Archaic and false teachings about an eternal fiery hell have held back too many persons from God and spirituality. It’s time to examine the concept of hell with a more modern, enlightened and informed perspective.
Unity minister J. Sig Paulson points out that some religions ‘scare the hell out of people to try to get them to heaven.’ Emilie Cady holds that some persons are afraid to make a decision for Christ or to know God because of misunderstandings fostered by churches that use an ‘accept or suffer in hell’ theology. John Bradshaw, ex-Catholic priest and author of Homecoming, tells of parochial school nuns showing him pictures of hell and saying ‘this is where your soul will be if you sin.’ Yes, the erroneous concept of an eternal fiery ‘hell’ has already kept too many persons from knowing their Heavenly Father/Mother God.
The notion of hell belittles and blasphemes God. What sane Earthly parents would intentionally pass their child’s finger through a flame even for a moment? Consider the Biblical story of the shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to find the one that was lost. Jesus said ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost’ Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.’ (Matthew 18:11 & 14) The Bible clearly states God’s will ‘The Lord’ not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (II Peter 3:19) If God wills it, it shall be done.
A burning hell is an analogy or instructive story. For example, consider Luke 16: 23-24 about the rich man in hell. My King James Version plainly states: ‘Parable of the rich man and Lazarus.’ This is a symbolic description of how painful a life devoid of spiritual growth is. Dostoyevsky said, ‘I am convinced that the only Hell which exists is the inability to love.’
The Rev. Richard McBrien, theologian at Notre Dame, said the Roman Catholic Church has moved from a negative view of persons, that the human race is damned and only a relatively few will be saved, to a perspective that mankind is ‘essentially a saved community from whom a few may be lost.’ Hell is no longer a part of the Jewish afterlife. Sin, in the Jewish perspective, ‘is atoned for in this life through repentance and the experience of death itself.’
Prominent church father Origen viewed hell as a place of spiritual separation from God; his ‘Universalist’ view claimed that hell’s purpose was remedial and that hell’s sinners could be reclaimed. Martin Luther and John Calvin believed that hell was a figurative description of alienation from God. Eastern Orthodoxy views hell allegorically.
Newsweek writer Kenneth L. Woodward states, ‘Today, hell is theology’s H-word, a subject too trite for serious scholarship’ heaven and hell are no longer thought of as different locations, with separate zip codes, but radically opposed states of intimacy with and alienation from God’ Hell, then, is not a place created by a God bent on getting even, but the alienation we choose for ourselves. Heaven, on the other hand, is for lovers’of others and God. ‘Thou hast made us for Thyself,’ wrote Saint Augustine nearly 17 centuries ago, ‘and our hearts are restless; till rest in Thee.”
The word ‘hell’ is translated from ‘sheol’ and ‘gehenna’ and can also be interpreted as pit, grave, or death. We all die physically and to our immature spiritual natures but that’s not an eternal hell. To inherit the kingdom of Heaven and escape ‘hell’, we must die and be reborn spiritually. We ‘die’ to our old nature like a caterpillar dies before it becomes a butterfly. Our new nature, more like God, replaces our former self. Evil simply cannot co-exist with or experience God. Evil goes to hell”dies”just like darkness dies when light is turned on.
‘Maude’ was a jewel of a person, always loving, thoughtful, and serving others. She had attended the same church for 60 years and rarely missed a service. The last time I saw her, I had a feeling she would pass on soon; I remarked that Heaven would be glad to receive such a beautiful Soul. She earnestly replied, ‘I sure hope so. I hope I don’t go to that other place!’ And I thought ‘How sad that even a person like Maude isn’t completely assured of God’s love and grace. How many others similarly fear, wonder, and worry about ‘going to that other place’?’
God eternally stands ready to receive all persons in love and forgiveness. Truly repent and open yourself to the love and mercy that is God. Pray and meditate on these things; then decide for yourself whether God needs an ‘eternal hell’ for His loving plan. As you let go of fears of hell, feel a new freedom within. Love and respect God because He deserves it, not to defer eternal punishment. Let these messages of truth and joy heal you in body, mind, and spirit. Let go of fear; realize you always have been, are now, and eternally will be a beloved part of the Creation.