Why do Christians believe you go to hell if you don't accept Jesus?

Jesus did double T.

There are two things wrong with your theory.

First, Pope Benedict (aka Pope Ratzinger) was a Nazi. So technically, he had no authority to be making determinations on Limbo.

Second, Pope Francis succeeded Pope Ratzinger, so even if you assume a Nazi had authority to close Limbo, Pope Francis appears to have successfully re-opened up Limbo.

Dante’s first circle of hell was virtuous pagans.

Thanks for the link. I've long since given up on organised religion so what I was relating was the status when I was a child. After seeing your post I do vaguely remember something about the Pope saying something about Limbo.

The link, which is the only thing I have read about it, puts its finger on one of the many reasons I gave up on religion - the constantly changing goal posts. The Limbo logic was a nice way of processing good non Catholics. Now it seems the church's position is you do not have to be baptised a Catholic to go to heaven. One could argue that this means Catholicism is no longer the one true faith, rather all faiths are appreciated and recognised by God.

A logical extension of this would imply that a good atheist will also go to heaven. Of course, Benedict may have only meant Christians, not heathens. In which case of the three I mentioned in my original post only Abraham Lincoln and Florence Nightingale are in heaven. If Benedict is still alive it would be interesting to ask him where Mahatma Gandhi currently resides.

Limbo number 5!

Many species are social. They cooperate all the time. There is some conflict and some violence as well. No different than humans.

What makes you think that there is any fundamental difference or that humans need a magical entity to get along with one another?

I don’t need to understand you, nor you me. I’m happy in my skin and hope you are happy in yours. Personally, I know that my life improved when I started being completely honest with myself and with others.

wow jolly jenkins! what a reasonable thing to say 😁

Dante just made all that sh!t up.

It’s mostly the reborn Christian sect that believes that nonsense. They also take the Bible literally. So yeah, Eve actually was formed from Adam’s rib. 🙄 I have a few acquaintances that joined that so called church. They walk around thinking they’re better than everyone.

OP. I can't figure it out either. We're all offered redemption but most are unwilling to accept it. Quite shocking really.

Are you not aware that we'll all die? Why are you fretting about the timing?

Yes, it's really amazing to see how many people have a close personal relationship with reality.

Yes. In the end we all will.

Well ya, its a comedy. He was joking.

Jesus didn’t even understand a concept of hell.

He believed he and his disciples would rule here on earth.

He did exist New Testament historians believe but he would look at you like you were crazy if you talked to him about heaven or hell or satan or any of those things thought up generations later.

Huh? Jesus said He saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightning. He said not all who call to me "Lord, Lord", will enter Heaven. He explained the separation of the good from the bad at the end of the world - into Heaven and hell.

Someone gave you a fake bible.

Julius Caesar is far, far more likely to have existed than it is that a man died and came back to life three days later 2000 years ago. Also, an empty tomb and a missing body doesn’t equate to coming back to life.

From a Christian perspective, about 30% of the Bible is considered prophecy (God foretelling future events through Jesus and the prophets of Israel). Almost all of that prophecy is about the first and second coming of Jesus. The first coming happened. Like, IT HAPPENED. Muslims even believe Jesus existed, they just don't believe he is God. Jews believe he existed, but many rejected him as their Messiah, and they murdered him.
The Old Testament prophecy was correct and the first coming happened. The second coming of Jesus could very well happen soon and here are four (of many) reasons why I believe that:

1.) In Revelation, much of that book made zero sense 100 years ago. Jews back in Israel, rebuilt temple, abomination of desolation where the antichrist proclaims himself to be God in the Holy of Holies. May 14, 1948, the world takes sympathy on the post-WW2 surviving Jews and allows them to return to their homeland, after nearly 2000 years since the Roman's destroyed the nation of Israel in AD 70, scattering them all over the Roman empire. USA President Harry Truman was the first world leader to recognize Israel as a nation again in 1948. That's HUGE! End times prophecy can't happen without the Jewish people back in Israel. Isaiah 66:8... God said he would bring forth a nation in one day, and he did, miraculously.

2.) Also in Revelation, it says the two witnesses (who proclaim the gospel to the WHOLE WORLD during the 7-year tribulation) will be killed and their bodies will lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3.5 days while the WHOLE WORLD will see them. Up until ~15 years ago, this wasn't possible! Now with smart phones (which almost the whole world has now) we can literally all see the same thing, at the same time. Another few years, or decades, and everyone on the planet will have a smart phone and/or computer. Revelation 11:9 didn't make sense at any point in human history until the last few years!!!

3.) Jesus talked about His return a lot in the gospels. He said we wouldn't know the day or the hour BUT He also said we can tell the signs of the times. Matthew 24:32 - Like when a fig tree produces buds, you know spring is near... in the same way when these things occur, you know the end is near. Plagues, earthquakes, famines, etc, ("these things" Jesus referenced) have been happening for all of human history BUT Jesus said, like a woman close to giving birth, the signs will intensify and get closer together as we near the end, like labor pains. Folks, look around! It's happening! Get off letsrun. Get off social media. Get unbusy with work. Get unbusy obsessing over your kids, and sports, and whatever other vice you have. Repent, and live a life committed to God. If you've already repented and put your faith in Jesus, do as Jesus said in Luke 21:28, look up, lift up your head, because your redemption draws near. For thousands of years humanity has longed for perfection. Perfection is coming! That is VERY exciting.

4.) Jesus said the last days would be like the days of Lot and Noah. Read the accounts of Lot and Noah in the Bible.. Genesis, I believe. READ THEM, for real! Sounds like today's world. Before God flooded the earth in Noah's day, he said violence and immorality filled the earth. Hello! I'm 35. When I was 9, Columbine happened. First major school shooting in US history. Everyone was shocked. Now it's common news, and we've become numb to it a little. Before God destroyed Lot's town of Sodom (and Gomorrah, a neighboring town) he visited them. The people of the town were absolutely overtaken with sexual immorality. Lot, the only "righteous" person in town, offered his daughters to the love drunk community people so they could have sex with them instead of the visiting angels! (Lot was counted as righteous because of his FAITH in God, not because of his owns works... we're all going to hell if we rely on our own strength to save us. Lot had issues for sure). You can't deny it... OUR WORLD TODAY IS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMMING MORE VIOLENT AND IMMORAL. FAST. Technology has changed this. Kids playing violent video games, numbing their emotions towards death and violence. Sex, a few clicks away on a phone or computer. 100 years ago in this country, people dropped out of high school to get married and stay married for 75 years! Now it's common practice to have 10+ sexual partners before we halfway commit to one, all the while still looking on social media for a better replacement.
Lot and Noah, counted as righteous because of their FAITH, were rescued from God's wrath. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John prophesizes about a future wrath God will pour out on humanity. (7-year Tribulation) It's not a pretty picture BUT there is hope for those who have FAITH in Jesus. I write this out of LOVE for the non-believer, atheist, or skeptic who has read this far.... God loves you too! He put it on my heart to share this. He did that because HE LOVES YOU. If all powerful Jesus just showed up next to you right now and said, "hey I'm real dude", it would be really easy to believe in Him. In fact, it would take no faith at all. You saw him. Maybe he even does a miracle. Or 100. (What's crazy is that people saw miracles 2000 years ago in Israel and still didn't believe He was God) FAITH IS BELIEVING IN SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE. Even though he performed miracles in front of them, they couldn't SEE He was God for sure.

God truly shows he genuinely loves us by giving us a FREE WILL. You decide if you want to have faith or not. If your faith isn't in God, it's in something else, likely yourself and your own reasoning (Pride). God said, "pride comes before the fall." Good luck when a.) you die or b.) the tribulation starts! If you're a non-believer and you want to.... be saved, or at least cover your bases in case you're reasoning is wrong, the Bible says, "confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and you will be saved." Bingo. Just do it. Nobody even has to know! ALTHOUGH, if you make that committment, I encourage you to find a Bible believing church and GROW IN YOUR FAITH! It's so awesome! You'll love the newfound hope, peace, and joy you find from truly surrendering your life and circumstances to an all-powerful, all-loving God.