Atheist Nexus

The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Ethical Conundrum question on hell and who deserves it

I would love to hear how a religious person might answer this question. I know this isn't the best place to ask this since It's an atheist site and I'm an atheist myself. I was raised a Catholic however and I'm sure many people here were raised Christian/Catholic and can speak to that without all the indoctrination which is what I need.

The bible says "the fool has said in his heart there is no god. He is a wicked abomination and can do no good." (paraphrased) I'm sure we've all heard this before right? Let's also assume that, as many Christians would say, there are no last minute 'changies' once you die and god is standing there saying "see...here I am...bet you feel like an idiot right now!" Of course, they say this because they want people to buy into their BS and give their monies during this life and not wait to see for themselves whether it's all nonsense.

Ok, onto the question. It's multi-part. A twofer if you will.

1. people are born into countries that are not only non-christian, but are vehemently anti-christian. In these countries (such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, etc) you are indoctrinated at a young age into Islam. You are taught at a young age that Christians are infidels and that Jewish people are essentially Satan incarnate. You are taught religion in school and are force fed a constant stream of Islamic ideology. In many of these countries, Christians are persecuted and, often times, being christian is illegal and can lead to imprisonment or even death. It's safe to assume that it would be very difficult to 'choose' to be christian in such a society. So, let's say, for the sake of argument, that the people in these countries do not freely choose, in the normal sense of the word, to become Islamic as the choice is essentially made for them at birth. OK, onto the question.

2: given all that, is it OK to believe that these people deserve to burn in hell for all eternity over something they essentially had no say in? Furthermore, is god him/her/itself not also partially guilty for setting up what is essentially entrapment. No human makes the decision of what country, city, family they are born into. It's a total crap shoot. Well, it's a crap shoot unless you believe in god and his 'master plan'. God would essentially have decided, most likely at the beginning of time, where and to whom we would be born. God could easily prove Christianity to be correct and effectively destroy competing religions. However, he allows them to exist and places people into societies that indoctrinate their citizens into false religions thereby dooming them to an eternal hellfire for which there is no recourse.

Can someone people explain this to me? To me it sounds monstrous. Yet, I keep hearing people say it's actually love. Are all the dictionaries I own wrong? Either that, or I'm really bad and interpreting definitions and need some schooling.

Tags: Catholicism, Christianity, Ethics, Hell, Indoctrination, Islam

Views: 65

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I asked those questions of my fundie parents, long ago when I lived in their house, but all I got for an answer was that I had to pray much more and to submit to the divine wisdom. Xtians hate questions about their invisible friends.

I've asked religious people if they would punish their kids forever if their kids didn't believe something they told them to believe.  They have all said "of course not!"  I then say "Then you are a better parent than 'god'."  I always just get a stunned look.

In my parents' church there were people who broke contact with children who developed an opinion of their own. My parents didn't do that, they just started to nag when one of their children showed up - they called that xtian love and acceptance...

RSS

Support Nexus

Click to Buy Amazon items and help A|N

Advertisements

Heathen's Guide

Your Ad Here

Helpful Items

 

Search Atheist Nexus:
Translate page:
 
Social Networking Links:
 

Latest Activity

Chrissie Farthing replied to James M. Martin's discussion St. Anthony Falls Bridge, Minnesota in the group LGBTQI Nexus / Gay Atheists
3 minutes ago
David Layton replied to Leslee Love's discussion What do YOU think the Doctor's greatest secret is? in the group The Tardis Page
4 minutes ago
Debra Stevenson replied to Debra Stevenson's discussion HM Facebook pagw argument from a LDS
4 minutes ago
Debra Stevenson posted a discussion
7 minutes ago
Chrissie Farthing commented on Claire Donnelly's group LGBTQI Nexus / Gay Atheists
9 minutes ago
Ruth Anthony-Gardner replied to Ruth Anthony-Gardner's discussion Cheating with Science in the group No Nonsense
15 minutes ago
Grinning Cat commented on Ruth Anthony-Gardner's group Hang With Friends
22 minutes ago
Joan Denoo commented on Sentient Biped's group Godless in the garden
26 minutes ago
Joan Denoo commented on Sentient Biped's group Godless in the garden
27 minutes ago
Karim R. replied to Ruth Anthony-Gardner's discussion Cheating with Science in the group No Nonsense
40 minutes ago
Dallas the Phallus added a discussion to the group Politics, Economics, and Religion
52 minutes ago
Grinning Cat liked Ruth Anthony-Gardner's discussion Cheating with Science
52 minutes ago
Ruth Anthony-Gardner replied to Leslee Love's discussion What do YOU think the Doctor's greatest secret is? in the group The Tardis Page
56 minutes ago
Ruth Anthony-Gardner commented on Leslee Love's group The Tardis Page
1 hour ago
Joan Denoo liked Ruth Anthony-Gardner's discussion Cheating with Science
2 hours ago
sk8eycat commented on Ruth Anthony-Gardner's group Hang With Friends
2 hours ago
Lillie commented on Nerdlass's group Diet and Exercise Support Group
2 hours ago
Lillie replied to Joe S.'s discussion Intergroup Intelligentsia - The Thought Police in the group Atheists, Addictions, 12 Step Recovery, and Alternatives
2 hours ago
Lillie commented on Steph S.'s group Birding, Birders and all things Birds
2 hours ago
Joan Denoo replied to Anthony Jordan's discussion Poll Shows 29% of Americans Believe Armed Revolution May Become Necessary
2 hours ago

© 2013   Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Brother Richard.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service