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Do you believe in hell? If so, what would it be like?

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
After death I believe that there is a past life review. Those who on balance caused others pain compared to loving others experience the pain that they caused in an amplified form. If you feel bad when you realize you've blown it, imagine feeling that way even more deeply and learning from the experience. When one feels very bad there's a subjective sense that the pain is going on forever. That subjective sense, after death, is what people refer to as eternal.

Heaven, from this frame of reference, is the joy one feels when one has on balanced loved, helped others, created something beautiful, done one's duty and so forth.
 

Amechania

Daimona of the Helpless
Hell is like the DMV on a Monday afternoon, only your number is 26745398701 and they just flashed the "Now Serving: 03" sign.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
A literary suggestion: The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis is an allegory of hell being where one is so wrapped up in one's own ego, desires, fears and so forth that one cannot let go and experience the Truth.
 

s2a

Heretic and part-time (skinny) Santa impersonator
Personally I don't believe in hell. The absurdity that evil souls are to burn in the mines of sulphur with the devil thrusting a stick up your butt for all eternity is surreal but also unjust and slightly overkill. There are other slightly more pleasant beliefs as to what hell is all about - please by all means share your essential opinions and views here.


Not really any "essential opinion"...but...

No, I don't "believe" in a "hell".

But if such a thing ever did exist, at least I'd be surrounded by most of my friends.
 

roger1440

I do stuff
Here is an excerpt of an interesting description of hell:
“…Then shall men and women come unto the place prepared for them. By their tongues wherewith they have blasphemed the way of righteousness shall they be hanged up. There is spread under them unquenchable fire, that they escape it not.

Behold, another place: therein is a pit, great and full (of . . ) In it are they that have denied righteousness: and angels of punishment chastise them and there do they kindle upon them the fire of their torment.

And again behold [two: corrupt] women: they hang them up by their neck and by their hair; they shall cast them into the pit. These are they which plaited their hair, not for good (or, not to make them beautiful) but to turn them to fornication, that they might ensnare the souls of men unto perdition. And the men that lay with them in fornication shall be hung by their loins in that place of fire; and they shall say one to another: We knew not that we should come unto everlasting punishment.

And the murderers and them that have made common cause with them shall they cast into the fire, in a place full of venomous beasts, and they shall be tormented without rest, feeling their pains; and their worms shall be as many in number as a dark cloud. And the angel Ezrael shall bring forth the souls of them that have been slain, and they shall behold the torment of them that slew them, and say one to another: Righteousness and justice is the judgement of God. For we heard, but we believed not, that we should come into this place of eternal judgement….”
Apocalypse of Peter
The Apocalypse of Peter (translation by M. R. James)
 

starlite

Texasgirl
Revelation 20:13, 14, KJ: “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.” (So the dead will be delivered from hell. Notice also that hell is not the same as the lake of fire but will be cast into the lake of fire.)

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going.” (If they are conscious of nothing, they obviously feel no pain.)

Revelation 20:10: "And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Even the Devil is thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur so, how could he torment wicked individuals forever?)

In the Scriptures fiery torment is associated with destruction and death. So,those hurled into the lake of fire will be held under restraint, or “jailed,” in death throughout eternity.

And remember...even Jesus went to hell but didn't stay there. (The Bible writer Luke tells us: “Neither was [Jesus] forsaken in Hades [hell, King James Version] nor did his flesh see corruption.” (Acts 2:31)
 

Thruve

Sheppard for the Die Hard
Pretty sure hell is a state of being, not an actual place. I don't believe theirs literally a place called the lake of fire where you constantly burn, but rather a state of being where one burns (suffers, regrets, etc) for having nothing eternal.
 

JM2C

CHRISTIAN
I believe that evil is something your actions and words shape, and not as something you can be. Locking up criminals is wrong but necessary. Also this is the afterlife so what are they going to do lol? Kill you.. nah.
You believe all you want. Hell is real and here is the proof of it……..
Lk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Lk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Lk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
 

starlite

Texasgirl
You believe all you want. Hell is real and here is the proof of it……..
Lk 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Lk 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Lk 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

The account, at Luke 16:19-31, is a as the Jerusalem Bible states in a footnote a “parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.” If taken literally, it would mean that those enjoying divine favor could all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham; that the water on one’s fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering there. Does that sound reasonable to you?

Consider please this explanation...The “rich man” represented the Pharisees. (See Lu 16 verse 14.) The beggar Lazarus represented the common Jewish people who were despised by the Pharisees but who repented and became followers of Jesus. ( Matthew 21:31, 32.) Their deaths were also symbolic, representing a change in circumstances. Thus, the formerly despised ones came into a position of divine favor, and the formerly seemingly favored ones were rejected by God, while being tormented by the judgment messages delivered by the ones whom they had despised.

Notice too, Luke 16:22
New International Version (NIV)

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

The rich man was "buried" not tormented in a fiery hell.
 

JM2C

CHRISTIAN
The account, at Luke 16:19-31, is a as the Jerusalem Bible states in a footnote a “parable in story form without reference to any historical personage.”
If taken literally, it would mean that those enjoying divine favor could all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham;
that the water on one’s fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering there.
Does that sound reasonable to you?
I think you are the one taking this parable literally by saying: “If taken literally, it would mean that those enjoying divine favor could all fit at the bosom of one man, Abraham; that the water on one’s fingertip would not be evaporated by the fire of Hades; that a mere drop of water would bring relief to one suffering there.”

If it was meant to be a parable then it does not mean one should read it as word for word and taken it literally like what you did.

We must keep in mind that we cannot build a complete eschatology upon these parable.

We are just pointing out that heaven and hell do really exist.


Here is another example;

Mt 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mt 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
Mt 13:26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
Mt 13:27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
Mt 13:28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
Mt 13:29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Mt 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

How do you translate this literally? Not words for words like you did with Luke’s literally of course, but what is the meaning of the parable spiritually.

Mt 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

We have to understand any parables in the bible spiritually and not literally otherwise, one can not see the other side of where we are, which is heaven.

Like Luke’s, one is in hell while the other is with Abraham, and here, in Matthew, one is burn while the other into the owner’s barn.

So, we have hell and Abraham in Luke, and burn and barn in Matthew. Now, if we give a spiritual meaning to these two parables, we should be able to conclude that hell is hell and Abraham is with God, and burn is hell and barn is God's.
 

mahmoud mrt

Member
Premium Member
Personally I don't believe in hell. The absurdity that evil souls are to burn in the mines of sulphur with the devil thrusting a stick up your butt for all eternity is surreal but also unjust and slightly overkill. There are other slightly more pleasant beliefs as to what hell is all about - please by all means share your essential opinions and views here.

Here are my thoughts

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/islam-dir/166280-heaven-hell-free-will-question.html

Regards
Mahmoud
 

starlite

Texasgirl
How do you translate this literally? Not words for words like you did with Luke’s literally of course, but what is the meaning of the parable spiritually.

I accept that Jesus spoke in parables and yet gave his true followers understanding of them.These scriptures that you are referring to is one of Jesus’ illustrations that focuses on the gathering of those who will rule with Jesus in his Kingdom. I accept the following explanation....Who is the man who sowed the fine seed in his field? Jesus provides the answer when he explains to his disciples: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man.” (Matt. 13:37) Jesus, the “Son of man,” prepared the field for planting during the three and a half years of his earthly ministry. Then from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward, he started to sow the fine seed...“the sons of the kingdom.” This sowing evidently took place when Jesus, as God's representative, began to pour out holy spirit upon the disciples, thereby anointing them as God’s sons. The fine seed developed into mature wheat. So the objective in sowing the fine seed was eventually to gather the full number of those who would become joint heirs and rulers with Jesus in his Kingdom.

Luke 22:28-30
28 “However, you are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials; 29 and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel."

Revelation 20:6
6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.


Then, who is the enemy, and who are the weeds? Jesus tells us that the enemy “is the Devil.” The weeds are described as “the sons of the wicked one.”

Matthew 13:37-39
37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels.


You see....Jesus himself gives the meaning of the parable.

In his parables Jesus always used simple everyday things that his listeners were familiar with. The weeds that Jesus referred to were probably the bearded darnel. This poisonous plant closely resembles wheat in its early stages before it reaches maturity. In time a great apostasy developed. These hypocritical Christians who claim to be followers of Christ are really part of the “seed” of Satan the Devil.

Perhaps this sounds harsh but I believe as Jesus tells us...during the last days of this wicked system of things, a separating takes place...the sons of the Kingdom are to be gathered and separated from any weedlike ones.
 

AlphaAlex115

Active Member
I accept that Jesus spoke in parables and yet gave his true followers understanding of them.These scriptures that you are referring to is one of Jesus’ illustrations that focuses on the gathering of those who will rule with Jesus in his Kingdom. I accept the following explanation....Who is the man who sowed the fine seed in his field? Jesus provides the answer when he explains to his disciples: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man.” (Matt. 13:37) Jesus, the “Son of man,” prepared the field for planting during the three and a half years of his earthly ministry. Then from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward, he started to sow the fine seed...“the sons of the kingdom.” This sowing evidently took place when Jesus, as God's representative, began to pour out holy spirit upon the disciples, thereby anointing them as God’s sons. The fine seed developed into mature wheat. So the objective in sowing the fine seed was eventually to gather the full number of those who would become joint heirs and rulers with Jesus in his Kingdom.

Luke 22:28-30
28 “However, you are the ones who have stuck with me in my trials; 29 and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the 12 tribes of Israel."

Revelation 20:6
6 Happy and holy is anyone having part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and they will rule as kings with him for the 1,000 years.


Then, who is the enemy, and who are the weeds? Jesus tells us that the enemy “is the Devil.” The weeds are described as “the sons of the wicked one.”

Matthew 13:37-39
37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels.


You see....Jesus himself gives the meaning of the parable.

In his parables Jesus always used simple everyday things that his listeners were familiar with. The weeds that Jesus referred to were probably the bearded darnel. This poisonous plant closely resembles wheat in its early stages before it reaches maturity. In time a great apostasy developed. These hypocritical Christians who claim to be followers of Christ are really part of the “seed” of Satan the Devil.

Perhaps this sounds harsh but I believe as Jesus tells us...during the last days of this wicked system of things, a separating takes place...the sons of the Kingdom are to be gathered and separated from any weedlike ones.





why do u go off of the bible

its just an old book written a bit ago

no one really cares tbh...
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
Hell is like being in a dictator's jail, the most troublesome getting the harshest punishment. Of course, I do not believe in any.
 

serp777

Well-Known Member
People who cause pain to others will have pain. It is just. Having no consequences of one's bad actions is unjust.

That is the reason we have Jails here - to punish the criminals.

That's not just. It's stupid, pointless, and meaningless vengeance that serves no purpose whatsoever besides satisfying your barbaric sadism. Not even Hitler deserves infinite pain in hell. Erasing his soul, if there is such a thing, makes a lot more sense.

The point of punishment should be to correct bad behavior in the future. Causing unnecessary suffering with no possible benefit in the future is a waste.

Essentially, knowing what is sketchy is all based on the assumption that you know the full extent of sketchiness.
 
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BSM1

What? Me worry?
My vivid concept of hell is waking up naked on a metal fold down chair in an unheated room. There is a single light bulb swinging slowly back and forth, and my mother-in-law is pacing around the room while talking incessantly. If she stops talking or even pauses to take a breath, you are condemned for all eternity to ask her a question.
 

JM2C

CHRISTIAN
What if everything else you described is true for Hell except the time in Hell being limited? Will that make it more just and less overkill?

You mean limited time only like passes with limited stay only? Why would you wanna be hell if there is another place beside hell, or the opposite of hell, where you can stay forever?
 

JM2C

CHRISTIAN
One can say that the “fire in hell” is symbolic, as not the literal fire, but the pain is as real as if one is being set on fire “eternally”.
 

jtartar

Well-Known Member
Personally I don't believe in hell. The absurdity that evil souls are to burn in the mines of sulphur with the devil thrusting a stick up your butt for all eternity is surreal but also unjust and slightly overkill. There are other slightly more pleasant beliefs as to what hell is all about - please by all means share your essential opinions and views here.

AlphaAlex115,
I don't want to put an opinion, not when the Biblr has recorder that Interpretations belong to God, Gen 40:8.
Something that most do not know is: the term HELL, is a corruption of the Greek word Hades, but they have misused the idea of Hades. The term is just the Greek word for the Hebrew word Sheol, both meaning, The common Grave of Mankind. This is proven by comparing Ps 16:10 to Acts 2:27,31.
Another problem with the term used in many Bibles as Hell, they use the word Hell, for two other words, Gehenna, and Tartarus, which actually mean something different, Gehenna, meaning the same as The Lake of Fire, and Tartarus is the place of confinement for spirit creatures, Angels, Mark 9:42-48, and the original scripture said Tartarus at 2Pet 2:4, as do many Bibles.
Jesus warned people about going to Gehenna if they did not repent, Matt 5:22, which originally said Gehenna. Matt 18:9 used Gehenna also. Now, THINK, why would Jesus threaten people with Gehenna, if it was just the common grave of mankind?? Gehenna and The Lake of Fire and Sulfur, are the same place. Any person who does not get into the Book of Life goes into The Lake of Fire, which is also called The Second Death, Rev 20:14,15. This means that there is NO resurrection, from the Second a Death.
 
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