The Eternity of Hell

[Caedmon]

Is it literal, figurative, or something else?

[JasonV]

I'd vote "something else".

[UberLutheran]

Something else.

I'd say growing up in the contradiction and the paradox of an ultra-fundamentalist church, but having two addicted parents (one alcoholic/prescription drug addict, the other alcoholic/abuser with serious anger issues), getting hit on by my mother's best male friend, and then picking addict/abusers for partners is as close to Hell as I think I want to see for one lifetime!

[Protinus]

I'd say something else. Hell resides in our hearts just as our Lord does. We have free will to choose which means that I believe in "Hell on earth" I guess.

[Caedmon]

How about I ask it another way...

Can you think of a sin so terrible that it warrants literal eternal punishment after death?

[RND]

Is it literal, figurative, or something else?

Eternally burning hell where there is torture and torment for the wicked and ungodly?

What an absolutely repugnant thought and picture of our loving Heavenly Father.

It is the invention of demons.

[Protinus]

Hell is being separated from our Lord...no sense of redemption...nothing else. I do not believe in Hell other than the maniifestation of this.

[boughtwithaprice]

I feel like I am in outer darkness right now. No sense of belonging. No sense of worth. Just being. Is this hell?


I don't know:sigh:

[JasonV]

How about I ask it another way...

Can you think of a sin so terrible that it warrants literal eternal punishment after death?

Nope.

[Caedmon]

I feel like I am in outer darkness right now. No sense of belonging. No sense of worth. Just being. Is this hell?


I don't know:sigh:
I've felt like this often in the past. People tell me it's God backing off and detaching me from the emotional high that accompanies the spiritual experience so that I will grow spiritually. I think that's a cruel description. I don't think God moves off. I think the loss of a sense of belonging, feeling emotionally isolated and destroyed, etc. is just an occasional emotional/chemical state of the human condition.

[Caedmon]

Nope.
So is an eternal punishment after death only figurative? Do you think it exists at all? Does anyone go there after death?

[RND]

So is an eternal punishment after death only figurative? Do you think it exists at all? Does anyone go there after death?

Here's an interesting web site that has some good information for you: The Truth about Death (http://www.truthaboutdeath.com/)

[JasonV]

So is an eternal punishment after death only figurative? Do you think it exists at all? Does anyone go there after death?

Figurative, likely. I can accept the idea of purgatory long before I'd accept the idea of an eternal hell.

[boughtwithaprice]

I've felt like this often in the past. People tell me it's God backing off and detaching me from the emotional high that accompanies the spiritual experience so that I will grow spiritually. I think that's a cruel description. I don't think God moves off. I think the loss of a sense of belonging, feeling emotionally isolated and destroyed, etc. is just an occasional emotional/chemical state of the human condition.
I could agree with that. It seems to come in cycles. Not true BiPolar, but close. Brain chemistry sucks sometimes

[PhoenyxAngel]

Eternally burning hell where there is torture and torment for the wicked and ungodly?

What an absolutely repugnant thought and picture of our loving Heavenly Father.

It is the invention of demons.
AMEN!

Hell to me is not a burning hell fire and brimstone torture chamber. And I don't believe it is eternal either.

[Im_A]

hopefully you don't mind me posting in on this topic but i was wanting to ask a question.

what if hell and heaven is just a human concept expressing our deepest fears, showing our deepest content with our lives, the world we live in, or expressing our deepest joys, or the happiness we have in this world we live in and that really in the afterlife, there is no way of knowing what heaven or hell really is?

(sorry for that being a LONG QUESTION)

[chaela]

How about I ask it another way...

Can you think of a sin so terrible that it warrants literal eternal punishment after death?
I would say no, because that would mean that there was a limit to Christ's power to atone.

[chaela]

hopefully you don't mind me posting in on this topic but i was wanting to ask a question.

what if hell and heaven is just a human concept expressing our deepest fears, showing our deepest content with our lives, the world we live in, or expressing our deepest joys, or the happiness we have in this world we live in and that really in the afterlife, there is no way of knowing what heaven or hell really is?

(sorry for that being a LONG QUESTION)
Actually, it's probably more along the lines of how we let the reality of our Creator impact our perception of reality (if that makes sense). For example, I feel more like I'm in heaven on earth when I make the effort to acknowledge God's presence in my everyday activities. The more I do that, the more consistently content I am, and the troubles of life don't get to me as much. The less frequently I acknowledge Him, the less content I am and the more easily I am distracted by life's curve-balls. As far as the afterlife goes, it's probably a case where everyone is in God's presence, and that is Heaven for those who happen to love Him, but hell for those who don't love Him yet. Just my own 2-cents there, LOL! :)

[ArmyMatt]

there is only one sin that cannot be forgiven ever, and that is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. for all that spend eternity in hell, that is the sin that keeps them there.

the Fathers teach us that this sin is to look at Christ Who is the eternal Son of God, and refuse to bow down before Him and follow Him. hell is for those that desire their own corruption more than Christ. and forgive me for saying so, but people like that are truly lost. thank God that He is merciful

[Gukkor]

hopefully you don't mind me posting in on this topic but i was wanting to ask a question.

what if hell and heaven is just a human concept expressing our deepest fears, showing our deepest content with our lives, the world we live in, or expressing our deepest joys, or the happiness we have in this world we live in and that really in the afterlife, there is no way of knowing what heaven or hell really is?

(sorry for that being a LONG QUESTION)

You're absolutely right. This life is what counts. We don't know what the afterlife will be like, but we certainly know what happiness and suffering are here on Earth, and we have a duty to work to make ourselves and each other truly happy. Happiness originates in love, and God is love.

[Protinus]

what if hell and heaven is just a human concept expressing our deepest fears, showing our deepest content with our lives, the world we live in, or expressing our deepest joys, or the happiness we have in this world we live in and that really in the afterlife, there is no way of knowing what heaven or hell really is?

my brother: hell to me is separation from God...and rendering heaven to me is the most work that I can do on this earth to understand the mystery and the truly inaccesible (read feable) way we can understand God in our present state.

This in no way answers your question. But our true nature is to understand the suffering in others and in our own lives. We must see the pain through and make our very essence the empathy that is known through the suffering of others. Is it a Christian quest? I think so. Is it a human quest? I think so. So the struggle becomes the quest and the empathic knowing of suffering in others- to me, heaven and hell are realized through these actions and our view of heaven and hell becomes a farce when we cease to interact and minister to others.

I know I have not answered your question!:doh:

[Tube Socks Dude]

http://static.flickr.com/35/122227151_ec8bf2af32_o.jpg

Spirit Painter - Sacred Cows (http://www.webcomicsnation.com/spiritpainter/sacred_cows/series.php)

[Protinus]

That's great TSG!

please provide your rendition and testament! we need your element in thread! I liked your message but I poured my soul into mine.

[chaela]

http://static.flickr.com/35/122227151_ec8bf2af32_o.jpg

Spirit Painter - Sacred Cows (http://www.webcomicsnation.com/spiritpainter/sacred_cows/series.php)


LOL! Cute!! :)