Do you think one has to travel through Hell in this life to get to heaven?

Question

I am now of the opinion that Hell is not somewhere you go afetr death but it is in fact a state of existence which some of us experience here on Earth. I am convinced of this due to the appauling nature of my own terrible plight. And in fact as I look around me , due to the extent of misery and pain in evidence, it becomes increasingly apparent that most of erverybodt else is in Hell also. I would appreciate philosophical answers /religious only please or at least an attempt to grapple the notion

Answer 1

Yes! Heaven can be said to be here also. What you are becoming aware of can cause one to begin seeking the truth. You really are starting to see the truth now. It is said of the Knights on beginning there quest for the Holy Grail that "each entered the forest at a place of there own choosing where it was the darkest, and there was no path". You have entered, be open minded, fearless as you can be, the Grail can be known, it in a way has caused are search. ~ : )

Answer 2

Hi, It is so easy to believe that this life is Hell at times especially when we are down and troubled,there is so much anger and hatred all around us and it just does not seem like the life we should be experiencing.
However the agreed reality of the classic Hell is the total absence of God`s love, no one can live without love and the loneliest of people are those with no family or real friends,I am thinking of down and outs for example but there are many other reasons too, we seem to be seeing a drought of love today when most of the world is fighting for one reason or another.
The less that we love the more we are getting a taste of Hell, and if we ever get to the terrible stage of total rejection of Gods love then this Earth will be so much like Hell that we will not be able to stand it at all.

Answer 3

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. In some ways I agree with you in that I do not think of heaven, nor hell, as a place.

Instead I believe that heaven and hell are states of mind. And so they are indeed here and now. It is how we approach life that determines whether we react positively, whether we feel 'blessed', optimistic about life and other people.

And while our experiences have undoubtedly an effect on how we feel, I do believe that we can chose to approach life positively or negatively.

Now you might say that someone who has not experienced much difficulty in life would say that. But I have lived with a depressive father, lost both parents when I thought of myself relatively young. I have had cancer and my son died before full term.

And yet I consider myself happy. I enjoy every day of my life. I see how life can be turned upside down in an instant and it gives me reason to enjoy what I have, for I could be gone tomorrow. For me, life is heavenly. So I wonder if it is not a matter of outlook. Just a thought.

I hope things improve for you and you find peace in your life.
.

Answer 4

In Christendom and other non-christian religions it is taught that "hell" is where the wicked, after death, are punished. The Hebrew word "she'ohl" and the Greek word "hai'des" refer to the common grave of mankind. Hell is just "the grave." Job even prayed to go there "O that in She'ol you would conceal me, That you would keep me secret until your anger turns back, That you would set a time limit for me and remember me." -Job 14:13
Heaven is where Jehovah God dwells as well as his faithful spirit creatures; heaven is invisible to us humans. God has selected only 144,000 that will go heaven and rule as kings over the earth, and many others will live here on earth. "Evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth...The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it."-Psalms 37:9,11,29

We are living in the last days that's why we see so much pain and misery. The end of this system of things is near. "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreements, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away."-2 Tim. 3:1-5

You can also read Matthew 24:7-14 for signs that tell you we are in the last days.

Pray to God so that he may help you get through these hard times, "Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you."-James 4:8. Best wishes!

Answer 5

Figuratively speaking, yes. You can believe what you want, but sheol wasn't supposed to be here on Earth. It's in another place where everywhere else isn't.