Heaven and Hell

[Lightkeeper]

I witnessed the following discussion today:

The Old Testament concept of heaven and hell with it's rewards and punishment system is what justifies actions like atttacking homosexuals and abortionists and blowing up public places or flying planes into buildings.
Secualr thinkers should focus their opposition on heaven and hell and not the belief in God.

Can religions revise their concepts of heaven and hell? Is it possible to have a religion without the concept of heaven and hell?

[Eolas Pellor]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

I witnessed the following discussion today:

Can religions revise their concepts of heaven and hell? Is it possible to have a religion without the concept of heaven and hell?

From what I have studied, heaven and hell are not particularly Old Testament ideas; they are, in fact, intertestimental. "Sheol", after all, is not what Christains and Muslims mean by "hell".

But, anyway, yes it is possible for religions to function without these concepts. Most ancient religions did perfectly well without them, and they play no role in Hinduism of Buddhism. Most neo-pagans do not accept them, either.

[gluadys]

Originally Posted by Eolas Pellor

From what I have studied, heaven and hell are not particularly Old Testament ideas; they are, in fact, intertestimental. "Sheol", after all, is not what Christains and Muslims mean by "hell".

But, anyway, yes it is possible for religions to function without these concepts. Most ancient religions did perfectly well without them, and they play no role in Hinduism of Buddhism. Most neo-pagans do not accept them, either.

Quite right. I would even say they are not intertestamental, although belief in the resurrection was introduced then.

Jesus preached a "kingdom of heaven/of God" which is not quite the same thing as the notion of heaven and hell which we inherited mostly from medieval Christianity.

I certainly agree that Christianity can and ought to revise these concepts.

[arthra]

I think it is fundamentalist literal interpretation of sciptures that is exploited to justify various fanatic acts. Heaven and hell can be taken in spiritual ways that is spiritual conditions rather than as literal places.

- Art

[angeleyes]

Originally Posted by arthra

I think it is fundamentalist literal interpretation of sciptures that is exploited to justify various fanatic acts. Heaven and hell can be taken in spiritual ways that is spiritual conditions rather than as literal places.

- Art

I agree....... I think heaven and hell describe images that are more appropriately defined in terms of states of mind, at least in this day and age.

[mooomooo]

==>Can religions revise their concepts of heaven and hell? Is it possible to have a religion without the concept of heaven and hell? <==

I know how l sound when l say stuff like this but what else am l to do ?? ,, pretend it didn't happen.. or try to discuss things from my perspective knowing what l know of the real Truth .

Anyway , and l am not kidding as usual but since l have seen the dead come back to life after her being dead years and the dead person smacked her lips right on mine in an extended over three minute long kiss l must only say what l can , and l know you can only assume l 'believe' what l saw and you cannot believe l saw that and l certainly respect that it has to be this way however l want to talk too but l also know that whatever l say is guided by my truths which l know ,,, you have not 'necked' with a person who came back from being in the grave over two years , but l will say what l can knowing how l am received .

Now l forgot what l was going to say ,, thanks a lot lol .

EDIT : l will re-think it and be back asap .

[mooomooo]

We are not supposed to know if there is a Heaven or Hell and that is why we do not know because it has to be this way , always has been this way and for Man to stay alive it has to remain this way and God is seeing to it that it reamains this way .

Whether you believe in the East Indian Lord Ganesh who was made quite innocently by a child playing and making mud play things and created Lord Ganesh from the dirt , to that person who turned to Salt or even Adam who was made from dirt we see that there are many many factions to beliefs and almost all are in the "twilight zone" categories from staffs eating snakes after coming alive to water turning into wine to whatever .

All of them have their believers who truly beliveve that those items are real and they teach their children that these are real and so many many other things which seem unreal in possibility yet are believed by everyone almost , from Nation to Nation etc in their diffferent capacities of belief .

Since l myself have necked with a real ghost , then how can l deny others of what History tells us is real yet when others hear my ghost event they say "nonsense" .

[mooomooo]

Since Heaven and Hell are represented quite well in New York City's Manhattan's "Times Square" l felt this link below would help you get a 'look'

at Heaven and Hell "live" as it happens lol..

The link below is very safe and when you go there put the arrow on the picture and click and then go to 'zoom' and then click 'full screen ' . Hope you enjoy it .

Times Square Cam - EarthCam

[metis]

In orthodox Judaism, heaven eventually became believed in even though it doesn't show up in Torah. However, descriptions of heaven generally are avoided. Hell is much more controversial, and my experience is that most Jews either don't believe in it or they question it.

In Buddhism, heavens and hells are temporary places between death and rebirth.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by metis

In orthodox Judaism, heaven eventually became believed in even though it doesn't show up in Torah.

From the standpoint of Judaism, heaven and hell are post-Biblical concepts introduced and refined during the second Temple Period.