Religion

Wait Wut

(8,492 posts)

12. I don't think so.

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 11:18 AM

Mar 2013

I haven't been a Christian for over 30 years, but when I was, I didn't believe in hell. I always thought of God as a parent. Yes, there are some asshole parents in the world that would torture their children for eternity, but I couldn't imagine THE parent being a child abuser. My son (who is now 30) has pissed me off beyond belief during his life, but I couldn't imagine punishing him for eternity. Now, I let his wife handle it.

As I got a bit older, I thought 'hell' would be our life on earth and that we just needed to learn something from our lives before we moved on. That led to my belief in reincarnation, because some people just never seem to get it the first time around. I think the imagery and idea of hell was created just to put the 'fear of God' into people to make them easier to control.

And...I keep moving forward with belief/non-belief/and everything in between. I always say, "I'll get back to you when I'm dead."

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38 replies

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Highlight:

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