[lindsay7]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer What are your thoughts on atheists? This thread is under the premise that Hell is a real place and it's just like Jesus himself describes it as and the only way into Heaven is through faith in Christ and all that jazz. There are a wide range of possible reasons why an atheist might not believe in God. -They're too stupid. Should atheists go to Hell because they are stupid? -They're too arrogant. Should atheists go to Hell because they are arrogant? -They've had a traumatic event in their life that has made them lose faith in a loving god. Should atheists go to Hell because they are too weak to keep faith through hard times? -They're a fan of science and have interpreted the evidence to be a world with no need for God. Should atheists go to Hell because of their interpretation of evidence? -They don't want to be a part of the religious conflict that has plagued our world forever. Should atheists go to Hell for wanting to disassociate themselves from a large source of conflict? -They can't conjure up any love for a god that allows so much non-human-evil suffering. Should atheists go to Hell for expecting a better world from a loving god? -It's in their nature to be rebellious of authority. Should atheists go to Hell for being rebellious of what society tells them? I've found the biggest difference between God and his followers is sympathy. I haven't met many Christians that can tell me with all honesty that I deserve to suffer forever in a fiery hell. Yet, these same Christian honestly believe that's where I'm going. Why are these Christians parting from their God in their sympathy of me and other atheists? Is this a good or bad quality and why doesn't God have this quality? Personally, I feel we should all be judged by our character instead of what we happen to believe or disbelieve in. I feel we should be judged by what we do as a person. Who we love. The good we do, and the bad we do. All with fair consideration of the factors we can't control. Yet, evil men can accept Jesus in their hearts before dying and go to Heaven while a good, honest, hardworking selfless Jew could go to Hell after being gassed in the holocaust. You may say that everyone deserves Hell.. but that doesn't change the fact of who is and isn't sent there. That doesn't change what I feel is unfair criteria for sending someone to Hell or Heaven. I'm just going to say this outright. I disagree with God. I don't believe any of you deserve to go to Hell because of something you have no control over that happened "6,000" years or so ago. But what about me..? Thanks. Oh and, please don't tell me atheists are choosing to go to Hell. I can't choose to go some place I don't believe exists and I can't choose to turn my back on someone or something I don't know is there.

It's unfortunate that the Christians you have met have shown so little empathy. That's not how Jesus wants us to be. But please don't feel like all Christians are that way. There are hypocrits in any group.

I don't hate athiests. Just a few weeks ago I was one! I'm very new to faith. Most of the people I love in my life are athiests. Family members, friends. I don't think they're stupid, arrogant, or any of the other reasons you've listed there. I understand how it is to be an athiest, I have been one my whole life.

I was always curious about the bible, but I've never understood how anyone can believe it without seeing proof of the existence of a God. I felt disdain for Christians, and I felt nothing inside - i couldnt manufacture faith out of thin air! I didn't know what they were talking about when they said they knew God existed and had a relationship with him.

Now I realize that only God can give us faith, we can't create it ourselves. If you sincerely seek him, he will show himself to you.

It's not true that "evil men can accept Jesus in their hearts before dying and go to Heaven while a good, honest, hardworking selfless Jew could go to Hell after being gassed in the holocaust." God knows who is sincere and who is not, and the bible says we will be judged based on our works.

I think that it is possible to accept Jesus after you die, I believe that Jesus will come to a loving person, if you call out to him. Though it is perilous to leave it so late, because if beings of light do not immediately come for you, beings of darkness will.