A sick dogma!

[RJ50]

Christianity is a very broad church, encompassing the extreme fundamentalists/Biblical literalists, to the out of sight liberals who don't actually believe a deity exists. I have no problem with Christians I term 'mainstream', who go about their faith in a live and let live way, and don't seek to force it on others. I do however have a big problem with those who preach, "you must be 'saved' or burn in the fires of hell". My childhood was spoilt by having this dogma forced down my throat Sunday after Sunday. I suffered horrible nightmares in consequence. Surely a deity who sanctioned such a fate for the 'unsaved' however good they are, would be in need of serious psychiatric attention?

 

[Ashoka]

Agreed, lol. :clap

 

[Revoltingest]

The OP reminds me of this....

 

[RJ50]

:yes:Nice one!:yes:

 

[Katzpur]

Christianity is a very broad church, encompassing the extreme fundamentalists/Biblical literalists, to the out of sight liberals who don't actually believe a deity exists. I have no problem with Christians I term 'mainstream', who go about their faith in a live and let live way, and don't seek to force it on others. I do however have a big problem with those who preach, "you must be 'saved' or burn in the fires of hell". My childhood was spoilt by having this dogma forced down my throat Sunday after Sunday. I suffered horrible nightmares in consequence. Surely a deity who sanctioned such a fate for the 'unsaved' however good they are, would be in need of serious psychiatric attention?

I'm just curious... So are you agnostic now because you couldn't accept the existence of such a hate-filled God? Or are you agnostic for other reasons? Do you think a childhood spent in a less "Hellfire and Damnation" sort of church would have caused you to react the same way, or was this experience just one of a multitude of reasons why you have come to have the worldview you do?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I don't really feel hate for those who believe in hellfire, since I don't believe in it I have nothing to worry about it, and those who preach it actually BELIEVE it, and they preach it because they want YOU to be saved, I think of it as kindness, they think something bad will happen to you, and want to save you from it.

Imagine all of the ones that believe in hell but DON'T go about preaching...

 

[Katzpur]

I don't really feel hate for those who believe in hellfire, since I don't believe in it I have nothing to worry about it, and those who preach it actually BELIEVE it, and they preach it because they want YOU to be saved, I think of it as kindness, they think something bad will happen to you, and want to save you from it.

Imagine all of the ones that believe in hell but DON'T go about preaching...

Yeah, but do they need to love you with such obvious relish of your impending eternity in torment? Seriously, I have never had anyone tell me I'm going to hell and made it at all convincing that they cared.

 

[Sha'irullah]

Yeah, but do they need to love you with such obvious relish of your impending eternity in torment? Seriously, I have never had anyone tell me I'm going to hell and made it at all convincing that they cared.

That is what makes it sad. People only worry about their children and immediate family.

I have a mother praying for me and sincerely believes god will make me a Christian. But despite her polluted mind and hate filled heart she does everything out of superficial appearances for her own self. :biglaugh: not a smart woman but it is a long story.

People see others die and do not feel empathy for them "knowing" they will burn in hell for eternity. It is sad honestly

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Yeah, but do they need to love you with such obvious relish of your impending eternity in torment? Seriously, I have never had anyone tell me I'm going to hell and made it at all convincing that they cared.

Well, they don't need to, but if they really want to save me from hell that's kind of nice of them.

 

[RJ50]

I think the hell-fire exponents get a sadistic thrill out of scaring people with that horrible dogma!

I remember when I was seventeen my younger sisters and I attended a service at our pentecostal church where there was a guest speaker. My parents were not in attendance. The guy was getting off on the tortures of hell, and describing how unsaved virgins would be raped, he was practically frothing at the mouth. I walked out mid sermon, taking my sisters with me, and was followed by at least half the congregation!

 

[Sha'irullah]

I think the hell-fire exponents get a sadistic thrill out of scaring people with that horrible dogma!

I remember when I was seventeen my younger sisters and I attended a service at our pentecostal church where there was a guest speaker. My parents were not in attendance. The guy was getting off on the tortures of hell, and describing how unsaved virgins would be raped, he was practically frothing at the mouth. I walked out mid sermon, taking my sisters with me, and was followed by at least half the congregation!

I love to see pastors preach about the loving god of the Bible and speak of how justified Hell is. They speak to the world and protest the love of Christ yet the Bible itself has so many atrocities in it.
Rather hypocritical

 

[Katzpur]

I think the hell-fire exponents get a sadistic thrill out of scaring people with that horrible dogma!

I remember when I was seventeen my younger sisters and I attended a service at our pentecostal church where there was a guest speaker. My parents were not in attendance. The guy was getting off on the tortures of hell, and describing how unsaved virgins would be raped, he was practically frothing at the mouth. I walked out mid sermon, taking my sisters with me, and was followed by at least half the congregation!

You do realize, I hope, that this kind of thing is not typical of most Christian worship services.

 

[RJ50]

I most certainly do, our eldest girl is an Anglican Priest and her services are not a bit scary and enjoyed by her congregations

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

I don't really feel hate for those who believe in hellfire, since I don't believe in it I have nothing to worry about it, and those who preach it actually BELIEVE it, and they preach it because they want YOU to be saved, I think of it as kindness, they think something bad will happen to you, and want to save you from it.

Imagine all of the ones that believe in hell but DON'T go about preaching...

I believe they just wanna scare you into dropping a 20 in that collection plate

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I believe they just wanna scare you into dropping a 20 in that collection plate

All hell-believers are just saying that to scare you? What a claim!

 

[ChristineES]

I've seen a lot of preaching and I've heard very little about the teaching of hell. Some preachers thrive on it but most talk about heaven. Most of the teaching I've heard recently was about how to be a good wife, parent, and things of that nature. Since I don't believe in a fiery hell, I don't think I'd accept such preaching, anyway, if I did hear it.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

All hell-believers are just saying that to scare you? What a claim!

Not ALL hell-believers, just the ones who get paid to preach about it. I'm also of the opinion that the Pope knows there's no such thing as Jesus, but good business is good business

 

[ChristineES]

Not ALL hell-believers, just the ones who get paid to preach about it. I'm also of the opinion that the Pope knows there's no such thing as Jesus, but good business is good business

I might have believed that of Pope Benedict, but I don't about Pope Francisco. I believe that Pope Francis(co) believes in God.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

I might have believed that of Pope Benedict, but I don't about Pope Francisco. I believe that Pope Francis(co) believes in God.

You've gotta be really good at playing the game to make it to the top. Whether or not he actually believes in God the public will never know.

 

[ChristineES]

You've gotta be really good at playing the game to make it to the top. Whether or not he actually believes in God the public will never know.

True enough. I see evangelists on TV who don't appear to be sincere. I try not to judge them but they seem so... phoney. I wouldn't know if they are atheist or not, but they do seem as though they are acting, and badly, when they preach.