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Edward Fudge (and others) in the New York Times
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:52 pm
by Michelle
Not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, but there it was yesterday:
Tormented in the Afterlife, but Not Forever
Re: Edward Fudge (and others) in the New York Times
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 5:08 pm
by robbyyoung
Well, the only thing that should matter in anyone's hypothesis is clearly defining speculation from facts. In many instances these lines are so blurred you can't distinguish between the two. For example, we know in Jewish thought "olam" doesn't necessarily mean eternal. Furthermore, eternity is a obscure notion or even alien to a normal Jewish discussion in antiquity. "Olam" simply meant an indefinite period of time. It's equivalent, "eon" in the greek, should be carefully noted.
For example; Rev 14:9-11 depicts ONLY "The Beast" worshippers being sentenced to this fate. However, is or IS NOT this rendering of "forever" in vs.11, in-fact, eternal? Or is it an "indefinite period of time"?
Should this be in the speculative column, or fact?
Mr. Fudge puts it in the speculative column, but his error is to not leave it there. He then proceeds to proclaim it as fact. I don't believe there is clear evidence either way. So the safest answer is to simply repeat what is given to us in scripture. In Matt 7, Yeshua says, "Depart from me...", where in the scriptures does He emphatically say, "You, in torment, times up - return to me." or simply "Times up - cease to exist."?
It's ok to speculate on unclear matters, but I think it should stay there.
God Bless.
Re: Edward Fudge (and others) in the New York Times
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:27 pm
by Singalphile
Interesting. Thanks, Michelle. I linked to this post over at rethinkinghell.com. Funny how I'm familiar with all the names in the article (well, except for Kathryn Gin Lum). What is the point of the article? That "conditionalism" is trending? I'm not really sure.
Michell wrote:Not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing ....
I know what you mean, I think. Having this minority opinion about hell, I often hope the topic just won't come up. But if people just stick to the Biblical language, then there's no need to argue. (Of course it is important, and I might hope that different views are given a fair treatment in church groups across our countries, but I don't expect it.)