NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been brainstorming a lot lately (as you can tell, since I'm making another thread), and I've thought about the concept of hell a lot too. This intertwines with spirits, and unusual activity on our planet. Could it be possible to link these two? Seeing as angels are considered to be on earth, helping out those by creating miracles, is it possible that the souls already damned to hell are on earth too? Perhaps they are among us until the 'end of the world' whereupon they are sent to the 'true hell', but until then, they've each been given their own task of some sort. The same can go for the souls destined to go to heaven. Perhaps they're on earth waiting for the end, where they can go to the true 'heaven'. What're your thoughts?

Hell is on earth, it is a spirtual state - the absence of god in your life. Or at least that's what I sometimes think.

Hell is a state of mind,where,from your point of view,things are utter shit and only getting worse and just living is agony.hat it hell,more or less.im sure some creative use of adjectives could make it sound more 'hellish'

I'm not sure why angels doing work on earth would imply that the spirits of damned people are also on earth. I'm assuming you are thinking that angels are the spirits of good people. According to Christian teachings angles are not the spirits of dead humans but are instead a totally different kind of being and not necessarly good either. Lucifer was an angel that got kicked out of heaven. I'm not sure where the popular idea that angels are ghosts of good people came from. I realize that some non-Christians also believe in angels and may have a totally different concept of what they are. I just wanted to clarify Christian teaching on the subject.

I'm an atheist but I've heard a lot of other people go on about this so here are some of my favourites

Hell is other people

Hell is true self knoledge

hell is perfect boredom

to understand hell imagine you are packed into a train in a tunnel where the lights flicker on and off the heating is either too hot or too cold and your not moving anywhere and you can't move as your surrounded by obnoxious people, your perpetually hungry and thirsty and the train is not going to move and never will but you can't get off that is hell (this sounds like virgin rail to me)

hell is a small fishing village in norway (actually true there is a place in norway called hell and its a small fishing village.....)

hell is eternally gaining hope and then it being ripped away from you in an endless cycle

hell is a wet sunday afternoon with nothing on the tv or radio you've read all the books and you have some annoying relatives around

hows that for you

My observation is that one tends to filter one's thoughts through the archetypes of one's own subconscious. Those archetypes are dependent on cultural and filial programming. Are they real? They are, perhaps, but really only to those for whom the archetype has significance. I'd be rather surprised to see an Orthodox Jew as one of Shiva's milkmaids, a Jehovah's Witness in Valhalla, or a Buddhist monk in Hell. Not to say it couldn't happen, but...

Demons living among us? Makes sense.

If we have angels creating little miracles here on Earth, perhaps all the truly monsterous things we here about (murders, child rape, etc.) are the work of agents of Hell.

I'm not sure why angels doing work on earth would imply that the spirits of damned people are also on earth. I'm assuming you are thinking that angels are the spirits of good people. According to Christian teachings angles are not the spirits of dead humans but are instead a totally different kind of being and not necessarly good either. Lucifer was an angel that got kicked out of heaven. I'm not sure where the popular idea that angels are ghosts of good people came from. I realize that some non-Christians also believe in angels and may have a totally different concept of what they are. I just wanted to clarify Christian teaching on the subject.

No no, angels aren't the spirits of good people, I'm pretty sure that they're different beings altogether. Actually, to correct my own mistake, I meant to say that angels exist, good and bad, but going further, perhaps spirits from heaven and spirits from hell are currently on earth, awaiting the end of the planet, where they can go to their true destiny? I'm just trying to provoke thought here. :) I'm pretty sure that Revelations states a new 'heaven' and 'hell', or something to that matter, though I don't have a Bible at hand.

Demons living among us? Makes sense.

If we have angels creating little miracles here on Earth, perhaps all the truly monsterous things we here about (murders, child rape, etc.) are the work of agents of Hell.

Very possible as well. Another thing I heard while watching a religious program on tv (Jack Van Impe Ministries, and it was quite some time ago) is that right now, Satan isn't even able to tempt us right now, and that he is locked away, until he is released to earth to create...well, hell on earth, to be literal.

Very possible as well. Another thing I heard while watching a religious program on tv (Jack Van Impe Ministries, and it was quite some time ago) is that right now, Satan isn't even able to tempt us right now, and that he is locked away, until he is released to earth to create...well, hell on earth, to be literal.

Satan is, according to the relevant passages, more of a prisoner of Hell than its ruler. He just happens to be the strongest being down there right now. Obviously he would want to escape and create dominion on Earth.

My idea however, is that Satan is just another part of God's plan. He is not being punished, but is mere charged with the task of guarding those souls who cannot exist in Heaven.

No no, angels aren't the spirits of good people, I'm pretty sure that they're different beings altogether. Actually, to correct my own mistake, I meant to say that angels exist, good and bad, but going further, perhaps spirits from heaven and spirits from hell are currently on earth, awaiting the end of the planet, where they can go to their true destiny? I'm just trying to provoke thought here. :) I'm pretty sure that Revelations states a new 'heaven' and 'hell', or something to that matter, though I don't have a Bible at hand.

Ok, I missunderstood. Your hypothesis makes sense to me now.

Satan is, according to the relevant passages, more of a prisoner of Hell than its ruler. He just happens to be the strongest being down there right now. Obviously he would want to escape and create dominion on Earth.

My idea however, is that Satan is just another part of God's plan. He is not being punished, but is mere charged with the task of guarding those souls who cannot exist in Heaven.

I don't know where to find them off hand, but there are places in the Bible where Satan asks for permission and/or is given permission to do things. That would imply that God is using him.

Demons living among us? Makes sense.

If we have angels creating little miracles here on Earth, perhaps all the truly monsterous things we here about (murders, child rape, etc.) are the work of agents of Hell.
So what does that mean for free will?

Well, your idea makes as much sense as any other theology that incorporates a heaven and a hell. Sounds a bit Zoroastrian to me, actually.

I've also heard of religious sects that believe Satan is actually an agent of God. Some of them even believe that Satan was appointed by God to rule over the Earth.

Unless you have a direct phone line to Heaven (or Hell), any ideas about them are difficult to prove. This has never stopped people from speculating about them, of course, but I'm a bit skeptical of anyone who makes positive (as opposed to hypothetical) statements about them.

:p

So what does that mean for free will?

I didn't say I agreed with it, merely that it was a theory. I for one believe in free will.

suppose that means that we must kill anyone who looks or acts like a demon after all its not genocide its self defence :rolleyes:

Hitler had a similier idea about the Jews

Sounds a bit Zoroastrian to me, actually.
Sounds interesting. I've never really researched that before, perhaps I will :)

Unless you have a direct phone line to Heaven (or Hell), any ideas about them are difficult to prove. This has never stopped people from speculating about them, of course, but I'm a bit skeptical of anyone who makes positive (as opposed to hypothetical) statements about them.
Understandable. I'd be equally skeptical of that too. I personally don't believe that he is an agent of God.

suppose that means that we must kill anyone who looks or acts like a demon after all its not genocide its self defence :rolleyes:

Hitler had a similier idea about the Jews

That has absolutely nothing to do with anything that anyone said. Knock off the baiting.

Sounds interesting. I've never really researched that before, perhaps I will :)

Understandable. I'd be equally skeptical of that too. I personally don't believe that he is an agent of God.

I wouldn't believe that either since in the bible it says the devil was banished to hell for throwing a rebellion (since you can't kill something immortal) though I’ve never read the bible I have heard it somewhere

That has absolutely nothing to do with anything that anyone said. Knock off the baiting.

I think it does after all you did get this off Constantine didn't you?

it was one of the criticism’s that have been made about the films meaning (obviously you took it the wrong way :rolleyes: )

I think it does after all you did get this off Constantine didn't you?

it was one of the criticism’s that have been made about the films meaning (obviously you took it the wrong way :rolleyes: )

Actually, I've never seen Constantine, and don't plan on it, so take your assumptions out of this thread.

What you guys are talking about sounds very much like Milton's "Paradise Lost". If you haven't already, you should read it. It's a fairly good book.

I've been brainstorming a lot lately (as you can tell, since I'm making another thread), and I've thought about the concept of hell a lot too. This intertwines with spirits, and unusual activity on our planet. Could it be possible to link these two? Seeing as angels are considered to be on earth, helping out those by creating miracles, is it possible that the souls already damned to hell are on earth too? Perhaps they are among us until the 'end of the world' whereupon they are sent to the 'true hell', but until then, they've each been given their own task of some sort. The same can go for the souls destined to go to heaven. Perhaps they're on earth waiting for the end, where they can go to the true 'heaven'. What're your thoughts?
I think you have way too much free time on your hands. Perhaps if I started a flame-war that would give you something to do. :D

What you guys are talking about sounds very much like Milton's "Paradise Lost". If you haven't already, you should read it. It's a fairly good book.
Calling Paradise Lost "a fairly good book," is like calling King Kong "a fairly large monkey." :)

Calling Paradise Lost "a fairly good book," is like calling King Kong "a fairly large monkey." :)

Well, I didn't really like it that much. But, since it's a classic, and I'm recomending it, I figured I should say that it was good.

According to Christian Bible beliefs.

Satan/Lucifer: It's one of the 3 highest level of angels in Heaven. (Micheal, Gods General, and Gabriel, Gods messanger is the other 2 big archangels).

Lucifer is the leader of God's choir (Or band leader) and is the most beautiful creature ever made, in the shape of a dragon and has a voice of all music and all voices. But was thrown out of heaven with 1/3 of all angels when he rebelled and wanted to be like God. There's many passages in the bible, where he wants to be worshipped like God.

Demons: 1/3 of all the angels that rebelled and followed Satan. And was thrown down into earth. Roaming around.

I'll come back with more... gotta go out now.

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