Is God Helpless under the Realm of Free Will????
By bird123
@bird123 (10632)
United States
June 4, 2016 10:19am CST
In the past when I got into an argument over Hell, I asked the question: If God created Hell knowing someone would actually go there, wouldn't God be a Monster? The answer I received back was that since we all have free will, God is helpless to stop one from going to Hell if they choose Hell for themselves.
Is God really helpless within the realm of free will? I think not.
I was walking through a store one day. A lady was demonstrating some fancy cookware. I don't remember the name. To make a long story short, before she was done with me, I purchased all the cookware. The funny thing was I didn't need cookware, nor did I want cookware, however I bought all the cookware under my own free will.
I know a man who is the world's greatest salesman. He says that a salesman knows he is good when he can sell someone something they don't need or want and make them happy they bought it. This saleslady did just that to me.
This brings us to the point. Is God not capable of doing the very same thing? I have free will and I have cookware now. Wouldn't Hell be empty if God cares at all and yes, under the realm of free will?
So this brings us to the question: Is God a Monster or not? I think not. The concept of Hell is what does not add up.
4 people like this
7 responses
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
4 Jun 16
I had that on my mind many years ago and swore that there just can't be a hell created by a God of love. It seems like a contradiction. If I were the creator of the universe, I myself would not create a hell, but I am not the creator, just one of His creations. I have no say so in this matter. I pray there ain't no hell, actually. isn't planet Earth hell enough?
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
You are Right. Hell does not exist.
It seems universal among everyone I know, that we all want to have it made and easy. I think we have all been Spoiled before by God.
This world might sometimes seem like Hell, however isn't the challenges and adversity that lead us into action to solve the problems, learning so much on the journey. If we had no challenges or adversity, how much would one actually accomplish? Think about it. Don't all the learning show up around the Drama??
I'm going to relax, smell the roses and muddle on. Since I value the good times over anything else, Life is always Great!!
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
14 Jun 16
As I mentioned in a comment on this post else where, the best explanation of Hell I've ever heard is that Hell is not a physical place, rather it is the eternal separation of a person's soul from God's presence because the person chose to deny God during his or her life.
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
Religion uses the emotions and feeling half to influence people. We must not forget that God and ourselves have an Intellectual half. Everything about God will add up completely. When it doesn't fit quite right, that is a sure sign that mankind is involved. Since we are supposed to lead with our intellectual half, we must question everything if we value the Real Truth.
2 people like this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Jun 16
@Ianist Yes, everyone adds their view to any story. It doesn't take long before the original story is lost. It would be interesting to go back in time to see what actually was. Still, it was probably a good stepping stone to civilize mankind. The only thing people must realize is the journey continues forward and people have to let go of the past at some time.
As our knowledge and IQs increase one must reach forward into the undiscovered country for there is always more to discover.
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@Ianist (278)
• Indonesia
5 Jun 16
@bird123 I think, religion is something that was passed down from time to time. We know religion from our parents, and they know from their parents, and so on. And over the centuries, how can you be sure that it's still the original thing? People have different understanding, and they tell that to their children who will also have a different understanding, and so on. I think that's why some things doesn't fit quite right.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
5 Jun 16
@bird123 It seems thatr we are in broad agreement, then. You might find this article interesting:
Today, many Christians believe in a place of eternal torment where sinners are sent after death, commonly referred to as "Hell" in English. This belief is
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
5 Jun 16
@owlwings Yes. One must always keep in mind that all holy books are products of Mankind. I do find it funny how people can find no where else to discover God. I guess people want easy and religions place their versions of God in a nice little box. How can one get any easier than have it served up on a plate?
In this time based causal universe, God's actions can be seen. God's actions can not be altered by mankind. I find this the only true source of information on God other than direct contact. Then again, direct contact changes nothing.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
You are right. Hell does not exist. On the other hand, Religion has used Hell to not only gain followers but to control people's actions. Religion's use of Fear clearly shows they do not really speak for God. That is a lesson many have yet to learn. Perhaps such discussions might bring light into their eyes.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
14 Jun 16
It depends on your definition of Hell. The most reasonable definition of Hell I've heard over the years, and having researched several different religions, is that Hell is eternal separation from God, a soul lost in the vast abyss on darkness and nothingness that exists where God has withdrawn his light.
This is not the fire and brimstone Hell taught about in most Protestant religions, but it fits better with a merciful God and the concept of free will. If a person chooses to separate themselves from God, then this eternity of separation is a result of their choice, not God's.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Jun 16
@lookatdesktop Thank you. This is something I've thought, prayed, studied, and asked several men of the cloth from different denominations about. From the wide variety of answers I've received over the years, this seems to be the most reasonable interpretation.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
15 Jun 16
@DWDavis , we are both in agreement.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (15719)
• Raurkela, India
4 Jun 16
God is not a monster. Whatever he does has a purpose which we realize later.
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@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
Does Might make Right?? Oh, one should never question might, right? WRONG! Thinking is Dangerous, right? WRONG!
Did you know that God loves us all to question everything including God? To question is the start on the journey to Discovery. God is not hiding anything. The only ones who do not want you to question are those who do not want you to know the real truth.
So is God a Monster? Of course not! Hell does not exist. God has better ways than mankind and Hell.
1 person likes this
@Fordalong (108)
•
4 Jun 16
Alright in answering your question, let me start by saying that Gods plans and purpose has never been for man to go to hell. Hell was made for satan [the devil] and its cohorts after the devil [Lucifer at the time] rebelled against God and God had to throw him, the fallen angels and its cohorts out of heaven. So Hell was never made for man but for satan and his cohorts.
But then, the devil after his fall, has always sought to stray Man away from his maker and to sway man away from his source[God] by bringing all manner of evil into the world, instilling all manner of evil thoughts into the mind of man to influence mans Will so that Man would suffer eternal damnation with him and his agents together in Hell and Finally in the lake of fire. But never forget that God has given man the gift of CHOICE, and God has equally sent His Spirit into all the earth to influence Mans Will in the right direction through His Word [The Gospel] so that man would be saved from eternal damnation in Hell and the lake of Fire. SO FOR THE RECORDS ; GOD IS NOT A MONSTER! GOD IS LOVE! and in him there is no darkness at all !!!
1 person likes this
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
These sound like nothing but a bunch of stories that do not add up. If God is capable of anything, why didn't God fix satan and those fallen angels? Isn't it mankind who discards rather than persist until the problems are solved?
God has to be Smarter and at a Higher level than those stories.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
4 Jun 16
@bird123 , You have some good thinking going for you.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
4 Jun 16
If it exists, God created it or allowed it. As for the angel of Darkness, hasn't God got him fixed yet? Can the problem really be that hard?
You are Right. God is Unconditional Love. There is no need to forgive. God never gets angry. Mankind might get angry when they can not control the actions of another, however God is above all that petty stuff.
Be who you must! It's a part of the Plan!
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