I have two problems with the church today. The first is the Doctrine of Hell, which I believe is toxic to the Christian faith. Second is the overemphasis on 'belief' as the very defining characteristic of the entire religion.
The Doctrine of Hell, or the idea that God sends "non-believers" to a place of eternal torment and separation while the "believers" go to a place of eternal bliss called Heaven, has had a corrosive effect on the Christian religion. I believe it has driven many people away from organized faith and barred many more from ever joining.
Hell was initially conceived as a place where "bad" people go, and many people still adhere to that view. However, in the church community it has become mainly a place for 'non-believers'. Whether a person is 'good' or 'bad' has little to do with it anymore due to the church doctrine of sola fide or faith alone - meaning one is saved by faith alone and not as a result of good works or works righteousness. This simple formula has elevated the concept of faith or belief above all else. If someone is bad or does something that is sinful, that is OK because they can still be forgiven. But lack of faith or unbelief has become the unforgivable sin in this construct.
Recently, I had an online spat with a friend who has a degree in 'Christian apologetics.' He had posted about his approval of a conservative priest denying communion to people who support abortion and/or gay rights. I expressed my belief that communion should be open to everyone and not restricted to a few pious people who swear allegiance to certain politico-religious doctrines or creeds. My friend then leaped to the conclusion that people who share my views and reject his views are in danger of going to hell.
I was rather taken aback that our disagreement had devolved so quickly into threats of eternal condemnation. But that is what churches teach today and millions of Christians have it ingrained in their sub-conscience such that they rarely reflect on its logical inconsistencies and moral repugnance.
It's not that I think there will be no judgement or punishment for wickedness. The Bible is filled with passages warning of final judgement and people being cast into darkness or flames that never go out.
In nearly every case, the judgement is based on what someone did, not on what they believed. But these passages are cast aside when the church teaches that there is nothing we can 'do' to achieve our 'salvation' and that our only hope is based on what we BELIEVE. As long as we BELIEVE the correct dogma, our sins will be forgiven and we will be welcomed into God's Kingdom. Failure to BELIEVE, however, will unleash God's holy wrath on us for all of our subsequently unforgiven sins, regardless of all the good works we might have done during our life.
When the full realization of this church teaching hit me as a young man, I knew then that it was wrong. Based on this understanding of the faith, there would be billions and billions of people pouring into hell for the sole crime of not believing the correct dogma.
