What Are Your Thoughts On Hell?

[SoundsLikePink]

Do you believe hell is real or a man made myth? If you believe it's real, do you believe it's permanent? What do you think it'll be like there? If you think it's a myth, who do you believe started the myth? Do you believe in any afterlife? If you believe something different entirely, please feel free to share your opinions.

[zaphod]

There is no hell. Threatening people with eternal damnation for 'misbehaving' is traditionally a good way to make sure people don't question authority and those who wield it, more often than not people who misbehave the most.

There is also no afterlife. It's the most ingenious marketing trick ever devised. If you represent a religion that does very little to actually improve people'e lives (say.. Christianity in the Middle Ages), how do you make sure people stay faithful? You exploit their fear of death. We all fear death, it's biologically hardwired into us as it is into every other animal. So you go up to them and say, 'Listen up people! Do as we say and don't question us, and guess what, you'll die, but you'll actually live on in the afterlife! Ain't that cool?' And hey presto, you have plenty of people willing to believe in the fairytale crap you feed them. Really ingenious.

Cynical? Maybe....

[gwoardnog]

Originally Posted by zaphod

There is no hell. Threatening people with eternal damnation for 'misbehaving' is traditionally a good way to make sure people don't question authority and those who wield it, more often than not people who misbehave the most.

There is also no afterlife. It's the most ingenious marketing trick ever devised. If you represent a religion that does very little to actually improve people'e lives (say.. Christianity in the Middle Ages), how do you make sure people stay faithful? You exploit their fear of death. We all fear death, it's biologically hardwired into us as it is into every other animal. So you go up to them and say, 'Listen up people! Do as we say and don't question us, and guess what, you'll die, but you'll actually live on in the afterlife! Ain't that cool?' And hey presto, you have plenty of people willing to believe in the fairytale crap you feed them. Really ingenious.

Cynical? Maybe....

how incredibly deep

[zaphod]

Originally Posted by gwoardnog

how incredibly deep

Yeah, good thing your comment is so much deeper!

[IceNine]

Zarathustra, however, remained standing, and just beside him fell the body, badly injured and disfigured, but not yet dead. After a while consciousness returned to the shattered man, and he saw Zarathustra kneeling beside him. "What art thou doing there?" said he at last, "I knew long ago that the devil would trip me up. Now he draggeth me to hell: wilt thou prevent him?"

"On mine honour, my friend," answered Zarathustra, "there is nothing of all that whereof thou speakest: there is no devil and no hell. Thy soul will be dead even sooner than thy body: fear, therefore, nothing any more!"

The man looked up distrustfully. "If thou speakest the truth," said he, "I lose nothing when I lose my life. I am not much more than an animal which hath been taught to dance by blows and scanty fare."

"Not at all," said Zarathustra, "thou hast made danger thy calling; therein there is nothing contemptible. Now thou perishest by thy calling: therefore will I bury thee with mine own hands."

When Zarathustra had said this the dying one did not reply further; but he moved his hand as if he sought the hand of Zarathustra in gratitude.

[maley]

Originally Posted by zaphod

There is no hell. Threatening people with eternal damnation for 'misbehaving' is traditionally a good way to make sure people don't question authority and those who wield it, more often than not people who misbehave the most.

There is also no afterlife. It's the most ingenious marketing trick ever devised. If you represent a religion that does very little to actually improve people'e lives (say.. Christianity in the Middle Ages), how do you make sure people stay faithful? You exploit their fear of death. We all fear death, it's biologically hardwired into us as it is into every other animal. So you go up to them and say, 'Listen up people! Do as we say and don't question us, and guess what, you'll die, but you'll actually live on in the afterlife! Ain't that cool?' And hey presto, you have plenty of people willing to believe in the fairytale crap you feed them. Really ingenious.

Cynical? Maybe....

I pretty much believe this.

[zombiequest]

I was waiting for the Monty Python finish there

Not everyone believes the same thing, but the older I got the more I realised this time on Earth is your one shot.. this is your one chance to accomplish everything you want and make it a fullfilling life. It can be a Heaven or it can be a Hell, but it's what you make of it. I personally think everyone that lives for the "Afterlife" is denying themselves an enjoyable present life. People tend to hold off until tomarrow what they can do today. If more people thought or realised this is your one life they'd make better use of it rather then be miserable at a job they hate, a place where they live, or a relationship that brings them frustration, pain and grief. Dont be anyone's stooge, it's no one's life but your own, and you control it... good or bad as it is.

At least that's the way I see it.

[Liqwid]

Just as many things were changed when King James had the Bible written for the masses, I believe that the concept of any sort of "Hell" has been blown way out of proportion. Fear is what drives man to accept something that isn't inherent. Fear of an eternal damnation of which you may never visit "paradise".

I've always believed that when I die then I just die. So, being that I get just one chance to die, I've been looking into getting mummified when I die.
http://www.summum.org/mummification/ <--- Check that place for more info.

[TheAnalogKid]

Count me in as a non-believer. I don't believe hell exists, however, if there was a hell...I'm sure it would involve 24 hours of madonna songs.

[Liqwid]

Originally Posted by TheAnalogKid

Count me in as a non-believer. I don't believe hell exists, however, if there was a hell...I'm sure it would involve 24 hours of madonna songs.

You're going to be killed for that one, I assure you. It'll include Carrie, a big 16 size steel-toe boot, and your ass.

[TheAnalogKid]

Originally Posted by Liqwid

You're going to be killed for that one, I assure you. It'll include Carrie, a big 16 size steel-toe boot, and your ass.

I couldn't help it, after seeing the verbal orgy over her birthday.

[zombiequest]

Originally Posted by TheAnalogKid

Count me in as a non-believer. I don't believe hell exists, however, if there was a hell...I'm sure it would involve 24 hours of madonna songs.

Not sure if that's the worst you can get... My older brother went through "Captive Training" in officer school complete with the cell and minor torture, etc... he said the worst thing out of all the pain he withstood was the music they had playing on the speakers the whole time.. it was the worst of all... afterward he asked them what the hell was that and where in God's Name did they find it?? They told him it was Yoko Ono's latest release. He swore he was gonna write Yoko Ono and tell her they're using her music to torture people.

Thankfully I stayed as far away from her music as I possibly could... but if there's a hell it's probably on Satan's jukebox.

[zaphod]

Originally Posted by Liqwid

Just as many things were changed when King James had the Bible written for the masses, I believe that the concept of any sort of "Hell" has been blown way out of proportion. Fear is what drives man to accept something that isn't inherent. Fear of an eternal damnation of which you may never visit "paradise".

I've always believed that when I die then I just die. So, being that I get just one chance to die, I've been looking into getting mummified when I die.
http://www.summum.org/mummification/ <--- Check that place for more info.

I'll just have someone put me in the freezer!

[TheAnalogKid]

Originally Posted by zombiequest

Not sure if that's the worst you can get... My older brother went through "Captive Training" in officer school complete with the cell and minor torture, etc... he said the worst thing out of all the pain he withstood was the music they had playing on the speakers the whole time.. it was the worst of all... afterward he asked them what the hell was that and where in God's Name did they find it?? They told him it was Yoko Ono's latest release. He swore he was gonna write Yoko Ono and tell her they're using her music to torture people.

Thankfully I stayed as far away from her music as I possibly could... but if there's a hell it's probably on Satan's jukebox.

Christ...Makes me want to repent right this very moment....but, the weekend is coming up, so i may as well wait until it's over.

[zaphod]

Originally Posted by maley

I pretty much believe this.

Thanks. Send me a million dollars and paradise will be yours.