Why do people not believe in or not want to belive in Hell?

Question

If you believe Hell ISN'T real, why?

Answer 1

Because there is no scientific evidence to prove that it exists. Logic tells us that it does not exist, however, we also have no scientific evidence that it does not exist (we also have no scientific evidence that Santa Claus does not exist).

I believe in scientific evidence and logic.

Answer 2

A couple of others (surprisingly) have reached beyond Sunday School interpretations of hell... it makes me sooo happy!

OK, so I won't say i don't believe in Hell, but I can say that it's not the traditional picture of hell. People are not sent to hell for eternal torment (that was just for Satan) instead non-believers are sent to the grave, meaning they don't live forever with god. Even the most well know Bible verse gives us clues to that; John 3:16 explains that the reward for following Christ is eternal life. If we were going to live forever regardless, just at different addresses, then this promise is flawed.
The confusion is caused by to different words being translated into the same "hell." If you get out your study Bible, you'll find that the hell that Satan is sent to is a completely different word than the hell that humans are sent to, which actually translates more accurately to "the grave." The fiery burning pits are a reference to the burning trash piles around Sodom and Gomorrah which is also where they would dispose of their dead.

Answer 3

Well, I don't believe in Hell because (1) I don't quite believe in God, (2) If the Christian God did exist, I don't really consider "hell" to be a place that such a "loving" being would send people, and (3) well, it just seems like an utterly ridiculous idea. No offense, I often wonder how people BELIEVE in such a notion. And for those people that say "hell does exist, even if you don't believe". Well those people don't know, because they have certainly never been there. When we die, it's finito. Over with. We are DEAD.

Answer 4

I believe Hell isn't real for the same reason I believe there is no 800 ton invisible purple duck sitting on a cloud over the White House at this exact moment: there is no evidence of one. Are you really arguing that one can make any silly assertion and expect it to be true until someone proves it false?

Answer 5

Some people go through the following reasoning -- heaven and hell are realms presented to the world by scholars who wrote the bible and stories of genesis. Since these stories are meant to teach moral lessons, the literal forced beliefs in the ideas meant for symbolic representations, are not really a part of the positive message. To live in the world in the best way possible is to live in heaven and to live in the world in the worst ways is to live in hell. Usually, reason, as a faculty of mind or thinking follows from common sense experiences and not symbolically written or allegorically interpreted accounts of events, such as in the bible. Reason does not support the existence of celestial realms or the underworld or hell, but the overall function of these ideas may have a more worthwhile investment of belief in them. Do I believe in hell? I don't see why I should have to if I understand the meaning behind it or purpose of it in moral stories. I don't believe in it, honestly, but I do see many other imaginative ways in which it is represented in literature and religion, which are amazing metaphors and expressions of creative thinking. At the same time in not believing in hell, I admit to believe in God. My own biased perspective would question, "Why not believe in the most powerful force, which is God, rather than other weaker forces such as the devil. In the end, at death, a person is more likely to hold onto the faith in God than in the devil, simply because of the positive meaning rather than the negative meaning." This is also an aspect of common sense, which I think, follows reason.

Answer 6

God is imaginary, a fiction created by our ancient ancestors. This logically means that all conclusions flowing from the false assumption that God exists are also equally false. Heaven, Hell, the existence of Satan, and life after death are thus as completely imaginary as the supposed existence of God.

For the record, it is always impossible to prove a negative or, in this case, that God does not exist. This means it is the responsibility of those making the outlandish claim that God exists to prove that it is the truth. Literally billions of people have attempted to prove the existence of any number of gods and all have failed completely. It is the total failure of humanity to prove the literal existence of even one god that ultimately proves, by inductive reasoning, that the atheists are correct. Atheists have no logical obligation to prove the Christian God, or any other, does not exist.

Answer 7

My oldest sister doesn't believe in hell. She believes the closest thing to it is life on earth. And that we are reincarnated over and over again, either on this planet or another till we reach our full spiritual potential and finally reach heaven, again making being alive, hell.
Not my beliefs, but hers and she will stick by them no matter what. She also does not believe in satan, but she does believe in a supreme creator.

Answer 8

I don't believe heaven is a place and I don't believe hell is a place. I think it's more of a state of mind.

Answer 9

I think it's the whole "fiery inferno" thing that people don't believe. But Hell is real. It was described to us as the fiery furnace below, just for us to easier understand what Hell is. Hell is merely being without God. That's it... Maybe there is fire everywhere... maybe there's ice... But the relevant thing here is that you are no longer in God's presence.

Answer 10

The real question should be why should anyone believe in something that can't be seen and has no evidence to show it even exists.

Answer 11

Hell exist but is not the place of torture the lake of fire and hell is not the same thing read revelation 20:14.