There are 4 choices, 4 votes for darkpoet1987's debate

God, the Omnibenevolent

  • All-Loving

    The idea of Hell has been the sole reason why I have not accepted a variety of faiths as my own. I think that, for Hell to exist, it would prove that God has weakness. I would like to start with an argument that comes up often, especially from church officials and door-to-door types. Essentially Hell is the punishment for our wrongdoings, the same way a parent punishes a child. Parents punish children out of love, and God is our father. So, while does punish us, he stil loves all his children.

    That is flawed in the sense that parents punish their children out of fear. Parents do love their children, but when they do something bad, the reason for punishing the child is so they won't do it again. Fear.

    Why would God punish us? There isn't a punishment that comes from pure love. If there is punishment, then there is fear. It doesn't make sense to me that God would be afraid, since he is everything, and has everything he could possibly need. On that note, since God is everything, he would just be punishimg himself by punishing us.

    For those that choose to comment, I would like this kept within the view of Hell and God. Can God be all-loving and still have punishment? Does Fear show weakness in what is supposedly omnipotent? If God isn't afraid, why does he punish?

    Voted for by darkpoet1987.
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  • not fear, but justice

    your question is really thought-provoking! it was refreshing to see a really philosophical debate presented here.

    first off, while i agree that a parent may punish a child for fear that he will not grow up with the right morals or attitude or what have you, i believe that this essentially boils down to love. a parent punishes because they love their children and want them to grow up the "right" way, and they "fear" that the child will not do so if they are not punished......but "fear" is really more "worry" that a child won't do so. you only worry about someone if you care for them, even on the most superficial level. i think that "fear" is a misleading term in this case, and that fear/worry really just come down to intense, profound love.

    however, even if it is a true sense of fear, i think it's invalid to compare the way god operates with the way humans operate. if one accepts that as humans, we are flawed, then we can't really compare the way we act to the way god acts, and then make an argument based on that comparison. i believe that god is loving, but JUST, and most of all, forgiving. the wicked and unrepentant will be punished for their sins, because they will reap what they have sown. i don't believe that this is an act of fear, but the simple execution of justice. furthermore, i don't believe that "punishment" in its traditional sense is applicable here. i don't think that god punishes immediately for each and every transgression in the hope that the punishee will not commit that offense again. the final punishment is a judgement of how one has lived their life. this sort of punishment does not stem from fear of an unrepentant future, but a "reward" as befits the "quality" of the life lived. hence, it's not god being afraid, as humans are, but being the most perfect judge who punishes accordingly.

    Voted for by gobuggy99.
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  • God doesn't punish, because the Bible is a fairy tale

    The concepts put forward in the Bible prove it to be false. Here is one example specifically aobut punishment:

    In the Bible we are told that God created the soul as a gift to humanity, therefore only humans have souls.  Nothing in nature, nothing in space, nothing but humanity.  Since the soul is what gives us the ability to do evil, to decide for ouselves whether to do good or evil, then everything with no soul is naturally good, or at least, can only do as God commands.  Because no being besides humanity may have a soul, angels too are soulless.  Angels may only do as God commands.  As Satan was once an angel, we can infer that Satan can only do as God commands.  This means that Satan's "rebellion" and fall from grace were all part of God's plan.  This also means that Satan's temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden was God's plan.  So we can now see that God must have intended for sin to enter into humanity, and planned for the subsequent punishments.  If this is not true then the Bible is fallacious, and it is much easier for me to believe in a benevolent god and disbelieve Christianity, than it is for me to believe in the evil god of the Bible.
    Voted for by Cherub.
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  • God sends people to hell because He loves them

    This may sound weird, but hear me out. God made us and it was His sovereign will that we have free will. This means that we get to choose day by day moment by moment what we will do. Hell is the choice God gives people that chose not to bow their knee to Him. He loves and respects them enough to honor their decision. Everyone in Hell is to this day saying "I hate God." God in His love doen't force them into Heaven. People have argued that if God is loving He would put people out of their misery after a while, agian because of His love and respect for humans He won't end their existance, He won't meddle against people's wills. God doesn't send anyone to Hell, people chose to go there.

    Voted for by Makessenseright.
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