The literal meaning of hell in the Greek= Hades and the Hebrew= Sheol mean a pit,grave or hole in the ground. Mankinds common grave.Do you think it can be the ancient pagan beliefs that cam into christianity during Constantines rule as Pope?
2007-10-07 22:51:12 · 9 answers · asked by wbyrnes2008 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It was a way for the religious leaders of the time to gain control over the uneducated populace through scare tactics. The Bible states that the dead know nothing (Ecclesiastes) and the the ultimate price for sin is in fact DEATH, not everlasting torture.
2007-10-07 23:01:34 · answer #1 · answered by Starjumper the R&S Cow 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hades/Sheol, in the original teachings of the Jews meant death as in when someone is dead.
Hell, in the new testatment is a place where all evil will be punished, and if you read it carefully it says there that it doesn't exist "yet". this is because The place of fiery torment will be created when all the beings that follow Satan are struck down all at once and all fall in the lake of fire.
Its just the pope and the Iglesia Chatolica Apostolica Romana who tried to change the doctrine that hell doesn't exist yet. They changed the teachings and told all their followers that hell already existed.
Other than that, they also made the story about purgatory and stuff like that.
and not all of Christianity is catholic. it is one of the most common misunderstanding about Christianity. Protestants aren't Catholics but they fall under Christianity. Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity in the global community, it is not the only organization professing to be part of Christianity, so their views do not necessarily reflect the views of all the Christian people on earth.
hope this helped.
2007-10-07 23:08:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus spoke of hell as a place "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark 9:46.
And the apostle John says:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Revelation 14:11.
Both of these images depict something far more active than a mere hole in the ground. Furthermore, both of these statements were written well before Constantine and the influx of Mithraism's influence on Christianity. No, I think this an authentic teaching of Christians, for better or worse. As to whether it can or cannot exist, I would think that with God all things are possible, so I'm not sure how you can exclude the possibility of its reality if you assume the existence of God (which I do).
2007-10-07 23:11:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Like so much of Christianity, save the mere concept of a messiah who brings perfection, it's all pagan in origin.
Which is funny considering 'HaMosiach' never appears in Tanakh, and in fact the whole concept of the Coming Messiah was non-issue to Judaism, which was eternally more about doing right and good for G-D in the here and now.
2007-10-07 22:53:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Didn't you ask an almost identical question 7 months ago?
I suggest you consult rabbinic authorities on the interpretation of Sheol. Literal meanings in any language are seldom definitive and complete in themselves.
2007-10-07 23:12:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
False religion teaches that 'Hell' is a permanent place of torment or torture.
Would a loving God do that.?
I think not.
(Romans 6:23) For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.
When we die, all our sins, shortcomings, are PAID FOR.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR FURTHER PUNISHMENT.
2007-10-07 23:41:01 · answer #6 · answered by pugjw9896 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
VOLCANO...?? yah know.
fiery pit if I ever new. Many hells right here on earth. I'd be pretty afraid in the days of old of such a place. Yesterdays HELL todays Volcano!
..we all are guessing on semantics. would have proven great scare tactics though i admit.
2007-10-07 23:03:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because hatred is ingrained into human soul, and we need someone to hate.
We don't believe in hell, but we keep the fable going in order to scare other souls into submission to us, the clergy.
2007-10-07 22:55:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They don't like seeing other people "enjoy" life--i guess.
AND, before mass prison systems (^^)
2007-10-07 22:59:54 · answer #9 · answered by Pansy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋