The following is supposedly an actual question given on a University of Toronto chemistry mid-term. The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well.
Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs
heat)?
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant.
One student, however, wrote the following:
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different Religions that exist in the world today. Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
This gives two possibilities:
1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.
2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.
So which is it?
If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you, and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number 2 must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct...leaving only Heaven thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa kept shouting "Oh my God."
No. That's merely an ASSERTION that hell exists, not a PROOF. Just because the bible SAYS something, doesn't mean it's true automatically.
Anything in the Bible is never an assertion. The word of God is true, living, and active. It says that let God be the truth and every man a liar. So I'm not here to argue with you about the word, I'll just let you believe what you want to believe. If El Elyon, the most high God, can't change you what can I do? So I will leave you to your own devices. Like someone mentioned earlier, I believe that you are just trying to sow seeds of discord and not actually wanting answers. The answers that you are seeking are answers only God can reveal to you, and God won't reveal anything to people who have hardened their hearts. So on that note, you are free to believe what you want to believe. Just know that on the day of judgment you will be held accountable for what you have been told from people who have crossed your path to reveal the word to you. So it is your choice to receive Jesus or not. It ought to not be hard to receive Jesus for all that he has done for you. Anyway, it is your choice and God isn't going to hold your arm behind your back to make you choose him, neither am I. So peace!
*** Another thing... what if you find out hell is real? Why would you risk going there if it is. You must believe that hell exists because you wouldn't make a big deal by posting something on a message board about it. People who don't believe in something don't ever make a big deal about it nor would go ask others opinion about it. They just go on what they believe and go about their business. For example, I know that the tooth fairy isn't real, and I don't have to go ask others opinion about it because I know it isn't real. So do you actually believe deep down in your heart that hell doesn't exist? Hmm.. I think you are doubting your belief system, which is okay because you need to doubt it.
Anything in the Bible is never an assertion. The word of God is true, living, and active. It says that let God be the truth and every man a liar. So I'm not here to argue with you about the word, I'll just let you believe what you want to believe. If El Elyon, the most high God, can't change you what can I do? So I will leave you to your own devices. Like someone mentioned earlier, I believe that you are just trying to sow seeds of discord and not actually wanting answers. The answers that you are seeking are answers only God can reveal to you, and God won't reveal anything to people who have hardened their hearts. So on that note, you are free to believe what you want to believe. Just know that on the day of judgment you will be held accountable for what you have been told from people who have crossed your path to reveal the word to you. So it is your choice to receive Jesus or not. It ought to not be hard to receive Jesus for all that he has done for you. Anyway, it is your choice and God isn't going to hold your arm behind your back to make you choose him, neither am I. So peace!
*** Another thing... what if you find out hell is real? Why would you risk going there if it is. You must believe that hell exists because you wouldn't make a big deal by posting something on a message board about it. People who don't believe in something don't ever make a big deal about it nor would go ask others opinion about it. They just go on what they believe and go about their business. For example, I know that the tooth fairy isn't real, and I don't have to go ask others opinion about it because I know it isn't real. So do you actually believe deep down in your heart that hell doesn't exist? Hmm.. I think you are doubting your belief system, which is okay because you need to doubt it.
Statements without proof/evidence to back them up are merely claims/hypotheses/assertions. Notice how you haven't provided one solid shred of evidence to support the HYPOTHESIS that hell exists and that people will burn eternally in a magical fire pit after they die. No evidence at all, just rhetoric.
How can I ask God for answers when I don't even believe in God? How can I talk to an entity that I'm not even convinced exists? I see no evidence for "God," as Christians tend to define the concept. And you seem to assume that religious belief is a "free choice," that I'm freely choosing to not believe. It seems that this is clearly not the case--what a person believes is often shaped by experiences they've had, knowledge they possess, their cultural background, and the historical context in which they live. Sure, I can SAY that "I believe in God, Jesus, etc"--technically, I can say almost anything--but whether or not I believe that deep down inside is another story, THAT is something that's not so easy to control.
And the reason I don't "receive" Jesus is partly because I'm skeptical of the entire context in which his "sacrifice" is relevant. I don't believe in Heaven, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of gaining access to heaven? I don't believe in Hell, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of avoiding it? I don't believe in Adam and Eve and original sin, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of "washing" away the sin that Adam brought into the world when he ate the apple? So no, receiving Jesus isn't as simple as you make it sound. You have these foundational beliefs that must be strong first, and until people start coming out with evidence that Adam and Eve, Heaven, and Hell really exist...my beliefs will not change.
And what if I find out that hell is real? I think you even asking the question reveals that you are unable to prove Hell's existence. You're trying to persuade me using some variant of Pascal's Wager (that it's better to live you life believing in God and to find out that he doesn't exist, than to live your life not believing in God and find out that he does exist)...but realize that Pascal's Wager isn't just applicable to Christianity. There are many other religions out there that say if you don't believe in our doctrines, you will suffer eternal punishment in the afterlife. Islam is a perfect example. Why would you want to risk going to Muslim hell for your lack of faith? The bottom line here...people need to start proving to me that hell exists, and until they do so...my beliefs will not change.
Honestly, I never really got the concept of 'Hell'. As far as dying and going there. For instance, Christianity speaks of your body expiring and your soul going somewhere. If saved, St. Pete's callin' your name. Whereas, if not saved, Satan's your new roommate. Seriously speaking though, what is hell without the five senses to experience it? A burning pit of fire is a clearly a sensual description, NOT a spiritual one. I'd like to think to truly experience Hell, you'd have to unfortunately be alive and well. I'd also like to think that must be Hell for those Iraqis over there, what with the shootings, the random **** bombings, the general American neocolonialism...but I guess that can't be really applied since they're still here physically. For them, I sure hope there is a heaven.... And hey, prettyboi, Eve did exist. Eve is just her Anglicized name. Her real name is Dinkenesh. She was discovered in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia and she lived about 3.4 million years ago. Don't you forget it!
Honestly, I never really got the concept of 'Hell'. As far as dying and going there. For instance, Christianity speaks of your body expiring and your soul going somewhere. If saved, St. Pete's callin' your name. Whereas, if not saved, Satan's your new roommate. Seriously speaking though, what is hell without the five senses to experience it? A burning pit of fire is a clearly a sensual description, NOT a spiritual one. I'd like to think to truly experience Hell, you'd have to unfortunately be alive and well. I'd also like to think that must be Hell for those Iraqis over there, what with the shootings, the random **** bombings, the general American neocolonialism...but I guess that can't be really applied since they're still here physically. For them, I sure hope there is a heaven.... And hey, prettyboi, Eve did exist. Eve is just her Anglicized name. Her real name is Dinkenesh. She was discovered in the Afar Depression of Ethiopia and she lived about 3.4 million years ago. Don't you forget it!
True.
Oh, and are you talking about Lucy from the species a. afarensis? But you know what I meant... the "Eve" that was created from Adam's rib and all that jazz. Literal genesis creationism. lol.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
YOU'RE SO FUNNY THAT I FORGOT TO LAUGH...
Right now I'm wondering do you really want an answer or if you just like to talk in circles???
How do you defend your faith in the eyes of truth?????
Statements without proof/evidence to back them up are merely claims/hypotheses/assertions. Notice how you haven't provided one solid shred of evidence to support the HYPOTHESIS that hell exists and that people will burn eternally in a magical fire pit after they die. No evidence at all, just rhetoric.
How can I ask God for answers when I don't even believe in God? How can I talk to an entity that I'm not even convinced exists? I see no evidence for "God," as Christians tend to define the concept. And you seem to assume that religious belief is a "free choice," that I'm freely choosing to not believe. It seems that this is clearly not the case--what a person believes is often shaped by experiences they've had, knowledge they possess, their cultural background, and the historical context in which they live. Sure, I can SAY that "I believe in God, Jesus, etc"--technically, I can say almost anything--but whether or not I believe that deep down inside is another story, THAT is something that's not so easy to control.
And the reason I don't "receive" Jesus is partly because I'm skeptical of the entire context in which his "sacrifice" is relevant. I don't believe in Heaven, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of gaining access to heaven? I don't believe in Hell, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of avoiding it? I don't believe in Adam and Eve and original sin, so why would I believe in Jesus as a means of "washing" away the sin that Adam brought into the world when he ate the apple? So no, receiving Jesus isn't as simple as you make it sound. You have these foundational beliefs that must be strong first, and until people start coming out with evidence that Adam and Eve, Heaven, and Hell really exist...my beliefs will not change.
And what if I find out that hell is real? I think you even asking the question reveals that you are unable to prove Hell's existence. You're trying to persuade me using some variant of Pascal's Wager (that it's better to live you life believing in God and to find out that he doesn't exist, than to live your life not believing in God and find out that he does exist)...but realize that Pascal's Wager isn't just applicable to Christianity. There are many other religions out there that say if you don't believe in our doctrines, you will suffer eternal punishment in the afterlife. Islam is a perfect example. Why would you want to risk going to Muslim hell for your lack of faith? The bottom line here...people need to start proving to me that hell exists, and until they do so...my beliefs will not change.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Why do someone have to prove anything to you???
You say that you don't believe and you don't want to believe!!!
Sometimes peoples beliefs and unbeliefs justifies their actions. At the church I go to we are considered a Full Gospel Church. We believe everything that is in the bible. There are some people that can't handle that so they go to another church. There are always churches and religions that will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Just like there are some people that you ask questions because you know what kind of answer they'll give you and some people you don't ask because you don't want to hear what they are going to say. People who want to live their life as though it belongs to them always seem to put a scientific spin on things. Your life doesn't belong to you. You were bought with a price. I'm not going to talk to you about "proof" I'm going to mention to you about FAITH--which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God." (Romans 14:22 NKJV) You must walk by faith and not by sight. There are a lot of things that man can't prove, but people don't question it.
I feel for you...it must be something to have to deal with yourself everyday. I mean people don't just not believe in God for no reason. There is a battle going on inside of you and you are losing. The only way you will win is to realize that the battle is not yours it the Lords. You are going to be held accountable for all of the word that you hear and on the day of judgment the Lord is going to bring to rememberence how he had placed certain spiritual members of HBCUConnect in your path to try to help you on your journey and you turned a deaf ear. He's going to remind you of the things that were going on in your mind as you discussed him (GOD). You don't have to believe in God to know that he loves you. You don't have to believe in Jesus to know that he died on the cross for you and went to hell in your place so that you didn't have to. You don't have to believe in Heaven and Hell to know that when you die you are going to one or the other. You just keep believing that your life is about choices. Don't forget about the consequences to your actions. If you want proof about God why don't you seek him for yourself. He will give you all of the proof you need. He's already showing you that you need him in your llife, because of all the problems that only you and God knows about. He sees all and knows all. He knows what your situation is and he knows how miserable you are on the inside. The outside is a mask. Anybody can fake a smile. So, you say you want proof...GOD'S GOT ALL THE PROOF YOU NEED AND IF YOU ASK HIM HE'LL SHOW IT TO YOU. Maybe you're scared of the truth, because then you know that you'll have to change. Change is scary, but when it's the best thing for you, you have nothing to lose. I'd rather lose people in my life than to lose Jesus.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Why do someone have to prove anything to you???
You say that you don't believe and you don't want to believe!!!
Sometimes peoples beliefs and unbeliefs justifies their actions. At the church I go to we are considered a Full Gospel Church. We believe everything that is in the bible. There are some people that can't handle that so they go to another church. There are always churches and religions that will tell you exactly what you want to hear. Just like there are some people that you ask questions because you know what kind of answer they'll give you and some people you don't ask because you don't want to hear what they are going to say. People who want to live their life as though it belongs to them always seem to put a scientific spin on things. Your life doesn't belong to you. You were bought with a price. I'm not going to talk to you about "proof" I'm going to mention to you about FAITH--which is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God." (Romans 14:22 NKJV) You must walk by faith and not by sight. There are a lot of things that man can't prove, but people don't question it.
I feel for you...it must be something to have to deal with yourself everyday. I mean people don't just not believe in God for no reason. There is a battle going on inside of you and you are losing. The only way you will win is to realize that the battle is not yours it the Lords. You are going to be held accountable for all of the word that you hear and on the day of judgment the Lord is going to bring to rememberence how he had placed certain spiritual members of HBCUConnect in your path to try to help you on your journey and you turned a deaf ear. He's going to remind you of the things that were going on in your mind as you discussed him (GOD). You don't have to believe in God to know that he loves you. You don't have to believe in Jesus to know that he died on the cross for you and went to hell in your place so that you didn't have to. You don't have to believe in Heaven and Hell to know that when you die you are going to one or the other. You just keep believing that your life is about choices. Don't forget about the consequences to your actions. If you want proof about God why don't you seek him for yourself. He will give you all of the proof you need. He's already showing you that you need him in your llife, because of all the problems that only you and God knows about. He sees all and knows all. He knows what your situation is and he knows how miserable you are on the inside. The outside is a mask. Anybody can fake a smile. So, you say you want proof...GOD'S GOT ALL THE PROOF YOU NEED AND IF YOU ASK HIM HE'LL SHOW IT TO YOU. Maybe you're scared of the truth, because then you know that you'll have to change. Change is scary, but when it's the best thing for you, you have nothing to lose. I'd rather lose people in my life than to lose Jesus.
My life doesn't belong to me? How do you figure that?
And just because you take the bible blindly doesn't mean that I am obligated to do the same--just because you have abdicated your mind doesn't mean I will. So far, you haven't provided ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE to support the existence of heaven or hell, and yet you insist that your faith is the truth. You're going to have to do better than that if you want to convince me of the veracity of your claims. You're making claims, but not backing them up. How do you know hell exists? How do you know heaven exists? Do you have live video footage of your journey there? How do you know that the bible is right about it? WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE?
I don't think everything in the bible is true. I doubt that some god magically created humans from dust, I seriously doubt that a serpent "talked" to a human being, I doubt that Jesus flew up into the sky on a pack of clouds, etc. These are major claims that need major evidence to substantiate them, and so far you have done nothing to help your case.
And I don't believe in Adam and Eve because I haven't seen any evidence that they really existed, and plus I don't believe in literal genesis creationism. It just sounds like a bunch of fairytales.
Sorry for the choppy English, I don't really feel like being eloquent right now, I'm studying for a HumBio midterm.
