Ok - *if* you believe in hell --
do you believe it's literally a fiery lake? do you burn up as in a real fire or for all eternity? in the alternative, do you believe it's simply the absence of God?
And why?
2007-11-05 07:51:00 · 13 answers · asked by Kiwi 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, it's OK.
Hell is not a place of physical torment engulfed in fire and brimstone. Rather, it is darkness shrouded with the mental torment of regrets and shame for failure to live better in mortality, but did not.
It is also a place devoid of the Light of Christ, for God cannot be among the sinners.
2007-11-05 08:08:40 · answer #1 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, since the Bible also talks about it being a dark place, it seems unlikely that it would be literal fire. But from that logical conclusion, some people then decide that it's not really so bad--sort of rationalizing to themselves that such a terrible punishment must not be real at all. This would be a mistake, I think. If we accept the premise that scripture and church tradition are reliable, we must assume that whatever Hell might literally be, it is bad enough for fire to be a true and genuine analogy. So the possibility of it being something besides literal fire is *not* letting anyone off the hook.
2007-11-05 15:57:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous Lutheran 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both, the absence of God and the fiery lake. The interesting thing about the soul is it never dies. So while one is roasting in hell, you never die and the you never become dull to the pain. As you shout out in agony and horror, you are greeted with the noxious smell of sulfur. Another point of interest, if find, is that the Bible mentions the "gnashing of teeth" being the sound heard throughout hell. While this was translated from the original texts, its lost its cultural meaning. The gnashing is more like a surprised gasping...as though suddenly you wake up and find yourself in hell...which I could imagine would be quite a surprise.
2007-11-05 15:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by Kiker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hell is separation from God. The fire is shame. The torment is not partaking of the living water and seeing paradise but separated from it.
Hell and all those not written in the book of life are done away with, non-existent, before eternal glory.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2007-11-05 15:59:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A nervous system is a requirement for any feeling, sensation or emotion. Pinch a nerve, no more sensation. It's that simple.
Death > End of nervous system function > No sensation or thought of any kind.
Anyone who tells you differently is self-deluded and does not have the slightest grasp on how the human body functions. Don't let another person's self-delusion infect the way you think.
In other words: there is no hell, or heaven...clearly.
EDIT:
And I know you wanted to restrict the answers to hell-believers, but I think this is a subject where a strong dissenting voice is crucial, because the emotional toll such ghastly and irrational beliefs can take is tremendous.
2007-11-05 15:59:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I personally believe hell being in the presence of God without a mediator. God is a consuming fire and His righteous and fiery judgement will be wrought on all those who live in rebellion and sin against Him.
Hell is described in scripture as buring and with fire. How that plays out, i do not know. I think it is God's holy presence searing those without the covering of Christ's blood, but that is just me.
Ath
2007-11-05 16:00:24 · answer #6 · answered by athanasius was right 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says everything and I believe what it says. And no, it's not the absence of God because He created all heavens and planets, including hell. Nothing happens without His will.
2007-11-05 15:57:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly there is no heaven or hell. We are all food for the worms and that's all, unless of course you decide on cremation, in which case you are just smoke and cinders. The bible like all religious material is fiction just as Alice in Wonderland is! It's nice if during your life you have a belief to keep you strong in times of need or to give you comfort in some way, but the reality is religions and I mean all religions have no basis in reality, none! You just like me are bio-degradable.
2007-11-05 16:54:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I beleive in a different version of hell than most. For me it's an absence of God/Universe/Spirit... which is why I beleive in Hell on earth... when we live our lives absent of Love, could that not be hell? and by love, I'm not referring to a relationship per se... it's more about self-love
Edit to Nolte in case he read this one - hehehe I said "self-love" *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*
2007-11-05 15:59:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is a Hell, I think it is personal.
Say there is something terrible in your past, that will become your Hell. If you stole things, then you may be in a place where everything you acquire gets stolen. If you were a sexual fiend, you will find you are unable to perform... If you murdered, you will be murdered painfully every day...
I don't think Hell is a firey pit, I think it is the worst thing you can imagine, for eternity.
2007-11-05 15:56:16 · answer #10 · answered by Kathryn P 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋