Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Q&A at BNC

BNC, the local mega-fantastic-awesome church in Bergman, Arkansas, has a Q&A session online every Wednesday at 6:30pm Central time. I attended this weeks session.

My question was:
How is the doctrine of hell compatible with an all-merciful, all-loving, and all just God?

I was suprised that he answered it first. Well, he sort of answered it. He claimed the the justice part was why God was going to burn people forever. He also gave the free-will (blame the victim) answer. He didn't say anything I haven't heard before. I really should have written down his response, but I was inundated with chat comments about me being an atheist, so I was a bit distracted and I missed some of the pastor's explainations.

Maybe, I shouldn't have told them that I was an atheist, but I didn't want to be accused of going in under the radar or of being sneaky. I was asked once why I would go to the Q&A. I gave my stock answer of, "I was Invited." The other chatters stuck up for me. I thought that was nice.

I challenge any atheist who reads my blog to go to the next Q&A.

December 10, 6:30PM central time at http://live.brandnewchurch.com/

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The pastor of this mega church has such a following of amen members he is drowning in his adoration of himself. If their even was a little chance to engage a person blinded like this would be a moderated one on one. In a controled enviroment. This is very unlikely.
Would members of this mega church be tolerant of the opposing debater.
That is not actively seek revenge.
The radicals in this group are capable of any type of act's.
Atheists blogs, web-sites are open
not closed. Atheists do not threaten people, they are open to freethinking what ever it may be.
Many get death threats.
LMJ

Laurie said...

Ooh - sounds like good fun, Robert. I'll have to call in there next time

Robert Madewell said...

Laurie, what time would that be where you're at in Australia? Like early, early in the morning?

I'd love to see you there. We'd have a good ol' time asking a fundie preachy man embarrassing theological questions. See ya there if you can make it. If not, that's ok.

I think I've talked a few guys from my freethinker meeting to show up, so it ought to be a good show!

LMJ,
I agree, it's so agrevating to post a comment on a Christian blog and get the message, "Comment awaiting blog owner approval." Then to see it not posted when you check up on it later. Almost all of the atheist sites, I know of, welcome comments, even critical ones. It proves that the religious nuts don't believe in free speech.

The only reason I think I would delete a comment is if the commenter was threatening violence or was cussing excessively. Then again, I might not. I'd love the chance to rebutt an extreme hate message.

Mark Morrison said...

Hello Robert ! I haven't heard from you in a while so I decided to drop by your blog. Would you mind if I take a crack at your question below?

How is the doctrine of hell compatible with an all-merciful, all-loving, and all just God?

Robert first you must understand that hell was never meant for humans. It was created for satan and his angels. Now this all-merciful, all-loving, and all just God sent his son to die on the cross so you wouldn't have to go to hell. He gave you a way out. That's were the all-loving and all-merciful parts come in. When you choose to reject him ,well that's when the all-just part comes in. Sorry but,

Revelation 21:8

8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Robert, God doesn't want you to go to hell neither do I. I don't know you and I'm not asking you to join my Church or give money. Take the time to re-examine God and listen to Him.

Thanks for your time.
Mark

Robert Madewell said...

Hey Mark,
Nice to see you commenting.

You said, "Robert first you must understand that hell was never meant for humans. It was created for satan and his angels."

Then why would God have to cast people in there, when they're not supposed to go in there in the first place. Surely, if God doesn't want to throw humans in hell, then he has the power not to do it. I just don't buy that argument, Mark.

You said, "Now this all-merciful, all-loving, and all just God sent his son to die on the cross so you wouldn't have to go to hell."

Punishing an innocent person (on purpose) for the crimes of someone else is not just. I do not believe that an innocent person can pay for crimes of a guilty person.

You said, "When you choose to reject him ,well that's when the all-just part comes in."

I agree that I can do bad things. However, any wrong that I do has a limit. I can cause only so much grief or pain. God, on the other hand, can punish me forever (without any hope of reprieve) for a wrong that I did that had a limit. Infinite punishment for finite crimes is the biggest problem I have with the doctrine of hell. It's like beheading a five year old boy for stealing a piece of gum from the corner store. It's not just.

Anonymous said...

Mark
Revelation 21:8 sounds like a Nazi
post, but worse. The wording, that a God (Christian)would even use such venum directed language to get his message across to his creations, warn them, is no god I would worship. Jesus of the Christian faith is one of many that were before him, all died on the cross, died (how do you kill a god?) went to heaven in three days.
Sounds like something man could only write. God did not write the bible, men did. If there truly was a god he could have written it in a way science could never dispute.
Never would mankind then question his revelations. Only with blind faith could anyone believe in these religions.
Larry Johnson