by Dolf

Created on: June 12, 2009

The debate as to whether or not Hell is an actual place or a metaphor has been around for quite some time. Literalists will claim that Hell, as a place of eternal torment, is mentioned often in the Bible. The existence or non-existence of Hell as a place is a topic that even ancient cultures debated. Indeed the Egyptians, Mayans, Greeks, and Romans made mention of a hell like place in both their literature and polytheistic religions.

For this discussion, the topic of Hell as a place really centers on western thought and Judeo-Christian Theology. One should probably not describe Hell as a place with a definite location, such as, down there and Heaven being up there. Rather, one should look to the descriptions of Hell in the new testament of the Bible and to the words of Jesus Christ. Jesus describes Hell as a place of torment. In Jesus' ministry, He cast out devils and had discussions with Satan. The gospels of the new testament speak of the Devil and include various tales (Like the rich man and Lazarus) to drive home the lesson that in fact the Devil does prowl the earth for souls to be taken to Hell for eternity. In the new testament, Hell is the domain and residence of the Devil and the other fallen angels.

Therefore it might be argued that surely this is the foundation for an actual place. But is it a place as we would think of it and experience it or is it state of existence the occurs after physical death? Physical death being that point in our existence when the flesh and bone body ceases to function and the soul, or center of our cognitive existence, if you will, begins it eternal existence in Heaven or Hell.

If one believes in the afterlife or an existence after death, it is not a stretch to assume that a place exists for those souls that do not deserve to be in the presence of the Almighty Creator. Great care should be taken not to ascribe human thought or emotion to God. While the Judeo-Christian thesis indicate we are created in God's image and likeness. That part of us that is like God is never clearly defined. Is it an innate sense of right and wrong? Is it the ability think on a level far above our fellow creatures? Or is it the fact we are given a soul by the Creator and thus never truly feel fulfilled until we are united with Him?

It is this concept of the absence of the presence of God, the inability to re-unite one's soul with God that is most likely the actual plane of existence that is the Hell that is spoken of when one speaks of Hell. Only those who have died know the final answer to this question. Since, according to the Judeo-Christian tradition, God is the source of all good, joy and happiness, not being able to spend eternity with God could surely be though of as the Hell of which we speak. The absence of the presence of God would be the ultimate torment to experience for all of eternity

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