The Loving God / Hell Paradox

Robin said:
Since Hell is defined as eternal suffering then a torture facility would be the more appropriate analogy. Normally we regard leaders who keep torture facilities as unacceptable and if we are lucky we can pluck them from their spider holes.
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Yet as I understand, the only crimes that those in hell are punished for, are those that they commit in hell. Which, clearly suggests that they are there of their own choosing. Hence the notion of free will and, God allowing us to live as we wish.
 
The 'loving God' analogy falls down when you look at reasons an adult punishes a child (or another member of society).

Punishment can have two reasons; it can be rehabilitative or preventative. Rehabilitative means the consequence suffered should be associated with the action comitted. This is to establish a negative association with the action, hopefully meaning you won't do it again (e.g. being smacked after walking onto the road).

As nobody gets out of Hell, this is irrelevant in terms of being an analogy of punishment.

Preventative relies on the person knowing that they will feel bad if they choose to commit and action. This is the only reason Hell can be described to us as being a bad place; to prevent us from committing sin. However if Hell is not believed in, this falls down again. It's like a parent who always thratens punishment, but does nothing, then one day just belts the living crap out of their kid without stopping.

The there is the claim they are a loving parent.

Paradox or contradiction?

Athon
 
Iacchus said:
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." ~ Revelation 3:19
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Don't bother to repent.


"It is all the same; that is why I say, `He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. "Job 9:22
 
athon said:
Ok, case closed. Not a god of pure love; that was easier than I thought.

I can live with that.

Athon
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No, I wouldn't take God to be a "patsy" if that's what you mean.
 
Iacchus said:
No, I wouldn't take God to be a "patsy" if that's what you mean.
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I don't believe he takes God to be anything but a belief heald by others.
 
Iacchus said:
Yet as I understand, the only crimes that those in hell are punished for, are those that they commit in hell. Which, clearly suggests that they are there of their own choosing. Hence the notion of free will and, God allowing us to live as we wish.
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Where did you get that from? Not the scriptures certainly.

This notion of Hell being a place where God offers free choice is a modern spin - I have already quoted that Jesus says that it is an "eternal punishment".

It is absurd to say that Hell is a free choice for unbelievers when even the Bible says that God hides himself. It is even more absurd to say (as many do) that people who have selected the wrong religion have freely chosen eternal punishment.

Modern Christians have created this notion of a place to honour man's choices because they recognise the absurdity of the traditional and biblical conception of Hell - but it is clearly identified in Revelations as a lake of fire and brimstone.

I doubt many people would freely make that choice, probably not so much as a hanging chad.
 
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