If the literal meaning of hell in the Greek {Hades} and in the Hebrew{ sheol} means a hole in the ground a grave or pit. How can it be a place of torment as taught by the ancient pagans?
2007-03-25 13:29:08 · 22 answers · asked by wbyrnes2008 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Real.
2007-03-25 13:31:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 7⤋
Weird.
Hades isn't a place of torment. It's a place of forgetfulness. It's dreary and uninteresting, true, but it's not about being tormented. The dead are represented often as stewing with anger over their death or eager for news of loved ones, but any misery they suffer is their own making. The goal is for them to get over it and forget their lives- however long it takes. Persephone helps them do this so they can be reborn.
There is a section of Hades where some few are tormented, (3 all total, I think) but these are personal torments inflicted by the Gods for personal insults. (One guy is there for hitting on Hera one too many times). They are there examples. They're there as warnings not to disrespect the Gods or make the mistake of thinking you can trick them.
However, even the ancients knew this was all metaphore, just like modern Hellenes do today. Your soul(or the effect you have on the world) lives on as long as you are remembered- good or bad, and once you're forgotten you no longer exist. But the energy that was you might- but it's not YOU anymore, it's just energy.
The Christian concept of Hell is weird. It originally meant just the grave. There was some talk later of Gahenna which referred specifically to a fire pit outside the city where refuse was thrown and perhaps the bodies of criminals and those who couldn't afford a "proper" burial.
The literal concepts of Heaven and Hell simply don't make sense in reality. Science tells us that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only change form. Even the youngest child can observe that nature recycles. Most of us believe that God is Nature, or at least that God created Nature, if so, why would ALL of Nature recycle except in the one specific case of human beings? Wouldn't that make God a rather poor engineer? If He was to go to all the trouble of making Nature work in a certain way and set up all these rules and then make a whole new set for Humans, you have to wonder what His motives were. It is simply illogical to make special rules for such a tiny part of the whole system unless you're doing it as part of some great experment or game for your own amusement.
2007-03-26 02:29:54 · answer #2 · answered by kaplah 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A place of torment as taught by the ancient pagans?
Beg pardon? Christians have a complete monopoly on the place of eternal torment in the afterlife. No other religion has ever envisioned such a horror before, it's unique to Christianity.
2007-03-28 09:12:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try looking up "Gehenna". The other words do mean grave.
Regarding the reality of hell, you need to work backward. Your first question should be, "is the Word of God true?" From there, you can answer any of the other questions based on the findings therein.
My blog in the link below proves without doubt that the BIble was written by God through man and is indeed true. And I certainly would not bet my eternal soul that it is wrong.
The Bible says that hell is a real place--not a state of mind. Jesus spoke of hell as a real place. Paul spoke of hell as a real place. The Angel prophesying to Daniel said it was a real place, and Isaiah said that is a real place. John in Revelation described it detail.
The Bible says that heaven is a real place--not a state of mind. Jesus spoke of heaven as a real place. Paul spoke of heaven as a real place. The Angel prophesying to Daniel said it was a real place, and Isaiah said that is a real place. And John in Revelation also described heaven detail.
I would not bet my eternity on man made philosophies and against the Word of God.
2007-03-25 14:22:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It couldn't and it isn't a place of torment and saying that it is gives God a bad reputation and makes him appear unfair, unloving and unmerciful. It would never even come up into God's heart to do such a thing (see Jeremiah 7:31).
2007-03-25 14:01:08 · answer #5 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I speedy forwarded because of the fact it became uninteresting. The sounds gave the impression of a crowd at a soccer or soccer sport. Being between them might probably experience like hell to me. I prefer to visual reveal unit video games from the convenience of my very own domicile.
2016-12-15 08:48:37 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good people tell you hell is real, they will be your enemies. Those who hold that hell is fake will be good friends. What an irony consideration. But make your choice correctly. There is no need to prove there is no hell, as it will be too late when your belief of it as fake is wrong.
2007-03-25 13:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by Ptuan 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It all depends on your faith. If you're an aetheist, then you'll think it's fake. However, if you have a real sense of the spiritual realm, then there is a heaven and hell. There is a constant struggle between God and satan, good and evil. If you believe in heaven, then there is a hell. If you dont then you'll find out when you die.
2007-03-25 13:36:50 · answer #8 · answered by zach c 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The torment comes from standing before God and knowing exactly what it is you rejected. At that time the truth is in full view and you can't deny it. Because you rejected Him you will be separated from Him for eternity knowing the truth. That will be the torment.
2007-03-25 13:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Fake. There's no Hell ('cept in Norway), no Heaven, no Gods, no Demons. We live in a largely logical, WYSIWYG Universe.
2007-03-25 13:31:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Fake as Santa CLaus.
2007-03-25 13:31:21 · answer #11 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋