Freethought & Rationalism Archive

blink · 06-05-2004, 01:23 PM

When I was a teenager I earned a little ( very little) money cleaning someone's house. I must not have valued my time much because I worked all day on their house and I think I charged them about ten dollars for the whole thing. My point is that I tried hard to do a good job for them and be fair.
Then they asked me to go to church with them and when I said no they said, "Well you can go to hell then."

miata · 06-05-2004, 08:23 PM

Blink,
In high school I worked for a Jewish family in a very nice clothing store. The Bosses' daughter and I liked each other and were close friends.

They never asked me to convert as we never discussed religion once. Perhaps we should have and she may have not given up on me to marry my best friend. We are still friends but that was over 30 years ago.

Hell may be what we make of life but many Christians have told me I was going to hell but I don't get up set as I don't believe in hell as a lake of fire.

Hell as used in the bible was translated from the word Sheol, which is man kinds common grave. If this is so we are all going to hell.

blink · 06-06-2004, 12:11 PM

Miata,
I think there are different ways of telling someone they're going to hell, and some of those ways are offensive even if you don't believe in hell. There's a way of saying it that writes you off as a worthwhile person, and justifies no further contact all because you don't think the same way.
Being terribly wounded by that is something to outgrow.

Puck · 06-06-2004, 12:22 PM

Whenever I hear that expression, I have an image of a wooshing over my head. It's from an old joke, something about a guy dying and going to hell and Satan asking which version he wanted, he wasn't sure, so satan showed him about. A room full of people playing cards, a room of people doing other such fun things, etc. Then they came to a lovely field with people picknicking and having a nice time. Suddenly, there was a wooshing, flaming fireball over head that crashed into a lake of fire. The guy asked what that was and satan said 'oh, that's just a christian, they always insist of lakes of fire'.

So, now when I hear 'you're going to hell', I just smile and imagine a flaming ball of fire going past.

Newton Joseph · 06-06-2004, 09:23 PM

[Much like an atheist getting irritated and saying "You are an idiot for believing in God" may be heard by a Christian as "I wish you were dead and I would do it if I knew I wouldn't get caught

HOW MANY ATHEISTS HAVE YOU HEARD SAY THIS?
:boohoo:

Ronin · 06-06-2004, 10:07 PM

Quote:

HOW MANY ATHEISTS HAVE YOU HEARD SAY THIS?

About as many as Christians I've actually heard tell me I'm going to Hell.

miata · 06-07-2004, 09:41 AM

Hell for me would be to allow anyone to rob me of any joy life may offer. If I allow that it is my fault alone. Looking over my shoulder for God to get me for not being like him would be true paranoia.

Just think a human being with unlimited power might get upset and flood the whole Earth, or even use fire and brimstone. That would be insane, what human being would do that "Hitler" ??? Now that would be HELL. Think "Bruce Almighty!"

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06-05-2004, 01:23 PM	#11
blink Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the south Posts: 310	When I was a teenager I earned a little ( very little) money cleaning someone's house. I must not have valued my time much because I worked all day on their house and I think I charged them about ten dollars for the whole thing. My point is that I tried hard to do a good job for them and be fair. Then they asked me to go to church with them and when I said no they said, "Well you can go to hell then."

06-05-2004, 08:23 PM	#12
miata Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: NC Posts: 361	Blink, In high school I worked for a Jewish family in a very nice clothing store. The Bosses' daughter and I liked each other and were close friends. They never asked me to convert as we never discussed religion once. Perhaps we should have and she may have not given up on me to marry my best friend. We are still friends but that was over 30 years ago. Hell may be what we make of life but many Christians have told me I was going to hell but I don't get up set as I don't believe in hell as a lake of fire. Hell as used in the bible was translated from the word Sheol, which is man kinds common grave. If this is so we are all going to hell.

06-06-2004, 12:11 PM	#13
blink Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the south Posts: 310	Miata, I think there are different ways of telling someone they're going to hell, and some of those ways are offensive even if you don't believe in hell. There's a way of saying it that writes you off as a worthwhile person, and justifies no further contact all because you don't think the same way. Being terribly wounded by that is something to outgrow.

06-06-2004, 12:22 PM	#14
Puck Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: A middle aged body. Posts: 3,459	Whenever I hear that expression, I have an image of a wooshing over my head. It's from an old joke, something about a guy dying and going to hell and Satan asking which version he wanted, he wasn't sure, so satan showed him about. A room full of people playing cards, a room of people doing other such fun things, etc. Then they came to a lovely field with people picknicking and having a nice time. Suddenly, there was a wooshing, flaming fireball over head that crashed into a lake of fire. The guy asked what that was and satan said 'oh, that's just a christian, they always insist of lakes of fire'. So, now when I hear 'you're going to hell', I just smile and imagine a flaming ball of fire going past.

06-06-2004, 09:23 PM	#15
Newton Joseph Banned Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 496	[Much like an atheist getting irritated and saying "You are an idiot for believing in God" may be heard by a Christian as "I wish you were dead and I would do it if I knew I wouldn't get caught HOW MANY ATHEISTS HAVE YOU HEARD SAY THIS? :boohoo:

06-07-2004, 09:41 AM	#17
miata Banned Join Date: May 2004 Location: NC Posts: 361	Hell for me would be to allow anyone to rob me of any joy life may offer. If I allow that it is my fault alone. Looking over my shoulder for God to get me for not being like him would be true paranoia. Just think a human being with unlimited power might get upset and flood the whole Earth, or even use fire and brimstone. That would be insane, what human being would do that "Hitler" ??? Now that would be HELL. Think "Bruce Almighty!"

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