I would have thought not, well not technically anyway. In my opinion anyone who strikes any woman, mother or otherwise, deserves to rot in whatever hell may be.

No. There is no such thing as Hell, and don’t believe any fool who tells you otherwise. The world is complicated enough without prehistoric fantasies fucking things up for us even more.

Are there any rules towards fathers? If so, I’m screwed.

@Uberwench it is people like you who keep tension between people of different beliefs.

@Mikewlf337, isn’t it more likely that it’s the beliefs themselves (and the believers) that sustain the tension? @Uberwench is simply a person of a different belief.

In before impending shit-storm.

Aside from the fact that I don’t believe in Hell, it depends on whether or not you think God is tied up in loopholes and technicalities. Seems to me God is all or nothing. Dishonoring your parents is a sin, no matter how abusive they are.

@Jeruba It was the fact that she was calling people who do believe fools. I did not say anything insulting. She however did. Why should I have to take insults while I have to watch what I say? I don’t cause tension because I don’t shove my beliefs in anyone’s face and I don’t insult those who believe differently than I do.

You won’t go to hell for hitting your mother. That isn’t an unforgivable sin. If the mother is abusive then I don’t really see hitting that mother as a horrible offense.

Waht @Uberwench says, to which I add… we make our own heaven (or heaven AND hell) on earth.

@Mikewlf337 I would say that @Jeruba is correct: it’s the believers who sustain the tension by taking themselves too seriously (like you are right now). But even if not, I’d rather create arguments than false beliefs that torture people for their entire lives. Your view is also hypocritical: it asks me to keep my beliefs to myself while objecting to you having to keep your beliefs under wrap (a burden you seem to have taken on yourself, since I don’t see anyone forcing you to do so).

@Uberwench You can disagree without insulting those who you disagree with. I have not insulted you. One can state his or her belief or disbelief without saying hurtful things. You could have answered this question and stated your beliefs without calling me and others who have a religion a fool. I wasn’t saying that you shouldn’t state your disbelief because you are entitled to your views.

@Mikewlf337 I think people who believe in a literal Hell are fools, and I believe those who spread those beliefs are harmful. That’s part of my belief. I’m sorry that it hurts you, but I don’t believe in protecting such ideas. Religion gets no special treatment from me, no matter how many people may think it’s a “special” topic that deserves extra care.

Nah, it’s definitely assholes that create the majority of the tension. Also, asshats.

@Uberwench I’m not hurt that you think I’m a fool. I don’t care what you think of me and I don’t care about your beliefs. I will however defend myself when someone calls me a fool.

@incendiary_dan Then I’m safe, because I’m just a bitch.

@Mikewlf337 I never said not to defend yourself.

If you believe in hell, then yes, you will go there if you hit your mother. The acceptance of the existence of hell as an actual place comes with “rules of the road,” and pretty much hitting your mother will send you there. Unless you believe in a benevolent God and the concept of forgiveness, though confession and absolution. Then you get to say you’re sorry and fallible. If you are a “saved” Christian and hit your mother after baptism, you’re pretty much screwed.

I personally believe that if there is indeed a place such as hell, it’s here on earth, and bad things will happen to you if you hit your mother. Then again, it could just happen to you because you are unable to control your negative emotions, make bad choices, and there’s a cause/effect thing that makes your life seem like hell.

Sorry for the run-on sentence.

Only in the sense that @BarnacleBill‘s talking about. He beat me to it.

Why has this thread gotten so contentious? Some people believe in heaven and hell, some don’t—isn’t there room for both beliefs on Fluther without resorting to insults? If there IS an afterlife, we won’t know it till we die… so why not make things as pleasant for each other in the meantime?

For the record, While I agreed with @Uberwench‘s sentiment and said so, I would have worded it more politely.

@Austinlad, I think it’s because the OP asked not for opinions but for truth. Most people seem to think that what they believe equals what is true, and therefore that everyone who disagrees is wrong.

I happen to think that the real problem is not “I believe A and you believe B” but “I believe A and so you must also believe A, because A says so.”

@Jeruba, might not truth—as one believes it to be—be articulated with civility?

I watched a movie the other day based on true facts a priest was Possesed by the devil, again based on a true story the man trying to rid the demon was not a true believer in God or the devil, at one point the priest (while possessed) sputtered out the words “Just because you choose to be ignorant does not mean your ignorance will keep you safe”. I believe if you don’t get your sins forgiven you will pay the price, what is the price? Total abandonment from God. I choose to believe when I’m gone there is a better place to go and I want to go there. Anyone else who wants to live eternity in torment I can’t figure that part out, but I’m not.
I just wanted to add that also if there is an afterlife if you don’t believe how will you find out there is a “heavenly” afterlife when the purposed threat is to live in eternal damnation…that doesn’t leave you much options or choice, because unfortunately your choice is now…so ergo choose wisely.

@Meego

There’s no such thing as living an eternity in torment because there’s no such thing as Hell. I’m not worried.

And in other words, Pascal’s Wager: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager Nothing new and incredibly flawed.

@Austinlad, of course, and I said nothing to the contrary. I was offering my opinion on the question you asked: Why has this thread gotten so contentious?

I know I believe some things that aren’t true. It puzzles me that so few people are willing to say that about any of their beliefs. Obviously they can’t all be true. But it isn’t necessary for a belief to be true, so long as it serves its function as a belief. If we accepted only what’s objectively provable by scientific demonstration or direct, unbiased observation (assuming we were even capable of such a thing), why would we even have the concept of belief?

@DominicX that is your choice but don’t be I big baby if it happens to be true, it’s ok it’s the way of the world, God isn’t supposed to take everyone…sorry you won’t be there, or even give yourself the chance. I would love for my spirit to be completely free from everything around this life.

@Jeruba

There’s a difference between believing in something that isn’t true and believing in something that might not be true. The latter is true for some of my beliefs (and I would think everyone’s) but I don’t think there is anything I believe in that has been proven to be untrue. Otherwise, why would I believe in it?

@Meego

I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me, but thanks. :) I also find it interesting that you equate disbelief in Hell with disbelief in God. I never said anything about not believing in God.

@Meego You don’t get to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t.

@Uberwench I know you didn’t say not to defend myself. Either way I will defend myself.

@Mikewlf337 I wasn’t deciding! I said sorry the commenter would not be there because he does not even believe so my point was if you don’t get to go SORRY YOU WON’T BE THERE!

What? How is hitting your mother worse than hitting, say, your sister or brother or kid?

@Dutchess_III I never typed anything saying it was worse than anything else. I just hear people including mothers saying that a lot and say ing that in the holy bible that you’ll go to hell if you hurt your mother in some way.

@DominicX well I do feel sorry because for someone like yourself if it is true then according to the bible you won’t get a chance and you will receive total abandonment by God. If it was a fairy tale, it would be a very good one, but the bible is accounts of what actually happened not fairy tales, this is also said in the bible that towards the end society will eliminate God from all belief systems..sounds pretty true to me.

I am a Christian. My understanding is that hitting your mother will not send you to Hell. That’s not the point. Your relationship with Jesus determines whether or not you go to Hell.

I’ll not go on and on. It’s entirely possible the above three sentences will earn me a flaming, which is apparently all right with the Mods here.

You can kill, rape and pillage all you want, ask for forgiveness and still make it to heaven. I hardly think hitting your mom would be the one, damning sin.

Is it true? Who knows…how about people not hit their mother because it’s wrong inherently to hurt people rather than because they’re afraid of hell – that is no way to be a self-actualized human, worrying about after-life retribution and behaving like an idiot in this one.

It could be that God believes in hell;
Could be he created it;
could be he is only warning us not to create a hell by our actions.
In any event, along with the hellish penalty for parent beaters, there is an effective ( and very cool loophole)

Just go the other way.

I’d guess yea, you can go to hell if you are going by that belief system. B/C Jesus said to turn the other cheek, no pun intended. But if Jesus didn’t want you to beat people, just because the mom hit the child first doesn’t justify it.

I think it also depends on whether the person is truly sorry they did it, or if they did/do it sans remorse.

@ladyv900, No, I don’t think that is true. Although it sounds like this person is in hell now. What a horrible cycle to be a victim to something that turns someone into a victimizer.

With regard to the hell debate, I believe hell is a void of God/Love with this world as its intersection, therefore making sense to me that people in this life experience hell on earth while others experience bliss/love/heaven on earth. Don’t take this as those that experience pain are without God, pain can sometimes make us stronger but sometimes pain can destroy us. I beleive it is quite possible that after death it is more either/ or, or more perminant. Did God create Hell? No, it is a void. God did not create darkness, it is a void of light; God did not create cold, it is a void of heat/energy.

Let me add that one of the most fascinating concepts I have heard about heaven is from some near death experiences, where it was explained that as part of what these people experienced, they reviewed their lives but in doing so they not only remembered how they felt but now also knew how they made everyone they came in contact with feel. In other words we will know/understand the experiences and feelings of all others. When I heard this I had hope that, that would be one of the only ways we could ultimately forgive each other.

According to the Bible, lots of things will send us to hell. What’s one more thing, and why would ANYONE want to hit their mother???

I know for sure, posting a grammatically incorrect, mis-spelled question here will get you sent to Hell, by the Great God, Auggie.

I actually wasn’t referring to you at all @ladyv900. I was just a general observation/quip. My goodness. I think your attitude is forbidden under some tenet in the Bible. I just can’t think of which one right now.

@Dutchess_III LOL

You can go to jail which I hear is pretty bad if it gets too out of hand…

Hell is a metaphor for being in very bad circumstances in life. Sure, there are many who say they believe it is a real thing, but it only makes sense to see how the concept might be useful in real life.

I guess the idea is that someone who hits a parent is the lowest kind of person. According to the accuser, a mother-hitter will have really bad karma and should end up with a hellish life. It’s a kind of negative way of trying discourage someone from hitting their mother. It is quite manipulative and abusive in its own right.

If you have a relationship with your child where they are not mentally ill and they hit you and you feel like mentally abusing them by telling them they will go to hell, then there are serious problems with the mother as well as with the children.

Put it this way, if you’re going to Hell for hitting your mother, and she was abusive toward you when you were a child, I guess you’re going to have a family reunion when you get there.

Is it true that someone can go to hell if they hit or beat their mother ?

No, because there is no such physical place – it only exists in the minds of people with certain religious beliefs.

I don’t know what type of person would hit thier mothers !!!
And as a person who beliefs in God, I can say that only God knows who will end up in heaven or hell, and we only know what God instructed us to do.

Biblically, Hell is the default destination that we must opt out of, whether you hit your mother or not.
I feel that this is a good place to mention the frequently unsavory command to turn the other cheek – her violence towards you does not really justify your reciprocation. This does not preclude self-defense, but it does rule out revenge.

In classical CofE Christianity, with one exception, it matters not one jot what someone gets up to in the course of their life. They can live lives bursting with considerate compassion to all and sundry but if they haven’t accepted Jesus as the son of God and that he died on the cross to absolve them of their inherent sinfulness, then they’re going to hell. Conversely, a recidivist paedophile rapist who genuinely does accept the above regarding Jesus and repents of their sins will be going to heaven.

The whole god hypothesis is so unlikely to be true, however, that you should choose other criteria with which to evaluate the rightness or otherwise of your actions.

@meiosis That, of course, is salvation. Faith is transformative; that recidivist paedophile rapist who genuinely accepts the above regarding Jesus will typically improve. This is common enough that faking it has become a popular image maintenance tool. Huckleberry Finn’s father comes to mind, as does Paris Hilton’s 30 seconds of having “got religion” during her prison sentence.
Salvation isn’t carte blanche. It’s the first step forward. For a proper analogy, read Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Gutenberg has a copy.

I believe that one creates one’s own hell, @Nullo , @meiosis : it is the result of many actions and thoughts over time. The description of Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress as he goes down the hill towards the Valley of Humiliation and his encounter with Apollyon illustrates this point. Faith transforms the most evil person but does not spare the believer any of the travails. And no, @ladyv900 , you will not go to hell merely for hitting your mother: you will go to hell for treating her with disrespect and contempt.

If your hitting your mother your probably doing it for a reason that is disrectful, no? That would be the only reason I could think one would wonder if they are hell-bound.
If you ask the question you would most likely believe, the question doesn’t really state whether the person believes in religion or not but if one was to assume then I would assume a belief must be there to even consider going to hell.

And the bible does say a few things about violence:

Deuteronomy 5:16
Respect your father and mother, and you will live a long and successful life in the land I am giving you.

Proverbs 10:1
Here are some proverbs of Solomon: Children with good sense make their parents happy, but foolish children make them sad.

Proverbs 23:25
Make your parents proud, especially your mother.

Psalms 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Zephaniah 1:9 In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Sorry if this offends any non believers :/

@Meego You said, “f your hitting your mother your probably doing it for a reason that is disrectful, no? That would be the only reason I could think one would wonder if they are hell-bound.”….is there any reason for hitting one’s mother that would be respectful?

@Dutchess_III Uh no I was only remarking to bea2345’s remark of “you will not go to hell merely for hitting your mother: you will go to hell for treating her with disrespect and contempt.” my reply:If your hitting your mother your probably doing it for a reason that is disrectful, no?
I guess to be completely proper I should of said, “hitting IS disrespectful” not everyone knows that, but I know that but apparently in my choice of words it looks like I don’t know that….so thanks for clearing that up for me and everyone else :/

How about another belief? God Knows. And God forgives. You don’t have to be an angel, for him to love you. But why hit your mother, or anyone for that matter?