Heaven and Hell?

by Blueblades 9 Replies latest jw friends

  • Blueblades
    Blueblades

    The teaching about Heaven and Hell is one of the main doctrines of mainstream Christianity.Yet to this day it is not a clear scriptural teaching among those scholars teaching it..The Bible itself is in question as to it's being inspired of God.Therefore, the whole concept about rewards and punishments, Heaven and Hell that is written in this book on this one doctrine alone cannot be verified as Truth.One must believe it on a leap of faith,faith that what is written in the Bible about rewards and punishments, Heaven and Hell actually comes from the mouth of God.

    Even so,an eternity in Hell for being bad would not be Just.Nor could you earn an eternity in Heaven for being good.Fear would be the overriding motive to avoid Hell.Love would have nothing to do with it.

    I know that many do put faith in the Bible and it's teaching about the doctrine of Heaven and Hell.And many don't.I am one who does not base what I believe on what the Bible is reported to have said comes from the mouth of God.

    Blueblades,of the Doubting Thomas class.

  • kls
    kls

    BlueBlades, are you asking a question or giving your thought's. I have read your post three times and am still not sure.

  • Blueblades
    Blueblades

    Kls.My thoughts.I am open to what others think about Heaven and Hell.However, as I mentioned in my post, it is all based on the belief that what is written in the Bible is from God.So, for those who choose to believe that the Bible is from God and accept the teachings about Heaven and Hell,that is a personal decision and one that I cannot interfere with.I choose not to believe that the Bible is from God,and so what is written in it has nothing to do with whether we go to Heaven or Hell because we merit some reward or punishment according to our behavior that is based on fear or love.I contend that all kinds of people have a belief system on whatever "Holy Book"they accept and act accordingly.I choose not to believe in any so - called Holy Books of any religious persuasion.

    Blueblades

  • Justin
    Justin

    These questions should be asked of people who believe in traditional Christianity. JWs believe that only 144,000 go to heaven, the vast majority of others who are "saved" will live on a restored paradise earth, and the Bible "hell" is simply the grave. It is true that these beliefs, if the actual teachings of the Bible, are also dependent on revelation. But to ask JWs or ex-JWs about traditional Christian beliefs merely confuses the issues with which you wish to deal.

  • Obviously Secret
    Obviously Secret

    I dunno... alot of it has to do with translations. Sheol and gehenna was used I think in the hebrew and greek scriptures. And those were litteral places where bad people were burried or burned if they did bad things. And God could have used that figuratively to represent actual hell even though he didn't say it was actual hell. All confusing that's why it's a belief lol. Some people know the bible just as much as the next christian but they still believe different things. So I have no idea really. That's one of the only things I agree with the JWs about. All the hell stuff is kind of... kind of not all too cool. Plus the trinity stuff that's a whole nother story.

    And btw nice post Justin. It is all tradition. Jesus wasn't even around when they thought of the trinity tradition. And hell is just all tradition too all of it is... that's why me try me best to stay aways.

  • Blueblades
    Blueblades

    Justin,that is exactly the point I am making,it is confusing .Whether you ask for jw's or xjw's or anyone else , it is confusing.Can you or anyone else make it clear?Because it is a belief system,we are free to believe whatever we want,confusing or otherwise.

    Blueblades

  • Leolaia
    Leolaia

    On the subject of Gehenna and Hell in 1st century Jewish and Christian thought, see my post:

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/71230/1.ashx

  • Blueblades
    Blueblades

    Thanks Leolaia.Very informative.

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    my personal belief is that we all will experiance an "afterlife". Some will enjoy the heck out of it, others will struggle with it.

    carmel

  • Markfromcali
    Markfromcali

    Anyone read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis? Check it out.

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