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Originally Posted by Harvey1
EH used his extreme case to demonstrate that hell is a cruel teaching, when I see nothing cruel about God punishing a Hitler--which there have been many in the history of humanity (most of whom are not so well known).
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Punishing a Hitler, perhaps. But again you omit punishing the decent person who simply hasn't accepted Jesus as personal Lord and Saviour. I've heard that one or two Christians -- with very large churches and TV shows -- still teach that, or has it recently been quietly abandoned and nobody thought to tell me?
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I don't know what you thought of the meaning of this thread was supposed to be about. I thought it was as the title suggested that the teaching of hell is cruel.
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I think every lie told to children in order to coerce is cruel. You may think otherwise, in which case I would consider myself glad not to have you as a parent.
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And, btw, that is their prerogative. It's not cruel that they believe and teach what they believe to be true, just like it is not cruel of the atheist to teach people that there is no inherent meaning in life other than what they wish to make up to cope.
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There is a difference. The Atheist is not inventing terrifying stories in order to frighten children into believing and behaving.
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Well, I don't believe we earn our way into heaven by deeds, nor do I believe we earn our way into hell by atrocities. However, I do believe hell is an important teaching of Christianity and one I am not in the least ashamed of.
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Ah, well if you don't earn your way into hell by atrocities, then your persistence in reminding of that God is punishing Hitler seems oddly quaint, doesn't it?
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I sense thought control on this forum sometimes...
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By thought control, do you mean people expressing opinions with which you disagree?