Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DRFseven · 03-28-2002, 07:30 AM

Will some theist please tell me how believing in hell is categorically different from believing in monsters? I don't mean to just assert that it is different, stick out your tongue and run away; I mean tell me HOW it is different. Explain why you would emphatically deny to your children that monsters might be under their beds, but you wouldn't deny hell.

This question came up in another thread and was never answered, so my curiosity is up. Remember, I'm not denying that people do think so; I'm just trying to see how they explain it to themselves.

Megatron · 03-28-2002, 07:44 AM

Monsters aren't in the bible. Hell is.

It's all indoctrination.

DRFseven · 03-28-2002, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Zero: Monsters aren't in the bible.

But they are! And, maybe they got under the child's bed; after all, they have to be somewhere.

Megatron · 03-28-2002, 08:10 AM

Hehehe...

But seriously, you'll find that's one of the main reasons. Most christians don't believe in most of the hogwash you and I don't believe in... for example, the boogieman, the easter bunny, santa, the tooth fairy, zombies, goblins, elves, orcs, dragons, the list goes on...

Yet they still believe in heaven, hell, and a personal god.

2 words: Cognitive Dissonance.

DRFseven · 03-28-2002, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Zero: But seriously, you'll find that's one of the main reasons.

Probably, but it won't hold water. The Bible is full of haints and spooks that are shape-shifters. I'm serious, too; I want someone to tell me HOW THEY KNOW my granddaughter is wrong about the monsters under her bed, when the Bible allows it. If they're guilty of cognitive dissonance, then, by god, I want them to admit it and change!

Now, I'm taking my granddaughter to the park next door. When I come back, I expect to see that hordes of Christians have quit their churches and embraced atheism, or at least agnosticism.

Megatron · 03-28-2002, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DRFseven:
I want someone to tell me HOW THEY KNOW my granddaughter is wrong about the monsters under her bed, when the Bible allows it. If they're guilty of cognitive dissonance, then, by god, I want them to admit it and change!

Heh... good luck.

GunnerJ · 03-28-2002, 10:23 AM

Zero Angel- there are plenty of dragons in the Bible, why, Satan's one, don't you know! And as for zombies... well, what do you suppose someone who came back from the dead is?

Megatron · 03-28-2002, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rimstalker:
Zero Angel- there are plenty of dragons in the Bible, why, Satan's one, don't you know! And as for zombies... well, what do you suppose someone who came back from the dead is?

[fundy mode ON]

But that's different! Satan is real!
The people resurrected in the bible were divine, and wouldn't be decayed and nasty like zombies!

Besides, dragons and zombies are just fairy tales!

But Jesus and Satan are real, because the bible said so!!

[fundy mode OFF]

Pennywise the clown · 03-28-2002, 11:58 AM

Beep! Beep!

Quote:

Most christians don't believe in most of the hogwash you and I don't believe in... for example, the boogieman, the easter bunny, santa, the tooth fairy, zombies, goblins, elves, orcs, dragons, the list goes on...

Hey now Mr. Zero, just hold up! No SANTA or EASTER BUNNY? Come on now, where does all that candy and all those presents come from? Sheesh! Talk about a skeptic!

As for goblins, orcs, and dragons; well, I personally dated all three species at one time!

Zombies? I give you our President.

Elves? Come on Angel man! Just who do you think makes those Keebler cookies? It aint' "unicorn" magic!

*roles up sleeves*

That cuts it, no pie for the Angel until he recants!

[ March 28, 2002: Message edited by: Pennywise the clown ]

frostymama · 03-28-2002, 12:05 PM

Actually, anytime I would see a "monster" in my room as a child my mother would tell me that is was a demon.

(It would have been so much kinder to a young child to say that monters weren't real than to tell them it was a "demon" )

03-28-2002, 07:30 AM	#1
DRFseven Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,322	Hell & Monsters Will some theist please tell me how believing in hell is categorically different from believing in monsters? I don't mean to just assert that it is different, stick out your tongue and run away; I mean tell me HOW it is different. Explain why you would emphatically deny to your children that monsters might be under their beds, but you wouldn't deny hell. This question came up in another thread and was never answered, so my curiosity is up. Remember, I'm not denying that people do think so; I'm just trying to see how they explain it to themselves.

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03-28-2002, 07:44 AM	#2
Megatron Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: New York Posts: 5,441	Monsters aren't in the bible. Hell is. It's all indoctrination.

03-28-2002, 08:10 AM	#4
Megatron Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: New York Posts: 5,441	Hehehe... But seriously, you'll find that's one of the main reasons. Most christians don't believe in most of the hogwash you and I don't believe in... for example, the boogieman, the easter bunny, santa, the tooth fairy, zombies, goblins, elves, orcs, dragons, the list goes on... Yet they still believe in heaven, hell, and a personal god. 2 words: Cognitive Dissonance.

03-28-2002, 10:23 AM	#7
GunnerJ Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: a place where i can list whatever location i want Posts: 4,871	Zero Angel- there are plenty of dragons in the Bible, why, Satan's one, don't you know! And as for zombies... well, what do you suppose someone who came back from the dead is?

03-28-2002, 12:05 PM	#10
frostymama Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 927	Actually, anytime I would see a "monster" in my room as a child my mother would tell me that is was a demon. (It would have been so much kinder to a young child to say that monters weren't real than to tell them it was a "demon" )

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