The Hell Question

[bryan12]

The topic for discussion is:
What exactly are the "qualifications" for hell?


How bad do you have to be during your lifetime?

There seem to be many interpretations of the word "hell", and though there's usually a common viewpoint of the place being "evil", or "bad", how bad do you necessarily have to be?

Do you have to be a believer? Must you have faith and repent your sins?

And what exactly happens in hell anyway? Apparently, you're to be tortured, but how so? How does it work?

edit: I just realized that this topic should be in Theory, Doctrine, and Dogma
Mods, please move .

[justifyothers]

The topic for discussion is:
What exactly are the "qualifications" for hell?


How bad do you have to be during your lifetime?

There seem to be many interpretations of the word "hell", and though there's usually a common viewpoint of the place being "evil", or "bad", how bad do you necessarily have to be?

Do you have to be a believer? Must you have faith and repent your sins?

And what exactly happens in hell anyway? Apparently, you're to be tortured, but how so? How does it work?

edit: I just realized that this topic should be in Theory, Doctrine, and Dogma
Mods, please move .

There are a lot of different interpretations of hell - even its duration is up for questioning. Some of us don't even believe there actually is a place of eternal torment at all!!
Did you have a specific 'sin' you were wondering about?

If not..........."Follow your heart, for it is through the heart that God speaks to man."

[bryan12]

I, myself, do not believe in an afterlife at all. No, this is not a topic created by a guilty child who's haunted by the idea of burning in "hell".

I simply thought that it would be an interesting topic for debate, because of the diverse issues on this issue. Who created the concept of hell? God?

As far as we know, hell is simply a bedtime tale to frighten kids into acting "good".

[twobitsmedia]

If not..........."Follow your heart, for it is through the heart that God speaks to man."

"For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, alanders..these are the things which defile a man.." (Matt 15:19-20)

[Confused]

The topic for discussion is:
What exactly are the "qualifications" for hell?


How bad do you have to be during your lifetime?

There seem to be many interpretations of the word "hell", and though there's usually a common viewpoint of the place being "evil", or "bad", how bad do you necessarily have to be?

Do you have to be a believer? Must you have faith and repent your sins?

And what exactly happens in hell anyway? Apparently, you're to be tortured, but how so? How does it work?

edit: I just realized that this topic should be in Theory, Doctrine, and Dogma
Mods, please move .

Moved per your request.

From my understanding, even rejecting Christ is forgivable so long as one asks for forgiveness. The only thing not forgivable appears to be rejecting the Holy Spirit. This presents an enigma in that God us suppose to the the Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. So how one can reject the Christ but not the Holy Spirit is beyond logic.

The concept of the inferno for hell was so popularized by early writers. Dantes "Divine Comedy" furthered it along with the many paintings depicting the "pits of hell". My understanding is that the concept of the inferno comes mostly from the references like "Cast into the lake of fire". It might imply hell as an inferno, but that depends on the literal vs the metaphorical. Most I hear from on this forum equate hell as more of the absence of any relationship with God. This opens a whole new can of worms since communication with God (in the physical sense) seems to have stopped 2007 years ago. However, others might tell you that communication continues on a personal level in terms of "feeling" the presence or answer of God. I doubt you will find a predominant belief, but I look forward to following to see if a consensus might be found.

[ilovepikachuandjesus]

Most I hear from on this forum equate hell as more of the absence of any relationship with God. This opens a whole new can of worms since communication with God (in the physical sense) seems to have stopped 2007 years ago. However, others might tell you that communication continues on a personal level in terms of "feeling" the presence or answer of God.

I might be wrong because I haven't gotten around to studying the theological aspects of Hell in depth yet.

However, from my current understanding using the absence of God debate you posed. Those in Hell will have seen God in his glory and been forced into bending their knee to Him as He judges their sin and then forces them into the absence of Himself. Therefore those who are in His absence will have known what it was like to have been in His eternal glory. That is in itself punishment enough.

Disclaimer: I am happy to be corrected by a better thelogian who has put more time and Spirit into the study of Hell.

[Confused]

Most I hear from on this forum equate hell as more of the absence of any relationship with God. This opens a whole new can of worms since communication with God (in the physical sense) seems to have stopped 2007 years ago. However, others might tell you that communication continues on a personal level in terms of "feeling" the presence or answer of God.

I might be wrong because I haven't gotten around to studying the theological aspects of Hell in depth yet.

However, from my current understanding using the absence of God debate you posed. Those in Hell will have seen God in his glory and been forced into bending their knee to Him as He judges their sin and then forces them into the absence of Himself. Therefore those who are in His absence will have known what it was like to have been in His eternal glory. That is in itself punishment enough.

Disclaimer: I am happy to be corrected by a better thelogian who has put more time and Spirit into the study of Hell.

Interesting. I haven't heard of the bending knee part. It was my understanding that Christ states:

Matthew 7:21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 10:32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.



This implies Christ will turn His back on those, not force them to their knees. I would be interested in knowing where your interpretation comes from.

[justifyothers]

I, myself, do not believe in an afterlife at all. No, this is not a topic created by a guilty child who's haunted by the idea of burning in "hell".

Good, just don't 'lock yourself into' any one belief yet - keep your mind open. It's already impressive that you're thinking about things many adults tend to ignore or not explore.

I simply thought that it would be an interesting topic for debate, because of the diverse issues on this issue. Who created the concept of hell? God?

Some people would say God 'created the concept', but I think it was man. The idea seemed to come about during the writings that are included in the NT, and coincide with many pagan beliefs at the time. Notice nothing is said of eternal torment throughout the OT. That's becuase it wasn't a concept yet.

As far as we know, hell is simply a bedtime tale to frighten kids into acting "good".

Yep, or to frighten adults into behaving

[justifyothers]

If not..........."Follow your heart, for it is through the heart that God speaks to man."

"For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, alanders..these are the things which defile a man.." (Matt 15:19-20)

Jesus spoke this to the pharisees, who were clearly NOT following the will of God in their lives and were prohibiting others from doing so by 'teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'

[bryan12]

I suppose this topic also ties in with the concept of heaven.

What if you're a sincere individual who "accepts" a different God?

[twobitsmedia]

If not..........."Follow your heart, for it is through the heart that God speaks to man."

"For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, alanders..these are the things which defile a man.." (Matt 15:19-20)

Jesus spoke this to the pharisees, who were clearly NOT following the will of God in their lives and were prohibiting others from doing so by 'teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'

So evil only comes out of "pharisees" hearts? Or of those not following the will of God? Where does evil come from in everyone else then? Or does it at all?