I don't think I understand the concept of hell...

[deadlift]

Hi, I hope I can explain my question clearly. I've been thinking about it for a while and I just don't really understand.

As a Christian, I would never condone torture because I don't think we should ever treat people like that, regardless of what they've done. If I can love my neighbour enough not to condone torture than how can God, who loves us more than I could ever love anybody, commit somebody to eternal torture in hell? I don't think I could condemn anyone to that (I certaintly hope I couldn't) so how could an all loving God do that?

I'm sure there's probably an explanation that I just haven't thought of (I know my current understanding of God is pretty rubbish) and I'd really appreciate it if somebody could help me.

[headinhands]

Yeah different, and all watched by a god who does nothing.

[CoteDAzur]

"Hell is separation from God"

So you believe that atheists are living in hell?

If so, I can assure you that "hell" is a perfectly pleasant place.

[CoteDAzur]

"your form of atheism sees human life as basically self-oriented?"

Are you trying to ask if people are selfish beings?

Btw, there are no "forms of atheism", since atheism isn't a doctrine people subscribe to. We are people with out own minds, who have listened to the Abrahamic God hypothesis and didn't find it convincing.

[CoteDAzur]

"your asserting that there is no link between truth and love is a philosophical one, not a scientific one"

No. True (as opposed to false) is an objective property whereas love is a subjective one. We can love stuff that is true and also those that are false, just as we can hate what is true as well as what is false. They are not linked in any way I can think.

It is of course possible to link everything together in some way, but I think it is fair to say that truth and love are two concepts more unrelated than most.

[backonlybriefly]

ah yes "Separation from God".

Being free to make my own decisions.

Not having to strain to fit facts into the 'truth'.

If I were to see something today demonstrating that everything I know is incorrect then it would be an interesting and exciting time. For a religious person I imagine it would be a dreadful blow they might not recover from.

I can learn new things without fear. For a really devout person to watch/read about science/history must be like one of those horror films where any moment something nasty may leap out at you.

Not having to work at justifying/excusing religious morality.

As for living in hell now - well this world is not always a very nice place, but since I'm not religious I don't have to accept that it must stay that way - that all the nastiness is part of god's plan.
We may or may not fix things, but we could if we tried hard enough. It would help if we didn't have people holding us back by preaching acceptance of how things are and promising that it will be better in the afterlife.

[PedroYoniLikesCrisps]

It is of course possible to link everything together in some way

Via Kevin Bacon!

[ellie1234]

Try reading Rob Bells book. It worked for me!