Ok, I've noticed a lot of people on this forum always speak of hell, either to warn of its dangers, or to claim it's non-existence, or to refute a Christian on semantics, or to show how cruel God is to send his creation to this place, or...... you get the idea.

But it seems many have different ideas on what hell actually is. So, when you post about hell, what do you think it is.

For the purposes of this poll, I have left out "it doesn't exist" so people can actually discuss their perceptions of hell and not just fall back on this answer. Edit: I know many do not believe in hell, so for those, what is your perception of this mythical place called hell?

Let us know what you think.

Regards, PA

but what if one does think it does not exist? how is it falling back on an answer if that is the answer?

Hell, according to the Bible is a "grave". I think it is often confused with the lake of fire, where Satan will be punished.
But I don't believe in any hell.

Hyper - Because I'm trying to find out what people's perception of it is. Skeptics here don't believe in hell, yet they always post about it and I want to know their perceptions, not their beliefs

A non-Christian for example will say "Geez, your God is soooo loving he'd torture his creation for all eternity". In this case, the perception of hell would be a place of torment and eternal damnation.

See what I'm saying.

IMHO.........hell is your worst fear......not a place filled with fire and brimstone.....unless that's what you truly fear....hell can be a traffic jam or a crowded shopping mall.

in that case, PA, the answer i can give is "nothing" in the spiritual/biblical sense but based on its common/secular usage is merely something bad/unpleasant.

I Believe Hell is simply not being with God. I dont think there will be suffering or anything to that sort, but then i have to wander would you then KNOW theres heaven and you missed out? Wouldnt that have some effect on the person that passed? I still remember a dream i had of Jesus where i was stuck atop of my grave in a cemetery, and many people were stuck too and i saw Jesus walking down the pathway in the center, a few people were surrounding him- he'd look at someone and theyd suddenly be set free from their grave and walk with Jesus...The sad thing was Jesus walked right passed me, didnt even look at me. To me that could be what "hell" is like- and maybe we are only trapped for some time until Jesus comes and gets us. Gah who knows really

It can't be ceasing to exist if Lucifer went to hell and still exists. Unless he is above that rule.

I think hell is in a person's mind. It is somewhere that a person has his or her worst fears and worries and then they just let those ideas take hold of their life and they are basically in hell

Or you can go that a person gets so wrapped up in one idea or another that they let that one thing control their life that they no longer see anything past that they can't get over that what they believe might not be 100% true yet they still blindly and willingly follow it and I think that is also a form of hell because it boxes you into a world that has no way to escape or evolve within itself there in stunting the natural ability to grow and learn past what you have always been taught.

One of the earliest "hells" I can think of is the Sumerian one. A gloomy underworld of mud. And then in Zoroastrianism, it became a fiery pit. And the story just evolved from there.

its hell its what it is but i am not cetian because the bible it like one giant riddle

To me, hell is a place where all your fears come true, it's the exact opposite of heaven. Also, you have no hope of happiness ever coming back to your life...and that must suck...You're life has no poin, and you can't use that famous excuse that many so-called "Christians" use: " I'll ask for forgiveness later..."
There is no more time...you've run out of time...

I sometimes wonder if it's a place on earth

I tend to also wonder if it whare a made up place in the bible to get you to follow the path of christ....ie here is where you will go if you do the right things...and here is a place for you if you follow the wrong path

its actually a lot like Cleveland.

But without Drew Carey......

As Yelekiah stated, the modern idea of the Christian fiery hell stems from the revelation account of the Lake of Fire (stolen verbatim from Zorastrian theology), but also from the post-exile Jewish belief in Gehenna, a fiery place of punishment inspired by a continually burning trash pit outside of Jerusalem combined with the idea of Hades as there was a great deal of Hellenic ideas indundating Israel at that time since conquest of the region by Alexander the great. But this Gehenna was a place of punishment only intended for gentiles, who were apparently unfit to reside in Sheol with the chosen people of God.
At this same time there was also the understanding in both Jewish and early Christian texts such as the Enochian literature and the Apocolypse of Baruch, of the wicked being utterly consumed both body and soul by fearsome heavenly dragons (Seraphim). Jesus was probably referring to this in the account of hell involving the torment of an immortal worm, for this word can sometime refer to a dragon. This is why we see early Medieval depictions of Hell as the maw of a devouring dragon in which the damned are cast. This is also why hell is referred to in scripture as "the belly of hell". In his Apocolypse, the angel explains to Baruch that the dragons he sees lounging around heaven devour the wickd and that "the Belly of the dragon is hell". This Apocolypse was not included in the final Christian bible, but for unexplained reasons, John's Apocolypse was, which is unfortunate, for so much of it was clearly stolen, almost word for word, from earlier Zorastrian legends.

What is hell like? Go look at a grave.

I was right you do talk cobblers...how can you say hell is like someones grave...a grave is a final place of rest

He means in the Bible. That is what hell is equated to.

Well I am sorry but I don't agree with it, I believe that hell is just something the bible has made up to guide us to follow the right path...meaning if you follow the right path you join our Lord in his kindom of heaven, but if you don't and chose to follow Satan, you will got to hell so to speak...BTW this is just my views

The bible never made up a burning place of torment called "hell", when the bible says "hell" it means "grave". Slow down there. >.>

Hell or the lake of fire?
I agree with that part about it being a man-made creation.
edit: Zero, I was talking to Beckys Mom

Hell. The lake of fire is also symbolic. Look at my "Hell" topic, I just posted info about the lake of fire on it.

Hell has really evolved over time. From the gloomy Sumerian land of the dead to She'ol. Originally She'ol was a part of heaven. It was basically a resting place for everyone. I think they later called it "Gehenna", like a fiery pit. Not too different from the fiery pit in Zoroastrianism. Then there is the lake of fire in the New Testament.

Question..- Why would you sit and wonder what hell is like...assuming there is one?

It's another quick way to depress yourself!!!

I suppose that's true for some people. But for as long as I can remember, I was always curious about the afterlife. I thought that when a person died, that was it. They go to their grave. Ironically, that's what's also in the Bible (hell anyway). People wonder because they have a strong curiosity that may temporarily overpower their emotion. Sorry if that didn't make any sense. I need sleep.

I used to wonder about it as a child, but when I think of death now and I know no one has come back to tell the tale I just agree that when you die that it, nothing more!!! again just my opinion

In the Odyssey, Odysseus goes to Hades to speak with his father, Laertes. That 'hell' was like the sumerian one, very dark and gloomy and the souls wandered around forever.

Maybe I'll throw in my opinion. I don't think it will be poof-the end. I like to think that energy is never destroyed, so there is the possibility that one could reincarnate, for example. Hell doesn't explain strange phenomenon, like ghosts.

my favorite description of hell:



Though, it's my opinion any story with an anthropomorphic diety is just a metaphor. I don't really think spirits are sitting around spooning soup, but more along the lines of energy intermingling. In "hell", they would be disconnected from any source of sustenance, whereas in "heaven" they would be interconnected and self-sustaining. But, I also like a good stew.

Hell is just a prison system, only more advanced in the afterlife. Certain kinds of virtual reality electronics allow someone in the system to relive the torture, hurt, murder, rape, tyranny, (ect- ) so that they know what the victims felt like when the criminal perpetuated it. It's virtual reality eye for an eye.

Hell is other people. Hell is a shopping center on a saturday morning. Hell is last minute Christmas shopping.

Best post on this topic, i agree Namaste Sheri

Other? Define what or WHO 'other' is. Please, keep Christ out of it since it wasn't human, and God created Hell supposedly.

Please! What Hell is and what IT is like, are two universes apart.

Please derail no subject matter, concerning no season of any abyss.

Although I am a skeptic and do not believe in Hell, my idea of what a true Hell would be like would consist of two parts.

The first part would be for particularly nasty criminals, especially pedophiles and rapists, who would be forced to endure the torment of their victims repeatedly for a long time until they were truly sorry for what they did. If they were not sane when they committed the crimes, then they become sane enough to comprehend. It would not be an infinite Hell, however; when they became truly sorry for what they had done, they would be released.

The second part, assuming a rather unpleasantly humorous God, would be to get stuck inside a 'pleasure dome' with a finite amount of food, entertainment, and people to interact with. That would become absolutely agonizing over an eternity.

Though there are a few words translated as "hell" (She'ol, Gehenna, Hades) in the Bible, each having a different context, and none of those contexts being the traditional fiery brimestone most here refer to

Regards, PA

I think that's because it's the lake of fire in Revelation. Unless I'm mistaken.

The lake of fire is symbolic also. It even states in revelations "the lake of fire is the second death".

So Satan "dies twice"? Seems kind of pointless. Nor does it seem like a proper "punishment".

Read up on my hell topic. It basically means finally get rid of him.

Could it be that the fire of hell is symbolic of all-consuming, or thorough, destruction? Separating fire from Hades, or hell, the Scriptures say: "Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire." "The lake" mentioned here is symbolic, since death and hell (Hades) that are thrown into it cannot literally be burned. "This [lake of fire] means the second death"—death from which there is no hope of coming back to life.—Revelation 20:14.
Valley of Hinnom
Fiery Gehenna—a symbol of eternal destruction

The lake of fire has a meaning similar to that of "the fiery Gehenna [hell fire, King James Version]" that Jesus spoke of. (Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:47, 48) Gehenna occurs 12 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures, and it refers to the valley of Hinnom, outside the walls of Jerusalem. When Jesus was on earth, this valley was used as a garbage dump, "where the dead bodies of criminals, and the carcasses of animals, and every other kind of filth was cast." (Smith's Dictionary of the Bible) The fires were kept burning by adding sulfur to burn up the refuse. Jesus used that valley as a proper symbol of everlasting destruction.

As does Gehenna, the lake of fire symbolizes eternal destruction. Death and Hades are "hurled into" it in that they will be done away with when mankind is freed from sin and the condemnation of death. Willful, unrepentant sinners will also have their "portion" in that lake. (Revelation 21:8) They too will be annihilated forever. On the other hand, those in God's memory who are in hell—the common grave of mankind—have a marvelous future.
Hell Emptied!

And I'm stating my opinions. Wonder why anyone thinks God is merciful.
Where do you draw the line between literal things in the Bible and metaphors?
You double posted

I know I know XD. It's all your fault!

GOOD NEWS for all of you us that are going to hell:

Source

WOW! I am very surprised that many of you don't believe in the existence of Hell or think that Hell is a place of eternal damnation; or should I be? Is there no place in the entire universe that holds us accountable for our immorality? Unlike many, I think there is!

Based on many spirtualistic journeys I have read, they describe Hell as a place where sinners will end up if they reject Christ! It's the worst place imaginable X 10! It is a place of total hopelessness, great sorrow, pathetic sadness, and indescribable horror. It is also a place of weeping, gnashing of teeth, torment (constant suffering), thick horrible odor & it is uncomfortably hot. Contrary to what you may believe, you have all your senses (hearing, smell, sight, taste, and touch) in Hell.

You will hear the wails of lost souls; you will smell the rotting of flesh; you will see other torutured souls go thru terrible suffering; taste - you will have an unquenchable thirst; and touch - you will feel fire burn through your soul. As I stated above, the suffering is unimaginable!

The Pits of Hell are filled with fire that are shaped like bowls - three feet deep and four feet across. There are red hot coals of fire on the side of each pit. In the center of the pit is a soul that has gone into Hell. As the person stands in the center of the pit, fire engulfs his/her soul in flames. Engulfed in flames, souls would wail in regret and be in excrutiating pain. The fire would then die down, just to rise up again. This occured day and night...never allowing the tormented soul to rest.

Hell is shaped like a human body. There is the left leg of Hell; the right leg of Hell; right and left arm of hell; and the center portion can best be described as the belly of Hell which I will explain another time.

Believe me! You do not want to TRULY know what Hell is like. For those that have turned away from Lord, just say these words as your sins will be cast into the lake of fire:

Jesus said.

[/quote]“Come as a little child, and let Me cleanse you from the works of the flesh. Say to Me, ‘Lord Jesus, come into my heart and forgive me of my sins. I know that I am a sinner, and I repent of my sins. Wash me in Your blood, and make me clean. I have sinned against heaven and before You and am not worthy to be called a son. I receive You by faith as my Savior.’ I will give you pastors after My own heart, and I will be your Shepherd. You will be My people, and I will be your God. Read the Word, and forsake not the assembling of yourselves. Give your whole life to Me, and I will keep you. I will never leave or forsake you.”
[quote]

Hopefully some of you will turn away from darkness, and accept the Lord as your savior. I much prefer to have discussions on what Heaven is like and not Hell - science

Haha at the crossed out "you" XD.

hey science101,

i do not live in fear. Hells, Heavens, etc all all products of fear of the unknown. Consider these words instead:

hyperactive:

I appreciate your candor! I also appreciate the words of wisdom. Our existence on Earth is so temporary. Since our time down hear is so short, I heed the words prescribed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now, by no stretch of the imagination am I perfect. I have many faults. In fact, I have to repent constantly for my misdeeds. One thing I make a concertative effort not to do...is treat my fellow man inhumanely. I respect all people irregardless of background. I also have a healthy respect for the unknown.

Personally, I fear no man. However I do fear the wrath of GOD! Here is a good good expression for ya'.

I am more afraid that the christians will take completely over again and start forced conversions and executions. I fear neither Lucifer nor Jesus, just his followers.

That won't happen because the good Christians will stop them. I'll do a clothes line and a choke hold if I have to.

If I have to fear any one I would have to agree with you Gideon. I posted this link in another thread: Victims Of Christian Faith

That is why we are concerned.....Christian violence!

^An example right here!^
A typical violent Christian.....read the link I provided and find out.