space boy

Jesus says soul and body are destroyed in hell. Paul says the wages of sin are death. John, in revelation, says that those raised on judgment day who are not in the book of life, "die the second death". Paul never mentions hell, and eternal torture seems like a big detail to omit if he thought it was a concern. The only place I can find eternal torture alluded to is in revelation and here it is expressly said to be reserved for the beast, the anti christ, and those who worship the beast and accept his mark - an extreme minority of all people to have lived in even the most liberal of reasonable interpretations. In light of this, is it safe to say that hell is merely death and not eternal conscious torture?

Most convincing argument wins.

all the verses in the new testament which claim he's coming back soon. You do realize these verses were written almost 2000 years ago, right? At least a dozen verses, by my count, say things like "This is the last hour" and "The time is at hand". About a half dozen times through Revelation alone Jesus himself says "I am coming soon". How much longer until people realize he isn't coming back? Another 2000 years??

It's very plain that Einstein was not a theist. It's equally plain that Einstein was not an atheist. A number of times he expressed belief in an "illimitable spirit" of vast intelligence revealing itself in the exquisite order, harmony, and function of the universe. He expressed awe and humility in the face of this grand mystery which his "feeble mind" groped to understand just a little bit. See this link if you need proof of this: http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/einstei... Incidentally, he was directly quoted as saying, "I am not an atheist."

Is the belief in a vastly superior intelligence ordering the universe, an "illimitable spirit", still a delusion if it's shorn of an interventionist, personal, supernatural God figure? Was Einstein deluded? If so, how?

that billions of his precious children would be doomed to unremitting torture as a result? What could possibly be worth that?

in light of Isaiah 45:7? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah... Can this verse be taken in any way other than the Lord taking complete responsibility for unfortunate conditions and events in the world.

Is it a certain location in space? On a planet? I'd especially like to hear from those folks who look up when they pray. Where are you looking? Are you sure you're looking in the right direction? Would Mr. Chang in Beijing have to look down to make sure God heard his prayer? And what's with the gates around heaven? Does God worry about unruly sinners breaking in?

he did, and why do I have to believe that he rose 3 days later? Isn't his death enough? Why pile on the requirement of forcing my brain to accept belief in an impossible event?

(Mark 16:14), why can't he extend us the same courtesy? These men were his very closest followers in life and even they didn't believe until they saw physical proof. If they couldn't believe without physical evidence why should we be expected to?

he bases everything he says on a vision that he alone both saw and heard? Aside from the eucharist he never even attempts to quote Jesus directly, and, given that the gospels were written after Paul's letters I wonder if even that much is a quote from Jesus. Hell, you even have Jesus, in at least three places that I've seen, saying that following the commandments is the way to eternal life and you have Paul saying that following the commandments doesn't make a difference! What gives? Why give Paul so much cred?

As I understand it, I need intercession from Jesus to escape perdition. I need this because I was born corrupted. I was born corrupted because of what happened thousands of years ago between the first two people on earth, a talking snake, and a magic piece of fruit. Is this accurate? Because it seems like I need to believe in magic fruit and talking snakes to believe that I need Jesus.

would you all be Blainians today?

Person A - Rapes and murders a mother of 4. While on death row for his crime he sincerely repents of his sin, asks forgiveness, and accepts Jesus Christ as his lord and savior. His belief in the resurrection remains firm and he dies with a prayer to Jesus on his lips.

Person B - A devout Hindu is scrupulously honest and kind, gives generously to charity, has an upbeat and cheery personality, and seeks to make the world a better place through joyful service to society, family and friends... until she is raped and murdered by person A.

Please give a reason for your answer.

where should they be ranked and why?

Revelation 1:1-7 in which John tells the seven churches of Asia that Jesus is coming "soon" and "the time is near" and "Look, he is coming with the clouds..." That was almost 2000 years ago. Clearly John was telling the members of these churches what they could expect to see in their lifetimes, and soon. Clearly these Christians of yore were misinformed/deceived. How long will people continue to fall for this blatant hustle?

Mark 8:38 - "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Matthew 10:23 - When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

I don't know of any place in which Jesus identifies himself as 'Son of Man'. Do you? If it's not Jesus then what is it?

reiterate his prophecy? What else am I to make of these scriptures:

Mark 13:30

Mark 14:62

Revelation 1:3,7

Person A - In prison for raping and murdering a dozen women, he had a born again conversion experience on his deathbed and gave his soul to Jesus. He died a few days after.

Person B - A lifelong, devout Hindu woman whose lifework was the establishment of a battered women's shelter. She helped dozens of women escape extremely dangerous situations and begin new lives. Her life ended tragically when she was raped and murdered by person A.

Who's in heaven, who's in hell and why?

hope for someone like me who can't say honestly that he believes that stuff? I could "confess with my mouth 'Jesus is Lord'", but I can't "believe it in my heart" just by deciding to. So, what, I go to hell because I can't be convinced by this story? I mean, come on, it's really implausible! But I don't want an eternity of torture. Help!