Home > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Concepts > Heaven, Hell & Afterlife
Is Hell a real place or a metaphor to deter evil-doers?
Results so far:
| Metaphor | 51% | 1559 votes | Total: 3035 votes | |
| Real | 49% | 1476 votes |
Metaphor
by Douglas Black
Created on: August 21, 2007 Last Updated: March 01, 2011
When dabbling into the realm of a sensitive and diverse topic matter, such as religion, you already run the risk of traversing a rather precarious slope. But, when it comes to an all-out, no-holds-barred smack-down, debating, one of the most vital pillars of its foundation—the fiery-brimstone of Hell itself...Well, things can start to get a trifle bit messy.
So, before I start throwing a volley of stones in this proverbial house of glass; let’s take a more serious approach to the question: Is Hell real, or is it just a metaphor, used solely to deter evil-doers in our society?
Now, as you can probably tell by my choice; I am neither a Catholic, nor a Christian. However, I am also not Muslim, Buddhist, Jehovah Witness or any other established faith. And, no, I am not an Atheist or a member of some bizarre cult. However, to answer the next likely question; yes I do believe in God, or at least the existence of a higher power.
To the scientific community, there has always been a remarkably large lack of physical evidence to support the construct of a physical or metaphysical construct of Hell, other than a figment of human imagination. First, there is the transparency with regards to the prehistoric age, which has been yet to be explained. Then there is the age of our planet or the Universe itself, which is another factor that is never absolved by any religious faction.
But, then we have to take into account, the concept of faith-this strange and mysterious credence; invisible, yet emotionally tangible, a preconceived notion that something truly exists, even without the weight of proof to back it up. Billions of people can’t be wrong, or can they? Going against the already, voluminous masses may seem a fairly shaky stance to take, but with little evidence to support either side—I found the decision quite overwhelming…that is, until I was introduced to something I like to call the George and Margret theory, which I will elaborate a little further on.
Interestingly, nearly every form of religious tradition portrays some variation of some kind of Heaven or Hell. Often, depicted as an endless sea of fire and brimstone, where acts of insurmountable suffering and torment are used to punish the wicked—but, this brings us to the most argued topic of all. Where is Hell? According to most religions, Hell is somewhere below, meaning it is located deep within the core of Earth’s surface; where, conveniently no man-alive, can travel. Other conceptualizations, place Hell in another dimension or even here on Earth!
However, much like religion in itself, the idea of Hell is still solely based on the metaphysical nature of faith. And, although nobody has yet to completely discredit religion, many tend to believe in only what they can see, touch, taste or even smell! So far, other-than the mouth of a Volcano, geographically, Hell is less palpable than the idea of Heaven being somewhere in the clouds.
This brings me to my next argument, the idealism or function of perception. Keeping in mind this viewpoint is subject to each individual, and while some may openly agree- there will always be someone who does not. And, as much as I would like to believe, I can’t expect or condemn anyone that feels differently.
Is the cup half-full or is it half-empty?
~~If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite~~
William Blake.
If we were to truly open our eyes, would the absence of religion change everything, or would we be left to our own devices. Metaphorically, we need Hell to find solace that the wicked will be punished; but yet, we also need the duplicity that ensures immortality and reward for being faithful. So, without a shred of evidence to support either cause; we are ultimately left to the one constant—perception.
This is how I ultimately came to my conclusion, thus causing me to toss aside my previous religious upbringing. One might think this to be a hasty decision, but this can also be perceived as an act of enlightenment. Can I prove God exists—no-just like I can’t prove he does not, but, considering the outcome of life; death sounds a little less frightening if something better is to follow.
Now, to add to the argument of religion—I could bring up topic matter pertaining to the twelve apostles, and how the visage of the last supper—can be related to the twelve constellations. I could even consider that the son of God, was actually perceived back in ancient times; before our knowledge of planets and stars—as the Sun, might appear to them. Looking above, it would rise and fall everyday; providing the warmth and light—could this not be, what to them, might be conceived as love. A strange notion to ponder…
However, without straying to far off the topic; now let’s think about: The George and Margret Theory. For a moment, consider what might happen if two children, George and Margret; both of an age of four to six years of age. And, somehow, these children were lost at sea, only to wash up on a deserted island. Again, for the sake of the story; let’s say they survived, and eventually procreated. No, I never said they were brother and sister….ewwww.
Anyways, the question is; If these two children grew up, but had never been exposed to any form of religion; would they seek or know of any form of God. And, if not; would they be punished for their ignorance. According to almost all religions they would fail to make the cut…which, means damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Lastly, would God exist? Without our parents, or their parents before us—without scriptures, bibles, Qurans, Dead Sea Scrolls, and whatever tomes or other evidence of any religion; would it ever exist? I have asked many people from at least a dozen different faiths, and none were able to provide a suitable answer.
A few have back-peddled, giving me, some long-winded speech, quoting, a wide-assortment of pages from the good book, but ultimately they still can’t answer what fate will behold Margret or George, and those that followed after. Whether it be a handful or a million; what kind of society would emerge. Maybe they would live in total peace; or maybe they would find hate, and find other cause to quarrel and war!
So, maybe we could all learn something from George and Margaret, and maybe than we can start trying to living as one, forgoing what belief system exists to separate us. Looking back, think how much anguish and hostility has come out of our differences in faith. And, as we work diligently towards reaching our Nirvana, Heaven or promise land, we may have ultimately created our own Hell to ensure we get there.
Learn more about this author, Douglas Black.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Real
by Eric L. Haschert
Created on: May 13, 2009 Last Updated: July 14, 2009
I believe that much like heaven, Hell can be found on earth. I come from a background of agnosticism. My parents did not believe in a organized religion because it was too narrow minded. I had many problems which could have been solved by religion earlier than when I did solve them if I had only known how. After reading C.S. Lewis and Dr. Emit Fox I came to believe that religion is not only necessary but it is wonderful. I believe that ALL religions have merit and that every religion can save someone's soul if properly practiced. I believe that there are as many paths to god as there are stars in the sky. Why because I believe that we can only know God upon God's terms. That our mind cannot grasp God's whole being and that we can only undestand a small portion of him but he is so big there are many portions of the same size that are all equally valid.
I will speak of Christianity here because that is what I am most familiar with. I believe that as potential Christians we are all fallen who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. I also believe that a relationship with Jesus is like finding a buried treasure or a true friend. Others would seek to mislead you so that you will never find Christ on your own because they want you to believe they own him or because they want you to fail without him. They don't want you to know that Christ can be the key to a successful life.
People will certainly mislead you because the world is in competition with you. The Vision of the Earth as a worldly place ruled mainly by Satan as shown to Jesus when he was tempted in the desert by Satan, can and does exist. What remains hidden from those who sin is God's work in the world. Sin blinds one to see more sin and not know like Adam and Eve that once you take the forbidden fruit you are ever blinded to the good. You get lost in a sea of sin where every choice is the choice of the forbidden fruit repeated ad infinitum until you either stumble across God by accidentally making the right choice of not eating the fruit or are brought to Christ by some miracle.
Just because you have found Christ or God does not mean your work is done in order to be free of Sin and Living Damnation you must follow our Lord Jesus Christ and Follow him till you understand his teachings and those of his father. He can and will save you. IF you ask. You must re-envision your life in the teachings of Our Father and his only begotten son. I grew up with the belief that the love of a good woman could save you provided she was religious. What I found out was that it was truly the love of the Jesus Christ that could save me where, no matter how strong it was, the love of a good woman could not.
Many people live secular lives and have no contact nor want any contact with Christianity because of the Zealots and Fanatics often found in religion. In fact if you were to mention What Christ or God has done for you to many of these secular people would call you a "Jesus Freak". Not all of the believers in Christianity belong to the lunatic Fringe. The world as an Idea states that whatever Belief System we use to comprehend our surroundings is how we perceive our reality.
As can be found in the old testament there is an Eye for an Eye, What goes around comes around and What you unleash upon Earth so shall you unleash upon Heaven and vice versa this can be equated to Karma or simply in making your own luck in this we see that we are cursed or cursing out of sin. To live in sin is to be Accursed upon this earth to live a life that is blessed and in the presence of a loving God is to experience Heaven upon earth.
How is this possible that sin can cause you to go blind and only live in a hell upon earth while virtue and the true path can only light your way? Mostly because when we sin we do not wish God to see us doing so. So we ask him not to look which he won't because he respects our privacy. This takes us away from God's Presence and therefore his love. The more we sin the further we stray from god. How is this brought about? By turning from the light of truth you turn to the darkness of ignorance and are blinded. The truth is found in the center of the Universe. In the center is the Holy Trinity that resides in Heaven. While the opposite end is Earth and Man. Man who is at the center of his own perception which is mostly characterized by Man's liberty given to him by free will. Often man will confuse the center of his perception with the center of the universe because God has given him free will. He confuses this free will with the truth because we are like God in the fact that we have free will. which can further confuse someone into thinking that they are therefore Godlike and have the same rights as God. Now isn't it easy to see how the serpent tricked Eve into eating that forbidden fruit?
Unfortunately most of us enjoy our free will without ever knowing the cost paid by Jesus Christ for it. Others think that Christ himself is a Archetype. He can be seen that way but he was the real thing. With Free Will we can choose to be virtuous and travel towards the true center of the universe or we can choose to sin and travel away from the center of the universe. The true center and the center of man's perception can both contain the presence of the Holy Trinity. While the Center of man's perception can also be absent of God. Just because God is absent does not mean that those who live without God live without Good or Evil. The liberty of Free Will is just that liberty to do as one would wish. The knowledge between what is good or evil is what defines where our free will, will take us.
The idea is that each choice and each piece of knowledge is part of a whole and that whole can be the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You could say this fruit was over ripe and verging upon fermentation depending upon which part of the fruit was eaten depends upon the flavor of the fruit and the knowledge contained. To travel with the Holy Trinity towards the center of the universe is to align oneself with Heaven. Eschewing the forbidden fruit as defined by Christ and becoming one of many servants of Heaven and working with God's will and Christ's teachings as a guide is to move towards a greater knowledge of God and a greater presence of God and his will for us.
While taking the forbidden fruit and eating not just one bite but many and therefore sinning in the eyes of God. By doing this against God's will thus taking us further from God's love. The further we travel upon this path. The further we get from understanding God and his will for us. The farther we are from his will the further we are from understanding his will and the further we are from his presence. The further we are from his presence the further we are from his love and his help. This means that the darker it will be. We must move towards the light of reason and not away into the darkness of ignorance. Some of us become addicted to the forbidden fruit called sin and eat a steady diet of it thinking that we are God and that we can rule in his place. God gave us free will so we could love him out of our own free will and not because he forced us to. He could force us to love him but that would be pointless because he would not be loved for himself but by himself.
Some like I said live a secular life or a life of Morality but not a Christian life. In order to live a Christian life you must believe in life after death and the resurrection. You must believe in the Miracles and Blessings of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity. A life of morality can be the turning point to the life of a Christian. It takes a leap of faith to become a true believer. Often many are helped taking the leap of faith by the proof of God's existence but beware there are those with ulterior motives who seek to prove God's existence and which way his will is supposedly aligned.
Some will point out the problems caused by improper use of free will by others as evidence of God's uncaring attitude towards man. We are all free to make the choice between right and wrong sometimes we err but these errors are mistakes that cause accidents not proof that God does not care for us but proof that the universe operates independently from God as his creation. Often these mistakes are not mistakes at all but deliberate crimes caused by sin. By others taking the law into their own hands and taking the place of God and punishing those whom they hate. This too proves that God cares because he has created true Justice and not just An Eye for An Eye to deal with the situation at hand. Also for those who make mistakes therefore committing crimes God has Mercy and Grace if they are truly repentant.
To live a life defined by sin is to live a life in ignorance of God's Grace. To live in ignorance is to live in the dark. To live in the dark is to live away from the presence of the light of reason. A blind man may come to see by the light of reason while a sighted man can be blinded to the truth by lies and live in denial. To live in the uncertainty of ignorance is to worry and to live in torment. To be ignorant is to be blind to the truth. To live in torment is to live in hell. God's grace is not just being good for good's sake or out of fear of punishment it is an enjoyment of the good life and all it's rewards without sin destroying any of the enjoyment.
To have all of the same problems that a follower of Christ may have but none of the solutions is to live in Hell. To feel temptation while not being able to turn the other cheek is to live in Hell. To be a slave to one's emotions much like an animal or Cain is to live in Hell. To being unable to forgive or be forgiven is to live in Hell. Being unable to appreciate the beauty in which God created the world is to live in Hell. To live a life without everyday miracles is to live in Hell. To live a life where you expect to simply go to sleep once you die and not live eternally is to live in Hell. To live a life without God's blessings is to live in Hell. To live in torment from the seven deadly sins is to live in Hell, etc., etc..
Every spiritual, emotional, or intellectual problem can be treated and solved by religion. Morality can't do that neither can philosophy or psychology. The bible, the basis for Christianity, is supposed to be a spiritual tool kit. One that you can open at any point in your life and find a solution to the problems you are dealing with in your life. It can heal you at any time in any place with almost any means. To live without such life saving knowledge is to live away from the presence of God and to live away from the presence of God is to live in Torment.
War also can be Hell on Earth and can create many atheists and non-believers. Heaven can be found on earth simply by following Christ's example and asking yourself W.hat W.ould J.esus D.o or WWJD? Is you cup half full. a blessing? Or half Empty. a Curse? Do you have Bad luck, destiny? or do you make your own luck, Karma? Or an Eye for an Eye?
Learn more about this author, Eric L. Haschert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills
Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2002-2012 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.