Originally posted by 0thetrooth0
i dont live right. i want to do whatever i wana do wherever i wana do it however i wana do it. im a bit selfish. i do alot of what is considered "sins" now im not no rapist murderer etc. but im not a saint either. it does matter if its real or not because if it is im probably going there

Then maybe this is your conscience trying to give you a wakeup call. If you feel how you're living isn't the right way, you have the power to change that. But try not to be too hard on yourself, either. You do what you want to do... but does that mean you end up hurting others in some way, because you're doing what you want? For me, that would be the main defining element as to whether the action was "right" or "wrong." IMO doing what you want to do and NOT harming anyone else, isn't all that bad. Another angle to consider-- is it harming YOU? Because I think sometimes self-harm can be almost as bad as harming another. Especially if that self-harm prevents you, somehow, from being a better person who might do good in the world. Like, for example, if you wasted your life due to some type of addiction. To be fair, when we indulge a harmful addiction, we are often harming others around us in some way anyway.... but I digress....

If you are looking at this from a judeo-christian standpoint, allow me to point a few things out to you:

First of all, "hell" as it's presented in the English bible is a mis-translation and/or misinterpretation. In the old testament, the only word translated as "hell" is "sheol" which literally translates to "ground" or "in the ground." So when the OT says if thus-and-such you'll go to hell, it means you'll go into the ground. Death. The New Testament translates several different words as hell: Gehenna, Hades, and Tartarus. Gehenna is the only term used by Christ himself which is translated in this way. And that word actually describes a place outside Jerusalem was trash was thrown. I believe a more proper translation used in that way is "you will be trash" or "thrown away like trash."

Hades is a word borrowed from the Greeks and it does describe an "underworld." Christ does not use this term. Tartarus is also borrowed from Greek Mythology and it does describe a place of torment. I believe "Tartarus" is only used in the book of Revelation, though i might be wrong on that point. As you can see, however, all of these terms which in english just get squashed into "hell" are all borrowed from Greek Mythology. Does that mean we should pray to Zeus, etc?

The book of Revelation (a book I'm not sure I entirely trust, to be honest) does describe a lake of fire and a second death. The "lake of fire" is where judged souls are supposedly thrown, so that they may be destroyed not for purposes of torture. This interpretation is in line with the "sheol" of the old testament-- a spiritual death. The soul is destroyed so that it is cut off from god.

What I suspect this is actually talking about, is this: When you do something which you know is not good, which you know is wrong, you are moving away from, cutting yourself off from, that part of god that is within yourself. This is hell. Or at least, a kind of hell. That terrible feeling you get inside, when you feel you're not living up to what you could be. Could this mean something else? A "real" second death-- of the everlasting soul? Maybe, I suppose. But I'd like to think not. People, and all our choices-- good or terrible, are partly a result of our situation, and all the experiences we've ever had. Our mind is formed from our many experiences. No two minds put in the same situation will react exactly the same way. If we have a truly loving and understanding god, then god knows this. IMO punishing someone eternally for what was a product of their circumstance, does not seem particularly loving or forgiving to me. And I think the hell we put ourselves through, with guilt, can be pretty bad, at times. And I have always had this suspicion-- you know how they say when you die, it's like you review or re-live your life? I have long suspected that even those of us who feel little guilt, or have little understanding, see everything clearly in that moment. Maybe that's also what hell is-- that final moment of clarity when you truly see the impact of your actions on the world-- for good or bad.

Anyway.... I like to think it's never too late. If you feel you're not living right, then make it right. But don't be too hard on yourself, in the process.

Originally posted by MrBigDave
I think that if you truly thought about it, you believe in hell 100% of the time its just that you don't think about it or you push the idea to the back of your mind. I understand and am in a similar state in life. I do believe in hell, but I'm not doing anything about it. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but every once in a while the thought crosses my mind.

Yea thats how I am. I dont do anything about it and most of the time im not thinking about it but when i do im really scared that it might be real. Are you in this same situation? how do you cope/deal with his? your scared of dying because of hell but you cant escape death, so whats the solution?

Worth remembering, there were lots of other religions that existed before Christianity that had no concept of hell. It's only because your from a Christian country that you have that 10% belief in hell. If you were born in a buhhdist country you'd have a different view

There is only one way to dissuade a fear such as yours. Confront it! How?

Study it. Study everything you can find on the concept of hell, hades, sheol, and so on. I spent decades in the cult of Christianity. You are not going to the Christian hell. Me telling you that won't ease your fear though. Knowledge and understanding will.

As Wildtimes said above, it takes time to get the indoctrination out of your head. And only YOU can do it. No one else. Start studying and learning from ALL sources about hell, and you'll find as you learn, the fear will begin subsiding, and finally fade away.

I went through this. I still occasionally catch myself thinking like my indoctrination occasionally. I confront it, and move on.

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
Worth remembering, there were lots of other religions that existed before Christianity that had no concept of hell. It's only because your from a Christian country that you have that 10% belief in hell. If you were born in a buhhdist country you'd have a different view

I'd give anything to have been born in a different place just so that I would not be in the situation im in now..

Originally posted by 0thetrooth0

Originally posted by queenofswords
Don't waste your time worrying, my friend. Life is too short.

~Live a good life and enjoy it. Be thankful for every day and appreciate the beauty and mystery of it all.
~Find balance in everything. It takes mercy AND discipline, rationality AND intuition. Enjoy the dance.
~When you make mistakes, seek forgiveness.....including forgiving yourself.
~Pray whether you believe or not. It is a spoken affirmation of all of the above.

Sometimes I do think about that life is too short and its probably the only life will have and so all we can do is enjoy life. Everyone is just living their life and im here worrying about the afterlife and what ifs. I wish I could be free and happy like you guys

Being "free and happy" is something that few people EVER experience. Wether Christians, Athiests, or any other religious followers, no one is more free than the other. Its a state of mind. There is a common idea that you have to follow all kinds of stupid rules to be a christian, and some churches teach that, but Paul said (paraphrasing) "I can do anything I want, but not everything is good for me". Its no different than going on a diet, you could eat that cake if you want to, but you don't because it will make you fat. We can, we just don't!

Originally posted by 0thetrooth0

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
Worth remembering, there were lots of other religions that existed before Christianity that had no concept of hell. It's only because your from a Christian country that you have that 10% belief in hell. If you were born in a buhhdist country you'd have a different view

I'd give anything to have been born in a different place just so that I would not be in the situation im in now..

Rather than see the world that way, why not allow that God has placed you exactly where you need to be. Why not allow that everything you have been through was put there to strengthen you. What you see as a weakness maybe God has plans to use as a strength. You would not be struggling if he was not calling you.

If there is any religious concept about the bible that keeps you from believing Christ, challenge me and God will answer both of us.