rather negative connotations. From the LDS perspective, if God "set anybody up," it was to succeed to meet their potential as his sons and daughters. I suppose you could even go so far as to say that He "set them up" to experience mortality, knowing that they would never be able to progress beyond where they were in Eden if they were never given the experiences of life on Earth. I am well aware that the majority (perhaps even all) of today's mainstream Christians believe that God wanted Adam and Eve to remain in the perfect paradise He created for them and to live there forever. Mormons don't believe that. Consequently, we believe that mortality was just a required part of what would ultimately result in their having far greater potential than they'd have just walking around a garden picking flowers for the next few trillion years.
 
Last edited:

waitasec

Veteran Member
I'm not sure what the original Jewish interpretation actually was, so I couldn't say.
from my understanding the fall was a way that man was lifted out of ignorance.
but i could be wrong...levite would be great at explaining it.

Depends on what you mean by "set up." Offhand, it seems to me that the phrase has some rather negative connotations. From the LDS perspective, if God "set anybody up," it was to succeed to meet their potential as his sons and daughters.

god set up mankind to be born sick and then demands them to be healed...
is that what you mean by potential?
i call it manipulation... ;)
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
from my understanding the fall was a way that man was lifted out of ignorance.
but i could be wrong...levite would be great at explaining it.
That would pretty closely approximate the LDS view.

god set up mankind to be born sick and then demands them to be healed...
is that what you mean by potential?
Nope.
 

Flat Earth Kyle

Well-Known Member
for it to make sense when taken literally...
and even though i think it's mythical, the way god is portrayed in this story, he's one mean dude.

In some instances some people may look at it that way.
Criminals usually look at Justice as a horrible mean thing, when it is not on their side. (Kind of like in the 10 minute video the Mediator, that I put in my post earlier.) Justice is a wonderful thing when it is on your side and a horrible thing when it is not.

" 13And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

14And now, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." ~2 Nephi 2: 13-14


God is a just God and at times may sound cruel and heartless, but in reality God really does care about us and wants the best for us.
In the end Adam and Eve lived very righteous lives, taught their kids about the gospel, and grew up to be more like our Heavenly Father. I can say that after experiencing pain and death in this world, that they were able to have their literal happily ever after through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Because they experienced pain, they could recognize joy and really know and understand the difference of the 2. Something that they couldn't do in the Garden of Eden.
Make sense?
 

waitasec

Veteran Member
In some instances some people may look at it that way.
Criminals usually look at Justice as a horrible mean thing, when it is not on their side. (Kind of like in the 10 minute video the Mediator, that I put in my post earlier.) Justice is a wonderful thing when it is on your side and a horrible thing when it is not.

" 13And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

14And now, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." ~2 Nephi 2: 13-14


God is a just God and at times may sound cruel and heartless, but in reality God really does care about us and wants the best for us.
In the end Adam and Eve lived very righteous lives, taught their kids about the gospel, and grew up to be more like our Heavenly Father. I can say that after experiencing pain and death in this world, that they were able to have their literal happily ever after through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Because they experienced pain, they could recognize joy and really know and understand the difference of the 2. Something that they couldn't do in the Garden of Eden.
Make sense?

let me ask you this...
lets go back in time when people were hunters and gatherers.
we have one man who has the only food for miles and another man, who is starving, comes across this dude...if the starving man steals or even kills the man with the food...was he doing something evil in the eyes of god for doing what he has no choice of doing which is to survive?
 

Azekual

Lost
That's correct. A number of Protestant churches do teach that there is an age at which children can be held accountable for their sins. on the other hand, they will tell you that we are all "born in sin." How those two supposed facts fail to contradict each other, I've never been able to figure out.
Born into sin is another way of saying we inherited the original sin AND the high likelihood of sinning.
I'm not sure how they don't contradict, but I imagine it happens like this:
A child is born. This child knows nothing about sin or the world it is in.
If it dies right then, how could God punish a child that probably isn't aware it is about to be punished, let alone why.
Thus God does not punish those who are incapable of understanding right and wrong at the time of their death.

When it comes to sin, i think God overlooks the it in those who are too young to understand it.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
Born into sin is another way of saying we inherited the original sin AND the high likelihood of sinning.
I'm not sure how they don't contradict, but I imagine it happens like this:
A child is born. This child knows nothing about sin or the world it is in.
If it dies right then, how could God punish a child that probably isn't aware it is about to be punished, let alone why.
Thus God does not punish those who are incapable of understanding right and wrong at the time of their death.

When it comes to sin, i think God overlooks the it in those who are too young to understand it.
I guess the difference between how you understand this and how I understand this is that I think there is an enormous difference between saying we inherited sin and saying that we inherited the inclination or propensity to sin. I don't believe we inherited sin. I believe we are born pure and clean, completely innocent in God's eyes. I also believe that we do inherit Adam's propensity to sin and that once we have matured to the point where we can understand the difference between right and wrong, our natural inclination towards sin will have manifested itself and we will inevitably sin. Because that is true of every one of us, we are all in need of a Savior, whose atoning sacrifice will enable us to return to God's presence without having to endure the punishment we would otherwise deserve. Babies and little children, on the other hand, may have been born with the inclination to sin, but until they have reached a level of maturity where they can understand the difference between right and wrong, they cannot sin and are not held accountable for anybody else's sin.
 

Flat Earth Kyle

Well-Known Member
Born into sin is another way of saying we inherited the original sin AND the high likelihood of sinning.
I'm not sure how they don't contradict, but I imagine it happens like this:
A child is born. This child knows nothing about sin or the world it is in.
If it dies right then, how could God punish a child that probably isn't aware it is about to be punished, let alone why.
Thus God does not punish those who are incapable of understanding right and wrong at the time of their death.

When it comes to sin, i think God overlooks the it in those who are too young to understand it.

Really good observation!
We don't believe that God punishes those who die before the age of accountability, for they were valiant spirits in the pre-earth life. These children will not go to Hell, instead they will go straight to Heaven.
 

Azekual

Lost
I guess the difference between how you understand this and how I understand this is that I think there is an enormous difference between saying we inherited sin and saying that we inherited the inclination or propensity to sin. I don't believe we inherited sin. I believe we are born pure and clean, completely innocent in God's eyes. I also believe that we do inherit Adam's propensity to sin and that once we have matured to the point where we can understand the difference between right and wrong, our natural inclination towards sin will have manifested itself and we will inevitably sin. Because that is true of every one of us, we are all in need of a Savior, whose atoning sacrifice will enable us to return to God's presence without having to endure the punishment we would otherwise deserve. Babies and little children, on the other hand, may have been born with the inclination to sin, but until they have reached a level of maturity where they can understand the difference between right and wrong, they cannot sin and are not held accountable for anybody else's sin.
I can agree with your "Born into Sin" views, I was doubting the inheritance of sin but added it for good measure.
So you view sin as an action of the heart, you can't sin without the intention to do so?
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
So you view sin as an action of the heart, you can't sin without the intention to do so?
Well, I suppose that in light of the scripture which says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he," that would be a true statement. I do believe, though, that even though we typically think of sinning before actually committing a sin, we are less sinful if we are able to withstand the temptation, even though we may at first consider giving in to it.
 

Flat Earth Kyle

Well-Known Member
let me ask you this...
lets go back in time when people were hunters and gatherers.
we have one man who has the only food for miles and another man, who is starving, comes across this dude...if the starving man steals or even kills the man with the food...was he doing something evil in the eyes of god for doing what he has no choice of doing which is to survive?

stealing is wrong, and killing is wrong. It sounds pretty bad to me. There is always a choice. I'm sure he could of asked the man to share his food. If the other man didn't share his food, he may be held accountable for that. I'm not certain though, God is the judge here not me. There is always prayer. God did provide the Israelites with manna from Heaven. If God wants them to live, they will live.
 

Birddog

Member
stealing is wrong, and killing is wrong. It sounds pretty bad to me. There is always a choice. I'm sure he could of asked the man to share his food. If the other man didn't share his food, he may be held accountable for that. I'm not certain though, God is the judge here not me. There is always prayer. God did provide the Israelites with manna from Heaven. If God wants them to live, they will live.

"God is the judge here not me"

Good answer to those who dream up the improbable if not impossible scenarios.
I would like to add this.
Matthew 6:26
Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are? 27 Who of YOU by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? 28 Also, on the matter of clothing, why are YOU anxious? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil, nor do they spin; 29 but I say to YOU that not even Sol′o·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. 30 If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith? 31 So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ 32 For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things. 33 “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU. 34 So, never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.
 

Flat Earth Kyle

Well-Known Member
"God is the judge here not me"

Good answer to those who dream up the improbable if not impossible scenarios.
I would like to add this.
Matthew 6:26
Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not worth more than they are? 27 Who of YOU by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? 28 Also, on the matter of clothing, why are YOU anxious? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they are growing; they do not toil, nor do they spin; 29 but I say to YOU that not even Sol′o·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. 30 If, now, God thus clothes the vegetation of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe YOU, YOU with little faith? 31 So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ 32 For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For YOUR heavenly Father knows YOU need all these things. 33 “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU. 34 So, never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Sufficient for each day is its own badness.

I was actually even thinking of that scripture as I made that statement.
I'm glad you mentioned it.
 

URAVIP2ME

Veteran Member
I don't believe He sends anybody to hell for not believing in Him. For God, it has no benefit or harm to believe or disbelieve in Him.
I think for older ages, when humanity was at the 'child stage', He guided people by fear of hell, so, people may follow the Commandments.
For the age of maturity that we live in, the literal interpretation of a physical hell doesn't make sense anymore to a lot of people.
Although, developing spirituality is required for life of spirit after death, just as developing, eye, ear and etc, are important when we are in the womb.

But God sent believers to hell!

Wasn't 'believer Jesus' in the biblical hell? Acts 2vs27,31

God did Not guide by fear of hell. The false clergy did.
Luke wrote that wolf-like clergy would fleece the flock of God. -Acts 20vs29,30.
After first-century Christianity ended genuine wheat Christians grew together over the centuries with fake weed/tares Christians.
This would be on going until the time of the harvest or the time of separation of Matthew [25vs31,32]
before Jesus ushers in peace on earth toward men of goodwill.

The clergy teach the false pagan hell concept of forever burning.
Scriptures teach the biblical hell is just the common grave of mankind until they are resurrected to either life in heaven,
or eternal life on earth starting at the time of Jesus 1000-year reign over earth.

Jesus believed the dead sleep the deep sleep of death. -John 11vs11-14.

The Psalms agree such as : Psalm 6v5; 13v3; 115v17; 146v4.

King Solomon, who was known for his god-given wisdom, wrote at Ecc 9v5 that the dead know nothing. Nothing just as a person in a deep sleep is not aware.

Jesus 'brothers' [Matthew 25v40; 1st Cor 15v50] have life again after being resurrected to heaven to reign with Christ for a thousand years.
[Rev 20v6; 5vs9,10]
Except those of Matt [12v32], the rest of mankind can gain eternal life on earth starting with those sheep-like ones of Matt 25vs31,32.
 
Top