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From: MANDTBACKA@finabo.abo.fi (Mats Andtbacka)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: If There Were No Hell
Message-ID: <May.9.05.38.12.1993.27320@athos.rutgers.edu>
Date: 9 May 93 09:38:13 GMT
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In <May.5.02.51.25.1993.28737@athos.rutgers.edu> shellgate!llo@uu4.psi.com writes:

> Here's a question that some friends and I were debating last night.
> Q: If you knew beyond all doubt that hell did not exist and that
>    unbelievers simply remained dead, would you remain a Christian?

      (Reasoning pertinent to believing Xians deleted for space)

      It strikes me, for no apparent reason, that this is reversible.
I.e., if I had proof that there existed a hell, in which I would be
eternally punished for not believing in life, would that make me a Xian?
(pardon my language) _Bloody_hell_no_!

      ...Of course, being merely a reversal of your thinking, this
doesn't add anything _new_ to the debate, but...

> Several friends disagreed, arguing the fear of hell was necessary
> to motivate people to Christianity. To me that fatally undercuts the
> message that God is love.

      A point very well taken, IMNSHO.

-- 
"Successful terrorism is called revolution, and is admired by history.
 Unsuccessful terrorism is just lowly, cowardly terrorism."
    - Phil Trodwell on alt.atheism
