Freethought & Rationalism Archive

SimplyAtheistic · 07-08-2003, 05:05 PM

Christians keep telling me that hell is simply god turning his back on you. They also state that you will be tortured for eternity in hell. My question is, if hell is simply the absence of god, isn't there a very real possibility the devil would tire of torturing you and you actually might have a pleasant experience? After all, it isn't a direct punishment from god, he isn't overseeing it.
Jake

I ate Pascal's Wafer · 07-08-2003, 06:45 PM

I just have to wonder if Santa/hell are really as bad as xians and God want us to think. Afterall, Santa just wants to get back at God, right? What would piss God off more than grabbing up souls who "turn against" God and making the rest of eternity great for them? They wouldn't have any regrets at all for turning against God, and that would certainly get at God worse than torturing people who go against him.

Of course this assumes that hell is simply the absence of God rather than an intentional torture chamber.

-Nick

Magus55 · 07-08-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JakeJohnson
Christians keep telling me that hell is simply god turning his back on you. They also state that you will be tortured for eternity in hell. My question is, if hell is simply the absence of god, isn't there a very real possibility the devil would tire of torturing you and you actually might have a pleasant experience? After all, it isn't a direct punishment from god, he isn't overseeing it.
Jake

No, God does not sit in Hell torturing you. The torment comes from being separated from God. Hell is basically the dumping grounds for evil and sin. There is no good in existence in Hell, hence why its pretty brutal.

And Satan won't be having fun nor will he be torturing you. Satan will be chained in the Lake of Fire, facing punishment like everyone else.

What is the atheist obsession with Hell? I don't get it. Why do you care? You know for a fact it doesn't exist right? So why constantly argue over it?

I will never understand why atheists, who are so adamant against a hypothetical god, and know for a fact that he doesn't exist, constantly argue and fight over and over making the same stupid, sarcastic arguments which are meaningless to the theists here ( at least the Christians).

Magus55 · 07-08-2003, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by I ate Pascal's Wafer
I just have to wonder if Santa/hell are really as bad as xians and God want us to think. Afterall, Santa just wants to get back at God, right? What would piss God off more than grabbing up souls who "turn against" God and making the rest of eternity great for them? They wouldn't have any regrets at all for turning against God, and that would certainly get at God worse than torturing people who go against him.

Of course this assumes that hell is simply the absence of God rather than an intentional torture chamber.

-Nick

Satan doesn't have that kind of power. Not to mention he will be chained in the Lake of Fire for eternity, never to escape. Kinda tough to throw a party when you are bound forever.

SimplyAtheistic · 07-08-2003, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
Satan doesn't have that kind of power. Not to mention he will be chained in the Lake of Fire for eternity, never to escape. Kinda tough to throw a party when you are bound forever.

But whos to say he won't try and make our afterlife good so that we will fight for his freedom?
Jake

southernhybrid · 07-08-2003, 08:33 PM

Quote:

I will never understand why atheists, who are so adamant against a hypothetical god, and know for a fact that he doesn't exist, constantly argue and fight over and over making the same stupid, sarcastic arguments which are meaningless to the theists here ( at least the Christians).

Let me clue you in Magus. We do know that the silly hell and the imaginary guy that created it doesn't exist. It's the fact that you believe it does exist that fascinates us. We will never understand how you can believe something that seems so totally absurd to us. Does that make sense?

If hell is separation from god, I am already in that place and I find it quite joyful so I'm not afraid of your hell. It only exists in the minds of those who need it.

Jobar · 07-08-2003, 08:41 PM

Hi, Jake. Do you like to read science fiction? If you do, look for Robert Heinlein's novel, "Job: A Comedy of Justice." It's more fantasy than sf, and is Heinlein's take on the story of Job from the Bible. Great stuff! (In it, Satan is one of the more important supporting characters, and his Hell is a much nicer place than Heaven. )

Magus- do you have any idea how many times some of us have been threatened with Hell by people who see themselves as fine upstanding Christians? Not to mention the fact that for every word atheists have written about Hell, believers have written ten, or a hundred. We unbelievers see Hell as just one more thing which makes Christianity unintelligible; since it's such a blatant contradiction to the ideas of a benevolent God, we do use it as an illustration of the tail-biting nature of Christian beliefs. But it's just one of very many.

07-08-2003, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
No, God does not sit in Hell torturing you. The torment comes from being separated from God.

I thought your god was supposed to be omnipresent. So how, exactly, can one we separated from him?

winstonjen · 07-09-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Magus55
I will never understand why atheists, who are so adamant against a hypothetical god, and know for a fact that he doesn't exist, constantly argue and fight over and over making the same stupid, sarcastic arguments which are meaningless to the theists here ( at least the Christians).

And you complain when people here merely suspect that you're being dishonest and telling lies. You've never once demonstrated the 'love your neighbour' commandment from what I've seen on these boards.

Mageth · 07-09-2003, 01:51 PM

What is the atheist obsession with Hell? I don't get it. Why do you care? You know for a fact it doesn't exist right? So why constantly argue over it?

This comment comes right after you remind us how brutal hell will be for us atheists, and how we'll be tortured there.

And note Jake opened his post with (emphasis added):

Christians keep telling me that hell is simply god turning his back on you. They also state that you will be tortured for eternity in hell.

Those things should give you a clue as to why we're "obsessed" with hell. You Christians, who are the ones really obsessed with it, keep badgering and threatening us with it.

07-08-2003, 05:05 PM	#1
SimplyAtheistic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 503	About hell... Christians keep telling me that hell is simply god turning his back on you. They also state that you will be tortured for eternity in hell. My question is, if hell is simply the absence of god, isn't there a very real possibility the devil would tire of torturing you and you actually might have a pleasant experience? After all, it isn't a direct punishment from god, he isn't overseeing it. Jake

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07-08-2003, 06:45 PM	#2
I ate Pascal's Wafer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 1,460	I just have to wonder if Santa/hell are really as bad as xians and God want us to think. Afterall, Santa just wants to get back at God, right? What would piss God off more than grabbing up souls who "turn against" God and making the rest of eternity great for them? They wouldn't have any regrets at all for turning against God, and that would certainly get at God worse than torturing people who go against him. Of course this assumes that hell is simply the absence of God rather than an intentional torture chamber. -Nick

07-08-2003, 08:41 PM	#7
Jobar Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: secularcafe.org Posts: 9,525	Hi, Jake. Do you like to read science fiction? If you do, look for Robert Heinlein's novel, "Job: A Comedy of Justice." It's more fantasy than sf, and is Heinlein's take on the story of Job from the Bible. Great stuff! (In it, Satan is one of the more important supporting characters, and his Hell is a much nicer place than Heaven. ) Magus- do you have any idea how many times some of us have been threatened with Hell by people who see themselves as fine upstanding Christians? Not to mention the fact that for every word atheists have written about Hell, believers have written ten, or a hundred. We unbelievers see Hell as just one more thing which makes Christianity unintelligible; since it's such a blatant contradiction to the ideas of a benevolent God, we do use it as an illustration of the tail-biting nature of Christian beliefs. But it's just one of very many.

07-09-2003, 01:51 PM	#10
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	What is the atheist obsession with Hell? I don't get it. Why do you care? You know for a fact it doesn't exist right? So why constantly argue over it? This comment comes right after you remind us how brutal hell will be for us atheists, and how we'll be tortured there. And note Jake opened his post with (emphasis added): Christians keep telling me that hell is simply god turning his back on you. They also state that you will be tortured for eternity in hell. Those things should give you a clue as to why we're "obsessed" with hell. You Christians, who are the ones really obsessed with it, keep badgering and threatening us with it.

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