HELL MYTHOLOGY OR TRUTH

# What is Hell and Why Should You Care?

Hell is a word that has many meanings and connotations, depending on the religious tradition and the cultural context. But in general, hell is a place or state of suffering and punishment for the wicked after death. It is often contrasted with heaven, the place or state of bliss and reward for the righteous.

![A fiery lake with a devil's face in the flames]

## The Origins of Hell

The concept of hell has a long and complex history, dating back to ancient civilizations and mythologies. Some of the earliest references to hell can be found in the literature of Mesopotamia, where hell was described as a distant land of no return, a house of dust where the dead dwell without distinction, and a sealed fortress with seven gates¹.

Other ancient cultures also had similar notions of an underworld or a realm of the dead, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Finns. These places were not necessarily places of torment, but rather of darkness, decay, and separation from the living.


The word hell itself comes from the Old English hel, which means "to cover" or "to conceal". It is related to the Old Norse hel, which was both the name of the goddess of the underworld and the underworld itself². The Old English hel was used to translate various Hebrew and Greek terms in the Bible, such as Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus. These terms had different meanings and connotations in their original contexts, but they all came to be associated with hell in Christian theology.

## The Nature of Hell

Different religious traditions have different views on the nature of hell, its location, its inhabitants, its duration, and its purpose. Some of the major perspectives are:

- Christianity: Hell is the place of eternal punishment for those who reject God and his grace through Jesus Christ. It is often imagined as a fiery lake presided over by Satan and his demons³. Some Christians believe that hell is literal and physical, while others believe that it is metaphorical and spiritual. Some Christians believe that hell is eternal and irreversible, while others believe that it is temporary and remedial. Some Christians believe that hell is reserved for a few wicked people, while others believe that it is the default destination for most people unless they are saved by faith.

- Islam: Hell is the place of temporal punishment for those who disobey God and his prophets. It is often described as a blazing fire with various levels of intensity and torture. Some Muslims believe that hell is eternal for unbelievers and hypocrites, while others believe that it is temporary for sinners who have faith in God. Some Muslims believe that hell is predestined by God's will, while others believe that it is determined by human actions and choices.

- Judaism: Hell is not a major focus of Jewish theology, as Judaism emphasizes life in this world rather than the afterlife. However, some Jewish sources mention a place or state of punishment for the wicked after death, called Gehinnom or Gehenna. It is named after a valley near Jerusalem where trash and corpses were burned. Some Jews believe that Gehinnom is a place of fire and worms where souls are cleansed of their sins for up to 12 months before entering heaven. Others believe that Gehinnom is a state of shame and remorse where souls are cut off from God's presence.

- Buddhism: Hell is one of the six realms of existence in the cycle of rebirth or samsara. It is a place or state of intense suffering caused by one's own negative karma or actions. There are many levels and types of hells in Buddhist cosmology, ranging from hot to cold, from physical to mental. Some hells are temporary and purgatorial, while others are eternal and hopeless. Some hells are populated by demons and monsters, while others are solitary and dark.

- Hinduism: Hell is one of the 14 worlds or planes of existence in Hindu cosmology. It is a place or state of suffering where souls undergo various punishments according to their sins. There are many names and descriptions of hells in Hindu scriptures,