Hell

[Hermit76]

I'm noticing a variety of positions regarding the existence of hell as a literal place. Which position is the traditional Orthodox view?

 

[Bluerose31]

I'm noticing a variety of positions regarding the existence of hell as a literal place. Which position is the traditional Orthodox view?

I am not sure what the traditional Orthodox view is, but I don't believe in hell.

 

[ArmyMatt]

hell is more of a spiritual condition, and it's better to think of it that way. it is a place in a sense, but it exists beyond the temporal limitations this side of Judgment Day. so it's best to think of hell as a spiritual condition

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Why come into an Orthodox subforum and say this? The OP asked what Orthodox think?

I am not sure what the traditional Orthodox view is, but I don't believe in hell.

 

[Hermit76]

hell is more of a spiritual condition, and it's better to think of it that way. it is a place in a sense, but it exists beyond the temporal limitations this side of Judgment Day. so it's best to think of hell as a spiritual condition

When there are references to the Lake of Fire what images appear for you?

 

[ArmyMatt]

When there are references to the Lake of Fire what images appear for you?

God's presence in Scripture is always depicted as fire or light. so the lake of fire is God Himself in the face of the unrepentant sinner.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Hell and heaven stand side by side. As Matt said, it is a condition. In Scripture the rich man and Lazarus shows us this. And according to Orthodoxy there is NO PLACE where God is not present. He is everywhere. God exists as Uncreated Light. A life spent cultivating mercy, kindness, charity, patience, forgiveness, and love for God will create a reaction to God’s uncreated Light that is a WARMING sensation. A life spent in arrogance, idolatry, ego, lust, greed, and sin will elicit a BURNING sensation when encountering the Living God.

Hell is very much, as CS Lewis asserts, a prison where we choose to be with us holding the key...

I'm noticing a variety of positions regarding the existence of hell as a literal place. Which position is the traditional Orthodox view?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Hell and heaven stand side by side. As Matt said, it is a condition. In Scripture the rich man and Lazarus shows us this. And according to Orthodoxy there is NO PLACE where God is not present. He is everywhere. God exists as Uncreated Light. A life spent cultivating mercy, kindness, charity, patience, forgiveness, and love for God will create a reaction to God’s uncreated Light that is a WARMING sensation. A life spent in arrogance, idolatry, ego, lust, greed, and sin will illicit a BURNING sensation when encountering the Living God.

Hell is very much, as CS Lewis asserts, a prison where we choose to be with us holding the key...

Elicit. I can't resist, since you are a teacher as well, lol. (I never correct grammar as a post response, lol. Ever.) But your "illicit" was so appropriate, I had to give it a passing wink!

 

[~Anastasia~]

I have asked myself why a common Protestant explanation of hell is "separation from God" ... and they usually explain a physical separation, where the sinner wishes he could get to God now, but is no longer able. It is somewhat antithetical to Orthodox explanations of hell, so it can be difficult to get the point even considered.

Why do they think God is "located" somewhere, absent elsewhere, and the "sinners" banished from God's presence somehow, to suffer His absense?

I haven't yet been able to track the history and development of this belief.

 

[Hermit76]

All of your descriptions fit my understanding. So, now... I have seen several Ortho posters elsewhere use this understanding of hell as a springboard for Universalism.

Where do all of you stand on this?

 

[Anhelyna]

bet 'illicit ' was down to the silly autocorrect - which has a mind of its own, totally unfathomable to normal human beings

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Either that or my iPhone autocorrect continues to drive me nuts and I’m not catching it!!

Elicit. I can't resist, since you are a teacher as well, lol. (I never correct grammar as a post response, lol. Ever.) But your "illicit" was so appropriate, I had to give it a passing wink!

 

[~Anastasia~]

Either that or my iPhone autocorrect continues to drive me nuts and I’m not catching it!!

Oh mine is terrible. That's a thread in itself. I try to read everything before posting, but not always time. Sometimes I come back hours later to a major embarrassment, lol.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

My autocorrect took the word “sick” the other day and autocorrected to the letter adjacent to “s” if you know what I mean. Jesus4Madrid caught it. Needless to say I was mortified! LOL

Oh mine is terrible. That's a thread in itself. I try to read everything before posting, but not always time. Sometimes I come back hours later to a major embarrassment, lol.

 

[ArmyMatt]

All of your descriptions fit my understanding. So, now... I have seen several Ortho posters elsewhere use this understanding of hell as a springboard for Universalism.

Where do all of you stand on this?

universalism in the sense that we know all will be saved is heresy. but it is something we can hope for.

 

[~Anastasia~]

All of your descriptions fit my understanding. So, now... I have seen several Ortho posters elsewhere use this understanding of hell as a springboard for Universalism.

Where do all of you stand on this?

For my part?

I dare to hope that all of most might be eventually saved. That the experience of God as a consuming fire can somehow be didactic, purging, and that He will have created us in such a way that change is possible after death.

But I rarely say such things. I hope it is possible, but have no reason to be able to believe it may be except that God is love and always does things for the sake of our good. But does that extend into the life of the age to come? I mean, God won't change. But perhaps at that point we can't either. I don't know. I would never, ever presume it, or offer it as a hope to anyone who desires it as a "loophole" or "flame insurance".

I just hope and pray.

But who knows, the way some react to God right now, with little provocation, it may well be that when faced with full exposure to that kind of torment, they may curse Him all the more.

 

[~Anastasia~]

My autocorrect took the word “sick” the other day and autocorrected to the letter adjacent to “s” if you know what I mean. Jesus4Madrid caught it. Needless to say I was mortified! LOL

I saw that. I forget the words (I have a beautifully forgetful mind sometimes, thank God! ) but I saw it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

also, universalism in the sense that death will be defeated, Christ will be all in all, and everyone is getting a resurrected body is true. but for some, that will be torment.

 

[Hermit76]

How will these tormented bodies be separated from those who are resurrected to the joys of God?

 

[ArmyMatt]

How will these tormented bodies be separated from those who are resurrected to the joys of God?

relationally. they have chosen isolation over communion.