Christians and people of other theist faiths: do you believe in Hell and/or Purgatory? - Religion, God, and Theology

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Christians and people of other theist faiths: do you believe in Hell and/or Purgatory?

View Poll Results: If you're a Christian or other theist (of which, please state), choose one of the following: -

I believe in classic Hell only

2 20.00%

I believe in my own interpretation of Hell (please explain)

0 0%

I believe both in classic Hell and Purgatory

1 10.00%

I believe in both my own interpretation of Hell and Purgatory

1 10.00%

I believe in Purgatory only

0 0%

I don't believe in either

6 60.00%

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01-01-2011 , 06:39 PM

penfifteen

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 160

Like the title suggests, please vote (obviously atheists need not apply as far as the poll goes). If you believe in classic Catholic Hell (fire and brimstone, eternal physical and mental pain, etc) please let us know if it's standard Hell for everyone, or if there's different (seven?) levels - and if the latter, what you feel qualifies for those different levels.

If you believe in Purgatory, please state what you believe/assume/feel that is. Include: -

what it entails (eg. physical punishment, mental punishment, 'limbo' type state [which should include a follow-up explanation to exactly what that means], etc)
how long it lasts (is it eternity or is it dependent on what you did to get there [and if so can you provide time frames?], or either?)
who goes there and what's all the possible criteria for going there (eg. 'bad' Christians, 'good' atheists/people of a religion other than yours; please explain if you can the 'cut-off' criteria for 'bad' Christians to just not qualify for Heaven or for 'good' atheists/other religious people to just not qualify for Hell).

and of course anything else I've missed out or you feel benefits the thread.

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01-02-2011 , 10:05 AM

madnak

Cooler than Sammy Hagar

Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 19,742

Atheists will vote; the poll will be skewed by them.

You always need an opt-out option if you want a representative poll.

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01-02-2011 , 01:16 PM

penfifteen

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 160

well i hope not. i'd like to think atheists are very interested in the results, although i'm sure there will be the odd few who go 'lol i'll vote anyway'. duly noted for next time though, thanks.

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01-02-2011 , 01:29 PM

Jibninjas

Stuck in a While loop

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 11,612

I don't like your choices. I chose "I believe in both my own interpretation of Hell and Purgatory" but that implies that the bible actually does support the eternal torture view or the Catholic version of Purgatory, but that I just chose to interpret it differently.

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01-02-2011 , 01:38 PM

Concerto

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,564

I definitely believe in "hell" (translation of Gehenna, the city dump of Jerusalem), since the Bible says it exists, or at least existed when the New Testament was written. On the other hand, I find zero scriptural support for any means of sustaining life after death without salvation. There is in fact much to contradict this idea. Therefore, no one is alive (i.e. conscious) to experience pain or anything else in hell, based on what anyone can show in the actual Bible.

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01-02-2011 , 02:07 PM

penfifteen

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 160

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibninjas

you'll have to forgive my stereotyping, although i'm sure you understand how common that ignorant view is. what's your take on it?

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01-02-2011 , 02:38 PM

batair

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 16,802

Quote:

Originally Posted by penfifteen

well i hope not. i'd like to think atheists are very interested in the results, although i'm sure there will be the odd few who go 'lol i'll vote anyway'. duly noted for next time though, thanks.

Sorry take one away for dont believe in either, just wanted to see the results.

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01-02-2011 , 07:34 PM

Jibninjas

Stuck in a While loop

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 11,612

Quote:

Originally Posted by batair

Sorry take one away for dont believe in either, just wanted to see the results.

Totally understandable. I hate that you cannot just skip the pole, but have to link to it each time if you don't vote.

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01-02-2011 , 07:37 PM

Jibninjas

Stuck in a While loop

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 11,612

Quote:

Originally Posted by penfifteen

you'll have to forgive my stereotyping, although i'm sure you understand how common that ignorant view is. what's your take on it?

I do not believe that people are tortured for eternity. I do believe that everyone will have to go through a refining fire (commonly thought of a purgatory) in which we will be purified. Ultimately those that continue to refuse God's love will be lovingly destroyed. That's it in a nut shell

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01-02-2011 , 09:09 PM

#10

penfifteen

centurion

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 160

i can only apologize profusely for neglecting the option for atheists. ftr i too have to click on 'view poll results' every time and i agrizzle it's annoying.

jibninjas, can you expand on the 'purification' process? how does it work? what would (iyo) make someone dismiss the process and choose to ignore god's love and get 'lovingly destroyed'? what does that phrase mean?

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01-02-2011 , 09:50 PM

#11

dknightx

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6,497

redo this thread, update options more appropriately, add non-christian option, and make poll results public.

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01-02-2011 , 10:59 PM

#12

HowardGrind

adept

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,059

Why would you be tortured in hell? God has no control over the devil thus he has no control over hell. If heaven is your "reward" for living a good life, then hell is your "reward" for living a bad life. I fail to see why the devil would torture someone for doing everything it says. If anything the devil would be like "heres some blow and a hooker" welcome to the rest of your life. Awesome.

Anyways I dont believe in either.

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01-03-2011 , 04:43 AM

#13

soontobepro

adept

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 767

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowardGrind

Because the devil is being tortured in the same fiery lake that you will be, via everlasting flame. Ldo.

20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

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01-03-2011 , 08:31 AM

#14

HowardGrind

adept

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,059

Quote:

Originally Posted by soontobepro

Sorry, that does nothing but humor me.

If I have to put up with christians for this brief flicker of consciousness that is life, then surely it would be hell to spend eternity with them.

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