In a spiritual way how does concept hell make sense. you may say people in hell deserve it. But punishment is a human invention, its more about about deterring people than anything, could that mean that hell could just be a bluff, i can understand how purgatory could be helpful, but a god who creates hell seems to be a sadochistic god, i mean why would sinners go to hell when god could just as easily erase them from existence does god enjoy seeing people in pain?could hell really have meant being erased from existences and not a grim world of fire, Or could it mean that even when you go to heaven temptations still exist and god wants to use hell as a deterrent?
Whats your views on hell?
PLEAS don't fill this thread with bible refrences or threats against me going to hell, i just want to see people's intellectual views on the concept of hell,
and if i offended anyone with this post I sincerely apologize.
God be with you.
2006-08-02 14:56:42 · 14 answers · asked by hawkeyes 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If we send ourself's to hell does that make hell a human invention?or are you just twisting words to prove a point.
2006-08-02 15:24:03 · update #1
Hell doesn't make any sense to me either. It is yet another reason I am a Pagan.
2006-08-02 15:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by Pablito 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word hell in the English language has its roots in the word hades. Hades was an actual place that the out case of society would go and die. If a person had leprosy it was thought that they did something to deserve it. Hades was a place of corpses.
God says that he created hell for Satan and his demons, no us humans. Gods desire is that all would repent. Because God is a just God, he must punish sin, not the person. That is why Jesus died, for our sins. God does not send anyone to hell, we send our selves there by rejecting his son Jesus. Some people say there must be other ways. Why do you need another way is the one way is free and obtainable for everyone?
I do believe that hell is a real place. I do not believe that punishment is a human invention. When Adam fell god punished them, which is the first recorded punishment.
About Don H answer. Yes the word sin does mean to miss the mark. Unlike the sport we do not get to try again until we hit the mark and call if a day. The bible says that one sin, or one miss the mark is all it takes to be guilty of all the law. A lot of marks are now missed. Only Jesus can hit that mark the first time, it's all he needs.
2006-08-02 22:10:36 · answer #2 · answered by ytonnavd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a religious experience. The reading of the Bible came after. I still have far to go with that. The love of Jesus is what I feel everyday. I guess I feel it on a spiritual level. Love doesn't make sense, the spiritual doesn't make sense. They are still both real and especially love holds the world together. I think that hell is being separated from God when we die. I believe we have eternal life with Jesus. Eternal life without him- scarey- what would that be? I guess no one will ever know and maybe that is the point- we have to believe because we can't know. All part of God's plan. Peace.
2006-08-02 22:14:50 · answer #3 · answered by Theresa Rose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell is the absence, or the complete removal of all that is good. Hell results when the good guys leave, and the good that was created leaves. All that is left is bad stuff. This bad stuff is evil. Now, if you don't believe in two separate forces of love vs. hate, then this won't make sense.
Think of those water and oil experiments where you put colored water and oil in a 2 liter coke bottle. Pretend the water represents good, and the oil represents bad. When you shake it up, it sort of blends together but you can still see the bubbles of oil as a defined group. As you let everything separate, each goes to its own space.
On Judgment day the good will be separated from the bad. So we won't have to put up with yucky bad stuff anymore. But God wants us to participate in seeking that perfect good, and build a relationship with him to grow an appreciation for how wonderful it is to be around pure love. God doesn't take good people to the pure source of love (heaven) he takes forgiven people. And when they leave, all that will remain is the bad.
Pure 100% bad without anytrace of love, good, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, etc. WILL BE HELL.
That's how I explain it.
2006-08-02 22:10:16 · answer #4 · answered by Miss Mary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a mystery! If we are forgiving people (the way Jesus would want it) how could people suffering in hell do anything but ruin the party in heaven?
A few years of suffering (OK, hundreds), but eternity? That does seem a little harsh!
Maybe those sentenced to hell will just be erased, cease to be, or they make their hell while here on earth, little but constant nagging that they will live with forever, living with others who are equally insensitive.
Whatever, I plan on making hell God's problem and not mine!
2006-08-02 22:13:57 · answer #5 · answered by teachr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's what I think: "sins" are actions which harm ourselves or others, "hell" is the natural consequence of sin. I don't believe God sends us to hell, we send ourselves there, everyday that we live in a way that hurts us. There is no punishment waiting for us in the hereafter, the concequences are real and immediate. If we have accustomed ourselves to living a hellish life, I'd bet that a hellish hereafter is in store, why would death change us or the kinds of decisions we make? On the other hand, if we make wise choices that make us happy and those around us happy, we're living in a heaven on earth. The hereafter should be pretty sweet.
p.s. sadistic or masochistic or sadomasochistic
2006-08-02 22:11:29 · answer #6 · answered by shycello 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell is not a place as in many people's imaginations, caverns of fire overseen by deformed cherub demons and lorded over by a man in a red suit with a pitchfork.
Hell is a complete and total separation from God, his mercy, His goodness, His presence. I seriously doubt that Satan will be there with whips and chains running a concentration camp , as he will be in agony, wailing and gnashing his teeth and people will see what a pathetic powerlsee creature he is. God's will is not to have anyone suffer an eternity in hell- it is His will that all would come to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus and abide in His presence for eternity- BUT He will not force it and if we choose to continually reject Him and place our thrones above His in the face of every evidence that HE IS then we have chosen to separate ourselves from Him and live out eternity in that state. I imagine hell would be the worst lonliness, the worst bitterness, the worst anger, and emotional turmoil with not even a glimmer of hope of joy or peace to the point that man could not imagine it in his mind.
God is not a sadochist God. I want only the absolute best for my children and I want them to understand and walk in the truth , but no matter how much I tell them that, how much I bless them and no matter what I do for them, they still have their own choices to make and if they refuse the blessing then they must live with the consequence of that choice- it is not my desire for them but they have chosen it.
2006-08-02 22:13:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where would he human get the concept of punishment if it were not taught him by God? Could not Hell be a deterrent also as you state is the human thing? I agree that the concept of Hell burning for all eternity would mean God was a sadist but that is not the case. Nowhere do you find in the bible that anyone will live for eternity in Hell but will be burned up, turned to ashes, die. Just like we would not torture our children and get pleasure out of it, God does not get pleasure out of punishing us but it is our choice if we go to Hell as He has warned us of the consequences of doing things He said was not good for us to be doing. He lays out the plan, shows us what that is and asks us to choose if we want to do what He says is best and be with Him in Heaven for all eternity or do we choose to go against what He said is right and go to hell to be burned up and die. How can God be any more just than that? Then He sends His own Son to die the death that we deserve so we can have the reward that He deserves. Can you think of a love that would be greater than that? I can't. Then to let us choose if we want Heaven or Hell, life or death? We are in the drivers seat and then blame God for those that choose not to serve Him when they have been told the consequences of their action. I sincerely hope you do not choose to go to Hell but it is YOUR choice. I would hope you will choose life in Heaven over death in Hell. There will be no temptations in Heaven as there will be no temptor. He will be going to burn in Hell that was prepared for him and his angels, not for us. We just chose to follow Satan rather than God, even knowing the results of our actions. There is no life eternal in Hell , nowhere in the bible states that lie but only Satan does and that is what most believe. That makes God look like a sadist as Satan wants to be but God does not do that any more than we would do something like that. Those that go to Hell are burned up and die and are no more. I do hope you will do more studying into the subject and choose Heaven. See the site below to help with more knowledge of the bible teachings.
2006-08-02 22:13:55 · answer #8 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell is seperation from GOD. Those people who refuse to follow His laws and abide by His convenant are willingly choosing to be distant from a loving GOD. So in essence, GOD does not send the unfaithful and the sinful to Hell, they pave the way there of their own volition, despite numerous opportunities to avoid this fate.
I could support this answer with numerous Bible references, but you obviously seem to have a problem with that. I don't understand why.
2006-08-02 22:02:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am one of those rare and happy Christians that do not believe in an eternal torture pit. No denomination...just Christian
Hell is as real as the grave. Actually, Hell IS the grave. I could show you this from Scripture, but you said you didn't want any Bible references, so I will show you with reason and logic.
As you said, punishment is a human invention, God is not sadistic.
How many times, do you think, one's "sinful hide" can "burn and blister, blacken and crackle, leaving raw flesh and muscle" as I heard one preacher gleefully describe it. He went on to tell us with enthusiasm how our "eyeballs will boil and melt from the sockets". (He was a happy li'l feller.) I think of Polethemius (sp?), bound to his rock by Zeus, for the sin of stealing fire from the gods (Lucifer, light-bringer?), with the eagle eating his liver out over and over again... (Remember, the known world at the time was heavily influenced by Greek philosophy...think "Hadean Underworld")
And I have to wonder...doesn't this sort of exquisite pain need an organic brain, complete with nerve endings, for the victim to be able to appreciate his horrible fate? Are spirits equipped with such niceties? Or does God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, provide them with some other means of experiencing their torture?
What it all boils down to, (pun intended) is:
God has given us a choice...life? or death? And He begs...choose life!
(there is a "second death"...no return from that one)
2006-08-02 23:03:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think hell is a state of mind brought on ourselves by negative thinking. Thoughts are things. What we think about is what we get. We make our own hell and the only solution is to think positive, either in prayer, meditation or visualization. We create our future by our thinking and we need to train our minds to focus on good things, and to associate with good people. I don't believe hell is a place we go to if we are bad....)(
2006-08-02 22:16:44 · answer #11 · answered by MissKathleen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋