If Hell is Real

[AJB4]

It's not an Orthodox apologetic work, but what do yous think of it anyway:

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/ifhellisreal.htm

[Protoevangel]

Tentmaker is a Universalist website. Not worth reading.

Start reading stuff that will benefit your spiritual walk, not garbage like that.

[AJB4]

Tentmaker is a Universalist website. Not worth reading.

Start reading stuff that will benefit your spiritual walk, not garbage like that.
I didn't realize that until after I went to the main site. What about that one article though? Let's pretend it wasn't written by a universalist. He brings up good points.

[Slambo]

By hell, does it mean Hades/Sheol or Gehenna? Clark Carlton has a very interesting podcast about this on AFR called Hell: A Modest Proposal.

[nutroll]

It is easy to convince people when you throw enough crap their way, get them good and confused, and then present them with an easy answer. There are so many errors in that article, so many straw men, and so many bad logical leaps, that it is laughable, and yet the shear amount of information presented makes people think that it is a solid case.

[Protoevangel]

I didn't realize that until after I went to the main site. What about that one article though? Let's pretend it wasn't written by a universalist. He brings up good points.
No, he does not bring up good points. He rants and raves like a lunatic.

It's not even worth my time. AJB4, it's not worth your time.

Stay away from this poison.

[AJB4]

No, he does not bring up good points. He rants and raves like a lunatic.

It's not even worth my time. AJB4, it's not worth your time.

Stay away from this poison.
Pffft...whatever. :|

[Protoevangel]

Pffft...whatever. :|
Yea, whatever. You insist on reading that crap, you get what you deserve.

[AJB4]

Yea, whatever. You insist on reading that crap, you get what you deserve.
What? Hell? :D

I get my hopes up too high when I read stuff like that...I dunno...I'm in a strange mood at the moment.

[Protoevangel]

What? Hell? :D
I sincerely hope not. Confused, is more like it. Remember, what you fill your head with today can haunt you the rest of your life.

[SeraphimSarov]

Are we perhaps missing the symbolism that Jesus originally intended?

You can't seriously be entertaining the possibility that the Church, in all her wisdom, has missed something so fundamental as this and has been preaching false doctrines for 2000 years. I'd go so far as to say that this statement makes Christ out to be a liar, since I'd say that the gates of hell are prevailing against the Church if we've been preaching falsehoods for all this time...

[Silentchapel]

Come on Protoevangel. You call the article crap but you fail to address any of it's points. I call that 'Emperor's New Grove' strategy. You call something crap, thus forcing others to accept it as crap or otherwise they will appear 'fools.' Give some arguments before labeling it as poison.

[buzuxi02]

The problem arises due to two reasons:

1. the greek word Hades is often translated as Hell
2. Most people have no idea what the ancient greeks believed about Hades, because they consider it pagan in origin and mythologically based, thus they have no clue what it is.

[Rick of Wessex]

Folks,

Take a look at this wonderful article written by Dr. Alexander Kalomiros, The River of Fire (http://www.philthompson.net/pages/library/riveroffire.html). It (and its related article, "Notes on the River") gives a wonderful Orthodox explanation about this subject and related issues.

It is long, but it's an obligatory reading for any Christian.

In XC,
Rick

[Protoevangel]

Come on Protoevangel. You call the article crap but you fail to address any of it's points. I call that 'Emperor's New Grove' strategy. You call something crap, thus forcing others to accept it as crap or otherwise they will appear 'fools.' Give some arguments before labeling it as poison.
Well, since you like the article so much, you start teaching that crap all you want. :doh:

I don't have the time at the moment to waste on every universalist who wants to spew his vomit all over Holy Scripture. Tell you what, if I have time later, I'll address a few of the "points (sic) it brings up.

[Silentchapel]

Well, since you like the article so much, you start teaching that crap all you want. :doh:
Well, excuse me for breathing.

[Protoevangel]

Well, excuse me for breathing.
No Silentchapel, excuse me for telling it like it is, without having the time for an in-depth critique. When you start quoting Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Mohammedans, and I don't have time to reply in depth, it'll be the same. You going to spit on me then too? If you have something to say about the article itself, go right ahead, but if all you want to do is nitpick and criticize because I haven't met your personal "standards", then I do think our conversation here is done.

[Shubunkin]

A reminder to be nice. Otherwise the thread will be closed for a while.

[jckstraw72]

hey ya'll, lets put on our big kid pants and play nice.

[DarkNLovely]

Come on Protoevangel. You call the article crap but you fail to address any of it's points. I call that 'Emperor's New Grove' strategy. You call something crap, thus forcing others to accept it as crap or otherwise they will appear 'fools.' Give some arguments before labeling it as poison.
Emporers New Groove Stragetegy! I love it! Must use that! Must use that one! LOL!

[Silentchapel]

Emporers New Groove Stragetegy! I love it! Must use that! Must use that one! LOL!
You must be a fool not to use it! :P

[DarkNLovely]

You must be a fool not to use it! :P
LOL!

I have seen that movie SOOO many times! I LOVE IT! What's your favorite part? I love it when he is picking out his bride and he's going fown the line of girls dimissing them one by one and he goes, 1st girl"Hate your hair!" 2nd"Yikes!" 3rd "Yikes!" 4th " Yikes!" 5th " And let me guess: You have a great personality!" LOL! It's so wrong it's funny!

[Lukaris]

It's not an Orthodox apologetic work, but what do yous think of it anyway:

http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/ifhellisreal.htm
We cannot assume hell is not real, nor can we assume anyone living among will go there. Jesus Christ has given us salvation & established the Holy Orthodox Church through his apostles to preach the Gospel & minister how we partake of His grace. He has given us the example of the good Samaritan to show us many non Christians must be part of his kingdom but also behaviours that are damnable, sins that can be repented of, an one that is unpardonable (sin against the Holy Spirit, which I venture not to define). Personally I am only beginning to slightly understand what St Serpahim of Sarov means by acquiring " the spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you shall be saved" and yet maintaining vigilance against delusion (or prelest). Believe me the more you pray for yourself and others according to our Saviour's reiteration of the Old covenantal command, "You shall love the the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind; you shall love your neighbor as yourself" the less tension false concepts as universalism, atonment only or damnation, once saved always saved, raptures, reincarnations etc will give you. The challenge is trying to love in an ever hateful world. Hope this is helpful from a sinner. "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

[Lukaris]

deletion of redundant post.