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Well for starters, we don't actually believe in an eternal hell (unlike most other Christian denominations). That's part of why I said my explanation was a bit

Well for starters, we don't actually believe in an eternal hell (unlike most other Christian denominations). That's part of why I said my explanation was a bit oversimplified, because we have a different understanding of what salvation entails than most other denominations. We also believe that people stay fundamentally the same after death as they were in life, so someone who would have rejected the truth (and baptism) in life would likely do the same after death. Again a bit oversimplified but that's the basic idea.

tempestn 3y ago
Yeah, I recall some of the various levels of heaven stuff. But it's more the second part that gets me. Most people who reject this belief system in life do so because there's no solid evidence to support it. But if they've died and have someone presenting the option to them to ascend to a better heaven or reject salvation, it's a very different situation. Now there is very strong evidence. If I'm the same person after death as in life, then both versions of me are going to make decisions based on evidence, so my decision would naturally change.
- HideousKojima 3y ago
  >Most people who reject this belief system in life do so because there's no solid evidence to support it. I agree, and in that sense the biggest beneficiaries of baptism for the dead are those who never had a chance to accept or reject it at all in mortal life. Though for those who had a chance in life and rejected it it's still technically possible to accept it in the next life. It's complicated, just like everything. >If I'm the same person after death as in life, then both versions of me are going to make decisions based on evidence, so my decision would naturally change. I mean you could be right, but scripture would suggest otherwise and that having faith (or not) isn't really about physical evidence or logic. Luke 16:27-31 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

tempestn 3y ago

Yeah, I recall some of the various levels of heaven stuff. But it's more the second part that gets me. Most people who reject this belief system in life do so because there's no solid evidence to support it. But if they've died and have someone presenting the option to them to ascend to a better heaven or reject salvation, it's a very different situation. Now there is very strong evidence. If I'm the same person after death as in life, then both versions of me are going to make decisions based on evidence, so my decision would naturally change.

HideousKojima 3y ago
>Most people who reject this belief system in life do so because there's no solid evidence to support it. I agree, and in that sense the biggest beneficiaries of baptism for the dead are those who never had a chance to accept or reject it at all in mortal life. Though for those who had a chance in life and rejected it it's still technically possible to accept it in the next life. It's complicated, just like everything. >If I'm the same person after death as in life, then both versions of me are going to make decisions based on evidence, so my decision would naturally change. I mean you could be right, but scripture would suggest otherwise and that having faith (or not) isn't really about physical evidence or logic. Luke 16:27-31 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.