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| − | [[Image:Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights - Hell.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Hell'', painted by [[Hieronymus Bosch]], part of ''[[The Garden of Earthly Delights]]''.]] | + | [[Image:Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights - Hell.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''Hell'', painted by [[Hieronymus Bosch]], part of ''The Garden of Earthly Delights''.]] |
| − | '''Hell''' is [[infinity|infinite]] distress. "That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred." (''[[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]'') | + | '''Hell''' is [[infinity|infinite]] distress. "That child of Hell had nothing human; nothing lived in him but fear and hatred." (from ''[[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]'') |
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| | In the English translation of the [[Bible]]'s [[Old Testament]], the word '''Hell''' normally corresponds to the [[Hebrew]] ''sheol'', which was simply the place of the dead. But in the [[Greek language|Greek]] [[New Testament]] the word used is either ''Gehenna'' (the garbage dump outside the walls of Jerusalem where fires were kept eternally burning to consume the refuse and keep down the stench) or ''Hades'', the [[Greek mythology|Greek]]s' dark, gloomy underworld. The modern English word appears to derive most directly from "Hel", goddess of the dead in Germanic/[[Norse mythology]]. When the [[Anglo-Saxons]] later embraced [[Christianity]], the existing word in the language was reused in the new Christian concepts. | | In the English translation of the [[Bible]]'s [[Old Testament]], the word '''Hell''' normally corresponds to the [[Hebrew]] ''sheol'', which was simply the place of the dead. But in the [[Greek language|Greek]] [[New Testament]] the word used is either ''Gehenna'' (the garbage dump outside the walls of Jerusalem where fires were kept eternally burning to consume the refuse and keep down the stench) or ''Hades'', the [[Greek mythology|Greek]]s' dark, gloomy underworld. The modern English word appears to derive most directly from "Hel", goddess of the dead in Germanic/[[Norse mythology]]. When the [[Anglo-Saxons]] later embraced [[Christianity]], the existing word in the language was reused in the new Christian concepts. |
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| − | According to [[G. K. Chesterton]], Hell is God's great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.<ref>{{cite web |title=Famous quotes by Gilbert Keith Chesterton |author=Gilbert Keith Chesterton |publisher=Quotes.net |url=http://www.quotes.net/authors/Gilbert+Keith+Chesterton |quote=Hell is God's great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.}}</ref> To Christians, Hell is a place where the souls of the wicked are punished eternally for all the [[sins]] they perpetrated during their lifetime on Earth. Since all have sinned (Rom 3:23), Hell can not be avoided on one's own merits, but through the love gift of [[Jesus]] one can know, love, and serve [[God]] and share eternity with Him in [[Heaven]]. | + | According to [[G.K. Chesterton]], Hell is God's great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.<ref>{{cite web |title=Famous quotes by Gilbert Keith Chesterton |author=Gilbert Keith Chesterton |publisher=Quotes.net |url=http://www.quotes.net/authors/Gilbert+Keith+Chesterton |quote=Hell is God's great compliment to the reality of human freedom and the dignity of human choice.}}</ref> To Christians, Hell is a place where the souls of the wicked are punished eternally for all the [[sins]] they perpetrated during their lifetime on Earth. Since all have sinned (Rom 3:23), Hell can not be avoided on one's own merits, but through the love gift of [[Jesus]] one can know, love, and serve [[God]] and share eternity with Him in [[Heaven]]. |
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| − | Christian and [[Muslim]] religious traditions often emphasize the ''Gehenna'' aspect: Hell is extremely hot and filled with fire and [[brimstone]]. Opinion varies on the question of whether, while Hell itself is eternal, experience of it purges away the sins of sufferers to the point of eventual redemption. See [[purgatory]]. A minority of Christians do not believe in an eternal Hell as punishment, believing instead that the souls of the wicked are annihilated. This view, which is directly contradicted by Scripture, is referred to as [[Annihilationism]]. Other deniers of Scripture question whether Hell has a literal burning fire, or it is merely separation from God and therefore has the same torment as if there were a burning fire. This view has been supported by writers such as [[J.P. Moreland]], although the Bible clearly contradicts this view and other symbolic interpretations of Hell. In truth, Hell is a real, spiritual place where God is absent and the wicked are punished for their sins. | + | Christian and [[Muslim]] religious traditions often emphasize the ''Gehenna'' aspect: Hell is extremely hot and filled with fire and [[brimstone]]. Opinion varies on the question of whether, while Hell itself is eternal, the experience of it purges away the sins of sufferers to the point of eventual redemption. See [[purgatory]]. A minority of Christians do not believe in an eternal Hell as punishment, believing instead that the souls of the wicked are annihilated. This view, which is directly contradicted by Scripture, is referred to as [[Annihilationism]]. Other deniers of Scripture question whether Hell has a literal burning fire, or it is merely separation from God and therefore has the same torment as if there were a burning fire. This view has been supported by writers such as [[J.P. Moreland]], although the [[Bible]] clearly contradicts this view and other symbolic interpretations of Hell. In truth, Hell is a real, spiritual place where God is absent and the wicked are punished for their sins. |
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| | == Hell in the Bible == | | == Hell in the Bible == |
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| | Although Hell is a focus and a concern in Christian theology, the Bible has an even greater focus. In the [[King James Version]] the word Hell is mentioned 54 times, but [[Heaven]] is mentioned 551 times. | | Although Hell is a focus and a concern in Christian theology, the Bible has an even greater focus. In the [[King James Version]] the word Hell is mentioned 54 times, but [[Heaven]] is mentioned 551 times. |
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| − | * [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 13:41-42 - ''The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.''' | + | * [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 13:41-42 - ''The [[Son of man]] shall send forth his [[angel]]s, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.''' |
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| | * Matthew 25:41 - ''Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.'' | | * Matthew 25:41 - ''Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.'' |
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| | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]] and [[Atheism and death]] | | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]] and [[Atheism and death]] |
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| − | [[Atheism|Atheists]] often disagree with the [[Christianity|Christian]] belief of eternal punishment in Hell, yet they never explain how justice is accomplished relative to evildoers who escape punishment on earth (see: [[Atheism and justice]]). And rather than [[repentance|repent]] and accept the [[gospel]] message, they engage in [[denial]]ism about their [[sin]] and attempt to suppress the truth of [[God]]'s existence. See also: [[Atheism and hatred of God]] | + | [[Atheism|Atheists]] often disagree with the [[Christianity|Christian]] belief of eternal punishment in Hell, yet they never explain how justice is accomplished relative to evildoers who escape punishment on earth (see: [[Atheism and justice]]). And rather than [[repentance|repent]] and accept the [[gospel]] message, they engage in [[denial]]ism about their [[sin]] and attempt to suppress the truth of [[God]]'s existence. See also: [[Atheism and hatred of God]] |
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| − | The Christian evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] often gives atheists the [https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/ good person test] in order to assist atheists in recognizing their sinful nature. | + | The Christian evangelist [[Ray Comfort]] often gives atheists the [https://www.livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/ good person test] in order to assist [[atheist]]s in recognizing their sinful nature. |
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| | === The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens and fear of hell === | | === The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens and fear of hell === |