Is Christianity based on a fear of hell?

1. 62

   alvairsposted 12 years ago

   Is Christianity based on a fear of hell?

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2. 68

   Ceegenposted 12 years ago

   For some, it is. But how could it be that if God loves us, he sends us to hell?
   
   Maybe, something is missing from this question.
   
   The bible gives us a single, guaranteed path, to victory. Accept Jesus, and win. Short, sweet and to the point. That's all it really takes, but it isn't based on fear. Those who live in Christ, do not have to fear hell. We're promised we'll be saved from spiritual death, so fear isn't a factor.
   
   When Jesus died on Passover, those were really cosmic implications that this all wasn't just by chance. Knowing that Jesus died for our sins, through the parable of Passover, is a beautiful thing. The book isn't about punishing sin, though that certainly does happen, it is about forgiveness of sins. The whole point of the book, is yes you've sinned, but you're also forgiven.
   
   God, time and again, always gives people ample opportunity to repent and be saved. Noah preached about the flood for 120 years before it happened. Even if you want to think of the story as a fairy tale, why would God have waited 120 years to destroy his creation in a flood? Wouldn't be because he was waiting for them to repent, was it?
   
   I believe so.
   
   And that's a beautiful promise, and one I know God intends to keep. What is there to fear?

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3. 80

   Ben716posted 12 years ago

   Christianity is not based on a fear of hell. Ending in hell is one of the consequences of not accepting what God offered through Jesus - Salvation. It is alienation from God. Christianity in essence means being drawn closer to God. Jesus came to break the veil that separated us from God through sin. Now, we can have a one-on-one relationship with God. Hell is real. It is not the main reason why Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin. It is one of the consequences of not accepting the gift of salvation.

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4. 95

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   "If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, we are a sorry lot indeed." Albert Einstein With that said yes it is, because to do something for the sake of gaining a reward such as heaven or eternal life then they are doing so because that option is more enticing than living in a fire pit. The basis of most religions is to do good for a reward instead of just doing good because it makes sense. This is how many children are brought up in religion. They are told they will go to hell if they do bad. They are threatened with talks of a fire pit they will live in for eternity and led with the candy of heaven. It's quite sad that we simply can't teach that people should be good even if there is no reward.
   I'm not a believer, but I would like to think that if there was a God he would value the actions of someone who does good for the sake of doing good over someone who does good for the hope of reward or fear of punishment.

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      lone77starposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      @peeples, you hit the nail on the head. God is exactly that way. That's why Jesus condemned the Pharisees, because they were good only to be seen as good by their peers. Alas! Too many Christians do that today.

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   lone77starposted 12 years ago

   No, Christianity is based upon love.
   
   Hell is the pettiness of not loving. Hell is the blindness of ego and thinking that the physical is truth.
   
   Christianity is also based upon faith -- the perfect confidence required to walk on water. Even a mustard seed of doubt is enough promptly to sink to the bottom.
   
   Christianity is based upon humility -- for the meek shall inherit the Earth. As Christ said, the first shall be last, because of their arrogance, and the last shall be first.
   
   Christianity is also based upon responsibility. Taking 100% responsibility makes turning the other cheek effortless and makes oneself incapable of being victim.
   
   Albert Einstein once said, "As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene. No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life" (Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929).

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6. 68

   SwordofManticorEposted 12 years ago

   With all this hell preaching going on today, yes. most of Christianity is based on fear of hell.

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   Somto Godwinposted 11 years ago

   no it is based on your nrelationship with GOD

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