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[Anthony Horvath]

"but what if somebody's not talking about these things"

Then they should be, because 'hell' within Christian circles is a composite of those terms.

"for example, "sheol" has nothing to do with the christian hell"

Are you sure?   'Sheol' is the word in the OT variously translated, and the OT is part of the Christian scriptures.  But you might unknowingly be making my point:  'sheol' has nothing to do with the Christian hell.  Exactly.  Well, almost.

"and the others probably mean other things also."

Sir, that's the point.

"(although the word "gehenna" sounds a lot like the hebrew word for hell. is that where the greeks got it from?)"

Its Hellenized version of the Hebrew name for a valley outside of Jerusalem, the valley of Hinnon.  Read the link I provide in the original post.  It has some more detail as to why it would be used.  A little research goes a long way on this subject.

[Wholly Polterquist]

My Dearest Saint John, John,

"Can we say "Hell-0, From Hellen, out of deepest respect and regard for Hellen, and her lovely crazy horse, stabled, in Hellena, Mount Anna? If this offends your above border moral capacity, then I will hang my head in deepest humility, and shame, and shout, "Flood the markets, with mega condoms!"

Moste Happily,
Wholly Polterguiste

[Anthony Horvath]

I don't see how mega condoms are exactly relevant, but then, its hard to see how the rest of your post was, either.  Still, flooding the market with condoms of that sort is really over-kill.  I'm the only one I've seen in the check-out line with them so far.  Seems to be a select group that needs them.  So, I don't know how your post applies.

[Wholly Polterquist]

My Dearest, Moste Gracious Saint John, John,

"Are you afraid of the supernatural? Are you perhaps a superstitious gypsy? Johney the Gypsy King. Is this why you are so terrified of Hell, Heaven, and of course magical carpenter rides? Confess! Confess!, You are terrified, of the unknown!"

Moste Happily,
Wholly Polterguiste

[Merrick]

Maybe it is a good idea... Does it really matter?  I mean if we want to talk about the place of d--nation, than what does it matter what we call it?

[Yankee]

This is my debut into this forum, so I am going to use the word Hell.  I'll tell you what it is.  Can you imagine a worse punishment that having a disembodied spirit floating around in space forever, never making contact with another spirit?  When we die, our spirit leaves our body, and as a spirit, would feel no physical pain, so why would Hell be a physical place?  As for being a hot place, what is hotter than the re-entry of space ships into Earth's atmosphere?

[Zagzagel]

I don't get it, Yankee.

As far as experience goes, I do know that many feel this way already.  This is why many commit suicide.  

Is there something worse for them in the very reason why these ones commit this crime against themselves and others who love them?

I very much doubt it.  I very much doubt also, that God will commit these ones to some eternal bliss of torture in some fashion.

G.

[Yankee]

I don't get it, Yankee.

As far as experience goes, I do know that many feel this way already.  This is why many commit suicide.  

Is there something worse for them in the very reason why these ones commit this crime against themselves and others who love them?

I very much doubt it.  I very much doubt also, that God will commit these ones to some eternal bliss of torture in some fashion.

G.

I firmly believe that when most people commit suicide they are not thinking beyond getting out of a world they cannot bear.   I would not be willing to say whether any given person who takes his own life will be condemned to eternally floating around in the outer darkness.  I tend to believe that that is reserved for people who commit terrible crimes and have no remorse for doing so.  Even they will be given a second chance after the Golden Millennium when Satan returns to Earth for a short time.  The reason for his being allowed to return is so that those who were sent with him will be able to receive salvation if they want it.  I would consider a thousand years long enough for anyone to suffer.

[Zagzagel]

Just re-reading this thread.  As serious as the idea of a "hell" is, which I don't support by the way, but you probably know that by now :) ,  I  haven't really heard any logical purpose for such a place - if it exists.   After-all - I did believe this for most of my faith life but only accepted it cause the church caused me to believe it.  However, they never gave me a logic for that.. but then I grew up.. and I no longer feared to ask the hard stuff.  :0

Thus the reason - for me - hell is a very illogical man-made idea.  A big scare tactic of fearful religious folks.. especially those wanting power. 

There is a reason Jesus never spoke of "hell" which is basically born from a latin word.. and we all know who defined it - don't we?  Latin is a clue.  And history becomes darker for the church after that.

And is there some mysterious reason why Paul never talks about "hell"??  That is one big clue I think.

In saying this I still believe in justice, punishment and more importantly... correction and forgiveness.  :)

[composer2005]

Hell = the Grave

[Anthony Horvath]

No, Hades = the Grave.

Or realm of the dead, whatever. 

The place of 'eternal punishment' in the NT is gehenna.  As most people are thinking of that concept when they hear 'hell,' in most minds Hell =  Gehenna.  Unfortunately, the Most English translations render both Hades and gehenna (and tartarus in some) as 'hell' which is most unhelpful.

Zag:  Paul never mentions gehenna and that's a clue?  What about Jesus, did he ever mention gehenna?     Isn't that a bigger clue?

Besides, it isn't like Paul was shy about the concept.  Romans 2 seems to be clear enough.  For eg,

"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Wrath and anger sounds a lot like gehenna to me.    Notice how it is paired up with 'eternal life.'  The parallel seems justified... the first half gets eternal life, the second half gets eternal wrath.  Anyway, I don't think you can say that Paul never talks about such things.

[Zagzagel]

Well.. to answer your last post sntj.. Paul deosn't speak of the "hell" you accept either.  So there!