MovieChat Forums > Hatemongers Discussion > Could someone PLEASE tell me?

Could someone PLEASE tell me?

posted 15 years ago by kyle-roberts
4 replies | jump to latest

Everything the Westboro Baptist Church says seems to boil down to one fundamental: Hell = bad. I've heard quotes that sin is "Satan taking hold of you" and then if you sin you go to hell where you are tortured.

Ever since I was a kid I always wondered why Satan, who supposedly hates and wants to undo God's works, punishes sinners instead of rewarding them. Punishing them sounds like DOING God's work rather than undoing it. By that logic you could almost argue hell would be heaven to a sinner and vice versa, while to a non-sinner heaven and hell play the roles they're supposed to. But I'm told it's not that way and it doesn't make sense to me. I can't figure out how anyone who thinks hell is so terrible never seems to wonder why it's ruler seems to be in cohorts with God by punishing those who oppose God?

I tried asking people as a kid and never got an answer, people always dodged the question. They got picky over my wording, they told me I was giving a bad attitude, they answered my question WITH questions like "do you have faith" which start whole other conversations that never relate back to my original question, on and on. It's driving me crazy and it's making me wonder. Are people fighting me because I'm asking a redundant question or because it's a good question that people just haven't pondered too much and they're confused. I'm not trying to confuse, I just want to understand hell.

So could someone PLEASE give me an honest opinion here, without the smoke and mirrors. Does anyone have a reason that Satan punishes sinners?

[–] burninblazes 15 years ago

Well, I haven't seen this movie, I haven't read the whole bible and I just stumbled on this thread, but since no one else has answered I'll give it a go.

From what I've gathered, Hell is a place that was created by God for Satan and the angels who followed Satan. Satan (originally an angel) rebelled against God while still in Heaven, and God sent him to hell to suffer forever and ever. And at some point Satan also became the tempter to human kind, I'm not sure when or how. So Satan is stuck in hell forever, but also has a strong presence on earth somehow as tempter. Apparently, Satan wants to lead people away from God because he hates God. Satan has no power to reward anyone, no power over hell or over the people in hell.

That's what I picked up while bumming around the internet, anyway.

_ _ _

"Why spend your life making someone else's dreams come true?"

-- Ed Wood, the movie

[–] DwightFry 15 years ago

For the same reason Superman can fly. The creator of each fictional character gives them the characteristics they feel like giving them.

There's no Santa Claus

[–] jefffitz-1 15 years ago

I've often thought about this question, especially after hearing comedians and atheists talk about how hell is a big party for sinners and non-believers. But from what I gather, humans are created in Gods image... Satan hates God... therefore Satan hates humans since we are His prodigy so to say. Whether you believe it or not, watch or read "23 Minutes in Hell" by Bill Wiese. The video is about an hour and a half long and can be found on youtube or google. Westboro would probably call this guy a few names and then tell everyone that he's going to hell... but then again they say that to everyone. I found Bill Wiese very credible and his story is compelling. Let me know what you think.

[–] GodlessHippieSkank 12 years ago

Ha, that's a great point.

In short, the reason is this: Religion was made up to control people, to fear them into submission and staying in their place.
Hell is the threat and Heaven the reward if you accept your horrible life (as a woman, as a poor servant, as an oppressed nation) and obey (your husband, your preacher, your wealthy lord, your president).

If Hell were merely the vacation spot that the unruly group B goes to, religion would no longer be useful as a weapon and even religion itself would lose its power. No need to waste time going to church, obeying stupid contradictory rules and being miserable if there's no punishment for living free and thinking for yourself.

Think of religion as a virus. This is one of its ways of spreading and staying alive.

Keep asking questions and thinking for yourself!

To anyone interested in these matters (and really, everyone should be, it's quite a dangerous phenomenon) I thoroughly recommend Richard Dawkins' book "The God Delusion". It's very well written, comprehensive, easy to read and funny to boot.