Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: uriel@oak.circa.ufl.edu (Scott Whitmore) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: RE: Hell and the Faithful Message-ID: Date: 24 Dec 90 08:26:23 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Florida CIRCA VAX Cluster Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu writes: >I see no one took my bait. I'm asking a non-theological question >here: to what extent is a belief in hell social, and a result of >persecution? What then happens to hell when persecution stops? I, for one, take no particular pleasure in dreaming about how all my enemies are one day going to roast for opposing me. In fact, such a nasty attitude seems positively diabolical to me... Christ DID say to pray for those who persecute you. And NOT, "I'm praying for you, buddy, because you sure are gonna need it after this! Thank God you have someone RIGHTEOUS such as MYSELF who's willing to pray for you!" (Humility is also a virtue...) >I'm not trying to say hell doesn't exist. What I'm implying is >that those who are not suffering for the Lord should watch themselves, >as they may be the cause of another's suffering. I don't think there's any way to avoid being a source of suffering for *someone*... nor a way to avoid suffering whether you're doing it for the Lord or not... could you better explain what you mean? > >Michael Scott -- Scott Whitmore Internet: uriel@maple.circa.ufl.edu 24-510 Tolbert Hall or uriel@maple.decnet%pine.circa.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32612 (USA) Friendly Neighborhood Standard Disclaimer "The Devil...the prowde spirit...cannot bear to be mocked." --Thomas More (?)