(From I-Mockery) After Han Solo learns that Luke hasn't come back in from his patrol on Hoth and he's stuck outside in the freezing cold, Han tells an Echo Base officer that he's going to go out to look for his friend. The officer warns him that his tauntaun will freeze before he reaches the first marker, and Han replies "Then I'll see you in Hell!" and kicks his tauntaun into first gear. Mentioning such an Earth-specific concept like "Hell" seems really out-of-place in a Star Wars movie (especially when no religion other than the Force is ever mentioned), and it's always stuck out in my mind every time he says it. But he says it in such a totally dickish way that it never fails to make me grin, even though it does seem oddly out of place.
PETA asks the Christians at KFC: "What would Jesus think of the fact that you’re not willing to even lift a finger to help the 850 million chickens killed for your restaurants, even though it is entirely within your power to do so? I’m not trying to be some Biblical scholar here, but honestly, it is just plain evil to continue to cause massive suffering when there are simple changes that can be made, and have been made by other fast food joints."
What would Jesus do? He had no problem sending an evil spirit into a herd of swine and letting them die, so maybe the 850 million chooks are the vessels for modern exorcised demons. All sorts of turtle doves and goats paid the price for sins and such in the old good book. I think a Chicken saviour is long overdue. A chosen chook should be raised up and cruci-fried for the sins of the colonel... hmm, maybe Pam Anderson is that old chook?
Thanks Snakey for the following video! It's just freaking entertaining watching this passionate Christian idiot spitting and swearing at a list of YouTube users who 'dare' to call themselves atheists. This guy is a freaking loon, and I've never seen anyone swear so much who wasn't a Citroen Mechanic.
I don't think it's entirely polite to openly mock people who have mental disorders. I do stop and watch crazy homelesss people, in wide-eyed fascination who wander down the streets screaming at invisible people, but I feel sorry for them at the same time. Perhaps this guy does have some sort of disorder... but then again, who doesn't?
This guy makes the fat wife-swapping funcy freakazoid look like... uh actually no, they're both equally and willfully ignorant. This nine minute video is worth watching and he only gets more revved up as it goes along. I bet the people whose names are on his list are proud as punch to be on it. Ha.
- There's none of that annoying check-in procedure like with St. Peter. - Due to recent health code changes, vats of boiling brimstone now use low-fat canola oil. - Your "Do you smell something burning?" slays 'em, year after year. - Plenty of legal help available for filing "wrongful death" lawsuit. - Newly passed law: Three strikes and you're back in LA. - Satan's confused attempts to torture masochists can be highly entertaining. - Well, sure, it's hot, but it's a *dry* heat. - Free prostate checks and PAP smears administered daily! - Every Thursday is Karaoke Night, hosted by Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. - Prizes awarded for best crank phone calls to God. - Everywhere you look, there's a smoking section! - Big step up from Moranbah. - Your little "blue flame" trick now produces spectacular results. - Free Microsoft software for everyone (as per agreement made back in early 80's). - Now that you've followed her advice, you just might get that date with Cindy Crawford. - 52 smmmmmokin' channels of Jim Carrey! - Saturday night WWF tag-team bout between Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler, and Hitler. - Everyone gets a length of pipe and a daily crack at Nancy Kerrigan's knee. - Fortune to be made on "Welcome, O.J." t-shirts.
What do you make of people who make fanciful bullshit stories as follows (this testimony was shared with us recently in a forum I haunt:
Let me explain it like this. The most profound time I heard the audible voice of God. I was alone in my loungeroom and without any expectation, the Holy Spirit came upon my person in power. I was immediately taken from my body and I went immediately to Heaven. What I saw there was beyond capability of being described but most importantly Jesus spoke to me. He actually shouted at me in a very loud voice and He said " I am coming back" The shout was so loud that it was almost deafening and if every electronic power amplifier on earth was turned right up full blast loud, it wouldn't match the decibels of God when He shouts.... So this revelation has shown me three things 1) Jesus is real 2) Jesus is coming back and 3) there is an existance that completely transcends this mortal existance that we live in now. And this existance that transcends the mortal is eternal. Now a revelation of this sort of magnitude does not in any way make me any more spiritual than other christians, but as I write this to you in trembling, I am in the realization that one day Jesus will hold me personally accountable for the message He imparted to me. Have I been faithful to that message ??
This is the mega tangible experience we were given to prove the Bible is not a fairy-tale. Makes the speaking in tongues 'evidence' sound pretty pathetic. I think it only fair that all christians get the grand tour of heaven when the enter into the club. No respector of persons? pfft... sounds like special treatment to me and I'm seriously thinking of sending a letter of complain off to management for not getting the tour when I joined up.
It's 'Jack and the Beanstalk' crap like this that make so many Christian testimonies come across as fairytales. I have to stand up for rationalists and realists everywhere and say 'bullsit' mate. Absolute bullshit. My sister tells pretty much the same story word for word and I've heard it from many a christian who are either seeking attention or are experiencing some sort of mental delusion akin to people who are swept up by aliens into a mothership for poking and prodding. My sister was able to put some of the 'experience' into words. She said she saw mostly built white mansions and streets of glowing gold.
I'm wondering why we need mansions for the spiritual bodies? Will there be ensuites for spiritual toiletry, and will the gold streets be a bit slippery? And why gold? That much gold will make it less valued and just not as practical as bitumen.
Now no doubt you're going to get your back up and you may even suggest as you have recently that 'I' seek professional mental help, but it's not me that is getting visions via white supermen with wings. I do find it quite fascinating, but I think you would do mankind a big favour by humbly admitting that your sense of reality has been warped by conscious lucid dreaming or some lie that you want to believe so much that you're willing to stand by it whole-heartedly.
Bindi - Many psychologists ( not me yet! ) have studied the reported 'alien kidnappings', and one of the conclusions is that the kidnappings never occurred. However, the people making the claims are not necessarily mentally ill, nor are they lying.. These are by and large people who have 'remembered' their 'experiences' while undergoing therapy, and often under hypnosis. Tales of alien abduction are widely known throughout our culture, so it is not at all suprising that the 'memories' of 'kidnap victims' would tend to coincide. 'Abductees' generally claim that they are awakened during their sleep by the aliens and are unable to move. We know that many of our voluntary muscles-the ones that involve movement- become 'paralyzed' when we sleep, which is why we usually don't thrash around when we dream. 'Hallucinations' - that is, seeing and hearing things that are not really there - are quite common as we are waking from a sleep-paralyzed state - ( I can't tell you the amount of times Ive sat bolt-upright in bed with my eyes wide open fighting of hundreds of spiders that are hanging around my face! lol! ) - and it seems the reported experiences of 'abductees' fit the pattern. People are quite open to suggestion, especially during hypnosis. Memories are not perfect snapshots. "UFO" memories may be constructed from bits and pieces of sleep-related hallucinations, nightmares and media attention fixed solidly into place with the suggestion of hypnosis and the validation of support groups. I guess the same could be said for those of us who have had various 'experiences' with God. Our conviction is further validated by those around us who have 'experienced' the same. Dare I suggest, brainwashing?? ME (Moth) - I used to write-off all the alien and ghost stories as Satan's little army of demons playing silly bugger with us. Those mischievous little minxes and their tricks - crazy rascally little scallywags! Ahh, ya gotta love 'em. Christians would have us believe that all their crazy demon/angel/jesus sightings are above board, while the Mary/E.T./poltergeist sightings are induced by Mr Devil himself... the ultimate trickster. I have to say, that anyone who starts seeing mythological creatures in their own physical peripheral vision needs to really have a good long hard think about how much sleep they are getting and what unnatural substances they are allowing to seep through their lungs and stomach linings.
The bible has its own built-in clauses to explain away people like myself and that makes the whole thing work wonderfully. It would seem a strong delusion spell has been cast on me in order for me to believe a lie, and that I was 'not ever of them'. Whatever works for them, but I really think this is a cop out. If this delusion spell is on me then my freewill has been compromised and therefore my ability to work out my salvation has been biased and is not in my favour. That's a bit unfair don't you think?
Bindi - Yes... I do agree. Our 'free will' has been somewhat compromised. I don't really believe there IS any such thing as 'free will'! We were told... " You have a choice, its your free will, but if you don't do things THIS way, your going to hell and its not a nice place down there. Lots of screaming for all eternity. Burning sulphur. No chance of cooling off, no sirreee! But hey! Its your choice!" What the hell? ( pun intended ) What kind of choice is THAT???
As for seeing beasties, ghosts, gremlins and aliens. I believe its literally 'all in the mind'. Sometimes enhanced with a few mind expanding drugs if that's your thing! But seriously.... these 'things' can be explained away scientifically and therefor I don't believe it has anything to do with the workings of 'Ol' Nick' or is the souls of the dearly departed.
Having said that...what about the stories we here of 'haunted houses' etc? Ive heard some spine tingling stories of peoples experiences in some old, old buildings with a history behind them. How do we explain this? Is this another case of rumours getting around about certain places, stories being told and we have those tales memorized in our minds so when we visit these places, we 'experience' the same??? Is it because we want to have our OWN ghosty stories to tell? Lets face it.. everyone loves a good ghosty story around the campfire!!! There is nothing worse when everyone else has a story to tell and are all excited about telling it and then we turn around and say.. " well, nothing happened to me." Ohhh... what a convo killer! You don't get to be part of all the excited hype! You're left out! No one likes to be left out so we conjure up our OWN story.
Hence the reason why all those alien abductions tell a similar tale. They have heard it before and it becomes locked in their memory. The same can be said for similar stories being told in the churches. Some I truly believe may of been true, but some were 'over dramatized'. No one wanted to be 'left out' in giving an amazing testimony. Anything for a bit of attention.
Landover Baptist's Pastor Deacon Fred addresses thousands of hellbound freethinkers in front of Congress at the Godless March on Washington.
Lord I know that I’m worthless... worthless… and a constant source of irritation to you. Thank you for not killing me today and not flinging my limp corpse into the sadistic hell you created. As a true Christian, I love you with all my heart - convenience permitting - and am glad that your nasty temper was not turned on me today.
Lord Jesus I know your love is unconditional, all you ask is that I do everything you demand, and flatter you regularly without shame or regard to the mess of everything you try to create. Lord Jesus, even though you made some noise about us giving away all our possessions to the poor, please guide our republican party to affect which that you most desire – tax cuts for folk rich enough to tithe.
I noticed these two movies on the cover of the latest Video Ezy brochure... am I just mental to think they're similar? Is it just me? I love finding these sort of similarities in movie posters. This isn't the best example but I have seen trends in movie posters that steal and copy previous lay-outs that helped sell successful movies.
The Descent was a great movie. Very very dark and scary and just incredible atmosphere. I have turned into a real horror movie freak geek lately - that's very Ain't Christian' of me. I downloaded Hostel: Part 2 the other night and had an absolute ball with it - I completely freaked out. That ending - OMG! I happen to be mature enough to understand that such a torture scenario is urban 'mythology'... Not many christians are able to suppress a similar idea of afterlife torture. The Hell mythologers believe many of us are truly going to a Hostel where we'll be tortured at the delight of whoever keeps the fire and poke sticks going.
I'm not scared to admit I am human enough to fear all sorts of stuff. I fear toads and grasshoppers. I fear losing my job. I fear driving long distances and having car trouble. I fear anything that may cause mental or physical pain for myself or family and friends. I fear... ummm... getting kidnapped and sent to a Hostel in Prague and being tortured to death by wealthy psychopaths.
But tortured in hell by neverending flames (on a body that will last forever, mind you), for not going to church or believing in god..? Nahhhh
10. "The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country."
9. "The ACLU is to Christians what the American Nazi party is to Jews."
8. "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!"
7. "AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharaoh's charioteers ... AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."
6. "Nothing will motivate conservative evangelical Christians to vote Republican in the 2008 presidential election more than a Democratic nominee named Hillary Rodham Clinton - not even a run by the devil himself ...certainly hope that Hillary is the candidate. She has $300 million so far. But I hope she's the candidate. Because nothing will energize my [constituency] like Hillary Clinton. If Lucifer ran, he wouldn't." --at a "Values Voter Summit"
5. "Grown men should not be having sex with prostitutes unless they are married to them."
4. "Billy Graham is the chief servant of Satan in America."
3. "He is purple — the gay-pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle — the gay pride symbol." –from a "Parents Alert" issued in Jerry Falwell's National Liberty Journal, warning that "Tinky Winky," a character on the popular PBS children's show, "Teletubbies," may be gay
2. "You've got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops. And I'm for the president to chase them all over the world. If it takes 10 years, blow them all away in the name of the Lord."
1. "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'" --on the 9/11 attacks.
Those who claim that no one takes the supermarket tabloids seriously should speak to the folk of Starkfield, North Dakota. According to the Grand Forks Herald,
After a supermarket tabloid printed a story about a tunnel in a farm field near Starkweather, N.D., that leads to hell, the locals were amused. But their good humor soon diminished. Dealing with the influx of people searching for the hell hole quickly grew tiresome for the residents.
The article, which appeared in the Weekly World News, reported that a farmer clearing an abandoned field uncovered a stinking pit brimming with bones. Excavation revealed a spiraling staircase that appeared to wind down infinitely into the earth. The article further stated that local scientists walked 300 feet down the staircase and entered "another dimension." The governor then reportedly approved the use of a 12-man strike force including Vatican exorcists to descend into the hell hole to destroy Satan.
"Why us?" asked one of the frustrated residents. "Now I understand why celebrities get so upset with those tabloids. I never realized the power of those things."
Remember those Chick tract comic books your mum used to give you to scare you into being good and Christian? This fundy propaganda did to Christianity what Robert Crumb did to alley cats. I love finding parodies of these psychotic little comics, and the ironic thing is that they're originally unintentional parodies of the Catholic-hating fundamentalist doctrines that they are. Millions of these things have been distributed around the world and they're completely freaky shite. I don't know what bewilders me more... that they're designed in comic format to appeal and scare kids or that the writer completely believes and sells this version of reality.
I've just been looking through the Jack tracts on his website and having a great time. It's a unique style all of his own. What really tickled me is many of the comic books are completely redrawn to appeal to black audiences. Obviously black people won't relate to people being thrown into hell fire unless they see black people depicted so. Even the angels are black in the black version. Jack Chick thought of everything. Yep, hell is for all races! yay! The devil looks cooler in the 'black people' version. What do you think?
And those one's weren't the parodies. I'm not joking.
The following tract takes place after a no good non-Christian guy name Bobby dies after admitting he had nothing to live for. This death is a great opportunity for Ol' Freddy Fanatic to preach to a young freckled face kid who is hanging around with an older smarmy arrogant non-Christian jerk.
"Haw haw" was how atheists used to laugh when this tract was written. Nowadays we snort and guffaw.
Actually, the man in black is making a lot of sense, but he's about to syphon nicotine through his lungs and potentially harm his body, so we know he's a bad guy, hey kids? Plus, he's wearing black - a dead give-away. Oh, and he's blowing smoke into the Christian's face. Bastard. Doesn't he know passive smoking is supposed to be bad.
Understanding the bible means ignoring the contradictions and arguing at ambulance scenes. I think there might be some sort of homosexual relationship hinted at in this tract. It sort of looks like Bruce Wayne and his ward, Dick Grayson.
Christ invaded our planet? I knew he was some sort of Alien. E.T. was actually based on the bible (remember the part where E.T. dies and rises again?) Jesus was always trying to phone home and light his finger up. It's a little known fact that Jesus had a pot belly too.
Apparently the approximate year 4370 is going to be a big year for remembering the first time you read a Chick tract comic book.
Luckily Christians revel in being persecuted, but still a cheap shot. Nasty atheist Bruce Wayne.
Warning: never discuss theology and drive or you're a "Bloody Idiot"
Chick is a bible expert. He knows there's no such place as purgatory. He's not falling for any of that purgatory crap. What nonsense.. purgatory... pffft. The giant white throne? Now that's for real!
Oh CRAP! Where the hell was the Scooby gang? Where was Fred and Daphne and the hippy guy when this villain was wearing masks in some amazing skkullduggery that even foiled those pesky darned kids. It was Lucifer all along. What a twist! I didn't see that one coming, and he's an ugly bugger too. I wonder why the devil has horns. Does he use them to defend himself?
Ex-Christian.net recently posted some youtubes of some of the Chick Tracts Films. They played all together at some film festivals (including the LA Film Festival, and Outfest, and some New York Festival as well). You can learn more about them at www.316now.com.
Always remember, Jesus loves you more than you can possibly comprehend. But, if for any reason whatsoever you don't come to accept the correct version of Christianity while still breathing air, then that loving god-man is going to make you suffer the most horrific and demented fate ever conceived. There will be no chance of parole or escape. You will not even be allowed to die. You will be tormented and tortured forever.
.
Unconditional love and grace: Isn't it truly amazing?
Please, for your own sake, stop mocking God and His people. The famous, John Lennon, and Anna Nicole Smith (just to name 2) and many other not so famous, have done so at their own peril. Please don't be included with these unfortunate people.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for what ever a man sows, so shall he reap." Galatians 6:7
I found that letter at the Landover Baptist site and it's amazing that I still cower a little bit when I write something funny about Christianity. That's definitely because of my upbringing and I'm also aware of how family members would be shocked to see me lampooning their religions. Truth is there isn't much else I find funnier, so go with it I say.
It's a little like the tingly feeling you get when you go to the mirror and say 'Bloody Mary' three times. You know it's a scary campfire story, but it doesn't stop your imagination from wondering if the Candyman of Bloody Mary will come seeking after your blood. Go to the mirror now... try it. If I had hairs on the back of my neck they'd be raised.
I've seen other people respond to the blasphemy challenge and it seems therapeutic to me. Perhaps it's my internal way of saying, "C'mon God, if you are real, then punish me for promoting the idea that you don't actually exist." God is not mocked?.. the bible says... well, that's not true - he's mocked all the time. So I challenge him to make me bald. I think baldness suits a lot of people, but it wouldn't me, so there... he can strike me with that, 'cause we all know anyway that God hates barbers and I'll have less reason to see them.
So... if God is not mocked actually means there'll be a mummy's curse on my ass for taunting him then I'm in for some bad mojo or karma? Well, bring it on. I don't think there's anything to fear though - really. You see I've reasoned his existance with the brain and intellect he would have given me to do so. I spent 33 years studying and following his Bible as best I could (I thought I'd at least give it a go for the same amout of time Jesus supposedly lived for) and I decided, "Nup, this smells stranger than rotten platypus eggs".
I can't get done in for wilfull ignorance because I gave it a good hot go and I weighed up the pros and cons as best I could with the information available to me, and processed it as best I could with the only grey matter I had in me.
If perchance there does happen to be a Fairy Godfather tiptoeing through the universe after all and wants to punish me for eternity for not working out the fact that he was actually there... well, I'll just have to take whatever's coming. There won't be any reasoning with a shmuck like that.
Up here on the Sunshine Coast where the Australia Zoo is, there has been a furore recently when an e-mail made it to the media stating that Steve Irwin gave his heart and life to the Lord at the Kings Christian Church (AOGish) just weeks before he died. The pastor of King's denies this actually happened and is sorry that one of his staff had a mind to send out such a message from the church's office computer.
How desperate are many christians to come up with a way to manipulate the facts so that it's seen that Steve will be frolicking around in heaven with the rest of the 'holy' and great people. So what if he never gave his life to the Lord? He certainly gave his life to the planet and its creatures. Will he now be running around in an eternal and tormentuous hell because he should have been fishing for men rather than fishing for crocs?
According to most christian based beliefs there are many super-powered spiritual beings roaming around us and moving in between their universe and our universe. Sounds like great science fiction to me and a good premise for a movie or tv series, but unfortunately real life isn't like that - boring though that may seem. Even our kids work out sooner or later there is no Santa Claus or teletubbies.
Let's say they're right. Let's say that there are angels and saints busy working for God. That means they're not doing a great job, because there's pain and misery everywhere and they hardly seem to be lifing a finger to do anything about it. Even Superman and Batman would try to make some impact. Some of the blame has to be shared out to all the superspirits who just aren't cutting the mustard.
Apart from the tri-une God (Father, Spirit and the kid) there are numerous Saints for Catholics to pray to and angels of many ranks to depend on in an emergancy. God is a great one for delegation it seems and has stuff going on everywhere in the minds of Catholics.
I'm sure Mary was a top chick, but yeah she's very dead. I don't believe that she's floating around the cosmos relaying messages onto Jesus. Some people find Jesus a bit intimidating to send prayer requests to so they go through his mum hoping that being a female she will be more sympathetic to their needs and put in a good word.
Mainstream Christians really embrace the concept of demons and angels flittering about above and around them. They personalise the demons and angels in much the same way the Greeks and Egyptions had all sort of various demi-gods for different purposes. Mainstream christians believe free will can be taken from people and replaced with possessing demons. On the whole they are a pretty fearful lot who go on ghostdemon hunts often. Too scared to watch Pokemon, Sesame street, Buffy, Harry Potter, Scooby Doo.. lest a demon find a way into their consciousness and trick them into something unholy.
Christians love the concept that people may be tortured forever. They get off on it. Of course they frown and furrow at the concept and try their hardest to convert people so as to avoid this mythical eternity, but they seem to love the idea that the idiots who rejected their Bible 'sell' will regret it for eternity. And they'll be patting Jesus on the back for eternity in their Heaven for sending the bastards there.
If "Jesus Christ Holy Spirit God" creates and sustains all things then he either does or allows everything that is done in heaven or on earth. If countless helpless human beings are being tortured, then Jesus is doing it. (take that in for a second... ok, continue) Satan may have brought suffering and death to the whole human race in some views. However, if eternal torment IS TRUE, then Jesus Christ will torture forever the whole human race, except the small handful who will be saved. In one hour, in a hot searing hell, Jesus will inflict more pain and agony on each person than Satan inflicted on that person during his entire life. That'd be really nice of him eh?
If this torture lasts throughout eternity, then each unsaved person will suffer more than all the suffering of all the people that ever lived on earth. Think of it! Billions have suffered horrible pain for hours, days, weeks, months, and years, during the time they were alive. And yet, after they die, EVERY unsaved person will suffer more agony than all the suffering of the whole race PUT TOGETHER from Adam until now. This is so horrible, so frightful, that it is difficult for our minds to grasp. Except Satan himself, Pharaoh, Nero, and Hitler were among the most horrible killers of men this world has ever known. Yet, the doctrine of eternal torture makes Jesus a million times more vicious and vindictive than these three put together. You see, these brutal murderers killed their victims. Death brought sweet relief in a moment of time. However, that Man of Galilee, that Man whom many love, praise, and worship, that man who taught that we should forgive four hundred and ninety times a day, that Man who told us that we should love our enemies and bless them that curse us, that Man who died for all men, will never, never forgive ANYONE who has rejected Him in this frail life, or, worse yet, who merely failed to believe on Him during this brief time. Instead of torturing them for a season and then ending their suffering with death, He will torture them through all eternity.
Hmmm... Seriously, that has got to make you think outside the box (or the pit)... if you believe such a thing.
As I've said before, the belief of such a loving deity allowing this heinous existance wipes God of all believability and credibility. Dunno who wrote much of this article, but it's a bloody good read.
I think most who promote the idea of hell as this 'very very bad place' that exists outside of this reality haven't actually tasted of the real heaven and hell that already exists in this reality.
Heaven and hell are here... Have you felt the soul crushing pain of losing a loved one?... Have you fallen in love with someone so much it hurts only to have to let them go forever? Have you had a family member move overseas? Have you lost function of a body part due to sickness? Had your kids reject you? The list goes on and on... Surely we've all felt the reality of hell or the consequence of sin/karma? For every action there is an opposing and equal reaction... that is the nature of the universe.
Q. You know what I notice from the list in the last paragraph? A. Separation
When we're separated from those we love.. sometimes forever... it's hell! Someone we love is taken from us due to death or whatever.. and we're forced to live separated from them. Hell is separation and, Oh yeah.. hell exists here and now ladies and gentlemen and it sucks and it hurts... it hurts like hell.
Many heathen religions and 'blah' had their legends and folklores of subterranean punishment scapes brought on by angry gods... and many used the O.T. Sheol references to frame the idea around, but heck, even Moses never mentioned such an idea of eternal recompense. By the time Jesus started roaming the planet these hellish concepts were in full flight... but they didn't come from the Old Testament!! Yah, Ian is right.. Jesus borrowed them from the uninspired heathens. The Pagans et. al. held Hades to be a place of eternal torment after death... this was their idea!!
Then came the whacky Christians who loved to muddy their own waters with doses of heathen ideas. Artists and poets alike revelled in the romanticised images of the writhing damned (yes these are my own words - lol). The idea caught on like wildfire (pun fully intended) and many christians have been vexed and confused ever since.
Hell, what a stupid stupid concept. If it's true and we get sent there... well, at least we'll have our memories of better times to remember, unless they get wiped, but what would be the good of that? There'd be nothing to feel sorry and tormented over. And what the fuck would punishment be good for if nothing was to be learnt from it? So no one dies... eveyone gets eternal life... it just happens to be better for some than others. For most Christians in their point of view, even good ol' Steve Irwin will be tormented for years for wasting so much time looking after the environment rather than reading the word and preaching the good news.
Yes, he loves you so so so so much.. more than one could love a son. Heh, but they say there's a time coming soon when he'll judge his children (and what? cast them into death?). Heck, I know many mortal parents who have real unconditional love for their children, so much that they'd be merciful even if rejected by them. Your God should be so loving.
The Hell believers say... "the tme comes when you find that the time of mercy that is available to you has passed", but the Bible says... "his mercy never comes to an end. They are new every morning." Lamentations 3:22
Confusing isn't it! Come on, does the Lord's mercy end or not?
God cannot send to eternal pain a man who has done something toward improving the condition of his fellow-man. If he can, I had rather go to hell than to heaven and keep company with such a god. -Robert Ingersoll
An idea, which has terrified millions, claims that some of us will go to a place called Hell, where we will suffer eternal torture. This does not scare me because, when I try to imagine a Mind behind this universe, I cannot conceive that Mind, usually called "God," as totally mad. I mean, guys, compare that "God" with the worst monsters you can think of -- Adolph Hitler, Joe Stalin, that sort of guy. None of them ever inflicted more than finite pain on their victims. Even de Sade, in his sado-masochistic fantasy novels, never devised an unlimited torture. The idea that the Mind of Creation (if such exists) wants to torture some of its critters for endless infinities of infinities seems too absurd to take seriously. Such a deranged Mind could not create a mud hut, much less the exquisitely mathematical universe around us. - Robert Anton Wilson
(From I-Mockery) After Han Solo learns that Luke hasn't come back in from his patrol on Hoth and he's stuck outside in the freezing cold, Han tells an Echo Base officer that he's going to go out to look for his friend. The officer warns him that his tauntaun will freeze before he reaches the first marker, and Han replies "Then I'll see you in Hell!" and kicks his tauntaun into first gear. Mentioning such an Earth-specific concept like "Hell" seems really out-of-place in a Star Wars movie (especially when no religion other than the Force is ever mentioned), and it's always stuck out in my mind every time he says it. But he says it in such a totally dickish way that it never fails to make me grin, even though it does seem oddly out of place. 
PETA 
Actually, the man in black is making a lot of sense, but he's about to syphon nicotine through his lungs and potentially harm his body, so we know he's a bad guy, hey kids? Plus, he's wearing black - a dead give-away. Oh, and he's blowing smoke into the Christian's face. Bastard. Doesn't he know passive smoking is supposed to be bad. 
