Discussion Thoughts on Hell compared to Earth?

[PlannedforPeru]

Bear with me, as I'm still very much a layman in regard to depictions of hell. Additionally, I am still very much in the early stages of researching more about the historical development of the concept of hell. From my understanding, hell is either perceived as "the separation from God" or the perception of torment (from a human) taken to its ultimate form.

In many depictions of hell, it seems its inhabitants are more united in their suffering. Is it supposed to be believed that their suffering reaches an apex where the relativity of the tormented compared to others (in a different realm, circle, or otherwise) not matter? Why on Earth is suffering unequally distributed? The innocents are not tortured in hell. How can this image of a realm consisting of the pinnacle of man-known suffering be rectified when in some ways, Earth's conditions seem morally inferior?

I'm curious to know the thoughts of many of you and please feel free to clarify any misconceptions I may have about my understanding of hell (above is loosely based off of cultural representations).

To be clear, I'd rather not be placed in eternal torment fiery or otherwise for the smartasses out there.

 

[sonzar]

Well according to human beliefs i suppose hell will either be full or torture and pain OR be your worst guilt , both , although very predictable would be heaven for me beacuse atleast i wont get false hopes and know what to expect , but it all really comes down to one question , does hell actually exist for human conscience?

 

[ijustwishtodie]

Hell as depicted in islam (I can't speak about christianity since I don't know much about it and, besides, there will most likely be a post here soon enough of somebody talking about christianity since most people have experience with that) is meant to be the worst torture imaginable related to hellfire. In islam, they already thought about how humans could potentially adapt to pain so they made it where allah revives their skin and pain receptors after burning them alive to then burn them again, revive them again and repeat ad infinitum. Also, you're wrong with the idea of innocent people being spared from religious hell. In islam, a pedophile who is a devout muslim and worships allah a lot gets to go to heaven whilst a disbeliever no matter how pure and noble their heart is will go to hell.

The difference between religious hell and the hell on earth is that the former isn't real and won't ever be real whilst the latter is very much real and will continue to be real until all sentient life goes extinct. Therefore, I'd say that the hell on earth is the scarier one because the hell on here is real and it's happening every single second. The amount of suffering that happens on this planet every second is unimaginable, it really is. There are people going through immense pains due to cancer or chronic pain or old age and then there are sentient beings getting ripped apart by a predator. Not to mention that humans could at least prevent us from experiencing this hell for as long as possible by legalising the right to die but the thing is that they want us to suffer in hell for as long as possible. It's why I can't see this place as a home and also why I feel like I'm in enemy territory

 

[PlannedforPeru]

you're wrong with the idea of innocent people being spared from religious hell. In islam, a pedophile who is a devout muslim and worships allah a lot gets to go to heaven whilst a disbeliever no matter how pure and noble their heart is will go to hell.

I get what you mean, the "innocent" in question is dependent on positive adherence to the respective doctrine. What constitutes an innocent is determined subjectively for each person as it does similarly between religions. I use it with the hope that most people here (who hold on to ideas of morality), with their unique version of what makes someone innocent, can acknowledge that at least one person who fits their criteria has been or is punished unjustly.

 

[Forever Sleep]

One of the things I don't understand is this idea of eternity. An eternity in the firey pit. It's a punishment though- right? Shouldn't a punishment serve to teach someone? You don't stand a child in the corner of the room forever because they did something wrong. They stand there in shame for an appropriate amount of time to be made an example of and to contemplate what they did wrong in the hopes they don't repeat it.

Ok- we put some of the most dangerous criminals in prison for life- because they are too much of a risk to be let loose around the population. Maybe that goes the same for some 'souls'.

Still- to torment them forever? I suppose it's to deter us from certain bad behaviour on earth. It clearly isn't working though! Surely- we sin more now than we did in earlier times. If non believing is the unforgiveable sin, hell is going to be packed!

As to how it compares to the suffering on earth, I imagine it would be worse- if there is such a place. As @ijustwishtodie said though- we would surely need new bodies to feel pain. How could fire affect pure consciousness? So- there must be some set up where we leave our bodies here and drift into new ones.

That makes you wonder about heaven though. Are new bodies waiting there for people? Surely, they would need to be an improvement to the ones we have on earth. Unless there's also sickness and disease in heaven. I wonder if there's sex. Another member said this: What if someone's spouse dies and they remarry on earth? Presumably, God won't be thrilled with them bedding both in heaven!

What age do we become in either place? I was 3 when my Mum died. I imagine she was good enough to go to heaven (if there is one.) Maybe she's hoping to meet her 3 year old daughter again some time but, I'm 44 now and I'm more than likely going to hell anyway (if there is one.) But- how does that work out? I doubt a 90 year old would want to have a 90 year old's body in heaven yet, they may still want all the memories they accumulated.

I just think we're talking about states we have no clue about. We only know what it's like to feel pain in a biological body. I'm not convinced we can feel pain without a nervous system. Then, it becomes so complicated to imagine we'd be issued with new bodies. Why? Why don't we just vanish from this realm then? If we require our bodies in the next realm.

I truly hope hell was something the ruling classes came up with to scare people into obeying the law. I'm not personally convinced that either heaven or hell are real. If it means oblivion though- bring it on! I can't f*cking wait. Why would it be a punishment to be able to escape God's f*ckery? So long as we're no longer conscoius we're in some empty void.

 

[shrizoid]

Hell as depicted in islam (I can't speak about christianity since I don't know much about it and, besides, there will most likely be a post here soon enough of somebody talking about christianity since most people have experience with that) is meant to be the worst torture imaginable related to hellfire. In islam, they already thought about how humans could potentially adapt to pain so they made it where allah revives their skin and pain receptors after burning them alive to then burn them again, revive them again and repeat ad infinitum. Also, you're wrong with the idea of innocent people being spared from religious hell. In islam, a pedophile who is a devout muslim and worships allah a lot gets to go to heaven whilst a disbeliever no matter how pure and noble their heart is will go to hell.

The difference between religious hell and the hell on earth is that the former isn't real and won't ever be real whilst the latter is very much real and will continue to be real until all sentient life goes extinct. Therefore, I'd say that the hell on earth is the scarier one because the hell on here is real and it's happening every single second. The amount of suffering that happens on this planet every second is unimaginable, it really is. There are people going through immense pains due to cancer or chronic pain or old age and then there are sentient beings getting ripped apart by a predator. Not to mention that humans could at least prevent us from experiencing this hell for as long as possible by legalising the right to die but the thing is that they want us to suffer in hell for as long as possible. It's why I can't see this place as a home and also why I feel like I'm in enemy territory

Abrahamic religions are terrifying as hell sometimes damn

 

[pthnrdnojvsc]

The only hell is this terrible Earth. I've worked in a nursing home and seen people screamimg in pain constantly in pain screaming in unbearable pain from incurable skin sores no sleep for years

A doctor confirms what i saw:

Who By Very Slow Decay

[Trigger warning: Death, pain, suffering, sadness] I. Some people, having completed the traditional forms of empty speculation – “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, &#8220…

slatestarcodex.com

That is the "golden years " they constantly lie about more like hell years