Posted by confuzyq on July 18, 2007, at 16:59:28
In reply to Re: Anyone see 20-20 documentary on hell Fri?, posted by Michael83 on July 17, 2007, at 20:35:38
Hi Michael! That's part of what the program focused on, showing how the view that there is no afterlife hell can in fact be consistent with some things in the Bible itself. And with the fact that the Bible is mere man's interpretations and possible distortions. And also a theory of exactly where the original hell on earth was (some spot outside Jerusalem I think, with fiery terrain oddities, where criminals were sent); and how stories involving that specific place may have taken on supernatural qualities in the retelling over time.
They also interviewed a famous minister named Carlton Pearson, who came from a long line of ministers, and who lost much of his massive flock after he came to truly believe there is no eternal hell. Much like Denise was originally saying, he came to believe that hell does exist on earth in the here and now, in the form of human tragedies and suffering. And also, like you said, that basically God just wouldn't punish people that way and when there was no longer anything they could do.
Here is the google search I did to find the minister's name. I noticed what may be some good recaps in here:
Sorry if none of the above made much sense. I'm not good at summarizing complex things! Fivefires, if you have a high speed connection, maybe you could watch the show at ABC's web site if they have it posted (didn't check).
> I'm a big fan of 20/20, but I don't watch it when they have religious topics, it makes me too nervous.
>
> "and comforting from the perspective of it being man's invention and that there probably isn't an eternal one awaiting."
>
> I'm too scared to tempt God by saying there is or isn't a hell, but Pope John Paul did once say hell might not be torture, just non-existence. Affirming my hope that God wouldn't punish people for things they could no longer make amends for.
poster:confuzyq
thread:770059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070707/msgs/770401.html