I'm sure you've seen this, but- Hell House 2006 - My thoughts- Long but fun read

(Just a warning, I take the long and winding road when it comes to getting to my point)

http://video.google.c...

Ok There's the vid... I stumbled across this and was angered.

When I was a kid I was made to go to these stupid things, well, I went to one, and I've never been a good little lemming, all I did was ask questions and object. But they'll have none of that at the HELLL HOUSE>>>>> BWAAA HA HA HA

Ok so what these things are, as if you don't already know, is the church "opening a window to hell", and trying to use FEAR and EMOTION BASED THINKING in general, to SCARE people into believing whatever they say.

Fear is a primal motivator, we all have it hardwired into our heads to do whatever we can to avoid danger. And what could be more dangerous than hell? So we may as well play it safe and follow whatever stupid arbitrary illogical rules the lawgiver provides.

Now for me, one of the stupidest was that you have to believe. You HAVE to BELIEVE. Um... ok...

What are you going to give me to help me with this monumental task?

According to your ("your" being the church in the vid) beliefs God created us specifically to worship him. YET, our senses have no way to detect him. We can't smell him, we can't taste him, we can't see him, we can't hear him, we can't feel him. But, we HAVE to believe in him...


How do we do that?


Faith. The belief in something you have no decent reason to believe. (Once you have evidance faith is no longer an applicable term, using the standard definition anyway.

Wow... I really got off topic... and yet I can't bring myself to delete this.

Ok. Onto the vid. This church did a "hellhouse". Its something a lot of churches do. I went over why they do it, to scare people into submission. Plain and simple. They do it to make people more receptive to the gobbeldygook they present.

I think I'm going to have to continue this into another post...

Ok the video, for reals this time. It starts with a long like... disclaimer, but they left out some things, in my opinion.

The "scenes" are eye rolling to the extreme. Best just to look at the dialog and pretend the actors weren't just uh... terrible.

So they start with uh.. Some demon guy using a voice modulator. I can't really make out what he says, but I did hear "Anything I say goes" And that hell is a one on one torture environment. The Punisher, and the Punishee.

So um... what exactly IS the deal here... Is the evil demon gods minion? Is the Devil really "in charge" of hell, according to their story? Are we to assume the demon torturing us is being tortured himself? What is his motivation for torturing us?

I can't really find any instances of the devil being really all that evil in the bible, If you have any please tell me, I'm sure there are a few instances, but I can't think of any.

The basic story is, God runs things, Satan wants to run things, God pimp slaps Satan for wanting to be better than what he was created as. He doesn't think it's fair that god gets to be god and not him. (and really... is it?)

So Satan's major sin was that he wanted to run the show.... how does this translate into him and his group being evil and wanting to torture us?

I suppose it could be because god loves us and not him? but that's stupid, god should love them just as much. Or maybe it's all "God's waiting for Satan to say he's sorry but Satan won't because he has too much pride". Nope, only God is aloud to be a prideful prick.

So back to the video... The Demon gets done saying we'll be alone forever the second we enter hell, then it shows a bunch of... what zombies... all hanging out together. Are the zombies like, demons? If we're going to be isolated forever, what difference does it make if there's an army of zombies where we AREN'T? And if the zombies are people, well they aren't alone... minor nitpick but I thought it was funny. They don't really tell you what they're trying to say with all of this stuff so you have to come up with the answers yourself.

Ok so moving on. Oh man the acting is so bad. They use improper inflection for starters... but I digress. I said I was going to pretend they were good actors. First up is a "popular" girl. She is astounded she's in hell, because "how can this happen to me, I've made my mistakes, nowhere to run my life's fading away...." She wants to know where all her friends are. (Funny that's what I would be asking if I somehow got to heaven) Some other lines... "This must be some crazy hallucination" To which the demon exclaims "blah blah blah, it's no hallucination, now you're in hell forever. (Why, that's exactly what a hallucination would say!) The girl then goes on to say that her downfall was listening to what her friends told her to do.

I really hate this “evil peer-pressure” line of thinking. It's used in this crap, anti drug ads, and all sorts of other stuff. I know there are harmful influences out there. I've heard it said (In the picture of Dorian Gray) That ALL influences are harmful and poison to the soul because the object of life is self (well, any number of words can fit in there, advancement, actualization, exploration... ) Here's the full quote from Oscar Wilde

“There is no such thing as a good influence. Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him.”

Anyway, I think friends help each other out. I know I try to help my friends, and my friends have always cared about me, and stuff. He doesn't see the irony in trading one group of people who tell you what to do, for another group of people to tell you what to do. Ok, next sinner!

Oh no! It’s the evil atheist! He had the unmitigated gall to think for himself! They also combined the atheist, and suicide victim here. Forgive me for being a bit over the top, but I’m just responding in kind to this thing. Subtlety is not this productions strong point. Ok dialog, keep in mind every word is YELLED:

“Why am I here! I thought there wasn’t supposed to be anything after death, I was supposed to be at peace!” *Demon- there’s no peace here stupid!* “But I just wanted it to end! I had no friends, I had no job, I couldn’t get a girl, I just couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore! I hated myself! *mumbles*- but god loved me didn’t he? That’s what all those religious people said. Why didn’t I listen?! I shouldn’t have blamed my problems on anyone else, I shouldn’t have killed myself, it’s not like I wanted to die, I just didn’t want to be oppressed anymore! I just wanted it to end, I thought I could make it stop! I was so wrong! *You were wrong! Your darkness only begins here!”

Ok so, do I really even need to say anything here? Ok I guess I have to. They have stereotyped atheists and miserable empty losers. Like seriously, no job no friends no girl? And how foolish he was to not believe in their version of the afterlife. Eh, this is just too easy, this thing is so obviously flawed. The atheist commentary is sort of the back issue here though, suicide was the main point, kill yourself and go to hell. They don’t get into the finer points though. What about dieing in suicidal acts of bravery? How is cutting your wrists or jumping in front of a bus any different than jumping in front of a bus, to push someone else out of its way, or jumping on a hand grenade to save your friends? All are very clearly decisions to end your own life.

What about cancer victims that are draining their families limited funds? Someone that is going to die (because the loving god absolutely refuses to heal them). So if that person kills themselves is it ok? They have to suffer until god pulls their plug, long after every cent has been spent? Or would the Christian thing be to have someone from his family traumatize themselves by being the one to do the deed? And probably end up in jail for it. At least they can ask for forgiveness right?

God this whole line of thinking is so frigging stupid. I would never endorse suicide, this life is all we have, but it’s a personal decision. People put up with so much crap, and just don’t always possess the mental tools and fortitude to deal with it.

Ok, I think that’s all on the topic, I AM trying to be concise here, in an extremely roundabout way.

Next up is a fat overactress with one of the most annoying voice I’ve ever heard. She exclaims that “This isn’t supposed to be happening, the semi was coming so fast! And, and… there was a horrible wreck… and, and… now I’m in HELLLL!” Oh no, a mystery, what vile act did SHE do to end up here? “I was a good person! I shouldn’t be here! I didn’t do drugs! I got good grades! I didn’t sleep around like those other girls! I even went to church every once in a while with my grandma! And, she always told me I needed Jesus to get to heaven, but…. I THOUGHT I COULD DO IT ON MY OWN! I thought I didn’t need Jesus, but now, now I know I was wrong! Now I know I need Jesus in my life, but now I’m going to suffer here in hell forever.”

Ok this is the “actions speak softer than words” approach. Living an immaculate life isn’t enough. The person that helps people his whole life, and dies not believing goes to hell, but the pedo priest gets into heaven because he asked for forgiveness. The man that murdered his family in cold blood, because god told him to. Right before his execution by the state 4 years later after 7 appeals, he asks Jesus into his heart with the priest 2 minutes before they flip the switch, and is granted eternal bliss. The Poor atheist who lived a good life helping people, sorry, hell for you.

And no one thinks this whole setup is stupid? Ok then. One more point, then I’ll move on, they stress the point that “you could die any time, so you had better convert NOW. Because with their stupid philosophy, you can do whatever evil act you want, and ask for forgiveness after and be ok. The ONLY thing stopping Christians from doing this over and over, is that you can die before you get to the next save point.

Ok next. The businessman that beat his wife. I just love how they equate not believing their nonsense with inflicting harm onto others. And what if a born again Christian was beating their wife, or kids, for that matter? I guess that’s ok. I do love the line “I was a nice guy, I said “hi” to everybody”. They specifically point out that his wife cried out for his soul from behind closed doors. Of course, the alcoholic who beat his wife is an atheist. Because a Christian would never do that.

Oh it’s a goth wiccan! I was wondering when they would get to these guys. The Christians go on with the misperception that all pagans worship Satan. The one is open about it, she thought she would be Satan’s dark bride. (but we all know Satan only likes Saddam.) “I was supposed to like it here! YOU LIED TO ME SATAN!” An interesting side note is that this thing suggests that witchcraft is REAL, and gives you power and control, and that Satan SPOKE to her. Satan has never spoken to me. God hasn’t either for that matter. Moving on.

And what fundie hell house would be complete without the abortion. She apparently died on the operating table, and the reason she got the abortion was because she would be embarrassed to be seen with the kid. Damn this thing pisses me off.

Ok well I guess I’m done… I think I’ve gone over everything… there was something else I wanted to touch on, I forget what it was. Oh well. This thing is way too long, questions and comments are forbidden.


Just kidding, go for it.