Does it involve suffering in any way?

[AndrésC64]

If you believe in hell, however you describe it, is there suffering involved?

YES - Hell DOES involves suffering

NO - Hell DOES NOT involve suffering

[Tenebrae_mentis]

I don't believe in Hell, but I imagine it would just be exactly like Earth except with the knowledge that there is a Heaven you'll never see. There is no escape and things will never get better. Suffering may come from pain and torture, but true suffering is the death of hope.

[AndrésC64]

How is living on Earth knowing that there is no heaven suffering? Dead is dead. It involves no suffering.

[Tenebrae_mentis]

How is it not? Look around you. Earth sucks. Imagine the most horrible thing you can possibly can. It's happening in the world somewhere right now. There's a guy in North Korea chained to a wall, covered in his own urine, feces, and blood because he tried to go somewhere better, praying for death because he thinks there's something better after. What if he couldn't die? What if this was all there was? And what if he knew that for a fact? That there is no escape. It will never be better. It will never end.

Hey, I'm an atheist. I know dead is dead. This is just a thought experiment. If, hypothetically speaking, hell existed, I think hell would be the death of hope.

[ZXCwWRQWz]

I don't really believe in hell but as a concept, I think the level of suffering we'd endure there is on a whole new level. The level of toughness required to endure that even for a month is beyond John Rambo level to me. You have to be epic to avoid screaming and crying or just sinking into your daily routine of torture. But extend this to eternity and I think that's the only thing we might have that isn't so boring left. But that's gonna hurt like hell forever!

[ZXCwWRQWz]

You know, I've always been trying to get tough enough if hell exists. But maybe no amount of resistance to pain and torture and the risk of danger can really prep us for eternity. Even the greatest X-Games athletes might endure slightly longer, and longer is meaningless when we're talking about infinity. Maybe being tough is worthless. Is that the message of an eternal hell? Because the toughest people break with enough time, and in the context of eternity, this time amounts to nothing.

[petitedollbabee]

I don’t believe in Christianity’s concept of hell but I do believe that hell involves mental and physical suffering. Almost like constant nightmares.

[Guardian45]

Like it is on Earth niw?

[menina]

I believe that real hell is where we live in (planet Earth). If hell is real then there's a lot of pain and suffering there.

[jshm2]

Wouldn't be hell if there wasn't, kiddo.

It's like saying "was your prison stay on par with a 2 star hotel?"

You're missing the fucking point.

[AndrésC64]

Look kiddo, what's the point in eternal suffering, other than suffering for suffering's sake? Other than intentionally inflicting suffering?

You're missing the fucking point. You're invisible friend is supposed to be our father and yet tortures us. Do you have children? Do you torture them or would you? What would you say about someone that allows their children to be tortured?

[Guardian45]

Hell does NOT exist. Earth IS Hell. Why do you need more?

[Dargil]

I think Hell is spiritual death. Your connection with G0d ends and your soul nolonger exists.

[artsy_dragon]

I already believe we are in hell sometimes

[AndrésC64]

I know what you mean.

[artsy_dragon]

All the suffering is just awful

[XXblack88]

Yes there is suffering in hell. Any suffering on earth is 10+ times worse in hell.

[Nomina]

Yes, it is supposed to be suffering. The opposite of heaven where there is none. If there wasn't a place where there is suffering, there wouldn't be a need to avoid it.

[AndrésC64]

And what is the point of requiring suffering?

[Nomina]

Incentive to avoid it.

[AndrésC64]

So what you're telling me is the only thing keeping you from being a genocidal, pedophile, rapist is fear of hell?

[Nomina]

It could definitely be part of it. But not the only thing.
But hey, if fear of hell alone stops someone from doing all this, I'd say that's good.

[AndrésC64]

Well then for people like you, I say please, continue believing in your invisible friend. The rest of us don't need promises of a reward or threats of punishment to do good.

[Nomina]

Okay? Whether you believe in an invisible friend or not, aren't there negative consequences to doing bad that you are aware of and try to avoid?
But also. Invisible friend or not, bad is still being avoided. So I don't see the problem.

[AndrésC64]

It isn't my parents torturing me. What is the point of torture? What does the person getting tortured get out of it other than pain? Nothing. Your invisible friend is inflicting infinite, eternal pain for absolutely no gain. That is called the sadistic.

[Nomina]

Oh now I see what you're getting at.
Hmm. The best way I can describe the concept is that it's similar to someone who keeps making the wrong choices in life. Ultimately they bring on a living hell of their own. It's kind of the metaphysical version of that. Insofar as you had a lifetime to not make those wrong choices but you did anyway, so don't be surprised if you end up in "hell".
But there are spiritual schools of thought that believe in reincarnation and people just go through life over and over until they learn their lessons. Would that make you feel better?
But like you said, you're capable of doing good without some kind of entity, so..

[AndrésC64]

But there's a difference between a finite, so-called "living hell" on Earth and an infinite hell of torture.

But we're not talking about religions that believe in reincarnation. We're talking about Christianity specifically. And the Christian God tortures his own children for no purpose other than torture sake. There is nothing gained out of torturing people. Other than perhaps his enjoyment of it.

[Nomina]

Christianity isn't the only religion that believes in hell, my dude. So why not direct your anger at those religions too?

But what I'm trying to understand is this.. s if you don't believe why do you care? Why are you angry about it? You don't, so let it go. It's for those who believe in it to deal with, I suppose.

[Nomina]

Also, I didn't say anything about Christianity.

[Nomina]

But I don't know. I think what you're dealing with here with that is much more complex than I could ever explain. Go ask a priest. Maybe one can explain it better.

[AndrésC64]

1) I'm addressing Christianity because I live in a country that is dominated by Christians. And I just cannot wrap my head around how people can be so stupid and/or sadistic as to worship such a God.

[AndrésC64]

I know you didn't say anything about Christianity. I did.

[AndrésC64]

So you have no answer as to why a so-called loving God would inflict incalculable, eternal suffering? Do you believe in this God?

[strateguy632]

nope just loss.