Talk:Mystery:Did Eternity Originate With Christianity?

Sources

This is an interesting idea but I'm concerned about the sources. The article by Eckerty seems to claim that the words aion and aionios in the New Testament don't mean eternal or eternity at all but only a long period of time and that aidios is the only Greek word in the New Testament that could signify eternity which would seem to conflict with the mystery. The writer is apparently a Universalist Christian and uses his conclusion to support the claim that punishment in Hell is not eternal but only temporary which is a doctrine that is rejected by most conservative Christians. The other one by Sielaff similarly claims that aion or the Hebrew word olam used in the Old Testament didn't originally signify something eternal but that Christians borrowed this concept from the Greek and Babylonian pagan religions which is exactly the opposite of what the article states. --OscarJ 07:20, 3 August 2009 (EDT)

Good points, but ones that suggest how more research will enlighten this mystery. I'll research further, and hope you do likewise.--Andy Schlafly 09:49, 3 August 2009 (EDT)

I had the same concern looking at the references. If Hell is not eternal, how can it be seen as a real punishment when compared to the glory of eternity in Heaven? Without eternal Hell, I fear moral relativity takes sway. DouglasA 13:50, 3 August 2009 (EDT)

the issue is what the Biblical language meant, not whether or not eternal hell is a good idea for God to implement.RJJensen 13:54, 3 August 2009 (EDT)