What happens to those who did not hear God's commandmnents?

[Eraldo Coil]

Before God gave the Isrealites the 10 Commandments, the majority world did not know of his existance. Did they go to hell. If so, that is not justice at all. Were they possibly judged on their actions, considering everyone knows the difference between right and wrong.

Just some thoughts. Hopefully someone could start up some arguements.

[Gods_Mercenary]

The ten commandments are presented in the bible as one of a number of requirements in God's covenant with the Hebrew people, they don't specifically apply to anyone not joined in the covenant. Plus, it's not like the seven or so moral commandments, or even the idea of a day of rest and respecting a deity by not using his name fell out of thin air, these wereprevailing moral codes floating around in the culture, and most cultures.

[jsmill]

these were prevailing moral codes floating around in the culture, and most cultures.

not so: a) do you have evidence?, b) you shall not make a carven image is almost unique of the hebrews, what other culture? c) the hebrews were some of the first monotheists

i'm not a hebrew expert, however, christians and paul believe that:

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

esv romans 2

so yes, the law is written on their hearts, as is their own sin

so i think they are perfectly justified (from a more christian perspective)

[Gods_Mercenary]

I actually don't have an article or anything, it's kind of an obscure subject, but I think you're the one who has to prove something, considering it makes far more sense that the commandments were taken from norms of the time rather than being carved by lightning when they contain nothing earth shattering. We know of Near east legal codes from stuff like Hammurabi's code, and murder, adultery, and theft are included , it'd be silly to think they wouldn't be. In the culture of the time, names were a form of power, since they could be used in curses and the like, so the not taking of Goods name in vain makes sense. Even Graven images seems to follow out of the culture of the time, in which images were regularly worshipped. It only seems logical for a deity with no physical image to forbid this practice.

Paul is also a dificult man to take out of context, as his letters are often not adressed for your situation, and he tends to contradict himself. You must rather take Paul as a whole to get a feel for what he wants. Some of the worst christian theology has come out of Paul.

By the way, this is a christian perspective, all drawn from my years of theology in Catholic school.

[gallo]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary The ten commandments are presented in the bible as one of a number of requirements in God's covenant with the Hebrew people, they don't specifically apply to anyone not joined in the covenant.

That's just great! Now I can commit adultery with a clear conscience, since I am not a Hebrew. I guess that explains why, in a country founded on christian principles, there are no longer laws against adultery. Such laws would only apply to Hebrews.

[Gods_Mercenary]

From a New Testament perspective, though, the fact that adultery is wrong is enough to mar your morality. Those who originated the commandment likely didn't beleive in heaven or hell, so what happened to those outside God's covenant was of little consequence, other than that they wouldn't have God's protection.

[gallo]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary other than that they wouldn't have God's protection.

Which god is that?

[Jack]

What happens to those who did not hear God's commandmnents?.

They got off easy. One less pressure to have to live with.

[Morality Games]

Did they go to hell.

The Ancient Jews didn't believe in Hell. In the earliest stages of their existence, they believed there was no afterlife at all. Later on they adopted a Greek-type perspective on the subject, which is that the afterlife is bland and depressing for everyone no matter how good or evil you are. This is fairly typical of Ancient Mediterranean cultures. So, for them Hell wasn't really a factor to be concerned about.

Yes, the Ancient Jews identified the physical sensations of body parts as responsible for thoughts and emotions, especially those of the stomach, and so assumed once the body stops working, so does everything else. That is another thing they had in common with some Greeks, including Aristotle, the Catholic's Number One Boy among the Pagan philosophers.

If so, that is not justice at all. Were they possibly judged on their actions, considering everyone knows the difference between right and wrong.

I can't even comment on this.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: gallo Which god is that?

Yahweh, Jehovah, the big dude, the one they made the covenant with

[Sonart]

.

Quote by: jsmill not so: a) do you have evidence?, b) you shall not make a carven image is almost unique of the hebrews, what other culture? c) the hebrews were some of the first monotheists

I'm afraid GM is essentially correct, with the possible exception of the Commandment against graven images.

(Which is a problem for me, since I make graven images for a living )

Almost all of the world's religions have proscriptions against murder, lying, stealing, adultery, coveting your neighbors stuff and disobedience of your parents.

Almost all religions practice a form of Sabbath: Jews on Saturday, Christians on Sunday, Moslems on Friday. Buddhists practice Uposatha every 7 to 8 days. Wiccans have 8 sabbaths throughout the year. The word sabbatical comes from sabbath.

Here's one you'll love... the Golden Rule expressed in 21 different religions.

.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Eraldo Coil Before God gave the Isrealites the 10 Commandments, the majority world did not know of his existance. Did they go to hell. If so, that is not justice at all. Were they possibly judged on their actions, considering everyone knows the difference between right and wrong.

No, they did not go to Hell.
They went to a (oto)laryngologist, instead :-)