If i might add something - not about the scientifical debate - i`ll just say this:
Hell really is a place. A place where souls and demons burn in fire. If you want to know more read this http://www.marypages.com/fatimaEng.htm
Jesus didn`t threw rocks at the prostitute because He was showing her and them forgiveness and Love. He showed a new way to all people. Why were His teachings so different? In this passage you will see a reason: Mark 10:2-12.
I`d just like to point something out: How God Himself bends He`s whishes for us.
Why baptism? Well, even Jesus was baptized so that his human nature would be free from the original sin and to be one with God (Matthew 3:13-17 and John 3:1-5) - or in the case of the apostles with the Holy Spirit.
If i may had something to the why don`t good people go to heaven just because they don`t believe in God.
The question is not if people do right or wrong, per se. It`s why they do it, too.
If heaven and God are connected, how can one who doesn`t "accept" God in his heart, still want to go to heaven? Everyone can do good. It`s part of our nature, but to be given the grace of salvation you need more then just be good, you have to share yourself with Jesus, be one with Him. And there`s a whole life for that.
God gaves us free will, a heart and mind to understand Him, feel Him and follow Him. No one is forced to anything, good or bad. You follow the path what you want to follow. It`s your call.
It`s something like someone coming to you and saying: I love you and i want to give myself to you body and soul, but for you to have this, i need to see the same love from you. Some will give the same love back and will become one, others won`t and that unity won`t happen because true love wants true love, nothing more, nothing less.
The reason i wrote this was only to help people understand some things. Doesn`t mean i understand them fully - which i never will since i`m not God - but i felt it to be important to say.
