I hate the idea of a "hell"...do you believe in hell?
957595
In the Jewish faith, they do not believe in the concept of hell in the sense that Christian's do. Seeing as how Christianity sprang from the Jewish faith, it's most probable the concept of hell was invented by men to bring more people into their congregation.
991300
"Hell isn’t a place. This life is hell." \n\nSkeptics who say this are trying to dismiss the reality of hell. They might like to think that life as we know it couldn’t get any worse, but the sufferings in this life will be heaven compared to the suffering in the next life—for those who die in their sins. This life is the closest thing to hell that Christians will ever know, and the closest thing to heaven that sinners will ever know.
646299
Hell isn't a place, and neither is heaven.  Imagine a "god" so cruel that he would condemn people to hell forever just for not understanding or knowing him or for being misled into the "wrong" religion.\n\nOr think about it from a physical point of view.  By physics principles, the universe is slowly running down.  Hell couldn't burn forever.\n\nReligion is there to comfort people.  It shouldn't be taken literally because it has no foundation in reality.
1021146
I agree with you whole heartedly. I think you create your destiny and sometimes that includes a personal Heaven and a personal Hell. We all are creative of our outcome in any / all lives. I'm sure we fit into a bigger picture that most of us here cannot fathom, but it all revolves around love and if that's not part of your life at some point I believe you're destined to a personal Hell. I don't need any religion to help me understand this. When I say Hell I don't mean a fiery chasm where people burn for enernity...nor do I mean a place where an evil horned creature tortures you. I very simply mean a place that is unhappy and unfulfilling to your heart and soul. Some people find this place and choose to find a way out through Love and some people find this place and choose to do harm to themselves and others. In any case... I certainly don't believe in most religions concepts of Heaven and Hell.\n\nAnd I believe answers like the one below mine are the most pressing reasons why the world in in the shape that it is. People who endorse Guilt, Suffering and Repentance in the name of God are responsible for the Suffocation of other Souls. Life can be daunting enough without Holier than Thou assholes prancing around preaching the good book to you and expressing that you're going to Hell where the Evil horned creature tortures you for eternity if you don't "repent" or convert to the "right" faith. As if a "proper" faith exists. News flash to all of the bible banging whack jobs out there... If I want to worship a tree or a rock or Krispy frickin Creme Donuts, I'm not goin to Hell. And if for some reason there is a Hell and I go to it... I'll be sure to see all of you there!
367461
When I was younger, I was terrified of Heaven. Actually, it wasn't the concept of Heaven that bothered me; it was the thought of eternity. My child's mind tried to comprehend what that would be like, to go on forever without end. What would we do? Wouldn't we get bored? Isn't there SOME kind of ending to it all? Questions like these rattled through my head over and over again. I was unable to completely grasp the concept of eternity, and my inability to do that upset me greatly.\n\nNow that I am older, I am no longer afraid of Heaven or eternity. That isn't to say that I now understand either one of them; eternity is still a bit too big a concept for me (or any human, I think) to truly grasp. Why I am no longer afraid is that I have learned to trust God over myself. Even if I don't understand eternity, God does, and He will know how to run it just fine. With faith in His wisdom, I know that eternity will be something to look forward to, not something to fear.
910867
Hell itself is a grave. Apparently you have fallen for some false teaching yourself. Hell is to be cast into the lake of fire.So why have you beleved in false teaching?
772159
Yes I do! I believe there is a Heaven and a Hell just as the Bible says- that the kingdom of God is heaven- the Bible speaks of Hell as Hell and Lake of Fire and Sheol (in the OT) And Gahena.\n\nIt is through Jesus Christ that one can enter the kingdom of God- John 3:3 says "Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God"\n-which means you would go to the alternative- Hell. But God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for OUR sins- Because we all have sinned against God (Romans 3)- according to His standards ( His Law) and we all need forgiveness- we all need a Savior- for God is Holy And Just and has NO sin- but he took our sin upon himself and suffered so that those who believe in Him will have eternal life and not only that- but he gives us his Holy Spirit who teaches us all truth- and gives us complete JOY and Peace- we are secure in Christ- no longer do we fear death- death has NO sting on us. Jesus Christ died so that We who believe may LIVE! How wonderful is that?\n\nJohn 11:25\nJesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,\n) \nJohn 11:26\nand everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"\n\nRomans 1:16\n[ The Righteous Shall Live by Faith ] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
520593
same thing here. my greatest fear is to go to hell
1000535
I'm a Christian, first of all, and I believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell, but I completely agree with you.  I can't possibly understand how someone could ever be evil enough to, when faced with the reality of God and His presence, turn it away!  Even the worst of the worst -- all have mental problems, like Hitler or serial killers.  It seems like everyone would make it to Heaven.
280814
I don't think anyone wants to go.  But there are many bound for its gates.  I think this is from a total lack of true understanding of what hell is.  Imagine being totally cut off and separated for eternity anu hope, joy, love, happiness, comfort, peace, and harmony.  Imagine instead being locked into the anithesis of these things, being totally given over to our darkest and most detesteable desires and tendencies.  This is hell.\n\nBTW- there is no reigning in hell.  Wherever you go;heaven or hell, you will serve a master.  Choose wisely.
133137
WoW! Interesting and deep questions...\nI would get on my knees and pray, but not just on my last day; praying everyday is a good thing.\nI would accept it being my last day, because what ever is God's will is fine...and I do believe there is a better life after this earthly, physical life. As for fearing death, I'm pretty sure I would, but again, there is something greater to look forward to, and God says that this life is nothing compared to the afterlife. So...I do believe in Heaven, but not the "mythical" sitting around on a cloud thing that some of us learned in some churches. I believe Heaven to be as you said, "to see the face of God" and Jesus Christ"...and much more than that. Those chosen to be in God's government, ( as opposed to these corrupt, worldly governments that exist now, will be wiped away, along with all the misery and suffering!) will help set up a fair and right government, which keeps God's laws, ( not all these man made B.S. laws!) This new system of living will allow people to learn to live God's way, with peace and happiness. (I'm sure there will be opposition on this!) Many more wrongs of this messed up world, will be corrected...Lots of work to do! No time to just sit on a cloud!\nAs for HELL!!! I believe that, as the Bible says, it is a consuming fire, and that it serves the purpose of burning up those who will not accept God's law, after they have been taught in the future. It will be as if they never existed; so basically, we are all given the chance to learn God's ways, either in this lifetime, or in the next...amd hopefully, we'll accept it, and not be destroyed in hell! There is also the mythical "Dantes Inferno" which influences us to think of hell as an ever burning punishment...I don't believe this is true at all...God is loving and merciful, and will give us another chance to learn how to live, how to love, how to obey, how to be happy, how to live harmoniously with one another, no wars, how to worship etc.....and IF we continue to want to live, as we do now, with Satan's influence dominating this messed up world, that's it! Stick us with a fork! We're done!!!
660893
yeah, i totally agree! im an atheist and im sick of people saying i'll go to hell if i dont belive in god, but they can't prove that, and I don't belive in hell, so how can I go somewhere that isn't real??
791752
You sound more like a taoist than a christian, in which case the concept of hell is irrelevant :)
782098
Most people think that living on earth is a form of hell.  It depends on the individual who believes in heaven or hell because they must exist in order to create a balance in the universe.
1031479
I used to think hell isn't a real place, but as a metaphor in the religious teaching to make men think twice about their action.\n\nHowever I had recently discovered for myself that Hell is as real as Disney world and its a very scary place.\n\nI recently heard from a pastor that there might be a record of documented scream from hell, and I did found it on the Internet.\n\nThe website for this is http://amightywind.com/hell/aboutsounds.htm\n\nThe website provides detail background story on how the recording was obtained and the actually sound file which you can listen through your computer.\n\nThere are many identical descriptions of Hell that exist in both western religion and eastern religion (for example Christianity & Buddhism), the interesting part is the documents that depict Hell exist before the two cultures had any contact at all; but describe the environment with identical descriptions base on my own research.\n\nIf religion made up the concept of "Hell" to make people think twice of their action, then why would two completely different culture with different climate, language and living standard have the same description?\n\nNow I believe Hell is real, very real~
805938
There is no Hell "far down there" or anywhere.\n\nHell is a State of Being, not a Place to go.  Hell is the conscious rejection of any sense of Divinity.  Hell is NOT a lack of knowledge of Divinity, but a CONSCIOUS REJECTION of Divinity.
802836
do we really know if hell exists?