Orthodox View of Heaven and Hell

[jckstraw72]

Thank you everyone! I Haven't had time to formulate a thorough response (crazy time lately!) but have been reading everything you all have said...definitely helps a lot! My brother was exploring this as well (not Orthodox or even Christian at the moment, but he likes to explore different theologies, even if it is a more advanced subject) and he stumbled across an article that said that the flames of the fire with Shadrac, Mishac and Abendego were representative of the fire of God, hence why they weren't hurt. Which begs the question - does the Orthodox Chirch take the story as a literal story, a figurative, or one of the "it supports the tntology of the church and is prescribed by the Church to be scripture so it doesn't really matter if it is literal or figurative"? This isn't a critical question - but he was asking me about it, and I'm curious now. I didn't have a great answer except to say I'm not sure exactly in what context it is true, but I know it is beneficial and important for our faith. Thanks everyone! I will respond more about all your answers soon. They all have helped significantly! Makes a lot more sense.

certainly they were literally in the fire, and certainly it also points us to greater things.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Which begs the question - does the Orthodox Chirch take the story as a literal story, a figurative, or one of the "it supports the tntology of the church and is prescribed by the Church to be scripture so it doesn't really matter if it is literal or figurative"?

that's one of the great things about Orthodoxy. if it points us to Christ it is true. so we would say both literal and figurative, and probably other ways of looking at it.

 

[All4Christ]

that's one of the great things about Orthodoxy. if it points us to Christ it is true. so we would say both literal and figurative, and probably other ways of looking at it.

So true. That's a point I had to earn quickly when learning about the Orthodox Church! The beauty of it is that we don't have to understand everything 100% intellectually.

We can trust the Church to lead us in the right direction...not that it stops me from trying to understand! I still like to learn as much as possible and want to know what we believe and understand it if possible. I'm sure it will be a lifelong process.

 

[ArmyMatt]

We can trust the Church to lead us in the right direction...not that it stops me from trying to understand! I still like to learn as much as possible and want to know what we believe and understand it if possible. I'm sure it will be a lifelong process.

yep it is. it does not even stop after the Second Coming. since God is infinite, man can always delve deeper into the knowledge of God without ever grasping Him totally at all.