Religion

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)

9. Or separate but equal heavens for dogs

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 11:03 AM

Mar 2013

You can believe that "the devil" is the reason why so many bad things happen in a world ostensibly governed by an all-powerful loving god.

Or you can declare there is no such thing as the devil and bad things are just god's way of letting man have free choice.

Unencumbered by facts and evidence, you can believe anything. There really is no limit.

And why not? We all end up just as dead, but if you lived your life believing in fanciful ideas, maybe you had a happier life than you otherwise would have.

Just don't try to force that on other people, because it makes me sad when I see people believing nonsense.

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38 replies

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If you believe in Heaven do you have to believe in Hell? [View all] hrmjustin Mar 2013 OP

I've had many Newest Reality Mar 2013 #1

I think the allusion dipsydoodle Mar 2013 #2

You can believe in anything you can think up or learn from... Walk away Mar 2013 #3

Or separate but equal heavens for dogs BlueStreak Mar 2013 #9

Unfotunately, most people seem to believe that their fantasy is the only right one.... Walk away Mar 2013 #28

many jews believe in heaven but not hell. unblock Mar 2013 #4

Hell no! xtraxritical Mar 2013 #5

Yes, if you're Christian. aquart Mar 2013 #6

Satan referenced in Old Testament. Warren Stupidity Mar 2013 #8

It's an old question Fortinbras Armstrong Mar 2013 #7

If I had been forced to sit through COLGATE4 Mar 2013 #10

For many people Worried senior Mar 2013 #11

That's a question you never want to ask Lordquinton Mar 2013 #30

I don't think so. Wait Wut Mar 2013 #12

I like the Mormon thing where everybody gets their own planet. xtraxritical Mar 2013 #16

You don't *have* to believe in anything... gcomeau Mar 2013 #13

The universalists don't. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #14

I like that view. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #15

The Gates Of Hell And Heaven struggle4progress Mar 2013 #17

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam struggle4progress Mar 2013 #18

I think you answered your own question. Gore1FL Mar 2013 #19

There's a story from the Latin Kingdom okasha Mar 2013 #20

Hell is a pagan concept adopted by Christianity... Humanist_Activist Mar 2013 #21

Why do you believe in Heaven? brooklynite Mar 2013 #22

I just do. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #23

Not necessarily ButterflyBlood Mar 2013 #24

Thank you for this. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #25

The question I've always had is: how could the Bible be so obtuse? brooklynite Mar 2013 #31

In at least some of the Old Testament days, the Israelis didn't believe in the afterlife. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #35

If you believe in Heaven you can believe anything you like. bemildred Mar 2013 #26

Hell is meant to scare people to follow the "rules" socialindependocrat Mar 2013 #27

This. Hell, and religion in general, are used by power-elites to scare and control people. backscatter712 Mar 2013 #36

I agree with you. I just thought, though socialindependocrat Mar 2013 #37

It's less a matter of what you have to believe than a matter MineralMan Mar 2013 #29

Of course not skepticscott Mar 2013 #32

Never sugarcoat anything do you. hrmjustin Mar 2013 #33

My Grandma didn't believe in Hell - like you, a loving God wouldn't do that to us. OriginalGeek Mar 2013 #34

I've seen a Christian right here on DU proclaim that anyone who DOESN'T believe in hell... trotsky Mar 2013 #38