To hell and back
September 29, 2007
The story of Carlton Pearson.
Carlton Pearson dreamed of greatness… and found it. He was loved and respected by tens of thousands of people — a preacher loaded with charm, charisma and an honest commitment to his God and his people. And then he lost it all. It all started when he got a new idea. Hell does not exist anywhere but here on here on earth, it’s a state of mind.
I watched this documentary last night about a “fallen” hero. He was an evangelical destined for greatness UNTIL he started preaching that a loving God would not create hell, a place of everlasting suffering. Everyone is saved, regardless of what the person did on earth, regardless if he or she accepted Jesus. Jesus already died for the sins of the world, and thus everyone is forgiven.
The evangelicals are up in arms - as one said: Why preach then? If there is no hell, we don’t need redeeming anymore, As Jesus already died for our sins. All I could think of was: Yes, there goes the goose who lays the golden eggs. He is being ostracized by his peers - so much for Christian love.
More:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14337492/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Pearson
Cross linked from http://atheisttoolbox.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3879
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4 Responses to “To hell and back”
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Seems like Carlton Pearson got it almost half-right. Now move Heaven to Earth as well, and then we’ve just got this weird little fairytale about God and Creation.
They just can’t stand the idea that their threat(Hell and damnation), is not as valid anymore. It works for the simple-minded, I suppose!
I watched this documentary last week. Carlton Pearson’s story was really quite moving.
The question of whether he was right or wrong aside, it was almost sickening to see the monster eat itself alive. Nearly all those who claimed to be his friends and said that they loved him turned their backs and told him he would burn in hell (how heartbreaking for a beleiver!)
This story really did a good job of illustrating the inherent harm that comes along with fundamental religion.
What really got to me that was that they could see themselves (speaking for their God), forgive someone like Ted Haggard. They preach against homosexualism all the time as if it is a big sin.
Religion is a business, and a poisonous one.