Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: billy@tcom.stc.co.uk (Billy Khan) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Soul winners Message-ID: Date: 3 Feb 91 03:30:10 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: STC Telecomms, New Southgate, London, N11 1HB Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Fine. It might sound as if God is spiteful etc. in leaving people t go to hell because they won't accept him. However I tend to think of Hell as a place simply devoid of the presence of God. A place where there is no love, friendship, compassion, mercy, kindness or anything normal assiociated with being 'nice' (Not a good word i know, but English is sort of a second language to me!) I tell you one thing for free. If there was no love, friendship, compassion, mercy and kindness around me at all I would go crazy pretty quick. Emotional deprivation aint something thats nice to experience I shouldn't think. If Hell is a place mere devoid of Gods presence, thats fair enough. Non-christians turned their backs on God when he offered them salvation, so I think he's entitled (after trying just about everthing to turn them to him) to turn away from them and leave them with out his presence, IE in hell. Turning to the subject of religious wars, i'd like to ask a question. Jesus mentioned turning the other cheek and the commandments tell us not to murder. Is there then any precident for having a war in the 'prince of peace''s name? I think not. Christianity has been given a bad reputation by people using it as a banner. You won't find me fighting anything but ignorance and misunderstanding. Drew. [There have certainly been wars in his name. Whether the use of that name was "authorized" is another question. Jesus also cleaned the moneychangers from the temple, using force -- although there's no reason to think there were any casualties. Many interpreters draw a distinction between using force in personal disagreements and acting in an official capacity to defend others, singly or in the form of nation or church. --clh]