Is there a Hell, or is it a fear tactic to control people?

Answer 1

That depends on what you believe I guess. If you were asking me personally, I would say no, there isn't one, and yes it's a fear tactic to control people. But obviously there will be people who believe whole heartedly that there is a Hell.

It's a funny world. So many people so sure that they know the truth about something that no one really has any idea about one way or the other. I prefer to know that there isn't one because condemning people to eternal damnation is a wicked thing to do, I don't care who you are.

Answer 2

As a non-Christian, I say fear tactic.

From a Christian perspective, I say it's not eternal torment. That is not compatible with the idea of an all-loving God. It is not even compatible with a completely just God, since eternity trumps a man's lifespan infinitely.

AMDG: Each one of your examples can be argued to mean something else. One thing of note is "eternal punishment," where it is not eternal punishING, but a decisive punishment that lasts forever, i.e. death. It could be interpreted your way, but to make God "work," so to speak, it must not be. Also, Revelation 20:10 is out of context, as it refers not to people, and there is no rule stating that what happens to the devil will happen to the others who are thrown into said lake. I tried to argue this very point before but realized that interpretation is pretty much a wild card.

Answer 3

Easy. Fear tactic to control people.

The origin of "hell" in the Judaic tradition stems from the "tophet", the pit outside Jerusalem where they used to perform human sacrifices.

A lot of revisionist like to say that only the Canaanites practiced human sacrifice, but this simply isn't true.

Isaiah 30:33 - "For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it."

Answer 4

Hell is where the wicked are kept untill judgement day.In the end hell and all evil will be cast into the lake of fire,this will be the second death for those who aren`t saved.

Answer 5

Hell is Real.
And alot of People Really use it to control and Fleece others.
Sad.

(Hell was Created by GOD for satan and his angels, Human Beings were NEVER suppose to go there--not GOD's Fault)

Answer 6

Read for yourself, here is what the Bible says about Hell:

Matt. 3:12; Luke 3:17 - John the Baptist said the Lord will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. This unquenchable fire is the state of eternal separation from God, which the Church has called "hell" for 2,000 years. Some Protestant communities no longer acknowledge the reality of hell.

Matt. 25:41 - Jesus says, "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

Matt. 25:46 - Jesus says, "they will go away into eternal punishment" which is in reference to this eternal fire.

Mark 9:47-48 - Jesus refers to hell as where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. It lasts forever.

2 Thess. 1:6-9 - the angels will come with flaming fire and the disobedient will suffer punishment of eternal destruction. It is important to note that "destruction" does not mean "annihilation," as some Protestant denominations teach. It means eternal exclusion from the presence of God.

Jude 6-7 - the rebelling angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Rev. 14:11 - the worshipers of the beast suffer and the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever.

Rev. 20:10 - they're tormented in the lake of fire and brimstone day and night forever and ever.

Isaiah 33:14 - "Who of us can dwell in the everlasting fire?" This is a reference to hell which is forever.

Isaiah 66:24 - their worm shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched. We cannot fathom the pain of this eternal separation from God.

Jer. 15:14 - in my anger a fire is kindled which shall burn forever. Hell is the proper compliment to the eternal bliss of heaven.

Judith 16:17 - in the day of judgment the Lord will take vengeance on the wicked and they shall weep in pain forever. Hell is a place that sinners have prepared for themselves by rejecting God, who desires all people to be saved in His Son Jesus Christ. God sends no one to hell.

Answer 7

Hell is a real place. Jesus Christ preached about it more than anyone else in the New Testament.

Answer 8

HOW can anybody say if there is or isn't a hell?" You prove to me there is one AND, prove to me there isn't one.

let one of these Chris tans prove there is one!! Its all on faith, that's all religion has is FAITH. And faith isn't proving there is or isn't. Its all on a belief system.

(Truthfully I think there might be one) And one more point People are just plain afraid to die so you have religion as a comfort zone. And you know that's all good if it comforts you..

Answer 9

Are you kidding? The Christian need not fear it, and the atheist does not believe anyway. Where is the fear?

Answer 10

Tell ya what, I would rather err on the side of caution. Better there not be a hell and I did the right thing, than to act a fool and go to hell.