Or do you think like I do, that it's just a bunch of bunk used to scare people for the purposes of increasing their (the religious leaders) power?
214401
Hell - Definition: The word “hell” is found in many Bible translations. In the same verses other translations read “the grave,” “the world of the dead,” and so forth. Other Bibles simply transliterate the original-language words that are sometimes rendered “hell”; that is, they express them with the letters of our alphabet but leave the words untranslated. What are those words? The Hebrew she’ohl´ and its Greek equivalent hai´des, which refer, not to an individual burial place, but to the common grave of dead mankind; also the Greek ge´en·na, which is used as a symbol of eternal destruction. However, both in Christendom and in many non-Christian religions it is taught that hell is a place inhabited by demons and where the wicked, after death, are punished (and some believe that this is with torment).\n\nDoes the Bible indicate whether the dead experience pain?\n\nEccl. 9:5, 10: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol,* the place to which you are going.” (If they are conscious of nothing, they obviously feel no pain.) (*“Sheol,” AS, RS, NE, JB; “the grave,” KJ, Kx; “hell,” Dy; “the world of the dead,” TEV.)\n\nPs. 146:4: “His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts* do perish.” (*“Thoughts,” KJ, 145:4 in Dy; “schemes,” JB; “plans,” RS, TEV.)\n\nDoes the Bible indicate that the soul survives the death of the body?\n\nEzek. 18:4: “The soul* that is sinning—it itself will die.” (*“Soul,” KJ, Dy, RS, NE, Kx; “the man,” JB; “the person,” TEV.)\n\n“The concept of ‘soul,’ meaning a purely spiritual, immaterial reality, separate from the ‘body,’ . . . does not exist in the Bible.”—La Parole de Dieu (Paris, 1960), Georges Auzou, professor of Sacred Scripture, Rouen Seminary, France, p. 128.\n\n“Although the Hebrew word nefesh [in the Hebrew Scriptures] is frequently translated as ‘soul,’ it would be inaccurate to read into it a Greek meaning. Nefesh . . . is never conceived of as operating separately from the body. In the New Testament the Greek word psyche is often translated as ‘soul’ but again should not be readily understood to have the meaning the word had for the Greek philosophers. It usually means ‘life,’ or ‘vitality,’ or, at times, ‘the self.’”—The Encyclopedia Americana (1977), Vol. 25, p. 236.\n\nWhat sort of people go to the Bible hell?\n\nDoes the Bible say that the wicked go to hell?\n\nPs. 9:17, KJ: “The wicked shall be turned into hell,* and all the nations that forget God.” (*“Hell,” 9:18 in Dy; “death,” TEV; “the place of death,” Kx; “Sheol,” AS, RS, NE, JB, NW.)\n\nDoes the Bible also say that upright people go to hell?\n\nJob 14:13, Dy: “[Job prayed:] Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell,* and hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a time when thou wilt remember me?” (God himself said that Job was “a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from bad.”—Job 1:8.) (*“The grave,” KJ; “the world of the dead,” TEV; “Sheol,” AS, RS, NE, JB, NW.)\n\nActs 2:25-27, KJ: “David speaketh concerning him [Jesus Christ], . . . Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,* neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (The fact that God did not “leave” Jesus in hell implies that Jesus was in hell, or Hades, at least for a time, does it not?) (*“Hell,” Dy; “death,” NE; “the place of death,” Kx; “the world of the dead,” TEV; “Hades,” AS, RS, JB, NW.)\n\nDoes anyone ever get out of the Bible hell?\n\nRev. 20:13, 14, KJ: “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell* delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their w
599568
Yes...you are a crazy cult
634610
I think that in some churches evil lurkes or is drawn there, afterall it is a building used to house anti-demonic rituals, what a great place to mock the followers of christ or to instill evil, deceipt, betrayal, false hopes, lies, and the writings of deciples and saints who had dreams and visions of there own unreality. Of coarse priest that pray on innocent boys and propigate the worse kinds of sins against humainty are evil and have bben taken by the dark side either by will or by folly.
621628
it's kinda backwards to me. Sure they are tring to get a good point across. But no one really believes them or pays attention because they act like CRAZY people.
556141
You are correct.   \n\nIsn't it funny that even without investigating a religion and just "saying" you are a part of it doesn't spawn even a little bit of knowledge about it.   Your examples of the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons were right on target.  Both were created as off-shoots of Christianity with major rule changes and drastic Bible reinterpretations/rewrites.    The founders of each cult have been caught in lies/treachery/deceit, yet they are overlooked in lieu of the bigger picture.     L. Ron Hubbard is a completely different story.....just reading his materials should be enough to discredit him.\n\nYou haven't even touched on Kaballa and other such "stylish religions".
493585
I think it's a combination of both politics and religion. This is especially the case when certain people in power use religion as a means for furthering their political goals.
125535
Kinda makes religion seem like a bunch of nonsense doesn't it?
673235
I know sane rational intelligent people who believe they were.  And they are scared to death of what they saw and experienced.  Did it really happen?  I couldn't say for sure.  Do I believe them?  I believe they believe.
178818
Yes, they are pushing a dangerous and addictive (to some) idea that is totally fallacious and without any evidence at all, they should not be allowed to foist their abusive indoctrination onto children, let them believe what they will inthe privacy of their own homes...this is freedom of religion but please do not deprive young children of their right to freedom from indoctrination.
568145
Good point. That's all they do. Brainwashing people specially young and naive. and they always use a form of religion to do that. Don't forget religion could be very dangerous.
94049
Ok, that is creepy.  I mean, it has absolutely nothing at all to do with the question.  For those of you having a hard time understanding why some of us are so fed up with the bible bashing types of Christians, this is a prime example.  For those Christians who answer questions in an honest, productive manner, I'm sorry that these people get lumped in with you.  This is a level of zealotry which scares me to no end.   And before our usual band of zealots jumps on that statement.  No, I'm not scared because I fear "the truth" or because I'm afriad you're right.  I'm scared because the mentally unsound are cutting it pretty close and I wonder what they're going to do next.\n\nTo answer your original question, give me a pint of Guiness, please!  Actually, I don't drink much, but I think I'll one when I get home.
440283
You would think so but it doesn't seem to work like that on here.\n\nWhen i first started using this about 6 weeks ago i did get some reasonable answers to questions. All that seems to happen now though is abuse so i just answer questions. I suppose it depends on who"s on at the time.\n\nAlot of religious people just seem to want to condemn others though. Little wonder alot of people don't want anything to do with religion or its followers.
121506
I think it just boils down to simple Psychology 101:   insecurity about themselves and the faith they are in and wanting validation that they are in the "right religion".\n\nThat is what I have observed...not just here at YA, but also from visiting other religious/spiritual forums and newsgroups in the past.  It comes with the territory of said forums.  Total package, iow.
529965
sure, they are letting satan in them, causing them to promote hate, and sin. apparently they are as hellbound as we are. lol.\n\ni love those ones who say "your going to hell for not believing"  little do they know, they are coming with me for judging me.
227651
It does not sound like a logical fear to me.  Then again this is coming from a guy scared of heights.\n\nPerhaps you are scared that they are going to enslave you with their religion.  The best way to overcome this fear is probly knowing more about how and why people join cults.  Once you know how to avoid being brainwashed you woln't have to fear looking them in the eyes and telling them they are wrong.
427322
Yah they are all out to fuck with your wacky religious beliefs.
218244
No but if that actually happened, it was done to install more demons into Bush.  If you want to be spiritually healthy, one might avoid Pat Robotson and Foulwell entirely.   They are into religion for social control anyway.