I don't believe that the concept of Hell is consistent with the concept of a benevolent God.
That a "God of love" would sentence a large portion of the human race to eternal torture
(instead of simply ending their existence) for the crimes of imperfection and not believing
in His existence. (See my commentary below.)
That an omnipotent God made the first man out of dust and the first woman out of his rib?
That Adam and Eve were tempted by a talking snake into eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and that as a result they were banished from paradise?
That all of the people in the world descend from two incestuous families? (First, Adam and Eve's family. Where else did Cain and Seth's wives come from? Later, Noah's family.)
That a benevolent God would decide to flood the earth to kill all of the people? That an omnipotent God would need someone to build a boat to save the animals? That a man on foot would be able to gather up two of every animal in the world? That one man with primitive tools would be able to build a boat large enough to house all of those animals?
That a woman was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at two cities that God was destroying? (Fortunately for Lot, he still had his daughters.)
That a just God would send bears to attack children for making fun of a prophet's baldness?
That a man was able to make the sun stand still for a full day so that he could defeat his enemies? (He was also pretty handy with a trumpet.)
That a perfect God who had previously commanded his people not to commit murder would later command them to commit genocide; to exterminate entire races and kill even their women, children, and animals?
That a just God would strike someone down for trying to steady the ark of the covenant while it was being moved?
That a man was able to live for three days underwater, inside the belly of a big fish?
That a woman could be healed just by touching Jesus' garment? (Luke makes it clear that the healing occurred without his knowledge, indicating that his power was independent of his will. This is pure magic.)
These stories are no different from other ancient myths. Like other myths, they were obviously made up by primitive people.
They are obviously not the absolute truth, nor the inspired word of an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent God.
Anyone who believes that these stories are actually true, who is unable to recognize the similarity between these and other myths,
who believes that the Christian Bible is the Holy Word of God and the absolute truth, has been deceived by a brainwashing cult
and as a result must constantly struggle with cognitive dissonance. I have serious doubts about their intellectual integrity.
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That an omnipotent God made the first man out of dust and the first woman out of his rib?
That Adam and Eve were tempted by a talking snake into eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and that as a result they were banished from paradise?
That all of the people in the world descend from two incestuous families? (First, Adam and Eve's family. Where else did Cain and Seth's wives come from? Later, Noah's family.)
That a benevolent God would decide to flood the earth to kill all of the people? That an omnipotent God would need someone to build a boat to save the animals? That a man on foot would be able to gather up two of every animal in the world? That one man with primitive tools would be able to build a boat large enough to house all of those animals?
That a woman was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at two cities that God was destroying? (Fortunately for Lot, he still had his daughters.)
That a just God would send bears to attack children for making fun of a prophet's baldness?
That a man was able to make the sun stand still for a full day so that he could defeat his enemies? (He was also pretty handy with a trumpet.)
That a perfect God who had previously commanded his people not to commit murder would later command them to commit genocide; to exterminate entire races and kill even their women, children, and animals?
That a just God would strike someone down for trying to steady the ark of the covenant while it was being moved?
That a man was able to live for three days underwater, inside the belly of a big fish?
That a woman could be healed just by touching Jesus' garment? (Luke makes it clear that the healing occurred without his knowledge, indicating that his power was independent of his will. This is pure magic.)
These stories are no different from other ancient myths. Like other myths, they were obviously made up by primitive people.
They are obviously not the absolute truth, nor the inspired word of an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent God.
Anyone who believes that these stories are actually true, who is unable to recognize the similarity between these and other myths,
who believes that the Christian Bible is the Holy Word of God and the absolute truth, has been deceived by a brainwashing cult
and as a result must constantly struggle with cognitive dissonance. I have serious doubts about their intellectual integrity.