I have been studying the bible for many years now, alone and with my family, particularly my father. We did research on the idea of Hell and whether it exists or not (in the eternal fire and suffering sense). In every instance we found in the bible referring to eternal destruction it was either talking about the fire pits outside of Jerusalem or the destruction of human existence at the end of a person's life. I believe that the traditional view of Hell is an invented one, designed to try to scare and manipulate people to political/religious benefit.
2007-03-18 22:52:01 · 29 answers · asked by Zaarix 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yep - I agree as well. It was created by power seeking priest!
2007-03-18 22:57:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I saw a show on the Discovery Channel that addressed that, a documentary where this guy is saying, "Yep, Hell exists all right, I've been there, and walked through it", then he describes the garbage dump outside of Jerusalem that was called Hell, and how things that go on in a garbage dump are consistent with the idea of Hell. (Fire burning all the time, worms, stench, rot, etc.) What that says to me, is that Biblical references to Hell are about God saying, "Live the way I tell you to live, and if you don't I will throw you in the garbage." A metaphor for a God casting aside that which is no use to Him.
2007-03-19 06:37:14 · answer #2 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK bare with me, this is one of my favorite theories. In the bible, God cast Lucifer down from Heaven and gave him reign over Hell. No where does it say God created a hell. Just that he cast Lucifer down. So in reasoning we could say Earth it self is hell.
So, next point. God is suppose to be an understanding father. Would your parent throw you out of their house forever if you broke the rules but understood that it was wrong? Or would they send u into the world to learn your lesson and let you return when u have a better understanding.
In my theory, reincarnation and Heaven co-exist. Instead of hell, God sends us back to the Earth with its trials and tribulations to help our souls learn the lessons it needs. When our soul has learned all its lessons it may then go to Heaven, Elysian Fields, the All, or what ever you choose to call it. But keep in mind, God/ the Gods don't expect us to lead a perfect no sin life, they just expect us to lead a good life and when it ends the experiences will be added to those from before, to see if we are truly growing.
2007-03-19 08:53:11 · answer #3 · answered by purplepagan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are wrong when Jesus says if the eye offend the pluck it out and cast it from the. It is better to go to Heaven with one eye than be cast into hell where the worm never dies and the fire is not quenched. ( He is talking about real everlasting Hell fire.) But you want someone to agree with you of course. Don't you know there has to be a punishment for us Atheists just to prove us wrong.
2007-03-19 06:05:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you GWhiz, he needs to read the Book of Revelation, that's a form of hell in full detail.
Anyway, If God is making this possible ...
MATTHEW CHAPTER 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Then there is such thing as hell !
JOHN CHAPTER 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2007-03-19 06:16:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whether it is a fiery pit that last for an eternity or just separation from God we know from the bible there will be suffering on the day of judgment.
Matthew 8:12
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:11-13 (in Context) Matthew 8 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:42
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:41-43 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:50
And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:49-51 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 22:13
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 22:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 22 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 24:51
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:50-51 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 25:30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:29-31 (in Context) Matthew 25 (Whole Chapter)
Luke 13:28
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Luke 13:27-29 (in Context) Luke 13 (Whole Chapter)
2007-03-19 06:14:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You didn't read where Jesus said at least three times "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched"?
The name of the fire pit outside of Jerusalem was also used to refer to eternal punishment.
Jesus also said "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
2007-03-19 05:56:41 · answer #7 · answered by supertop 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, my friend, hell is very real - just as heaven is.
If you believe the Bible, you should believe there is a hell.
Perhaps stop the intellectual stuff and concentrate on going down on your knees before your God and ask Him to show you the truth.
Be blessed my friend.
2007-03-19 06:11:26 · answer #8 · answered by ccc4jesus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with you 100%
their is no biblical evidence of a hell of eternal punishment.
In my opinion it seems to be a mixture of the Hebrew Genenah which is a temporary hell with much suffering to purify your soul for heaven and the Greek Hadies which is an eternal hell with no suffering.
2007-03-19 05:55:45 · answer #9 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Revelations...Check for yourself..
"It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
2007-03-19 06:18:45 · answer #10 · answered by I give you the Glory Father ! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heaven and Hell, both are here, in this world. Life is an experience. When (your) life experiences eternal joy you are in heaven. When the life experiences hurt, pain, insult etc., that's hell.
Our religious leaders have taken so many ways to convince us to lead a joyful life, by giving examples. Heaven and Hell are one of those examples.
2007-03-19 05:58:52 · answer #11 · answered by Subhendu S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋