What causes so many traditional and/or fundamental religionists to believe that

1. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   What causes so many traditional and/or fundamental religionists to believe that the overwhelming
   
   majority of humankind will be among those damned to some sort of Hell?
   
   

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2. 58

   taburkettposted 11 years ago

   Matthew 7:21-23 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
   Proverbs 21:15 - [It is] joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity.
   2 Timothy 2:12 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:
   Revelation 6:8 - And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
   Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
   Revelation 20:12 - And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
   Revelation 21:8 - But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
   
   Only 27 percent of the population of the earth are Christians.

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3. 77

   Express10posted 11 years ago

   I'm not the most religious person in the world but it's possible this may be simply because many people believe what they read or are told whether it is all or only partially true. Then, if you just take a look at the daily horrors happening in this world, often without provocation of any sort, it could certainly make some think that the vast majority will not be cooling their heels in heaven. Lastly, it could be the idea and hope that the "bad" people of the world will receive "what's coming to them" as a fairly large number actually do or are perceived to get away with their sins and crimes on earth.

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      christiananrkistposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      that last part is a good point. The same people that complain about the idea of hell, also complain when people get away with their crimes. Justice is done in the end.

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      Grace-Wolf-30posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There are different levels of justice. I think that even if someone appears to have 'gotten away with it', it doesn't mean that they have. Who know's what's going on in their personal lives, or in their head? There may be psychological consequences

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   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   Throughout early history, religion was used by the powers that be to control people. Fear of hellfire and an angry God was an excellent device for that control. It's not so different than modern times - play on people's fears to dominate and control them.   Fear combined with a need to be superior than others is what it is based on. Ego. The Bible was written by mankind and in my opinion is fundamentally flawed.
   Unfortunately some people like to believe they are a "chosen one" at the expense of others.  You notice most people don't ever claim they are the one that would be going to "hell", they are the righteous and everyone different from them are the others that need saving. 
   
   The notion of hell is/was a scare tactic firstly, and secondly a way for humans to distance themselves from what they find unacceptable about humanity. I'd like to think Hitler for example is in "hell". He created enough of it on earth, but the truth is there is varying degrees of light/dark in all of us. the Devil gives us something outside ourselves to blame for it, rather than owning it and working to fix it. Hell is where "those people" go. It's largely psychological.
   
   I'm not religious anymore, although I was raised in a deeply religious home and one of the biggest factors that led me away from that and to seek personal understanding was this notion that this being we are supposed to love, who allegedly loves us unconditionally, was going to let most of "his" children suffer for eternity after we die for even the smallest infraction, no matter how much good you did, if your religion was the wrong one.
   
     I don't buy it, never did.  "Hell" like "Heaven" is a state of being, not a place where we go for eternal reward or punishment. How can people possibly believe that in one meager lifetime you can learn enough and grow enough to earn an eternity in paradise? It's a means of self-comfort, because truthfully we have no way to know where we go, if anywhere upon physical death.  To me, heaven as an external place, is as unbelievable as the idea of Hell. Having said that I've experienced both heaven and hell in this life, I don't need an eternity of either. Heaven would be boring and hell would be most unpleasant for extended periods .

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      MysticMoonlightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent points and well said, ChristinS!

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      peeplesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The last paragraph sums it up perfectly for me!

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      taburkettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I suggest you visit a psychic before making such decisions. You may find that what you believe as fantasy does actually exist. Do not seek one in or near the town where you live. You will discover things you have never imagined.

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      Kiss andTalesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with many of your points ,and I truly agree religion has been used to control people that have a true desire to find God , Yet you have to admit that many people find truth and are not ready to live by it. we can not leave that out.

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   BuffaloGal1960posted 11 years ago

   I don't consider myself religious. I don't follow any man-made doctrine. I only follow the Bible - which I believe is infallible.  Yes, it's my opinion.  But even as an outsider, looking in, I would hope one could see the Bible mentions a place called hell well over 100 times. It is a real place, as is heaven.
   
   We, in the USA, for now anyway, have a choice about what we believe.
   I choose to believe in God and with that comes believing in hell also.
   
   God gives us free will.  To choose what we will.  He doesn't force himself on others.  But He is a just God.  Those who are evil will see hell.
   
   As for the "majority", the only way I know to answer that is to say, the flood DID happen and all but Noah and his family were saved.  The hearts of many had grown cold.

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   dashingscorpioposted 11 years ago

   I'm not sure why this is. In fact Romans 6:23 simply states:
   "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
   There is no mention of a place called "hell" in that statement. Having said that I believe most people feel there is always an opposite to everything. In order for there to be good there must be evil. Therefore if there is a (heaven) where good people/worshipers go then there must be a another place; (hell) where bad people/sinners go.

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   Grace-Wolf-30posted 11 years ago

   Fear and power over the masses, that's what causes it. I believe that a true God that gives life and the beautiful world in which we live is not really into eternal punishments though. I don't know why we're here, but my faith in God assures me that we have come from God and will return to God no matter what we do whilst we're here. That's not to say I condone any form of harm to other people, but I think that God teaches us forgiveness by being universally forgiving. We create our own hell on Earth through our actions. What goes around comes around whilst we are living here but afterwards, I believe we all go back to where we came from.
   Whilst we're here though, it is exceptionally important that we respect the lives and well-being of all those around us, and we need a moral code to live by. It could be our own individual moral code (I have my own) or it could be the moral code of the law, or that of another institute such as a religious organisation. Nobody is above that respect for the lives and well-being of others, no matter what their place in society is.

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   Kiss andTalesposted 11 years ago

   Really hell has been used a threat to control people and their money  ,what does it control ?the thought that if you are bad  person you  will burn in a fiery hell , Think ,The bible says God is Love, and man was made in God"s own image or his personality of love. How do loving parents treat their children even though we are imperfect. it would be unthinkable to do such a horror to our own, If the love of God is in us.To prove that he has been slandered  with this believe ,is a scripture that says at Jeremiah 7:33 and  Jeremiah 32:35 says " A thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up in my heart" in the case of burning humans including children even for a sacrifice in fire .Don't you hated when people misrepresent you , when you really are a loving  person. Yes people have allowed themselves to believe the lies of other humans . Why ? because it is so easy!

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      Kiss andTalesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is why it makes since when the bible says at Ecclesiastes 9:5 says it very clear ",the dead are conscious of nothing at all" Psalms 146:3-4 says he goes back to his ground.in that day his thoughts do parish" can you punish a person unconscious ?

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   Get Thin for Goodposted 11 years ago

   Because the majority have rejected Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to God the Father.
   
   It is not God's choice that people should go to hell; hell was created for Satan and his demons. But God is a holy and just God, and if people choose to do the will of Satan instead of God's, then hell is the consequence.
   
   It is not simply a teaching; it is very real and horribly sad.

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      Kiss andTalesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The bible says the wages of sin is death.Romans 6:23 .Romans 6:7 Says for he who has died has been acquitted from his sins. That means that no one is being tortured in fire and no one is in heaven based on past deeds ,because death was punishment.

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    Rosana Modugnoposted 11 years ago

    Because without a law, people would have no conscience or sense of moral culpability.  Some form of order must exist for people to....follow.

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    Deepes Mindposted 11 years ago

    There are a couple of reasons for this. One reason (the obvious) is that Hell is used as a meathod of controlling the fearful masses and those who are unsure but prefer to play it safe. The other reason is ego, pure and simple. There are several churches that proclaim that their church is the only one true church and do not recognize other churches or denominations.

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       Kiss andTalesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       true even Jesus said it himself at Matthew 7:21 ,Not every one saying to me Lord,Lord,will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens,But the one doing the will of my Father will" verse 22 says they did many works in his name,and in 23 he says get away!

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