A Question of Faith

[ShiningIce]

BETTER TO RULE IN HELL THAN SERVE IN HEAVEN. What does everyone think about that idea?

 

[TicklingDuo]

Ummm, that's what Lucifer said. Maybe he's happy. Maybe he's not. I'll take heaven any day. I happen to believe in and love the Lord. Serving Him isn't a matter of slavery. It's a joy....as is serving anyone you love.

Ann

 

[Texas_Tickle]

BETTER TO RULE IN HELL THAN SERVE IN HEAVEN. What does everyone think about that idea?

I guess it depends on who you follow and what you are willing to believe. But one thing is for certian. You will not "rule in hell". If anybody thinks that Lucifer is willing to share power, they are very sadly mistaken.

There is only one lord of hell, and he does not share his power with anybody. Of course he will tell you that he will give you power and glory for serving him, but those are nothing more than empty promises and lies.

He even told Jesus "If you will only kneel before me and worship me, I will lay before you, all the cities of the world, their power, glory, and wealth".

Of course Lord Jesus was not so easily decieved by Lucifer's lies and deception.

As far as your question goes, I will serve The Lord over Lucifer any day of the week, even if that means my own death as fortold in Revelations.

There is a mis-conception that people are gonna kick in the gates of Hell and party, but it's not going to be a party. It's gonna be a barbeque, and they will be it.

 

[bticklishfeet]

For me and my family we will only serve one Master and that is God! Lucifer can go to hell! um he is already there!
No question Shinning Ice, who would you serve, which had you rather go to heaven or hell, serve lucifer or God😕

 

[ShiningIce]

To be honest I never really thought about it.

 

[Blackrook]

I don't "believe" and so...

it makes the question academic. How we conduct ourselves on Earth is all that concerns me. So like other humanists before me, Thomas More, Thomas Aquinas, John Dewey and Paul Kurtz, you can have the next world. I live in this one.

Rook

 

[luv2bt&tickled]

only my opinion not one elses!

I do believe in Heaven and hell. I know that there is a God, how you anyone doubt God. Just look out side, seeing the sunshine, the moonlite ski, the stars. Seeing the miracle of birth! All the things that God created, just how our body works, the heart needing blood, oxygen ...just the air that we breathe. I can not doubt God, I know that God is there and yes, there is lucifer the father of all lies!

So for me I serve God, I would never server lucifer! Although he tempts me daily I laugh at him and call him what he is, a liar and I fight him off my the word of God just like Jesus Christ had to when Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. Lucifer or satan knows our weaknesses and he will feed on them! He will tempt you but there is hope, You can fight him off by the word of God! Just like Jesus did! Luke 4:1-13
When lucifer tempts me or makes me have doubt, this is what I say to him, Get behind me, satan; for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him ONLY SHALT I SERVE.

God gives us a free will, for us to make a choice, I chose to serve God.🙂

 

[omega]

Re: I don't "believe" and so...

it makes the question academic. How we conduct ourselves on Earth is all that concerns me. So like other humanists before me, Thomas More, Thomas Aquinas, John Dewey and Paul Kurtz, you can have the next world. I live in this one.

Rook

Thomas Aquinas was a humanist? Does the Pope know?

The statements here whether they are meant to or not seem to infer that anyone with faith in a deity have their "head in the clouds" and are of no earthly good.

To me it seems that Christians have the best of both worlds. They live in this world and they can have the next one. And many Christians thru the ages have done a lot of good in this world. The reason many universities and hospitals exist is because Christians wanted to provide education and health care for all people. Right here in this present world.

 

[Flatfoot]

Hmmmm....decisions, decisions...

To Hell with Hell.

Give me Heaven any day.

 

[Krokus]

Yea

Heaven for me. Those with weak minds will suffer.

 

[Blackrook]

Re: Re: I don't "believe" and so...

Thomas Aquinas was a humanist? Does the Pope know?

The statements here whether they are meant to or not seem to infer that anyone with faith in a deity have their "head in the clouds" and are of no earthly good.

To me it seems that Christians have the best of both worlds. They live in this world and they can have the next one. And many Christians thru the ages have done a lot of good in this world. The reason many universities and hospitals exist is because Christians wanted to provide education and health care for all people. Right here in this present world.

Actually yes, he was. As was Moore. There are different varieties of humanism just as there are varieties of christianity. A christian humanist would be one who accepted the divinity of Jesus but emphasized life here on Earth rather than the hereafter. Not all humanists are secular humanists which I take it is your assumption.

Regarding the inference that Christians have their head in clouds, first I didn't say that. Rather, I think you read that into what I wrote. Second, since Moore and Aquinas are both Christians (and humanists) and didn't have their "head in the clouds", my prior message should not have given you that impression.

I don't mean to imply that any religion isn't grounded here on Earth. Only that for me, much of the supplemental discussion about the next life is superfluous since I think death is final. When we die, there is no afterlife. No heaven, no hell. Nothing. Everything in my experience and reason suggests that this is it, the only life we know about. It's what makes this life precious to me and what makes it worth living well.

Rook

 

[omega]

Re: Re: Re: I don't "believe" and so...

Actually yes, he was. As was Moore. There are different varieties of humanism just as there are varieties of christianity. A christian humanist would be one who accepted the divinity of Jesus but emphasized life here on Earth rather than the hereafter. Not all humanists are secular humanists which I take it is your assumption.

Regarding the inference that Christians have their head in clouds, first I didn't say that. Rather, I think you read that into what I wrote.

Everything in my experience and reason suggests that this is it, the only life we know about. It's what makes this life precious to me and what makes it worth living well.

You are right I thought (and still do) that the term humanist refers to those who think humans are the highest beings and there are no deities.

Also, yes I did read into your post and I shouldn't have. I am sorry. In no way did I consider your post to be an attack on Christianity.

Also, interesting how your belief that there is no after life makes you appreciate and value this life. Others who believe there is no afterlife seem to conclude that whatever they do here makes no difference. They then consider it nothing to lie, cheat, kill and destroy as much as possible before everything ends for them.

 

[46and2]

Hey Ice!

It's a very interesting concept you brought up. However you have to ask yourself what hell is. I'll try not to bore you too much, I'll just give you the products of the research I've done. Hell is translated into one word in ancient Hebrew: Sheol, meaning grave. It is also translated to three when looked at in the new testament (Greek): Tartarus (which was a prison for Greek titans), Hadees (simply means 'unseen' in greek), and Gehenna (Jerusalem city dump, where people were sacraficed). I don't profess to be a total expert on the subject but personally I'd like to believe in salvation for all as these people do: http://www.tentmaker.org
I'm still in the process of weighing out at all the facts, (it's tough when most people, even biblicalally educated people, avoid the topic like the plague.) Given all the myths, facts, and theories given about hell how could one rule over anything while being there? Whether you believe it's eternal torment, anniallation, or simply the things I stated they were before, there is nothing that remotley suggests that you would rule over anything. Your probably more likley to rule over your own little piece of heaven then a grain of sand in Hell (unless you manage to take over Jerusalem, Gehenna is still there). I'll shut up now , since I always tend to get myself in trouble when talking about faith or religon.
Peace
-Phil

 

[Blackrook]

Re: Re: Re: Re: I don't "believe" and so...

Others who believe there is no afterlife seem to conclude that whatever they do here makes no difference. They then consider it nothing to lie, cheat, kill and destroy as much as possible before everything ends for them.

Based on what? I have noticed that those with believe in an afterlife and those without belief in an afterlife are capable of compassion and sadism irrespective of their stated morality. Most Unitarians I know have well established moral systems and engage in charitable giving the same as their Christian bretheran. On the other hand, many people of faith may have come by their faith through hardship, prison, substance abuse and the like. I don't believe that belief in an afterlife has prevented abuse and immoral conduct. Nor, has the absence of such belief been correlated with immoral acts. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

Rook

 

[Admiral Trouser]

Reversing the angle on that, perhaps those who don't beleive in the afterlife make more of there life's and give more because they beleive that one life is all they've got to make a difference.

Whould I serve in Heaven or Rule in Hell?

I beleive in neither, and I have good reason too, but I'll be damned (pun intended for those who won't take offence. No pun intended for those that will) if I'm going into that malarky. So I shall submit my CV to someone else...

 

[Moses25]

BETTER TO RULE IN HELL THAN SERVE IN HEAVEN.

I'm with you, Ice.

Cheers.

 

[Haltickling]

Bah, humbug...

IMO, both heaven and hell are human inventions, as are all the religions. If there is a God, he's far above any petty regulations about praying, fasting, or church decorations.

As to serving somebody, I'd say most of us predominantly try to serve our new God: Money. I leave it up to you to decide whether that comes from heaven or hell...

 

[ShiningIce]

If there is a God, he's far above any petty regulations about praying, fasting, or church decorations.

Or maybe he just doesnt care anymore.

 

[kurchatovium]

Only the truly faithful question their faith.

 

[sarlox]

Personally I have always believed in God. Though I have never believed to experience his power until Katherine had her accident. Every prayer we have asked has been answered! Kat is getting better 🙂 I feel foolish since I myself have gone through 30+ sugeries and came through every one and truly never thanked Our Lord. Give me Heaven any day.

My two cents

Jeffy

 

[kurchatovium]

Amen Jeff.

 

[Iggy pop]

Personally, I don't worry about it. Heaven, Hell, Pergutory, etc, I'll just go where I go. I think I'm pretty good person, but I'll admit I'm not perfect. So if there is God and he wants to send me to Hell because I didn't go to the right church so be it. I probably did not want to go to Heaven anyway.

 

[Biggles of 266]

Others who believe there is no afterlife seem to conclude that whatever they do here makes no difference. They then consider it nothing to lie, cheat, kill and destroy as much as possible before everything ends for them.

sweep·ing ( P ) Pronunciation Key (swpng)
adj.
(1) Having wide-ranging influence or effect: sweeping changes.
(2) Moving in or as if in a wide curve: a sweeping gesture; a sweeping glance.
(3) Indiscriminate; wholesale: sweeping generalizations.
Overwhelming; complete: a sweeping victory.

gen·er·al·i·za·tion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (jnr--l-zshn)
n.
(1) The act or an instance of generalizing.
(2) A principle, statement, or idea having general application.



Hal, you said it beautifully. I'd want my god to know that I try to do good things, and not care about my tithe.

 

[Texas_Tickle]

Only the truly faithful question their faith.

Well, I do believe, but one side will never understand why the other side believes as they do.

The believers will not understand why those who do not believe, do not believe

Those who do not believe, will not understand why those who do believe, do believe.

It's one of those old "if you don't understand, you never will" type things.

 

[asutickler]

IMO, if we're talking about the Christian version of things, Lucifer dosen't really "rule" in Hell. He exsists only so long as almighty God does not deign to snuff out his exsistence, and thereby plays second fiddle, even in his own "domain."

Of course, I'm a Christian, and I don't really believe in Hell, so what do I know? 😛