Heh, complicated subject (kinda). Here is my view on this subject. I classify
myself as an agnostic buddhist. I doubt God/Goddess/etc does exist but since I
don't have any proof they don't exist I am open to the idea that they do
exist.
However, if God does exist and is going to send people to Hell unless they
worship him, I have a serious problem with that. First, a God who requires
worship (even though they really might be powerful and wise) is narcisistic. I
do not require my cat to worship me even though I take care of her and am much
more inteligent and powerful than her. I think this same principle should apply
to God.
Secondly, I do not believe it ethical to condem someone to a place like Hell
eternally. Even someone like Hitler or Stalin does not deserve an eternity of
torment. Eternal punishment for something you did for 78 years (average
lifespan) is unbalanced and unethical. It only disgusts me even more that
someone would be condemed to this eternal Hell just for not worshiping a God even if they were a wonderful person (Dalai
Lama, Ghandi, etc). So just because they do not worship God or do not believe
in God, or decide to take no position on God they are condemend to eternal
torment, even though they are a wonderful person who has helped millions of
people. That is unethical and so I refuse to worship a God who would do that.
I would rather be in Hell with the Dalai Lama and Ghandi, however painful, than
worship a unethical deity.
A good article on this subject (The Problem with Hell) can be found here. It
sums up what I believe though I wish it were a bit more extensive. Happy
posting!
Heh, complicated subject (kinda). Here is my view on this subject. I classify myself as an agnostic buddhist. I doubt God/Goddess/etc does exist but since I don't have any proof they don't exist I am open to the idea that they do exist.
However, if God does exist and is going to send people to Hell unless they worship him, I have a serious problem with that. First, a God who requires worship (even though they really might be powerful and wise) is narcisistic. I do not require my cat to worship me even though I take care of her and am much more inteligent and powerful than her. I think this same principle should apply to God.
Secondly, I do not believe it ethical to condem someone to a place like Hell eternally. Even someone like Hitler or Stalin does not deserve an eternity of torment. Eternal punishment for something you did for 78 years (average lifespan) is unbalanced and unethical. It only disgusts me even more that someone would be condemed to this eternal Hell just for not worshiping a God even if they were a wonderful person (Dalai Lama, Ghandi, etc). So just because they do not worship God or do not believe in God, or decide to take no position on God they are condemend to eternal torment, even though they are a wonderful person who has helped millions of people. That is unethical and so I refuse to worship a God who would do that. I would rather be in Hell with the Dalai Lama and Ghandi, however painful, than worship a unethical deity.
A good article on this subject (The Problem with Hell) can be found here. It sums up what I believe though I wish it were a bit more extensive. Happy posting!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_problem_of_Hell