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The God of Hell should be held in loathing, contempt and scorn. A God who threatens eternal pain should be hated, not loved - cursed, not worshiped. A heaven presided over by such a God must be below the lowest hell. I want no part in any heaven in which the saved, the ransomed and redeemed will drown with shouts of joy the cries and sobs of hell - in which happiness will forget misery, where the tears of the lost only increase laughter and double bliss.

Robert G. Ingersoll#48

ReligionMoralityEthicsGodTheologySufferingHellHeavenWorship

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote condemns a deity who promises eternal punishment, arguing such a being is unworthy of worship and that a heaven ignoring the suffering of others is inferior to hell.
In plain terms
A god who threatens eternal pain deserves hatred rather than love.
What can you take from it?
Reject moral systems built on the threat of eternal torment.

Where it applies

  • religious debate
  • ethical philosophy
  • personal faith crisis

Putting it to work

  • question religious dogma
  • critique punitive theology
  • advocate for humanist ethics

Questions to consider

  • What makes a moral system worthy of following?
  • How should we judge religious claims?

Another view

The argument assumes eternal punishment is a core tenet of all religious faiths.

More from Robert G. Ingersoll

  1. In the estimation of good orthodox Christians I am a criminal, because I am trying to take from loving mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, an…

    Permalink to quote #47
  2. The idea of hell was born of ignorance, brutality, fear, cowardice, and revenge. This idea testifies that our remote ancestors were the lowest beasts. Only fro…

    Permalink to quote #49
  3. It is incredible that only idiots are absolutely sure of salvation. It is incredible that the more brain you have the less your chance is. There can be no dang…

    Permalink to quote #46

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