Quote:Calamity said: @RF- So you are saying your god tests his subjects with pain and suffering? If they fail they suffer eternal pain and suffering? If not they get to go to some great place to look down on the ones they love continuing to struggle in pain and suffering.
How the hell do you reconcile this a loving god?
So when a baby dies do they go to heaven or hell? a newborn has done no good to warrant a pass to your heaven, so either they get a freebie or they are stiffed with hell.
Yup, pain and suffering is the name of the game and it sorts the men from the boys-
"All creation groans in pain from the beginning til now" (Rom 8:22)
"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22)
"God didn't spare his own son" (Rom 8:32)
"We share in Jesus's sufferings in order to share in his glory" (Rom 8:17)
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life.." (James 1:12)
"Take the pain, TAKE THE PAIN!"
Christians know how to roll with the punches life throws at them.
But apart from all that, the only sure-fire way of going to hell is to reject Jesus. He was a nice guy so who in their right mind would want to reject him anyway? They certainly can't go to heaven or it'd be a case of "oops there goes the neighbourhood!"
Incidentally when we die we go into "suspended animation", we don't go straight to heaven or hell-
"Don't grieve for those asleep,for they sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess 4:13/14) , then on judgement day EVERYBODY gets a wake up call (including atheists) and they better hope they make the grade-
Jesus said:- "All in the graves shall come out,to resurrection or damnation" (John 5:28/29)
As for babies who die (like my cot-death nephew), they're born pure and innocent so they've got nothing to worry about..