1. Why do you believe in hell? Why would a mericful God send anyone there?
We believe in hell because Jesus spoke of it as recorded in the Gospels. We don't know, however, what hell will be like. It may not be the everlasting fire, which is the imagery used in the scriptures. It may be the knowledge of eternal separation from God. This is, of course, speculation.
It is not God's choice to send anyone to hell. God loves us all more than we can imagine. Rather, it is our own unrepented sins that will cast us into hell, whatever form hell will take.
God is merciful, but He is also just. If you look at our icon of Jesus the Pantocrater, you will see that He has two different eyes. Cover one half of His face and you will see the eye of justice, cover the other half and you will see His merciful eye. It is up to us to decide which of His eyes we want to dominate when we are judged.
Jesus told the Parable of the Laborers (Matthew, chapter 20). Some were hired at the beginning of the day, some at noon, and still others at the eleventh hour. All received the same wage. This was just, because that was the agreement the vineyard owner had with those he hired in the morning. It was also merciful, in that those hired even at the eleventh hour received a "living wage" in material terms. In spiritual terms, of course, that "living" wage is Eternal Life.
