Do People Really Worry About Hell?

[_huckelberry]

The opening post even asked for an ev view. I am at least an example of EV. I do not see much good in colorful obsession with hell. I am quickly inclined to suspect abusive control in groups obsessing about hell. Because basic Christian belief is that God is providing grace and forgiveness to help us live through our failing hell should not be our expectation. I suspect a perverted twisting of those basic beliefs to lie inside hell obsessions.

Some people may believe more in hell than others yet the idea of hell is not likely to disappear because we all experience pieces of it in this life. I thought last night reviewing a bit of the world war II history on PBS that not only was that hell but humans cannot seem to stand more than a decade or two with reinacting another war and having some more hell.. But not all of us experience war. Hell is also Jr hi. and a few other public school experiences. I sure enybody could extend the list to include a few more things.

I do not think I am being too pious to observe that I have on occasion been selfish and stupid enough to do something actually worthy of guilt. The idea of hell may serve as an inner warning. In fact the feeling of guilt could create the idea of hell even if not taught as religous thing. I think the invitation to hope and courage in face of guilt which is the Christian message teaches is better than an invitation to accepting the determination that guilt is an illusion. I think the second view requires blunting ones awareness of hurting others.

I l think my first observation about too much fear of hell being a result of abusive teachers or religous groups could be coupled with the observation that it is too bad that the very people who most ought to fear hell have no such fear. Some Nazi leaders might have been more thoughtful if they imagined their eternity being determined by their Jewish victims.

There was a question about what sins do I worry about. I think the top ten are worth taking seriously. I think it is worth while to be less of a uncaring ass in relattion to the people we come in contact with . Beyond those basics I am suspicious of fussing about sins. I suspect too much fussing to be more vanity than a help to anybody.

[_The Nehor]

There was a question about what sins do I worry about. I think the top ten are worth taking seriously. I think it is worth while to be less of a uncaring ass in relattion to the people we come in contact with . Beyond those basics I am suspicious of fussing about sins. I suspect too much fussing to be more vanity than a help to anybody.

I can see how fussing about other's sins could appeal to vanity but our own? I think that is an aid to the gospel. I imagine the Day of Petecost would have been far less successful if those present thought little of their sins. Instead the cry of, "What shall we do?" worked salvation.

[_Jersey Girl]

Define hell, monkeys. Or anyone...

[_The Nehor]

Define hell, monkeys. Or anyone...

You didn't ask me but I define it as the space where none of God's presence extends. It's a messed up place

[_Jersey Girl]

Define hell, monkeys. Or anyone...

You didn't ask me but I define it as the space where none of God's presence extends. It's a messed up place

Thanks, Nehor. I think you qualifiy as "or anyone"! The concept of "hell" is a relatively new invention.

[_barrelomonkeys]

Define hell, monkeys. Or anyone...

I can't define hell. I have absolutely no understanding of what that term means really.

I have seen images and read interpretations of what hell means to others. It has no clearly defined meaning for me. I was interested in other views on what it meant to them and whether or not it was something people feared.

[_barrelomonkeys]

I agree the threat of hell has even less effect on someone who doesn't believe in God. I think it just has a very bad effect on those who believe in God and factor him in as a reality but do not hold strong feelings for him.

Sorry I was unclear. I am saying that the concept of sin is ridiculous to one who does not believe and tends to have a bad effect on those who believe in God but do not care for him.

I would change 'less effect' to 'no effect' Nehor.

[_Gazelam]

D&C 76
25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!
28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—
29 Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about.
30 And we saw a vision of the sufferings of those with whom he made war and overcame, for thus came the voice of the Lord unto us:
31 Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—
32 They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;
33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;
34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—
35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.
36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels—
37 And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power;
38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath.
39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.
40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—
41 That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him.
44 Wherefore, he saves all aexcept them—they shall go away into everlasting punishment, which is endless punishment, which is eternal punishment, to reign with the devil and his angels in eternity, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched, which is their torment—
45 And the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows;
46 Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof;
47 Nevertheless, I, the Lord, show it by vision unto many, but straightway shut it up again;
48 Wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this ccondemnation.
49 And we heard the voice, saying: Write the vision, for lo, this is the end of the vision of the sufferings of the ungodly.

[_huckelberry]

There was a question about what sins do I worry about. I think the top ten are worth taking seriously. I think it is worth while to be less of a uncaring ass in relattion to the people we come in contact with . Beyond those basics I am suspicious of fussing about sins. I suspect too much fussing to be more vanity than a help to anybody.

I can see how fussing about other's sins could appeal to vanity but our own? I think that is an aid to the gospel. I imagine the Day of Petecost would have been far less successful if those present thought little of their sins. Instead the cry of, "What shall we do?" worked salvation.

I think I pointed out sufficient real sins for people who are honest to ask, what shall we do?

[_Roger Morrison]

Hi Huck, you wrote:

I think I pointed out sufficient real sins for people who are honest to ask, what shall we do? (Bold added by RM)

I haven't read every post here, so maybe this was covered? I think it necessary to realize the 1,000's years spread between the time of conceptualizing the term "sin" and to our time of specific IDing of malignancies--physical and psyche/emotional/mental/social...

It seems improbable that honest folks would not ask, "what shall we do?" when their faults/ignorance/misdeeds/etc are pointed out to them. Imagine a MD, scientist, technologist, etc. addressing a group of uninformed folks unknowingly drinking poluted waters (not too difficult today :-) Some might disregard the information. Others will naturally ask, "what should we do?"

THE question would be answered with the best intentions AND the best information available, at the time. Generalized it would amount to: "Change your ways. (Repent)"

IMSCO, foot-dragging religios must get with the time. Best to replace the term "sin" and the guilt attached to it, with more appropriate understandings of causes and effects of conditions that concern responsible folks. Then apply effective remedies...

The Old Testament statement: "...sins of the fathers (& moms) will be visited unto the third+ generations..." Too true. Quite probably due to environment/nurturing of their children. Seen every day. Also, the "advantages/wisdoms of mom-&-pop will engage following generations." We are advantaged by that 'truth' too. Nothing mystical, religious, magical. Just the way it is.

The unprejudiced, indiscriminate law of cause-&-effect in the 'hands' of "God" THE Universe. Time to see clearly through Paul's "dark glass"...Warm regards, Roger