Even if the threat of hell isn’t what keeps you in the Christian fold, it’s quite the motivator for trying to convince others of your beliefs so THEY don’t meet eternal suffering. To not go around with the knowledge that you are one of the elite few with the crucial answers for saving everyone else wouldn’t feel nearly as special...
There certainly seems to be that draw for lots of people - the supremacist viewpoint. Can't say it ever was for me (plus I was way too shy and hesitant to be much of an evangelist), but that sense of eliteness sure explains a lot of power dynamics.
I'm loving this series so much. You're tapping into some important questions. All of my thoughts have thoughts (so to speak) so I won't bother trying to unravel my mind-jumble about the power dynamics of Western Christianity, but this series is helping me sort through some of these things. :)
Why has "all my thoughts have thoughts" not in my lexicon until now?? I love that! Anyway, I am happy that you're doing some sorting, and if you ever want to share your mind unravel, I'm a happy listener!
Great backgrounder on hell, Christine. I think much of Christian doctrine was patched together the same way, which really blows their “we have the only truth” cover. This sure blows the empire’s cover too: “...this type of social stability serves the empire and the power brokers most of all.” Sadly, people turn to faith to understand their lives, to understand god, to find comfort for their suffering, and these traumatizing lies are what they get! It hurts my heart when I think about that. 😢
Thank you, Chuck! Wish the empire cared at all about its cover ever being blown, but somehow it seems impervious.
I sometimes am amazed at the people who can turn to faith and seem to just experience comfort and guidance for their lives (I've heard this from clients and stuff). Silver lining...??? But for those of us who find ourselves in these kinds of spaces... yeah. Hurting hearts.
True! There is comfort in Christianity if you don’t look too closely and don’t ponder the disturbing things too much. It worked for me for a long time—till the false and disturbing doctrines and practices bothered me, and I peeked behind the curtain.
What about people who don't want to go to heaven? If you asked a ordinary atheist if he would like to live with Jesus, bend the knee to him and sing his praises "all the day long" what would his answer be?
Wellll it sounds like we have different beliefs about what heaven and hell are and how they work, but I think that ordinary atheist would not be so interested in such a heaven! (which is maybe what you're getting at?) But I also don't believe hell as traditionally thought of exists, either. So if an atheist believes in nothing (ceasing to exist) when they die, is that what happens? And is that so bad?
You certainly bring up some interesting questions! I love how your mind works.
As for heaven, yes I think that any self-respecting atheist, when hearing about evangelical descriptions of heaven or hell wouldn't want to go to either. Or belong to any group that fosters such convoluted beliefs. I agree with your analysis of Hell's mish-mash origins (but you forgot Milton. He had his contributions to make to the mash.)
I'm presently working on a post about deconstruction and I though this quote mirrored your process. "Derrida’s recognition that everything is interpretation is popularly known as “deconstruction.” This term describes the process of opening up a space for questioning the received and dominant interpretations that often claim not to be interpretations at all. Deconstruction is interested in interpretations that have been marginalized and sidelined, voices that have been silenced. "
But there is a twist! Hell got saved! Hallelujah! Can I get an amen? hmmm tryin to post me a pic of Hell in its better state but not able to. I'll write about it I reckon but in a bit.
I would like to share God’s promise to us, His PRIZED creation.
The “GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST” can best be summed up in the words of JESUS when He made the “GREATEST PROMISE EVER,” which is that He will draw ALL people unto Himself. (John 12:32)
My name is Alan Finch. JESUS became my Lord and Saviour in April of 1976.
I spent several years diligently searching the Scriptures to uncover what really made Biblical sense in regards to God's true message to us of what really is “The Good News of the Gospel of Christ” which I did not properly understand for most of my many years as a Christian.
My 1st 38 years as a Christian, I believed the unscriptural teaching about that there is going to be eternal torment for multitudes and multitudes of people. I then began to seriously question that teaching. I then decided to do an in-depth study of the Bible concerning this issue, and the Scriptures revealed to me that I had believed a horrible lie for all those years.
The Lake of Fire is not a physical Lake of Fire, but is a metaphor for a Spiritual Lake of Fire from God’s Spirit for the purpose of “RESTORATION.” God is a God of “ETERNAL RESTORATION,” not a God of “eternal destruction.”
In Acts 3:21 God promises that there shall be a “RESTORATION” of ALL things! What is there not to understand about this wonderful promise that God has made to us?
The overall theme of the Bible is that God’s ultimate plan for ALL mankind is to restore, not destroy in an eternal Lake of Fire or eternal annihilation!
In John 12:32 JESUS clearly states that He is going to draw ALL people to Himself! Not a portion of mankind, but ALL of mankind.
In John 6:44 JESUS clearly states that nobody can come to Him except the Father draws that person to Him. For those who are true Christians, WE MUST NOT KID OURSELVES IN THE FACT THAT WE ONLY CAME TO JESUS BECAUSE GOD’S SPIRIT DREW US TO JESUS!
In the present time, and in the future, God has His own timing when He will draw each individual to Himself.
Addressing the issue of the belief in eternal annihilation, the Lord clearly tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that He has planted eternity in our hearts. God has made us living Spirits. It is impossible for our Spirit to be destroyed.
GOD HAS NOT FAILED IN HIS ORIGINAL PLAN FOR ALL OF MANKIND WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ETERNAL TORMENT OR ETERNAL ANNIHILATION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO FAIL IN ANYTHING!
God worked out His plan in past Ages, God is working out His plan in the present Age that we are now living in, and God will work out His plan in future Ages to come.
I have spent the last several years in Biblically expounding in a 32 page document that I have put together on the truth of there being no eternal suffering in a Lake of Fire for anyone. I have just explained the real LOVE of God that today’s Church just simply does not seem to grasp.
After spending several years of diving deep into the Scriptures to uncover the Biblical truth on this subject, I would like to share these Biblical truths with others so that they can experience the same joy that I experienced which set me free from what I had previously believed for most of my life.
If anyone would be interested in a copy of my document, email me at: (candy33alan@aol.com), and I will email you a copy.
Even if the threat of hell isn’t what keeps you in the Christian fold, it’s quite the motivator for trying to convince others of your beliefs so THEY don’t meet eternal suffering. To not go around with the knowledge that you are one of the elite few with the crucial answers for saving everyone else wouldn’t feel nearly as special...
There certainly seems to be that draw for lots of people - the supremacist viewpoint. Can't say it ever was for me (plus I was way too shy and hesitant to be much of an evangelist), but that sense of eliteness sure explains a lot of power dynamics.
I'm loving this series so much. You're tapping into some important questions. All of my thoughts have thoughts (so to speak) so I won't bother trying to unravel my mind-jumble about the power dynamics of Western Christianity, but this series is helping me sort through some of these things. :)
Why has "all my thoughts have thoughts" not in my lexicon until now?? I love that! Anyway, I am happy that you're doing some sorting, and if you ever want to share your mind unravel, I'm a happy listener!
Poor God. 🤣🤣🤣 If my day wasn’t so full, I would just sit here and rant all my thoughts. This is so great.
Haha I would probably really enjoy hearing those thoughts! Thanks for the share on the social!
Great backgrounder on hell, Christine. I think much of Christian doctrine was patched together the same way, which really blows their “we have the only truth” cover. This sure blows the empire’s cover too: “...this type of social stability serves the empire and the power brokers most of all.” Sadly, people turn to faith to understand their lives, to understand god, to find comfort for their suffering, and these traumatizing lies are what they get! It hurts my heart when I think about that. 😢
Thank you, Chuck! Wish the empire cared at all about its cover ever being blown, but somehow it seems impervious.
I sometimes am amazed at the people who can turn to faith and seem to just experience comfort and guidance for their lives (I've heard this from clients and stuff). Silver lining...??? But for those of us who find ourselves in these kinds of spaces... yeah. Hurting hearts.
True! There is comfort in Christianity if you don’t look too closely and don’t ponder the disturbing things too much. It worked for me for a long time—till the false and disturbing doctrines and practices bothered me, and I peeked behind the curtain.
What about people who don't want to go to heaven? If you asked a ordinary atheist if he would like to live with Jesus, bend the knee to him and sing his praises "all the day long" what would his answer be?
Wellll it sounds like we have different beliefs about what heaven and hell are and how they work, but I think that ordinary atheist would not be so interested in such a heaven! (which is maybe what you're getting at?) But I also don't believe hell as traditionally thought of exists, either. So if an atheist believes in nothing (ceasing to exist) when they die, is that what happens? And is that so bad?
I'd love to hear your description of heaven in some future posts.
You're definitely more of the history / theology buff than I am, so I'd have to do a little Wikipedia-ing to learn more about Milton's contributions!!
The deconstruction post sounds quite interesting!
And regarding heaven: on the days that I believe in a heaven... yes, one day I'll write about those thoughts!! Thanks for sharing all your thoughts :)
You certainly bring up some interesting questions! I love how your mind works.
As for heaven, yes I think that any self-respecting atheist, when hearing about evangelical descriptions of heaven or hell wouldn't want to go to either. Or belong to any group that fosters such convoluted beliefs. I agree with your analysis of Hell's mish-mash origins (but you forgot Milton. He had his contributions to make to the mash.)
I'm presently working on a post about deconstruction and I though this quote mirrored your process. "Derrida’s recognition that everything is interpretation is popularly known as “deconstruction.” This term describes the process of opening up a space for questioning the received and dominant interpretations that often claim not to be interpretations at all. Deconstruction is interested in interpretations that have been marginalized and sidelined, voices that have been silenced. "
But there is a twist! Hell got saved! Hallelujah! Can I get an amen? hmmm tryin to post me a pic of Hell in its better state but not able to. I'll write about it I reckon but in a bit.
I would like to share God’s promise to us, His PRIZED creation.
The “GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST” can best be summed up in the words of JESUS when He made the “GREATEST PROMISE EVER,” which is that He will draw ALL people unto Himself. (John 12:32)
My name is Alan Finch. JESUS became my Lord and Saviour in April of 1976.
I spent several years diligently searching the Scriptures to uncover what really made Biblical sense in regards to God's true message to us of what really is “The Good News of the Gospel of Christ” which I did not properly understand for most of my many years as a Christian.
My 1st 38 years as a Christian, I believed the unscriptural teaching about that there is going to be eternal torment for multitudes and multitudes of people. I then began to seriously question that teaching. I then decided to do an in-depth study of the Bible concerning this issue, and the Scriptures revealed to me that I had believed a horrible lie for all those years.
The Lake of Fire is not a physical Lake of Fire, but is a metaphor for a Spiritual Lake of Fire from God’s Spirit for the purpose of “RESTORATION.” God is a God of “ETERNAL RESTORATION,” not a God of “eternal destruction.”
In Acts 3:21 God promises that there shall be a “RESTORATION” of ALL things! What is there not to understand about this wonderful promise that God has made to us?
The overall theme of the Bible is that God’s ultimate plan for ALL mankind is to restore, not destroy in an eternal Lake of Fire or eternal annihilation!
In John 12:32 JESUS clearly states that He is going to draw ALL people to Himself! Not a portion of mankind, but ALL of mankind.
In John 6:44 JESUS clearly states that nobody can come to Him except the Father draws that person to Him. For those who are true Christians, WE MUST NOT KID OURSELVES IN THE FACT THAT WE ONLY CAME TO JESUS BECAUSE GOD’S SPIRIT DREW US TO JESUS!
In the present time, and in the future, God has His own timing when He will draw each individual to Himself.
Addressing the issue of the belief in eternal annihilation, the Lord clearly tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that He has planted eternity in our hearts. God has made us living Spirits. It is impossible for our Spirit to be destroyed.
GOD HAS NOT FAILED IN HIS ORIGINAL PLAN FOR ALL OF MANKIND WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE ETERNAL TORMENT OR ETERNAL ANNIHILATION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO FAIL IN ANYTHING!
God worked out His plan in past Ages, God is working out His plan in the present Age that we are now living in, and God will work out His plan in future Ages to come.
I have spent the last several years in Biblically expounding in a 32 page document that I have put together on the truth of there being no eternal suffering in a Lake of Fire for anyone. I have just explained the real LOVE of God that today’s Church just simply does not seem to grasp.
After spending several years of diving deep into the Scriptures to uncover the Biblical truth on this subject, I would like to share these Biblical truths with others so that they can experience the same joy that I experienced which set me free from what I had previously believed for most of my life.
If anyone would be interested in a copy of my document, email me at: (candy33alan@aol.com), and I will email you a copy.