Quote:
Originally posted by seventhtao
[B]I think the catholic view of this is a rather childish one.
If you want to go Disneyland (Heaven) then you must be good. If you aren't your going to get a time-out (Purgatory). And if you are really naughty you are permanently grounded (Hell).
Who doesn't want to go to Disneyland? Yet another tool by which to control you. More strings to make you dance.
If a Supreme Being exists and it created a flawed world so that you may expereince free-will then it must show more compassion than a Hell would imply he had. At least if it wants any kind of support/worship from me.
Consider: Joe Schmoe is born into this world a drug addict thanks to his crackhead mom. She loses him because she is unfit. Joe is taken care of by his drunk uncle who has a nasty tendency to sexually abuse him. Joe is not a very intellectual person due to his being a crack baby. Said crack baby is taunted and occassionally beaten by his peers. Joe eventually tries crack. It is a euphoric feeling he cannot resist. Being the only somewhat sustainable and controllable joy he has expereinced so far he becomes obsessed with perpetuating it. During one of his frequent crime spree's (to obtain money for the one thing that brings him pleasure) he is shot and killed by police.
Is Joe Evil? Does Joe diserve to go to a Hell?
It would seem the cards are just stacked against some people from the get go. And this is the work of compasionate loving God?
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Did Joe repent of his sins and ask god to forgive him of them? does Joe belive that Jesus died and rose again to save him from hell? if Joe honestly repented of his sins then it is as if he never comitted them. Joe will go to heaven. if he knowingly rejected salvation and did not repent of his sins then yes, he does deserve to go to hell, and yes, he will go to hell. Tragic, but true. It is the work of a compassionate, loving god however. Jesus didn't have to sacrifice himself (in a horrific manner I might add) so that joe would have the opportunity to submit to the grace of god and be saved.