What is the purpose of Hell?

Answer 1

It is necessary to define Hell, first. I'll just assume that you're speaking of Christianity.

Both of the following are accepted by "Christians," though the first one is definitely taught more. I find the second is accepted more by the people who take the time to study texts rather than just accept what they're spoon-fed.

The typical understanding of Hell (which makes no sense to me) is that it is a place where people will suffer for a very long time until they are thrown into the lake of fire (a different place) where they will either suffer with Satan for all eternity or be consumed and no longer exist.

The more sensible explanation of it (though I still do not accept it) is that it is simply death, with no revival. However, people will be given the chance to believe God by experiencing its presence for themselves, and if they still reject it, they will be thrown into the lake of fire, where they will, again, be consumed and no longer exist.

In the first case, it is to punish people eternally for mortal (<80 years, typically, but nevertheless unnoticeable in the context of eternity) lives of sin (how very loving); in the second, it is to save the non-believers from themselves and from hurting others. Supposedly, if they reject God even after they experience it, they can only do harm.

I find it absolutely impossible to believe in the first scenario in the context of an infinitely loving OR infinitely just God. The latter makes more sense, but requires that I accept that people who would deny God even in its presence are no good to anything and do not deserve their own little world/universe.

Christianity marches on...

Answer 2

The purpose of hell is for punishment, when you chose to go against god's rules. It's like tough love.

Answer 3

The purpose of hell is that is the place in which people who do not accept the gift given from Jesus Christ of salvation are going to.

It goes like this. If you are a follower of Christ then Heaven is his city so you go there.

But if you don't repent and you follow satan or don't do anything at all then Hell is the city you go to.

Answer 4

God stores the snowblowers, mowers, and tool in there, The inmates of hell will do Heavens lawn and garden work. The hot bath in the lake of fire will soothe my aching muscles.

I know there is more - but don;t remember it all.

Wonder who the preacher is in Hell tomorrow morning> Jerry Falwell?

Answer 5

Going to tell you to think of it from a non-normal perspective. Just follow me til the end. I won't be long...I promise.

Loving relationships cannot be forced on anyone. They can only be offered and accepted/denied. If it's forced on someone, it's not loving.

God wants a loving relationship with us. Sensing God's presence in our life and understanding the relationship with God brings us joy. Not feeling relationships with God and/or others is a horrible feeling of isolation.

Many people refuse a relationship with God. As a result, God does not force a relationsihp. God lets that person make that choice and lets them feel that way.

Matt

Answer 6

To scare people into doing the "right" thing, instead of letting people do the right thing on their own, because it's the right thing to do. Also, to create a warm fuzzy group feeling for believers to feel special, knowing that others who believe differently will all go to hell and leave them alone in the afterlife.

Answer 7

Hell serves as the disincentive. Heaven serves as the incentive. To get people to behave in a certain acceptable way, one needs both the carrot and the whip. Since there are not enough real carrots and whips around, one needs to implant these as future carrots and future whips.

Hell is the future whip.

Answer 8

That's like asking, "what's the purpose of a fall?"

There is no "purpose"
it is simply cause and effect.
If you are evil, you are in hell...that's all.

Answer 9

A). A means to deny the sinner the possibility of restitution to those he did wrong (denying the possibility of reincarnation and paying a karmic debt).

B). A model for government-run prisons. Which also operates on the idea of punishment rather than restitution.

Answer 10

The purpose of Hell is the "Ying and Yang" theory. If there is good there must be Evil. So if there is a Heaven then there must be a Hell otherwise the universe would not be equal.