I was interested to read the Chemistry student's answer in regards to hell. It's neat to see if analysed from a truly scientific perspective.
Only thing is, I wouldn't exactly say that MOST religions in the world believe non-members are going to hell. Hindus, Buddhists, Baha'i, Sikhs, Hare Krishnas and many others subscribe to theories that are quite the opposite. In fact, out of the five major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Buddhism) only three technically believe this, and Christianity is the only one of the three that promotes the theory with any real dedication or fervor.
As Muslims believe that every human being is born Muslim and only denounce Islam when they embrace another religion, it is fair to say that the only people they believe might go to "hell" would be those who are another religion. That does not count humanists, athiests or agnostics. They have not embraced another God, and so therefore they are not against Allah.
Hell in general is a very Christian concept and while *some* other religions do have theories about what happens to non-believers, it tends to be more akin to the "absence of heaven" or the "absence of god/allah, etc" rather than fire and brimstone. Some religions might even suggest that "hell" is in fact, simply living on earth without God.
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Date: 2005-03-04 06:55 am (UTC)Only thing is, I wouldn't exactly say that MOST religions in the world believe non-members are going to hell. Hindus, Buddhists, Baha'i, Sikhs, Hare Krishnas and many others subscribe to theories that are quite the opposite. In fact, out of the five major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and Buddhism) only three technically believe this, and Christianity is the only one of the three that promotes the theory with any real dedication or fervor.
As Muslims believe that every human being is born Muslim and only denounce Islam when they embrace another religion, it is fair to say that the only people they believe might go to "hell" would be those who are another religion. That does not count humanists, athiests or agnostics. They have not embraced another God, and so therefore they are not against Allah.
Hell in general is a very Christian concept and while *some* other religions do have theories about what happens to non-believers, it tends to be more akin to the "absence of heaven" or the "absence of god/allah, etc" rather than fire and brimstone. Some religions might even suggest that "hell" is in fact, simply living on earth without God.
I drifted way off topic, sorry!