Do people who threaten others with Hell even know what Hell is?

Question

I asked a question a few days ago, about the generally promoted concept of Hell, as a place of eternal torture. Obviously, if such a place existed, any god who would send people there would have to be evil. For stating this, I predictably got some personal insults as responses.

But one of the more interesting answers I got was the statement that "the 'torture' of Hell is total separation from God, and total failure as a human being."

If Hell is really nothing more than separation from God, this would make a lot more sense than the concept of Hell that is usually talked about. It would not require a sadistic, evil God torturing people for all eternity.

But if that's the case, why do so many people who talk about Hell talk about the version with the lakes of fire and torturing demons and such? Do they really believe such a place exists? Or are they just trying to scare others into believing as they do? Is that even moral?

I am aware the phrase "lake of fire" comes from Revelations. However, that phrase is part of the description of Hell that would require a sadistic and evil God, a fact which the promoters of that vision of Hell are unwilling to acknowledge.

prismcat, your link references a false story from a nonexistent newspaper. There simply is no "Ammenusastia" newspaper in Finland, much less a respected one. It really says something about your beliefs that they can only be defended by lying.

I have seen self-proclaimed "Christians" not only telling those with different beliefs that they would go to Hell, but apparently relishing the thought. I agree that this is not a very Christ-like attitude. In fact, for years I have called such people "Pseudo-Christians."

I am genuinely curious how any person could have such hate for their fellow man, yet call it love. And a bit frightened that such people not only exist but have been amassing substantial political power in my country.

To anyone who doubts that Pseudo-Christians use the threat of Hell as a recruiting tactic, just read Johnny Appleseed's response. Though his is relatively tame compared to some others I've seen.

Answer 1

Hell and the devil don't really exist. For those that do believe it does and to suggest that is where someone will go is a pretty nasty piece of work in my opinion. It's as bad as wishing someone dead.

Answer 2

The reason people describe Hell as lakes of fire and such, is because no one can imagine the absence of God on their own. Like an analogy that has come to be taken for the real thing. The idea of Heaven being harps and angels and clouds is also fabricated, because Heaven is the absolute and extreme of happiness of being in God's presence. No one can imagine these conditions on their own unless they've felt them (my dad did in a dream), so images are ascribed to them.

Some people do try to scare others into believing. Sometimes it works. But it's almost never real belief if it's for that reason.

Most people just don't have a good idea of what Heaven and Hell are, themselves, so yes, I would think that that is what they imagine when they think of Hell.

*edit*

It also is true that when the majority of people could not read, the priests did use this to scare the population into believing them. This was also the time of fairy tales being used to keep children from wandering alone in the woods. People did need the imagery, despite the fact that the power was misused.

Answer 3

I'm not a religious person per say, so I don't put judgements on people like that, other than the occasional cussing someone out..which I shouldn't do. Have you ever seen the movie "What Dreams may come?" (Robin Williams) It conceptualized hell as a pretty awful place, scared me into believing that if that was Hell? (lol- I don't wanna go there) It also made you think about suicide, as how that sent you to a different type of hell. I kinda write off people who talk too much about hell, it's a negative, not a positive. Maybe the real hell is your life gone wrong, the here, the now. As I can't interpret something I don't even know really, truly exists.

Answer 4

Ecclesiastes 9:5 the dead are conscience of nothing.
Hell is the biblical name for the grave.
Act 2:27 '31&32 explain how Jesus was raised from hades (hell) so if Jesus was in hell is it a place only for the wicked ?
Offen quote on R&S god is love. Why would a god of love send someone to be tourtured forever when the bible states the wages of sin is death? When you die does this not mean you have paid the price for your errors ?
The bible does talk about fire but that is not litural.
It the old days the churches burnt people for haveing a bible as they did not what people to read it and become aware of their lies.
Hell was used as away to scare people to church.
This is how the churches gain power & money

This is the kind of thing Jesus was talking about when he said the truth will set you free

Answer 5

You are correct when you say that it is a separation from God, because it is. But it is also clear in the Bible, that someday Satan and his demons will be thrown into the lake of fire for eternity. Remember that hell was not made for man, but Satan and his followers, which would be anyone that rejects the authority of God.

The lake of fire, what ever it is, will be uncomfortable.

Answer 6

Since you brought up the subject of Hell, I will base my answer in the bible, accordingly.

1. I usually find religious people threaten others with Hell. Nobody knows what Hell really is until one dies and goes there. Personally, religious people who usually like to cast others there might sadly end up there because their religion cannot save them. Only Christ can. Those who are in Christ don't condemn anyone to Hell, they love, bear and support.

2. According to Revelation 20:10-15 there will not only be separation from God but eternal torment in the Lake of Fire and Sulfur. The torment won't come from God but the demons, satan, death and hell that will be altogether cast into this lake and locked there forever will serve as torment to each other.

3. Jesus stated: "it is not the will of my Father that none of you perish." And again "God loved the poeple of this world so much that He gave [me to die for your sins] so that whoever believe in me (Jesus) will NOT perish, but have everlasting life.

4. Answering the final portion of your question. Yes. I fully agree with you. Religious people do it to scare people into their system. And although religious people claim to be sons of God and they read and quote the bible from pulpits in christian churches all accross the world on Sunday mornings beware! By the fruits you will know the tree. If their fruits are condemnation, instilling fear, oppression, accusation and tyranny keep away from them. Rather gather with people of pure heart and pure faith, who are not looking for money nor fame nor status, but seek peace and joy for their lives through Jesus.

Answer 7

Sounds like a pretty smart person to me. They just about fully understand the concept of hell. Along with the seperation from God, the person said hell is the realization of total failure. Few people totally fail.

Hell also includes a realization of the true nature of one's sins, etc.

As a side note, Damnation is the "damming" of one's eternal progression and is brought upon one by themselves. Hell is usually brought about by our own actions and not a punishment given by God but simply the result of a person's actions.

Answer 8

They don't know what hell is, simply because there is no hell. They certainly use all the arguments to prove themselves right, and when they lack intelligent arguments they threaten other people. The simple fact that they judge and condemn someone to a place like that shows me they have a very low level of tolerance, forgiveness and love. They have a lot to learn, but they will learn. However, it is going to take several lives.

Peace!

Answer 9

i didn't really read the entire question, but i don't know why someone that is [im assuming christian] would tell you that you are going to hell. Everyone knows that people aren't allowed to judge other people and only god can determine where each human goes when they die. I believe that there is a bottomless pit that people that have sinned go to. There are many sinners in the world, including myself. Which makes me question as an honest believer in Christianity, where am I going when I die?:-(

Answer 10

it's all in your head as a non believer I've never suffered from my lack of theism and in fact have gained comfort in the lack of confusion after ditching the excess baggage.this has also lead me down the path of comparative religion which clears up a lot of the blanks in the origins and similarities of each different system of beliefs for what they actually are . the evolution of Sheol or hell is only one such example that lends itself to better understanding of the myth of religion.

Answer 11

Those who say hell is eternal separation from God are also incorrect...

Psalms 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Other than a parable and a couple of texts in Revelation which seem to support eternal torment, the vast majority of texts send a very clear message as to what happens to the unrepentant sinner. No where in the bible does it say that man or the soul of man is immortal. The wages of sin is death and only the righteous receive immortality.