What is Hell?

If one were told to 'go to hell' in the 17th century, one would have no doubt thought you were consigning him (or her) to the root cellar.

The similarities between the words hell and hole are more than coincidence.

The Hebrew word 'sheol', translated as hell in the OT simply means 'the grave' and has no connotation of punishment or conscious existence.

As does the Greek word 'hades', apart from the ruminations of some philosophers.

The confusion about fire and brimstone derives from the Jewish practice of consigning the dead bodies of criminals as well as garbage to the valley of Hinnom on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where sulfurous fires were kept burning in what must have been a most dreadful garbage dump. From that we get the word 'gehenna', also translated as 'hell'.

The idea of a conscious afterlife was not known to the Hebrews and early Christians. (See Ecclesiastes 9:5)

edited

neologist wrote:

If one were told to 'go to hell' in the 17th century, one would have no doubt thought you were consigning him (or her) to the root cellar.

The similarities between the words hell and hole are more than coincidence.

The Hebrew word 'sheol', translated as hell in the OT simply means 'the grave' and has no connotation of punishment or conscious existence.

As does the Greek word 'hades', apart from the ruminations of some philosophers.

The confusion about fire and brimstone derives from the Jewish practice of consigning the dead bodies of criminals as well as garbage to the valley of Hinnom on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where sulfurous fires were kept burning in what must have been a most dreadful garbage dump. From that we get the word 'gehenna', also translated as 'hell'.

The idea of a conscious afterlife was not known to the Hebrews and early Christians. (See Ecclesiastes 9:5)

edited

This all can't be true. It doesn't say it in the bible.

Primotivo wrote:

neologist wrote:

If one were told to 'go to hell' in the 17th century, one would have no doubt thought you were consigning him (or her) to the root cellar.

The similarities between the words hell and hole are more than coincidence.

The Hebrew word 'sheol', translated as hell in the OT simply means 'the grave' and has no connotation of punishment or conscious existence.

As does the Greek word 'hades', apart from the ruminations of some philosophers.

The confusion about fire and brimstone derives from the Jewish practice of consigning the dead bodies of criminals as well as garbage to the valley of Hinnom on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where sulfurous fires were kept burning in what must have been a most dreadful garbage dump. From that we get the word 'gehenna', also translated as 'hell'.

The idea of a conscious afterlife was not known to the Hebrews and early Christians. (See Ecclesiastes 9:5)

edited

This all can't be true. It doesn't say it in the bible.

Doesn't say what?

Read Genesis 2:17 and tell me what the punishment would be for disobedience. NO roasting, toasting, baking, or broiling mentioned here. Only death. (Compare Romans 5:12)

If something worse than death were to be a consequence, it would have only been fair to have mentioned it there, don't you think?

Does the soul survive death?

Man doesn't have a soul. Man is a soul. (Genesis 2:7)

As are animals. (Genesis 1:24)

And, souls die. (Ezekiel 18:4)

Sorry if the preachers never took the time to tell you that.

You don't really trust preachers, do you?

. . . my sarcasm escapes you.

Intellectually I do not believe in hell... but I have enough residual fear of it to keep me from doing certain things so I guess that's a good thing. A couple of times in my life I've been suicidal and refrained only because I didn't want to traumatize my children and because I feared there might, just maybe be a hell and I'd go there.

Which is probably going to happen anyway if there is one, but why be in a hurry?

They say in the bible that the lake of fire is called the second death which would indicate to me that one might be tossed into it and cease to exist, thereby missing out on eternal life in paradise with God.... that's my read anyway... just ceasing to exist.

What is hell?