Is Hell Imaginary?

[8ballwizard]

I was just curious to find out the variety of views among different Christians on what they perceive as "hell". What kind of evidence do they have for their answers outside of the bible? Have they studied the history of the word itself and the doctrine? Why isn't hell found in Greek or Hebrew in the bible?

Also, if it was not for the threat of going to hell or threat of being "cursed" in this life (in other words, having fear), what good is it being a Christian? If the answer is "well, you'll have eternal life in heaven", then that leads to many other questions. I suppose I ask this because there is a popular falsehood among the religious that non-christians cannot be moral or have ethics, which is just nonsense. So, if your answer is you should be a christian because it makes you moral (gives you a "better" life), that is a straw man, since non-christians can be moral.

So, please let me know what you believe and why.

 

[HypnoToad]

I was just curious to find out the variety of views among different Christians on what they perceive as "hell". What kind of evidence do they have for their answers outside of the bible?

The Bible is God's Word. I don't need any other evidence. Further, as a spiritual place, I'm wondering what kind of scientific evidence you think there might be.

Why isn't hell found in Greek or Hebrew in the bible?

What do you mean, not in the Greek? The New Testament certainly DOES talk about hell. Yes, the word for "grave" is often translated as "hell", but the concept of what hell is is certainly in there. Go read about the "lake of fire".

Also, if it was not for the threat of going to hell or threat of being "cursed" in this life (in other words, having fear), what good is it being a Christian?

It's good to believe all true things, whether you are rewarded for that belief or not.

 

[Merlin]

Christians simplify using the word 'hell'.
The Greek and Hebrew both talk of death and another place.
Jesus spoke of a burning trash heap.

 

[Merlin]

Christianity is really not about avoiding hell, though others might think so.
It's about the blessings, not the curses.

 

[MrsHolwager]

The Bible is God's Word. I don't need any other evidence. Further, as a spiritual place, I'm wondering what kind of scientific evidence you think there might be.


What do you mean, not in the Greek? The New Testament certainly DOES talk about hell. Yes, the word for "grave" is often translated as "hell", but the concept of what hell is is certainly in there. Go read about the "lake of fire".


It's good to believe all true things, whether you are rewarded for that belief or not.

Great points, being a christian is not just about the girfts of it. Being Christian is about worshiping the wonderful creator that made this world and its people on it.

 

[hlaltimus]

WHY?
#1 Because the reality of hell is very well attested to in the Bible.
#2 (Here is the kind of answer that I think you were more interested in): I was once involved in the occult and was delivered out of that horrid trap through a nightmare experience that only Christ could have carried me through. I will never, ever be convinced that there is no hell simply for the reason that I now cannot be. It is entirely a personal and experimental evidence that I cannot properly relate with human speach...but it's there because I've spiritually been immersed in it. Words fail me to describe the sheer horror of those days, but when you drive out a so called demon named "despair" or "depression" and feel this sinister and ghostly presence departing from your body and then a blessed sense of relief...No one will ever succeed in convincing you that it was all in your imagination. Hell is very, very real, but the precious atoning blood of Christ beats even that.

 

[mpok1519]

i think hell of being more of a simple absence from God.

rather than a place, i think of it as more of a state of being.

 

[ebia]

I was just curious to find out the variety of views among different Christians on what they perceive as "hell". What kind of evidence do they have for their answers outside of the bible? Have they studied the history of the word itself and the doctrine? Why isn't hell found in Greek or Hebrew in the bible?

IMO, the bible is trying to describe the indescrible on this issue.

Also, if it was not for the threat of going to hell or threat of being "cursed" in this life (in other words, having fear), what good is it being a Christian?

I don't think I know any Christians who are Christian for that reason.

One should be Christian so that one can be (slowly) redeemed, restored and healed back into what we are created to be - the image of God in creation - that will finally be accomplished in its fullness when the whole of creation is redeemed an remade into the "new heavens and new earth". And, in the process, to play our intended part in that redeption of creation.

 

[salida]

Jesus talks about hell many times. Its a spiritual place that is eternal separation from God and a very real place. You want "other than the Bible". Hmm, since the Bible is the most true book in the world because it has overwhelming evidence that supports it - its the most reliable source you will find about hell. There are people with NDE's that went to hell and came back - they testified of hell and it was exactly what the bible says it was when they described it.

 

[mpok1519]

the Bible also states that hell is in the center of the earth, as in earth's core.

Theres plenty of geological evidence to suggest that simply is impossible, and quite sophmoric. Such an idea of earth being hollowed out in the middle by the devil is not only asinine, but also a lie.

the Bible doesn't lie, its just mysterious and not cookie-cutter-clear like many people think it is.

 

[Jerrell]

Anyone who thinks hell is imaginary will be in for an awakening after judgement...

 

[Gukkor]

I cannot say with any certainty what Hell is, though I will say that I don't think it a literal, physical place, and I don't think it eternal (not in the sense that most Christians mean when they speak of "eternity in Hell" or "eternal punishment," anyway). I do believe in it, however.

In any case, Heaven and Hell bear little relevance for me. I don't truly care where I end up after death. My primary concern is serving God and others as well as I can in this life. When it comes to the afterlife, what will be, will be, in my view. I am Christian because I believe it is the truth. Does one need any other reason for believing in anything?

 

[HypnoToad]

the Bible also states that hell is in the center of the earth, as in earth's core.

References?

Theres plenty of geological evidence to suggest that simply is impossible, and quite sophmoric. Such an idea of earth being hollowed out in the middle by the devil is not only asinine, but also a lie.

If it were in the earth (I'm not saying it is, just hypothetically) as I asked of the OP, being spiritual, why would you expect hell to show up in any kind of scientific experiment? The devil wouldn't have to "hollow out" anything, spirits aren't confined by physical matter.

 

[Whitestone]

i think hell of being more of a simple absence from God.

rather than a place, i think of it as more of a state of being.

You hit the nail on the head, hell isn't about pain and suffering, it's about being stranded away from G-d.

For Christians, we follow Christ so we can go back home to G-d. It is not because fear we want to go to heaven, but out of love for G-d that we want to return home to Him.

Why do we strive to live good moral lives? Because we want G-d to be proud of us. The same way that we want our parents, friends, family, heck even our children to be proud of us here on Earth. It shouldn't make a big diference but having approval from someone you care about is paramount for all of us.

 

[mpok1519]

someone told me one time that they thought hell was in the center of the earth according to some bible reference.

bt that could also mean hell is symbollically within the heart of the earth, as in, within greed, power, and ephemeral desires one sees on earth.

 

[Stinker]

I was just curious to find out the variety of views among different Christians on what they perceive as "hell". What kind of evidence do they have for their answers outside of the bible? Have they studied the history of the word itself and the doctrine? Why isn't hell found in Greek or Hebrew in the bible?

Also, if it was not for the threat of going to hell or threat of being "cursed" in this life (in other words, having fear), what good is it being a Christian? If the answer is "well, you'll have eternal life in heaven", then that leads to many other questions. I suppose I ask this because there is a popular falsehood among the religious that non-christians cannot be moral or have ethics, which is just nonsense. So, if your answer is you should be a christian because it makes you moral (gives you a "better" life), that is a straw man, since non-christians can be moral.

So, please let me know what you believe and why.

"...leads to many other questions." I am sure those questions can be answered. One can understand that the positives of heaven equal or far exceed the degree of negatives of that ancient burning Jerusalem garbage dump. I myself, do not believe that God is going to keep a perpetually burning garbage dump in heaven:

[edit] Hebrew Bible observations

It is mentioned in the Tanakh several places, notably 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; 2 Kings 23:10; the southwestern gate of Jerusalem, overlooking the valley, came to be known as "The Gate of the Valley" (Hebrew: שער הגיא&#8206. Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-6; 32:35; the Book of Jeremiah (2:23) speaks of Jerusalemites worshipping Moloch and committing abominations, foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem:
"19:2. And you shall go out to the Ben-Hinnom Valley which is at the entrance of the Harsith Gate, and you shall call there the words that I will speak to you. 19:3. And you shall say; Hearken to the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; so said the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; Behold I am bringing evil upon this place, which whoever hears, his ears will tingle. 19:4. Because they forsook Me and they estranged this place and burnt incense therein to other gods, which they had not known, they, their forefathers, and the kings of Judah, and they filled this place with the blood of innocent people. 19:5. And they built the high places of Baal to burn their children with fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command, neither did I speak nor did it enter My mind. 19:6. Therefore, behold days are coming, says the Lord, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or Ben-Hinnom Valley, but the Valley of Slaughter."
In Hebrew:
[FONT=sbl hebrew, david]וְיָצָאתָ אֶל-גֵּיא בֶן-הִנֹּם אֲשֶׁר פֶּתַח שַׁעַר החרסות (הַחַרְסִי&#1514 וְקָרָאתָ שָּׁם אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר-אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ: וְאָמַרְתָּ שִׁמְעוּ דְבַר-יְהוָה מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם כֹּה-אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִנְנִי מֵבִיא רָעָה עַל-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר כָּל-שֹׁמְעָהּ, תִּצַּלְנָה אָזְנָיו: יַעַן אֲשֶׁר עֲזָבֻנִי וַיְנַכְּרוּ אֶת-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וַיְקַטְּרוּ-בוֹ לֵאלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יְדָעוּם הֵמָּה וַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם וּמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וּמָלְאוּ אֶת-הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה דַּם נְקִיִּם: וּבָנוּ אֶת-בָּמוֹת הַבַּעַל לִשְׂרֹף אֶת-בְּנֵיהֶם בָּאֵשׁ עֹלוֹת לַבָּעַל אֲשֶׁר לֹא-צִוִּיתִי וְלֹא דִבַּרְתִּי וְלֹא עָלְתָה עַל-לִבִּי: לָכֵן הִנֵּה-יָמִים בָּאִים, נְאֻם-יְהוָה וְלֹא-יִקָּרֵא לַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה עוֹד הַתֹּפֶת וְגֵיא בֶן-הִנֹּם כִּי אִם-גֵּיא הַהֲרֵגָה:[/FONT]
Pagans once sacrificed their children to pagan idols in the fires in Gehenna, and this was an abomination; in 2 Kings, 23:10, King Josiah forbade the sacrificing of children to Moloch at Gehenna (though Baal is not mentioned in this particular verse). Rashi claims that the Tophet (תופ&#1514 was the Molech. Since priests would bang on drums (תופי&#1501 so that the father would not hear the groans of the child when he would be burned by the hands of the pagan image, Molech, they called it Topheth.
There are stories of fires that were kept burning via the adding of brimstone (sulfur). Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible Volume I, explains,
“It became the common lay-stall garbage dump of the city, where the dead bodies of criminals, and the carcasses of animals, and every other kind of filth was cast.” The dump was full of rotting garbage which sent up a stench that could be smelled for miles. [Wikipedia]