an afterlife that punishes nonbelievers who do good
Here’s a fun fact: that one is not in there. The Bible is consistent on that, at least. Death is death, but those who who are judged to be “righteous” will be given eternal life in a newly crafted reality. Everyone else goes back to dead.
But 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.
None of the things you just shared refer to the pagan concept of an afterlife. Read them again in the context of what I wrote. What the Christian scripture says — very clearly — is in line with Pharisaic Judaism. You die, there is a resurrection for judgement, and the unrighteous are destroyed while the righteous are “saved” from death and given another, “perfect” life.
It’s especially telling that you used a translation that literally has the word “hell” in it, which is a deliberate mistranslation. The word in question there is “gehenna” which carries a very specific meaning that does not, in any way, infer an afterlife. In fact, the unrighteous are repeatedly equated with trash, which is disposed of by burning. Destruction is final and eternal. The idea of the afterlife as a literal place was lifted from Hellenism as Rome gradually assimilated Christianity into it’s existing religious frameworks.
While James pointed out that if your behavior doesn’t reflect belief, then you don’t actually believe. The point is that being showy doesn’t score you points, living by the principles — because you believe they are right — is all that matters.
Judaism has a concept for the Righteous Gentile. You don’t have to believe in their god, if you live by the Noachide moral precepts, even unintentionally, then you are righteous.
Here’s a fun fact: that one is not in there. The Bible is consistent on that, at least. Death is death, but those who who are judged to be “righteous” will be given eternal life in a newly crafted reality. Everyone else goes back to dead.
Yep, the wages of sin being death. Not hell, not punishment, sinners merely remain dead.
I checked before writing the last comment, and it’s mentioned a few times. Nonbelievers are punished in the afterlife.
Revelation 21:8
Only “born-again”/baptized enter heaven
John 3:3–5
and believers should not perish, but get everlasting life.
John 3:14–16
As for those who do perish, that happens in hell.
Matthew 10:28
Nonbelievers are denied entry.
Matthew 10:33
This all appears in the New Testament.
The older, Jewish scriptures don’t mention hell. However, Deuteronomy 13 is all about Moses instructing the Israelites to murder heretics. Moral bankruptcy.
None of the things you just shared refer to the pagan concept of an afterlife. Read them again in the context of what I wrote. What the Christian scripture says — very clearly — is in line with Pharisaic Judaism. You die, there is a resurrection for judgement, and the unrighteous are destroyed while the righteous are “saved” from death and given another, “perfect” life.
It’s especially telling that you used a translation that literally has the word “hell” in it, which is a deliberate mistranslation. The word in question there is “gehenna” which carries a very specific meaning that does not, in any way, infer an afterlife. In fact, the unrighteous are repeatedly equated with trash, which is disposed of by burning. Destruction is final and eternal. The idea of the afterlife as a literal place was lifted from Hellenism as Rome gradually assimilated Christianity into it’s existing religious frameworks.
So the righteous are given another life after death, but it’s not an afterlife? So glad I can just semantics myself some salvation.
To which non-existent god do I pray for people to learn the difference between its and it’s?
Maybe Thoth or Hermes. Odin discovered the Runes, so a case could also be made for him.
If you pray to any of them, be sure your patron deity Momus doesn’t find out.
Touché
😘
But only believers can be “righteous”:
While James pointed out that if your behavior doesn’t reflect belief, then you don’t actually believe. The point is that being showy doesn’t score you points, living by the principles — because you believe they are right — is all that matters.
Judaism has a concept for the Righteous Gentile. You don’t have to believe in their god, if you live by the Noachide moral precepts, even unintentionally, then you are righteous.