Bible does not teach that God tortures people forever with greatest pain in fire of Hell

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Round 1

1 of 1
avatar Pro #1

"Bible does not teach that God tortures people forever with greatest pain in fire of Hell"


We can read whole Bible, and nowhere will we find words "tortured with greatest pain in Hell"


this is especially so because "pain" and "greatest pain" arent same things. Pain in this case can be small spiritual pain, pain from rejecting God, and not any greatest pain imaginable, as Bible makes no mention of greatest pain.

The Bible makes numerous references to hell, everlasting fire. I will quote from the Douay-Rheims Bible.


Let's start with the Old Testament:

Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14)
And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all flesh. (Isaiah 66:24)


Judith is a deuterocanonical book. Its canonical status is disputed but we were given no definition of "Bible." Either way, it certainly doesn't help pro's case:

For he will give fire, and worms into their flesh, that they may burn, and may feel for ever. (16:17)


Now let's get to New Testament verses:

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. (Matthew 3:12 & Luke 3:17)
Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels... And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting. (Matthew 25:41, 46)
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not extinguished. (Mark 9:47)
In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 7)
And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, (Revelation 14:11)
And there came down fire from God out of heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast and the false prophet shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:9-10)


Pro uses the exact words fallacy by saying that there's no verse in the Bible that says the damned are tortured with "greatest pain in Hell." Pro only tried to show that the "greatest pain" part wasn't in the Bible and not the "forever" part. Pro only did half of what the debate was about. That being said, trying to disprove one does disprove the entire claim, but it would make more sense to attack both points to make the case as sturdy as possible.


In Matthew 25:41, God tells the damned to depart from Him, showing that hell is separation from God. God is love and peace, so separation from God would be the greatest pain ever.


Also, the greatest pain could be the everlasting part. If you know the pain will never end, it will feel greatest. There is no escaping it. You won't be able to say it doesn't feel that bad.

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fauxlaw Global Moderator
•••
#17

See a Mod. I'm done with bullshit excuses and claims. Get it?

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#16
--> @fauxlaw

We can read whole Bible, and nowhere will we find words "tortured with greatest pain in Hell", which both you and Con conceded was truism. Now, truism is something which must be true, so saying that I made a claim which must be true, while also saying claim isnt true, is nonsense.

Now, if you want to punish me in your vote for making a truism, fine. But then dont at same time pretend Con proved anything. If topic is truism, then topic is true, and if you want to punish a truism, thats something different entirely.

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fauxlaw Global Moderator
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#15
--> @SatanLucy

You do not need to teach me about interpretation of words of a Resolve. I am fluent in English, and have a PhD in English Lit and a BA in Linguistics. You, apparently, did not understand either my explanation in the vote, nor my message #11 that while I get it that your BoP was that The "Bible does not teach that God tortures people forever with greatest pain in fire of Hell," but you merely made the claim and offered no argument of evidence showing the truth of the statement. Sorry, your BoP is to show the evidence, not merely to make the claim. But stop arguing with me. If you think my vote was not correct, refer to a Mod, pls. Your arguing with me now its pointless.

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#14

Also, saying that my claim is a truism while giving win to opponent? "Your side of debate must be true, so I will vote for your opponent"

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#13

I don't know how someone can cast a vote and mistake me for my opponent. You are literally blaming me for not proving opponent's position in your vote.

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#12
--> @fauxlaw

Alright, so it seems that words are confusing you. My position isn't to prove greatest possible pain in hell.
My position argues that Bible doesn't teach that.
Now, saying cats aren't greatest animals isn't same as saying cats aren't animals.

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fauxlaw Global Moderator
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#11
--> @SatanLucy

No. Your example is a simple statement, "cats are animals." A better example would have been "cats are the greatest of animals," but then, your BoOP is to prove the point Your Resolve is complicated by degree of condition, of not just "pain in the fires of hell," but "greatest pain in the fires of hell," but then failed to prove the point. Merely making the claim is not good enough. By the mere claim, your statement falls into the truism bucket, because the Bible does teach there is pain in the fires of hell. Show me evidence of such degree. You did not, and Con caught you in the error. Every word in a Resolve has meaning and importance.

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#10

"Whether or not this amounts to "greatest pain in the fires of hell" is inconsequential, "


I am starting to think these voters are trolls. this is like having topic "cats are animals", and voter saying "whether cats are animals or not is inconsequential".

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#9
--> @fauxlaw

Thank you very much

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fauxlaw Global Moderator
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#8
--> @whiteflame

Words mean things, and certainly6, the worlds of the Resolution have specific and understandable meaning in their context, which is a condition experienced by people who ignore or dismiss "rules of the road" we travel in mortality. However, pro seems to imply by his argument that the Resolution must be taken in its own context, ignoring possible alternative words that say much the same thing, but without using the words of the Resolve. There, in Pro's case, the Bible does not read "greatest pain in the fires of hell," and, as a statement of factual reality, the Bible does not say this string of words in this words. There is great pain suffered, Pro acknowledges, but no "greatest pain."

However, Con's argument effectively shuts down the argument because Pro's claim is effectively a truism, which is a failed debate tactic. Con allows for, and cites several biblical passages, Old and New Testament, which acknowledge pain suffered as a consequence of sin, as a path to glory, and as a test of faith. Whether or not this amounts to "greatest pain in the fires of hell" is inconsequential, because the the consequences can be both physically and spiritually painful unto death, and that is suffice t pain to lose sight of the goal of dealing with pain and surviving to earn their right to live with God or not, eventually. The scriptures Con cites teach these principles clearly, Isaiah 33 18, Matthew 25 and Mark 19, for example.

Con wins.

I've tried to enter a vote, but the system response was that I've already voted on this debate. As there are zero votes noted on this debate as I make the vote attempt, that cannot be, and I have not previously placed a vote on this debate. Mods, plus. address.

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#7
--> @GreatfulGoy

Don't

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#6
--> @SomeDebatePerson

Are you sure you want me to vote

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#5
--> @Mal

Vote?

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#4
--> @fauxlaw

Please vote

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#3
--> @GreatfulGoy

Well, I still think you'd agree with me more than SatanLucy. I say hell is the absence of God, and that definition could still fit with annihilationism.

SatanLucy argues that the pain of hell is just not ultimate pain so the damned should be able to just suck it up.

You admit that your views are indeed heretical. Formal heresy results in automatic excommunication.

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#2
--> @SomeDebatePerson

I am an annihilationism advocate. I have heretical.theories even on how the pre-secodn coming Hell works due to OT clues.

I strongly believe the Heavenly exist eternally and the Hellbound get annihilated eventually, not tortured forever.

Heresy or not, I have heard even MORE heresy from a priest and deacon I spoke to (that Hell is merely a state of being that can chanfe at any time someone accepts God).

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#1
--> @GreatfulGoy

Would you like to vote?

Leaning
Leaning Global Moderator
#2
Criterion Pro Tie Con
Winner
It's been too long since I've read the Bible. . . Ah well. . .

Pro
'Appears to be making sneak argument based on the wording of debate titles.
If debate had more description, rounds, or more words in round 1, I might be able to better understand what or why Pro is getting at.
I think that context improves voter responsiveness. It is like that idea of two yard sales exact the same but in one way. One of the yard sales has a little note going along with each item, that tells a story about the item's providence and travels, people it has met.

When I see Pro's argument, I see a word trick.
But perhaps instead Pro worries about the idea of Hell,
Perhaps Pro wants to weigh the costs of following the Bible or not. Perhaps Hell would not be 'so painful as the 'greatest of pains?
But Pro's argument lacks context in this debate.

Con
Uses many sources for fire and pain.

I'm just going to address one,
(Isaiah 33:14)
https://biblehub.com/isaiah/33-14.htm

“Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire?
This rhetorical question underscores the recognition of God's holiness as a consuming fire, a metaphor used to describe God's purifying and judgmental nature (Deuteronomy 4:24, Hebrews 12:29). The question reflects the understanding that no one can stand before God in their sinfulness. The consuming fire represents God's ability to purify and destroy sin, emphasizing the need for repentance and holiness to dwell in His presence.

Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?”
The everlasting flames symbolize the eternal nature of God's judgment and holiness. This phrase suggests the perpetual state of God's righteous judgment against sin. It points to the eternal consequences of sin and the need for redemption. In a broader biblical context, this can be connected to the concept of eternal separation from God for the unrepentant, as seen in passages like Matthew 25:41, where eternal fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. The question implies the necessity of divine intervention for anyone to stand in God's presence, foreshadowing the need for a savior, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who enables believers to dwell with God through His atoning sacrifice."

Arguably there are Christians who consider the fire to be a metaphor.

Con addresses the wordplay, and argues their own argument is more thorough by addressing forever as well as greatest pain.
Con argues greatest pain could be in the everlasting part.

RFV Con
More sources, more arguments, criticizes Pro's arguments.
Being a 1 round debate, Con has great advantage able to address Pro's arguments, while Pro is not able to address Con's.
fauxlaw
fauxlaw Global Moderator
#1
Criterion Pro Tie Con
Winner
Words mean things, and certainly6, the worlds of the Resolution have specific and understandable meaning in their context, which is a condition experienced by people who ignore or dismiss "rules of the road" we travel in mortality. However, pro seems to imply by his argument that the Resolution must be taken in its own context, ignoring possible alternative words that say much the same thing, but without using the words of the Resolve. There, in Pro's case, the Bible does not read "greatest pain in the fires of hell," and, as a statement of factual reality, the Bible does not say this string of words in this words. There is great pain suffered, Pro acknowledges, but no "greatest pain."

However, Con's argument effectively shuts down the argument because Pro's claim is effectively a truism, which is a failed debate tactic. Con allows for, and cites several biblical passages, Old and New Testament, which acknowledge pain suffered as a consequence of sin, as a path to glory, and as a test of faith. Whether or not this amounts to "greatest pain in the fires of hell" is inconsequential, because the the consequences can be both physically and spiritually painful unto death, and that is suffice t pain to lose sight of the goal of dealing with pain and surviving to earn their right to live with God or not, eventually. The scriptures Con cites teach these principles clearly, Isaiah 33 18, Matthew 25 and Mark 19, for example.

Con wins.