Why I don't fear hell

[_aranyborju]

http://www.theofrak.com/2012/05/fear-not-hell.html

I have often been asked, "what if you are wrong and you meet God when you die?" The implication, of course, is that I will be punished in hell for refusing to accept what is self-evident to many believers, i.e., God exists.

Bertrand Russell was asked the identical question. His response was "I would ask him 'Why didn't you give us more evidence.'" I find it impossible to believe that God would consign me to hell for questioning his existence based on the complete lack of empirical evidence or compelling argument.

The other reason that I don't fear hell is that it will be populated with some of my favorite people, who look at the evidence the same way I do.



Mark Twain, Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman, Keira Knightley, Stephen Hawking, Bill Maher, John Lennon, Ricky Gervais, Juilann Moore, Keanu Reeves, Bill Shatner, Johnny Depp, Janeane Garofalo, James Cameron, Billy Joel, Jack Nicholson, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Richard Branson, Ian McKellan, Albert Einstein, Brad Pitt, Daniel Radcliffe, Jodie Foster, Hugh Laurie, Lance Armstrong, George Carlin, Morgan Freeman, Fred Armisen, Angelina Jolie, Penn Jillette, Raymond Joseph Teller, Dylan Moran, Patton Oswalt, Seth Green, Norm MacDonald, Eddie Izzard, Cillian Murphy, Jeremy Clarkson, and George Clooney.

This reminds me of the "I'm a Mormon" campaign.

[_sock puppet]

Hell is a man made invention, made up to keep your ass in the pew and your wallet open.

Hell is more important to religious subjugation than heaven. The carrot has never been the motivator that the stick has been.

[Guest]

It's found in your own mind.

That was quite an answer to the CFR. My goodness, I simply don't give myself enough credit, I guess. I created the concept of hell which has been accepted by billions? I got some influence.

I don't think you created the concept of hell, but you are just one of millions that have been duped by the concept conceived by others to subjugate you (and those millions) via religion.

[_Runtu]

Hell is more important to religious subjugation than heaven. The carrot has never been the motivator that the stick has been.

In mainstream Protestantism, there's less fear of hell, I would imagine, because people believe that they are already saved. In Mormonism, no one feels entirely sure that they're celestial material.

[_sock puppet]

Hell is more important to religious subjugation than heaven. The carrot has never been the motivator that the stick has been.

In mainstream Protestantism, there's less fear of hell, I would imagine, because people believe that they are already saved. In Mormonism, no one feels entirely sure that they're celestial material.

Not unless Ballard has washed your feet in the Holy of Holies.

[_Runtu]

Not unless Ballard has washed your feet in the Holy of Holies.

I know that for 40 years I was afraid I would never measure up, that I was not good enough. I don't think I was alone.

[_Buffalo]

Not unless Ballard has washed your feet in the Holy of Holies.

I know that for 40 years I was afraid I would never measure up, that I was not good enough. I don't think I was alone.

Almost every Mormon I know well has expressed that they're not sure they're going to make it, and if they do, it will be by the skin of their teeth. It's the perfectionist culture in the church. Autosalvation is a pretty tough gig.

[_Aristotle Smith]

[_Aristotle Smith]

This is one complaint from ex-Mos I have never understood. There is no hell in the Mormon universe, at least not one that anyone on this board could get into.

[_Buffalo]

This is one complaint from ex-Mos I have never understood. There is no hell in the Mormon universe, at least not one that anyone on this board could get into.

Well, there's the thousand years of suffering you get if you end up in the Telestial kingdom. But anything short of Celestial is unthinkable, because it means they're taking your family away from you.