Hell

[FutureAndAHope]

I have met a few people that have had after life experiences (Near Death Experiences). Two of these had a "On my way to hell" kind of journey. One I spoke too was a criminal, his life style was full of crime. He suffered an Asma attack (from what I can remember of his story) that made his heart stop, he was clinically dead (this occured in hospital). He said he went down into a dark place and felt heat on the rocks and saw the flickering light of flames. He also saw above him a bright light, and an angel with a sword in its hand. I can't remember if it said or did any thing.

The other guy died and went through a tunnel of light, he then came out the side of the tunnel and decended toward the Abyss, he saw creatures comming toward him to get him. He was pulled up toward the light and a voice said "Don't trust them" (refering to the demons) and he was returned to his body. I did have a link to the whole transcript but I have lost it.

I also know of a person who went all the way up the tunnel of light he met Jesus (he was a believer the other two were not); he was clinically dead 20 minutes.

 

[Booko]

OK but seriously Legion, which religions do you think teach a Hell of the sort one normally thinks of? A Hell where you spend an afterlife in pain?

Well, there's Zoroastrian dualism, to be sure. Which coincidentally (or not) bears a striking resemblence to some Christian traditions of wars between Good and Evil and an afterlife where you end up in Heaven or Hell.

But as someone pointed out, the word used in the Bible, Gehenna, referred to a trash heap outside Jerusalem. To say that something belongs in Gehenna, doesn't that mean it's useless and should be tossed out?

Also, the term used in the Qu'ran is Gehenna also.

Hell doesn't exist in Judaism.

Arthra already mentioned the version of "hell" in the Baha'i Faith. It's not your standard hell, to be sure.

I don't know of any N. American indigenous versions of Hell.

What about Dharmic religions? Hm...no...nothing that looks particularly like hell.

So...at the moment I see Christianity and Zoroastrianism and possibly Islam.

That's not exactly "all" religions, Legion.

However! I will tell you I've been to Hell and back, yes, I did get a t-shirt while there, and I would add that Hell freezes over each winter.

 

[hikersong]

I have met a few people that have had after life experiences (Near Death Experiences). Two of these had a "On my way to hell" kind of journey. One I spoke too was a criminal, his life style was full of crime. He suffered an Asma attack (from what I can remember of his story) that made his heart stop, he was clinically dead (this occured in hospital). He said he went down into a dark place and felt heat on the rocks and saw the flickering light of flames. He also saw above him a bright light, and an angel with a sword in its hand. I can't remember if it said or did any thing.

The other guy died and went through a tunnel of light, he then came out the side of the tunnel and decended toward the Abyss, he saw creatures comming toward him to get him. He was pulled up toward the light and a voice said "Don't trust them" (refering to the demons) and he was returned to his body. I did have a link to the whole transcript but I have lost it.

I also know of a person who went all the way up the tunnel of light he met Jesus (he was a believer the other two were not); he was clinically dead 20 minutes.

Well, you see, in the end I just couldn't believe something coz if I didn't believe then I would end up getting punished. It must be a genetic fault on my part. I guess your story is aiming to frighten everyone who doesn't believe in Jesus...oh, well. At least you're safe...I'm sure your eternal bliss will enable you to forget about other peoples pain.

Please, in the name of love, what is with the scare tactics?

 

[sbvera13]

If god is good, and god is just:

what is just about infinite punishment for a finite (mortal) crime?

 

[Rascaduanok]

Any of you with children: can you seriously imagine them doing something so horrific that you would roast them over and over again literally for all eternity? In religious cases this doesn’t even need to take the form of murder, rape, genocide either. It can stem simply from disagreeing with you.

So if your child stopped speaking to you and didn’t answer your emails, etc. would you force them into a hot oven until they died, screaming in agony, resurrect them, do it all over again and again? Until, at one stage, they would have suffered enough that they would have outlived (in suffering) the entire lifetimes of every plant, animal and human that ever lived and will live? And still never stop the torment?

Could you really do that to your own children? If you can’t… Well, then I consider you and your morality and love for your children superior to that of god.

 

[awitch]

Any of you with children: can you seriously imagine them doing something so horrific that you would roast them over and over again literally for all eternity? In religious cases this doesn’t even need to take the form of murder, rape, genocide either. It can stem simply from disagreeing with you.

Remember, Jesus is supposed to be the only way, so if an infant dies, never having any chance to accept Jesus as lord and savior, then she goes to hell for the crime of being born.

 

[Rascaduanok]

That depends what particular flavour of Christianity tickles your tastebuds. Last I heard kids like those went to Limbo, which the Pope then revoked recently. Nice…

 

[Wiccan_Child]

If god is good, and god is just:

what is just about infinite punishment for a finite (mortal) crime?

Nothing. Which is why most Abrahamic theists don't say that the punishment is infinite (short stop in Hell, then eternal paradise), or that the crime is finite (i.e., disobeying God is an infinite crime! ).

Of course, they also say that God is all-merciful, which is incompatible with being all-just. Paradoxes ftw.

 

[Legion.As.One]

The idea of Hell is made up to frighten. Using your own imagination, Hell is a terrifying place - which I don't believe physically exists. One person's Hell is another's paradise.

Christianity.
"According to Jewish teachings, hell is not entirely physical; rather, it can be compared to a very intense feeling of shame"
The Aztecs believed that the dead traveled to Mictlán. Just for example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell
The article above lists many religions and their "Hells"

I've heard of the place "Hell" but I come from the great land of Oz, so I know nothing about it, save for its name.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

The idea of Hell is made up to frighten.

Is it? Can you demonstrate this?

Using your own imagination, Hell is a terrifying place - which I don't believe physically exists. One person's Hell is another's paradise.

Not if, by definition, Hell is the worst place for you to experience. Hell, as a place, could vary from person to person.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

If in almost every religion, it is clearly pointed out that if you don't follow their path, you're going to 'hell' (if you will). So, it doesn't really matter, everyone's going to 'hell' anyway.
Not that I believe in hell, I'm just pointing it out.
Views?

Congratulations! You just found out why Pascal's Wager is such a collossal failure of an argument.

 

[Booko]

That depends what particular flavour of Christianity tickles your tastebuds. Last I heard kids like those went to Limbo, which the Pope then revoked recently. Nice…

Ah, I thought it wasn't that the Pope revoked purgatory. He merely made it optional as a matter of belief.

 

[Legion.As.One]

Is it? Can you demonstrate this?

Perhaps the horrific images of people being tormented for eternity in medieval paintings is proof enough, e.g.

My Hell may be someone's idea of bliss, and vice versa.

 

[Rascaduanok]

I like the one at the bottom where that guy has gotten trampled on and force–fed grapes (or something). I think I’ve seen videos on youtube like that!

 

[ProScribe]

[edit] Hell (literally) is place you don't want to be.

 

[Völuspá]

Then there's the Norse Hel, where, if I remember my mythology correctly, was reserved for the souls of people who died of old age or sickness instead of those died gloriously in battle.

Ohhh, that would be a blow. Just because you didn't die in battle...

Hel, or Helheim, was not really the equivalent of the Christian Hell. There are thought to be various realms within it, ranging from pleasant or neutral for most people, to the darkest and the worst for murderers and oath breakers.

Valhalla, Odin's hall of the slain, was indeed reserved for those who died in battle, but it wasn't the only decent afterlife. You could go to the better parts of Helheim, as mentioned before, or even the hall of another deity you were devoted to. ... (I *think* it's possible to be united with Odin if you were devoted to him in some other way [or had better be,] but maybe not hang out with the guys at Valhalla.) :o

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Perhaps the horrific images of people being tormented for eternity in medieval paintings is proof enough, e.g.

It's frightening, but that doesn't mean it's meant to frighten. That could just be a by-product. Indeed, that is one culture's view of Hell among many.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

[edit] Hell (literally) is place you don't want to be.

Then why do Christians say that people choose to go to Hell?

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Ah, I thought it wasn't that the Pope revoked purgatory. He merely made it optional as a matter of belief.

Purgatory and Limbo are two different places.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Then why do Christians say that people choose to go to Hell?

Some do. And they do so because it makes them feel better about it. It's a convenient lie that makes life so much easier, you know?