Just not on

Ayla

Wicknight wrote:

In fact, the answer "I don't know" is even more relivent and correct if BC is asked does he think the dad is in hell, since the answer acknowledges that he does not, and cannot possibly, know.

You might have a point is BC was asked "do you think the dadshould be in hell," at which point BC could have geninuely offered his opinion. Though I doubt he would have considering he doesn't know that man and it would be rather rude to form an opinion of an individual you never met and who you know very little about

Good points Wick, and (although it may not appear so), this is my point as well. If BC can't answer anything but "I don't know" to whether or not he believes the (hypothetical) man is in Hell, then he shouldn't make such general statements as "all non-christians go to hell". I personally think it's rather presumptive of anyone to make this type of statement, but that is BC's belief and I respect that. We don't have to agree, that's ok.

But why is it ok to make general assumptions about a large portion of the population but not be able to say the same thing about a (even hypothetical) person who fits the same criteria? For arguments' sake, let's forget this discussion began about the OP's father...let's just go purely hypothetical. If we asked BC (on a completely different thread) if someone died a non-christian, does he believe they'd go to hell...what would his answer be?

I'm really not (trying) to be rude or disrespectful to anyone here, I'm just asking the question.

BrianCalgary

Ayla wrote:

If we asked BC (on a completely different thread) if someone died a non-christian, does he believe they'd go to hell...what would his answer be?

I'm really not (trying) to be rude or disrespectful to anyone here, I'm just asking the question.

You are not being rude or disrespectful, the answer to your question is yes. If someone dies a non-Christian and has chosen to spend their life away from God, they get their wish and get to spend eternity away from God, otherwise known and described as Hell.

Zombrex

Ayla wrote:

But why is it ok to make general assumptions about a large portion of the population but not be able to say the same thing about a (even hypothetical) person who fits the same criteria?

He seems perfectly capable of saying it about a hypothetical person, as you said BC often claims that he believes a non-Christian who has turned away from God will go to hell.

He said he didn't know in relation to the father because niether BC or any of us here know if the father was truely a non-Christian or had turned away from God. All we have is the OP's claiming this is true, but as BC has pointed out a few times that is not enought to go on to know for certain the after life status of the man.

For example for a long time I thought my grandfather died of a lung cancer in hospital. He actually died of a heart attack, though he was in for lung cancer. If I told you a few years ago that my grandfather had died of lung failure would you know he died of lung failure? You wouldn't. If he did think that you would be wrong.

You would certainly have my statement to go on, but without being their, or seeing the death report for example, you wouldn't really know. And as it turns out neither would I.

BC doesn't knows very little about this man. He knows that his children believe he turned away from religion. Most likely he did. Thats not the point. The point is no one but that man himself truely knows how he felt about his religion

The most respectful answer BC could give is "I don't know" because he doesn't know.

Ayla wrote:

If we asked BC (on a completely different thread) if someone died a non-christian, does he believe they'd go to hell...what would his answer be?

I notice he has just answered that question, but if you read over the thread or his other posts, you will see he answers that question all the time.

Sapien even seems to acknowledge that he answers the question. In fact you acknowledge that it is his belief at the top of your post.

So again I have to wonder what is the point of all this?

Everyone knows BC's beliefs in relation to hell. The only reason I can see that it was brought up was a rather insensitive attempt to use this mans death and the arkwardness around the actions of the doorsteppers, to make BC feel uncomfortable about his beliefs.

Its like the pictures of the blue eyes baby on the bus shelters from the anti-stem cell research groups that are trying to associate stem cell research with bright blue eyed babies to make people feel guilty about supportin stem cell research.

I despise these forms of tactics when used by the religious right (often on this very forum) but equally I despise these tactics when used to attack personal religous beliefs.

If people think BC shouldn't believe in hell put forward an argument why he shouldn't. Simply trying to guilt him into abandoning his beliefs is distasteful and also rather ridiculous.

Ayla

Ok, just one last posting by me here, and then I'll let it all rest.

I'm hoping that some things have been clarified, and I just want to confirm my own position on this entire conversation.

Wick, I'm not sure if you're including me when you say things like:

"I despise these forms of tactics when used by the religious right (often on this very forum) but equally I despise these tactics when used to attack personal religous beliefs...If people think BC shouldn't believe in hell put forward an argument why he shouldn't. Simply trying to guilt him into abandoning his beliefs is distasteful and also rather ridiculous"

but I hope you don't really think I believe this. At no time was I discounting what BC believes (I've said time & time again that I respect his beliefs) and I wasn't making any type of arguement why he (or anyone) should or shouldn't believe anything. I was just asking for clarification of his statements so that I could understand them clearly.

That said, I have also understood & appreciated your last several posts, but I never asked BC to judge the OP's deceased father. I was only asking the hypothetical question, which as we have seen, BC has answered.

So my queries are satisfied and I'll let my contributions to this thread rest.