Posted on 02/24/2014 7:45:08 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Fire, brimstone, eternal suffering — hell is not a pleasant concept. But research has pointed to the societal benefits of a belief in supernatural punishment, including higher economic growth in developing countries and less crime.
But there are also drawbacks, even in this life. A new study links believing in hell, and perhaps even thinking about it, with lower levels of happiness and satisfaction in life.
"It seems there is this trade-off," said Azim Shariff, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Oregon.
In research published in January in PLOS ONE, Shariff and a colleague looked at international survey data to see how belief in heaven and hell affected people's daily emotional states, along with a more long-term measure, life satisfaction.
Because many, but not all people believe in both heaven and hell simultaneously, Shariff and Lara Aknin of Simon Frasier University in British Columbia focused on those who believe in one but not the other. In the vast majority of cases, this meant people who believed in heaven unchecked by hell.
Looking at survey data from 63 countries, the researchers found that the more a belief in heaven outstripped a belief in hell in a country, the happier and more satisfied the residents were. When researchers looked at individual responses, they found a similar pattern — people who believe in heaven reported greater satisfaction with life.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
“Be sure it’s true, when you say, I Love You — it’s a sin to tell a lie! Millions of hearts have been broken, just because these words were spoken: ‘I love you, yes I do, I love you; if you break my heart I’ll die’ — So be sure it’s true, when you say I Love You — it’s a sin to tell a lie.”
Now that’s bad, when you can’t smoke in hell.
Actually I’ve heard it said that there are two sections in eternity — smoking, and non.
Yes, that one throws me, too. I suppose those people are out there, and they must be a pretty depressing lot. I don’t think I know anyone who has that set of beliefs.
That’s interesting. Made me look up the song. Pretty.
Is this the version you were thinking of?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-6aSU2UBWA
Only the bad ones.
“It is also possible that thinking about hell prompts nonbelievers to think about what they may face if they are wrong in their nonbelief, he said.”
Well, there are some theologies that reduce the gospel “Good News” to “Good Luck.” They’re wrong. They are schemes by which men give God an “anxiety offering” which He does not want. (This is not the same as the “fear and trembling” of a believer, which is born of awe.)
The bible is treating the same subject from a number of different perspectives. Original sin is real and if not addressed it is a barrier to heaven. Ultimately it’s up to you to accept the call to heaven; and if you do, it’s permanent. But it won’t necessarily be an easy trip there.
“What, me Worry?
There’s a number of them out there. Hers is pretty.
Squeeze box.
What I can never understand is when people, during this global warming winter, tell me that outside it’s “cold as hell!” Say what?
I don’t believe em anymore.
I wanna live in peace and not deal with fickleness.
I’m convinced women adhore cats not so much for their beauty but, more as their little Yoda’s to teach them “The way of the Cat “.
Truth is; They just wanna play with their prey, wear em out until they die of exhaustion and then. feast on the cadaver to celebrate their endurance and indomitable spirit”.
Cynic? I only sit on park benches to observe people ....
I think people who don’t believe in hell, deep down, they really do. Just that little, niggling doubt.
Existence is Hell.
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