For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Joelle Higby
Wow, lots of opinions. I read a book called “The Fire that consumes” which talks about annihilation and the verses that support it. Why would I spend time reading such a book? Because the belief that I was raised with, that God would torture people forever in hell, made me so sick that I had to go on medication and couldn’t even talk about the scary thoughts of it going through my head. I wish religion and thoughts of God we’re all of love and hope, but there are a lot of scary verses in the Bible that have given me a lot of angst. It’s really too bad because I want to dwell on the love of God because that is what I need but the reality is, after reading the entire Old Testament over this past year, he gets very angry and is harsh. I don’t know how to couple the love and the anger. So, I go on, hoping in a God of Love, but knowing at the same time I don’t really know him because he does have a very scary side that I don’t know how to trust. I can only trust love.
Gene Coleman
Joelle Higby, do you have children? I do and it seems the more we love them, the more angst (upset) we become when they seemingly fail to appreciate the consequences of immature things they do that we as adults know can be unnecessarily dangerous or harmful to them or others. I suspect God (as a Father) would experience similar feelings in His dealings with us. Is our heavenly Father being hurt and angry when He knows He has done all He can to help guide us to happiness and we try to ignore Him and His teaching? I don't believe this is angst and anger, just an expression of His love because of the pain He must feel knowing the consequences of our wrong doing hinders the showers of blessings He wants to bestow on us.
James Kraft
Our soul never dies. We either live in heaven or hell for eternity. John 3:18.