What do you say to some one who tells you that you are going to Hell
Well at least the La la Land crowd will not be there; that should make it somewhat more tollerable. The godsters will be listening to harp music till their tiny brains fall out; they will be walking, bloody bare-footed, on "streets of purest gold". (green grass would be much nicer)
I usually can tell if someone is open to an actual conversation or just spewing their agenda all over me. I'll always have a discussion with folks even when we disagree, but the other kind of person ain't worth my time.
I'm going to hell? "maybe so", "time will tell", "Bless your heart" (the southern way of saying fuck yourself), "thanks for your concern" Basically anything to dismiss them without engaging.
How can I go somewhere that does not exist ? There is only one true gospel good news and that is sung by John Lennon: " no hell below us above us only sky" zero alleged gawds to kill or die for AND NO RELIGION TOO
Use a little bit of street epistemology, if you can.. (probably not if they are saying that to you straight out) but if they are willing to have a discussion with you, make sure you both are in agreement on the term "Hell".. what is it? Where is it? Why?.. What gets you there? Are there any good reasons to believe that there is such a place and why would an Omnibelevolent creator send you there?.. an Omnibelevolent, omniscient, and Omnipotent being would surely find a way to not even have the need for a place like Hell to begin with.. unless he's/it's a construct of Homosapiens that are trying to find their way through the cosmos..
Just a thought..
The great Zen master, Mumon was asked by his student,
"Master, when you die will you go to hell?"
Mumon answered;
" Yes. I will be there at the very first."
"But, Master, you are so great, why will you go to hell?"
"Otherwise", Mumon said, "how can I meet you?"
???
Now that you mention it, I've not had the displeasure yet. I've seen it happen and heard plenty of stories, but when I was around god-botherers, I was one myself, and I was an acclaimed member of the club. Various geographical and relational and practical factors went into me not being around anyone who knew me AS a god-botherer, such that they'd notice I was not attending church regularly or other signifiers of "backsliding" or deconverting so I was never challenged about it.
Today the only people who knew me "back when" who also know I'm not longer believing, are my two surviving siblings. And they live 1200 miles away, one doesn't give a fig, and the other knows better than to give me a hard time about it.
I tell them they are going to join me there as the NT beliefs contradict the OT, besides there is no concept of hell in the OT.
With a humorous tone I say, “and where exactly is hell located?”
My belief is that there is no hell so for me that comment would just be fake news.
If you get there before I do, remember... the aisle seat in the front row belongs to me. The fun people have their reservations made way in advance, and once orientation is over, I will be joining the party... and you will be... well...punished.
good at least I know where I stand with the devil.