0
How do you reconcile Christianity's belief in an infinitely loving God with a doctrine of eternal punishment for sinners?
That is best answered in two tiers:
The first is a loving God and the existence of hell:
Originally, God created the universe to be perfect and good like Him. Everything had His characteristics: love, joy, peace, unity, health, perfection, goodness, etc. One of the angels He created (commonly called Lucifer or Satan) decided to rebel and took other angels with him (these are commonly called fallen angels/demons).
They couldn't be around God after that, so God created a space (we call Hell) for them to be imprisoned. The space God created had nothing of Him in it. That means none of His characteristics are there (joy, peace, love, etc).
God also created humans. We were originally perfect and good. When God created us, He breathed His breath in us to give us what we would call our spirit (or soul). However, Satan tested the first humans and tried to get them to rebel against God as well. It worked and humans fell from perfection. That action also brought death into our physical universe, including the death of our physical bodies.
But since God is Life and exists eternally (He cannot create death), the angels and human spirits cannot cease to exist either.
That means that when we die our spirits continue to live. However, there are only two places our spirits can be: with God (heaven) or without God (hell). Because every human has fallen from perfection and rebelled against God, we (like the fallen angels) cannot be with God either. That means hell.
And that is the whole reason for Jesus coming to earth to die for us. God didn't want us to be forever separated from Him in hell. So He made a way for us to escape. He sent Jesus, His Son, to live the perfectly good life that we couldn't and to die in our place.
The second is God who loves us but will punish sinners:
As you have seen from the first section, the eternal punishment of hell is as bad as it is because of the lack of God there. Where there is no peace, joy, love, life, comfort, safety, success, etc; there can only be constant fear, pain, hate, death, distress, terror, danger, helplessness, emptiness, etc.
Because God is perfectly good and there is no evil in Him, anything that is evil must be separated from Him. God is fairness and justice. A good Judge must uphold the law even if their child is the guilty defendant. God loves every single one of the people He created but He would not be fair, just or good if He let a child killer get away with their crimes. If He's a just judge for the child killers, He also has to be just towards liars and thieves.
However, if that sinner (whether it be the child killer or the liar) feels truly guilty about their crime, never wants to do it again and asks for forgiveness- God will forgive them. God is also mercy. But, it is thanks to Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf that God can freely give that mercy.
What else can I help you with?
How does the doctrine of penal substitution explain the atonement for sin in Christian theology?
The doctrine of penal substitution in Christian theology explains that Jesus took on the punishment for humanity's sins on the cross, serving as a substitute to satisfy God's justice. This atonement is believed to reconcile humanity with God by paying the penalty for sin through Jesus' sacrifice.
Is there a Church doctrine that says that sin can't be allowed to pass unpunished?
Church doctrine is that sins will be punished in purgatory or hell, unless the sinner has sought forgiveness. If the sinner has truly sought forgiveness through confession, then Church doctrine is that no punishment is needed. In former times, the purchase of Indulgences could also absolve one of punishment for sins.
What was Galileo punishment?
Galileo was allowed to publish his findings as theory, which was a major relaxation of Catholic doctrine. Instead, he published them as fact.
What two subjects did scholasticism seek to reconcile?
Scholasticism sought to reconcile faith and reason, integrating theological teachings with classical philosophy. It aimed to harmonize Christian doctrine with the works of ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle, seeking a rational understanding of religious beliefs.
What has the author Reune R Coon written?
Reune R. Coon has written: 'The doctrine of future and endless punishment, logically proved, in a critical examination of such passages of Scripture as relate to the final destiny of man' -- subject(s): Future punishment
Who attempted to reconcile Aristotle's teachings with the doctrines of Christianity?
Saint Thomas aquinas
What has the author Dominic Devas written?
Dominic Devas has written: 'St. Bernardine of Siena, apostle of devotion to the Holy Name, 1380-1444' 'The doctrine of eternal punishment' -- subject(s): Christianity, Hell
What is the McKinley Doctrine?
There is no such doctrine. Perhaps you're looking for the Monroe Doctrine.
What opposed the truman doctrine?
The Monroe Doctrine was in direct opposition to the Truman Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine said the US should not interfere with events in Europe.
What is the Andropov Doctrine?
Answer with the question: Is it the Brezhnev Doctrine just made over? Or no Doctrine?
What is the doctrine of the UPCI?
Apostolic Doctrine.
What is the containment doctrine?
a doctrine of containment :p
