Christians: Do you believe in Hell?

[an anarchist]

Seems to me that the belief in hell is waning among Christians. I wanted to make a poll asking Christians if they believe in a literal hell.
I believe in hell. I’ve believed in reincarnation for a while, because I didn’t want to believe in hell. I had past memories, but I understand that there can be other explanations other than reincarnation for what I remember and experienced.
It is a heavy weight, believing in hell. To believe that the majority of your friends will burn forever is distressing. I don’t feel safe from the hellfire due to the guilt I carry. I chose to let go of that belief for several years. I was rereading the book of Enoch which I believe to be inspired. It goes into some detail of the after life. It describes Hades and has the typical Christian resurrection theology. If I am a literalist, it seems i can’t believe in reincarnation, rather, I must believe in eternal damnation.
Any literalists who don’t believe in hell? I know that the more popular belief is that of the non literalist interpretation of the Bible. If you don’t interpret it literally, is that how come you don’t believe in hell? I don’t want to believe in hell. It’s terrible

 

[RestlessSoul]

The mind is it’s own place, and in itself
Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.

- John Milton, Paradise Lost

I believe, like Milton who knew a thing or two about suffering, that we make our own hell, right here on earth. And we can begin to leave it at anytime, by surrendering ourselves to God’s love and mercy. I absolutely don’t believe in a place of everlasting torment, and see nothing in the Gospels which supports such an idea. Fire needs fuel, after all, it can’t burn forever.

 

[Glaurung]

The idea that God would allow a person to be irrevocably severed from His grace is an awful prospect. To be forever denied the sight of God and the direct experience of His love is the worst thing that could happen to a human being. Nevertheless, I don't doubt that at least some will choose to reject God. To choose eternal darkness over the eternal light because sin has rendered them incapable of countenancing that light. A person who spends a long time in a dark room is blinded by sunlight. Likewise, a person who spends a lifetime in obstinate sin will not tolerate to look at the light of God.

In a sense, Hell is a mercy. God will not force Himself on those who do not want Him. Even though by rejecting Him, the human soul loses its capacity for love. Which is why Hell necessarily leaves a soul in an unchangeable state of suffering.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

I'm not a Christian, but as an outsider, I'd like to comment on the fact that the question is asked. I don't recall hearing or reading Christians questioning literal hell until the last two or three decades, and I don't recall seeing answers like "Hell is being separated from God," "You go to heaven if saved and into eternal unconsciousness if not," or "God doesn't send you to hell, you send yourself" until more recently. I interpret this as a test of gradual moving away from traditional hell theology, the reason being that the church is struggling to remain appealing and relevant in a world that finds much of Christian dogma off-putting, including a deity that tortures in the extreme.

Nobody is asking if Christians believe in heaven. Why not? If one is questionable, why not both? The answer seems to be that the idea of heaven is appealing, so no problem there and no need to experiment with altering doctrine. If one views heaven and hell as the carrot and the stick, at least one of these must remain, or what's the incentive to be a Christian or to obey God's commandments?

Giving up hell would be a gamble, but if it is costing church membership, it may be necessary, along with dampening other off-putting aspects of the religion such as its antiscientism and homophobia. The church can do without those, but how will it fare if it gives up hell as it has usually been taught. That depends on how much of church dependence depends on the fear of damnation as opposed to the allure of heaven. In other words, if one is considering refusing Pascal's Wager, it's easier to do if the stakes of losing drop to the possible loss of heaven alone without risking the threat of hellfire.

 

[Kenny]

I'm not a Christian, but as an outsider, I'd like to comment on the fact that the question is asked. I don't recall hearing or reading Christians questioning literal hell until the last two or three decades, and I don't recall seeing answers like "Hell is being separated from God," "You go to heaven if saved and into eternal unconsciousness if not," or "God doesn't send you to hell, you send yourself" until more recently. I interpret this as a test of gradual moving away from traditional hell theology, the reason being that the church is struggling to remain appealing and relevant in a world that finds much of Christian dogma off-putting, including a deity that tortures in the extreme.

Nobody is asking if Christians believe in heaven. Why not? If one is questionable, why not both? The answer seems to be that the idea of heaven is appealing, so no problem there and no need to experiment with altering doctrine. If one views heaven and hell as the carrot and the stick, at least one of these must remain, or what's the incentive to be a Christian or to obey God's commandments?

Giving up hell would be a gamble, but if it is costing church membership, it may be necessary, along with dampening other off-putting aspects of the religion such as its antiscientism and homophobia. The church can do without those, but how will it fare if it gives up hell as it has usually been taught. That depends on how much of church dependence depends on the fear of damnation as opposed to the allure of heaven. In other words, if one is considering refusing Pascal's Wager, it's easier to do if the stakes of losing drop to the possible loss of heaven alone without risking the threat of hellfire.

Perhaps it is more about the circles you may have been around.

I think the last paragraph is more about a mantra than reality.

But that is what makes America... America. Differences in viewpoints.

 

[pearl]

1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."612 Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.613 To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."

 

[viole]

To be forever denied the sight of God and the direct experience of His love is the worst thing that could happen to a human being

Honestly, I am not suffering any inconvenience because of that.

Ciao

- viole

 

[RestlessSoul]

I'm not a Christian, but as an outsider, I'd like to comment on the fact that the question is asked. I don't recall hearing or reading Christians questioning literal hell until the last two or three decades, and I don't recall seeing answers like "Hell is being separated from God," "You go to heaven if saved and into eternal unconsciousness if not," or "God doesn't send you to hell, you send yourself" until more recently. I interpret this as a test of gradual moving away from traditional hell theology, the reason being that the church is struggling to remain appealing and relevant in a world that finds much of Christian dogma off-putting, including a deity that tortures in the extreme.

Nobody is asking if Christians believe in heaven. Why not? If one is questionable, why not both? The answer seems to be that the idea of heaven is appealing, so no problem there and no need to experiment with altering doctrine. If one views heaven and hell as the carrot and the stick, at least one of these must remain, or what's the incentive to be a Christian or to obey God's commandments?

Giving up hell would be a gamble, but if it is costing church membership, it may be necessary, along with dampening other off-putting aspects of the religion such as its antiscientism and homophobia. The church can do without those, but how will it fare if it gives up hell as it has usually been taught. That depends on how much of church dependence depends on the fear of damnation as opposed to the allure of heaven. In other words, if one is considering refusing Pascal's Wager, it's easier to do if the stakes of losing drop to the possible loss of heaven alone without risking the threat of hellfire.

Always better to focus on reward than punishment, don't you think?

 

[Suave]

Seems to me that the belief in hell is waning among Christians. I wanted to make a poll asking Christians if they believe in a literal hell.
I believe in hell. I’ve believed in reincarnation for a while, because I didn’t want to believe in hell. I had past memories, but I understand that there can be other explanations other than reincarnation for what I remember and experienced.
It is a heavy weight, believing in hell. To believe that the majority of your friends will burn forever is distressing. I don’t feel safe from the hellfire due to the guilt I carry. I chose to let go of that belief for several years. I was rereading the book of Enoch which I believe to be inspired. It goes into some detail of the after life. It describes Hades and has the typical Christian resurrection theology. If I am a literalist, it seems i can’t believe in reincarnation, rather, I must believe in eternal damnation.
Any literalists who don’t believe in hell? I know that the more popular belief is that of the non literalist interpretation of the Bible. If you don’t interpret it literally, is that how come you don’t believe in hell? I don’t want to believe in hell. It’s terrible

I have considered the notion of there being a simulator ( a.k.a.-God ) who will reanimate non-Christians whom God will punish for having rejected Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savor. So then, even if the chance of a literal Hell reserved for non Christians is very minute, the best course of action for everybody is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

 

[nPeace]

Seems to me that the belief in hell is waning among Christians. I wanted to make a poll asking Christians if they believe in a literal hell.
I believe in hell. I’ve believed in reincarnation for a while, because I didn’t want to believe in hell. I had past memories, but I understand that there can be other explanations other than reincarnation for what I remember and experienced.
It is a heavy weight, believing in hell. To believe that the majority of your friends will burn forever is distressing. I don’t feel safe from the hellfire due to the guilt I carry. I chose to let go of that belief for several years. I was rereading the book of Enoch which I believe to be inspired. It goes into some detail of the after life. It describes Hades and has the typical Christian resurrection theology. If I am a literalist, it seems i can’t believe in reincarnation, rather, I must believe in eternal damnation.
Any literalists who don’t believe in hell? I know that the more popular belief is that of the non literalist interpretation of the Bible. If you don’t interpret it literally, is that how come you don’t believe in hell? I don’t want to believe in hell. It’s terrible

What do you believe hell to be?
If hell is a place of eternal torment, how could that be reconciled with Revelation 20:13-15?

 

[Trailblazer]

Honestly, I am not suffering any inconvenience because of that.

Ciao

- viole

Neither am I.
I don't feel God's love but I don't think we can know what we are missing if we don't know what we are missing.

 

[Trailblazer]

To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."

With all due respect, I don't see anything to accept. Where is God and where is God's love?
It is written in a Book so people imagine it is real, but I don't feel it at all.
Maybe it's there but I don't feel it at all.

If God is so loving, why is there so much suffering in this world? This does not comport with logic.

I do not believe it is a free choice to love God, as love cannot be forced.

My religion also teaches that separation from God is hell, so I might be in big trouble in the afterlife even though I have accepted Jesus and I do not sin.

 

[Trailblazer]

God will not force Himself on those who do not want Him. Even though by rejecting Him, the human soul loses its capacity for love.

Are you saying that atheists cannot love? This is not what I have seen or experienced.
In fact, I have received more compassion from atheists than from believers.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Seems to me that the belief in hell is waning among Christians. I wanted to make a poll asking Christians if they believe in a literal hell.
I believe in hell. I’ve believed in reincarnation for a while, because I didn’t want to believe in hell. I had past memories, but I understand that there can be other explanations other than reincarnation for what I remember and experienced.
It is a heavy weight, believing in hell. To believe that the majority of your friends will burn forever is distressing. I don’t feel safe from the hellfire due to the guilt I carry. I chose to let go of that belief for several years. I was rereading the book of Enoch which I believe to be inspired. It goes into some detail of the after life. It describes Hades and has the typical Christian resurrection theology. If I am a literalist, it seems i can’t believe in reincarnation, rather, I must believe in eternal damnation.
Any literalists who don’t believe in hell? I know that the more popular belief is that of the non literalist interpretation of the Bible. If you don’t interpret it literally, is that how come you don’t believe in hell? I don’t want to believe in hell. It’s terrible

Yes, I believe in heaven, hell and also a realm of purification (the Catholics call it purgatory and the Orthodox have a similar concept but not called that).

 

[viole]

Neither am I.
I don't feel God's love but I don't think we can know what we are missing if we don't know what we are missing.

Well, that could go both ways. Not necessarily for the best.

ciao

- viole

 

[Trailblazer]

Well, that could go both ways. Not necessarily for the best.

ciao

- viole

It could.

 

[an anarchist]

What do you believe hell to be?
If hell is a place of eternal torment, how could that be reconciled with Revelation 20:13-15?

Being cast into an eternal lake of fire sounds like hell to me. Is there something I’m missing?

 

[nPeace]

Being cast into an eternal lake of fire sounds like hell to me. Is there something I’m missing?

Evidently.
Hell is casted into hell?

Revelation 20:13-15
13 And 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.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Also the Bible identifies the lake of fire as the second death... not hell.
What is hell? You didn't say.

 

[an anarchist]

What is hell? You didn't say.

I reckon it is Hades, or Sheol. Where people go when they did until that final day of judgement. I imagine that the lake of fire becomes a new hell. But I don’t know

 

[pearl]

If God is so loving, why is there so much suffering in this world? This does not comport with logic.

What do you expect God to do about it?

Where is God and where is God's love?

The Holy Spirit is within you. There is an account in Acts where Luke tell of the execution of the Hellenist Stephen, just before he is killed he has a vision of God and Jesus at his right side, the Holy Spirit is at his side, in Stephen himself.

I do not believe it is a free choice to love God, as love cannot be forced.

Love is a gift, God's self gift, its purely your choice to accept or not.