http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell
2007-12-21 06:18:40 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
people believe in hell once they get there
2007-12-21 06:37:14 · answer #1 · answered by miname 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As I Christian I must admit that the concept of hell as defined as eternal punishment confuses me. Why? The purpose of punishment is to teach and reform is it not? Well if hell is eternal with no way out then punishment can not be the purpose hell. Therefore hell, as defined by most Christians I know, is then just a place of eternal torture. How does this make sense in the context of God the Father as defined by the Judeo-Christain faith? Why would God create a place of eternal torment, just for the sake of torturing for eternity? Sounds rather sick and twisted to me, which is not my belief of God.
Along those lines, from a historical point of view hell was not mentioned in the Bible (in Judiasm) until after the Babylonian exile. Coincidentally the Babylonians at that time had a concept of hell under Zoroastrianism, which was their major religion at the time of the exile.
I must admit I do not believe all people make it into heaven though honestly I am not sure those who don't suffer forever in the eternal flames of hell. Perhaps they just simply cease to exist.
2007-12-21 15:06:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not really. A misconception about hell is that it is a place of physical torment and torture. Rather, most Christians have understood these descriptions to capture symbolically that hell is final and utter separation from God's saving grace. Some Christians, like C. S. Lewis, take hell to be a real place where sinful people make themselves miserable. Similarly, thinking of heaven as a place of hedonistic pleasures is wrongheaded as well. In fact, those who choose hell would not enjoy the pleasures of heaven since those pleasures essentially flow from a right relationship with God.
In essence ... We are allowed to exercise your free will and to cut oneself of from God. So when God removes his presence, there will be chaos, darkness, suffering, wickedness, pain and lies. God didn't create those things as they are just the lack of him, yet God has allowed his beings to reject him so that they can truly exercise the gift of free will that he has given them.
People in essence are free to choose to leave a 'perfect heaven' .... And enter hell ... speration from God.
2007-12-21 14:28:18 · answer #3 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know about "beliefs about Hell" (I personally do not believe.), but I DO know that there are WAY too many "Fireballs" on this forum today. I was "surfing" the answers on R&S and I even saw TWO "Fireballs" on the same page!!! (Though there are those who said today, according to their postings, that even ONE "Fireball" was too many.)
Have a VERY Merry Christmas.
2007-12-21 14:30:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hell does not exist.
2007-12-21 14:22:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a freak and don't click on links.
2007-12-21 14:22:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋