A BRIEF HISTORY OF A BRIEF HISTORY OF HELLHELL

2b: Models in Science and Religion2b: Models in Science and Religion

Models of HellModels of Hell

Many cultures and religions believe in Hell. Many cultures and religions believe in Hell. What they believe varies, but the common What they believe varies, but the common theme uniting all models of Hell is that it is theme uniting all models of Hell is that it is not a desirable place or state to be in!not a desirable place or state to be in!

This presentation explores the various This presentation explores the various ways that Hell has been understood in the ways that Hell has been understood in the language and thought world of Christianity. language and thought world of Christianity. It will become clear that more than one It will become clear that more than one model of Hell has been used.model of Hell has been used.

Models aid understandingModels aid understanding It is perhaps inevitable that in pre-literate cultures concepts It is perhaps inevitable that in pre-literate cultures concepts

such as hell were explored using stories and images. Indeed such as hell were explored using stories and images. Indeed

it is necessary in to try to find ways to imagine the unseen in it is necessary in to try to find ways to imagine the unseen in

religion, just as it is in science in those situations where no religion, just as it is in science in those situations where no

direct apprehension of the object of study is possible.direct apprehension of the object of study is possible.

Such models have difficulties however. They can easily Such models have difficulties however. They can easily

dominate our vision and blind us to other models which may dominate our vision and blind us to other models which may

be better. A problem with all models is that they can too be better. A problem with all models is that they can too

easily become the object that they are meant to represent. easily become the object that they are meant to represent.

Think of the way we imagine an atom because of the model Think of the way we imagine an atom because of the model

we have been taught in school.we have been taught in school.

What images spring to mind What images spring to mind when you think of Hell? when you think of Hell?

Which sources influence your Which sources influence your thinking?thinking?

Art?Art? Preachers? Preachers?

Milton? Milton? Dante?Dante?Jesus?Jesus?

The image on this slide is part of the fresco The image on this slide is part of the fresco covering the entire outer western wall of the covering the entire outer western wall of the Voronet monastery in Romania. It was Voronet monastery in Romania. It was painted in 1547 and depicts the Last painted in 1547 and depicts the Last Judgement. St. Peter leads the righteous Judgement. St. Peter leads the righteous into heaven while the sinners, chained by into heaven while the sinners, chained by the devils, are dragged into Hell.the devils, are dragged into Hell.

This is part of the (in)famous triptych, an altarpiece entitled The Garden of Earthly Delights (1504) by Hieronymus Bosch. The torments of hell, a dark, icy, yet fiery nightmarish vision awaits those whose sinful pleasures lead inexorably to their eternal separation from God.

Gehenna - 1Gehenna - 1 If you were tracking down the most widely used term for hell in the If you were tracking down the most widely used term for hell in the

New Testament this would be it. The other common one is Hades, New Testament this would be it. The other common one is Hades, the Greek word for the Hebrew idea of Sheol, the place of the dead.the Greek word for the Hebrew idea of Sheol, the place of the dead.

Much of the teaching of Jesus was in parables and he made Much of the teaching of Jesus was in parables and he made frequent use of simile and metaphor. Typically his teaching about the frequent use of simile and metaphor. Typically his teaching about the Kingdom of God was in the form of comparisons: “The Kingdom of Kingdom of God was in the form of comparisons: “The Kingdom of God is like ….” Gehenna as a model for hell is an interesting choice. God is like ….” Gehenna as a model for hell is an interesting choice. Models generally result from extending a comparison making it Models generally result from extending a comparison making it fruitful, suggesting new ways of thinking about an idea.fruitful, suggesting new ways of thinking about an idea.

Gehenna - 2Gehenna - 2 So why would Jesus use Gehenna as his preferred term So why would Jesus use Gehenna as his preferred term

for Hell? for Hell?

Its origin is in the valley of Gehinnom (in Hebrew) which Its origin is in the valley of Gehinnom (in Hebrew) which

lay to the south of Jerusalem. It was a place where in the lay to the south of Jerusalem. It was a place where in the

time of the Book of Kings children were sacrificed. time of the Book of Kings children were sacrificed.

According to Jeremiah it would be the place of God’s According to Jeremiah it would be the place of God’s

judgement. Jewish apocalyptic literature assumed it would judgement. Jewish apocalyptic literature assumed it would

become the hell of fire at the end of time. become the hell of fire at the end of time.

In Jesus teaching the emphasis seems to be on Gehenna In Jesus teaching the emphasis seems to be on Gehenna

as a place of judgement for body and soul with eternal as a place of judgement for body and soul with eternal

consequences. consequences.

Gehenna - 3Gehenna - 3 Does this mean that people will be tormented for ever in Does this mean that people will be tormented for ever in

Gehenna, in what seems to be an excessively Gehenna, in what seems to be an excessively

disproportionate punishment for a finite lifetime of sinning!? disproportionate punishment for a finite lifetime of sinning!?

This seems to have been the commonest interpretation of This seems to have been the commonest interpretation of

Gehenna in history. But is it the correct way to understand Gehenna in history. But is it the correct way to understand

the model? What was Jesus getting at?the model? What was Jesus getting at?

Recently many scholars have pointed out that the traditional Recently many scholars have pointed out that the traditional

understanding of Gehenna as a model of eternal punishment understanding of Gehenna as a model of eternal punishment

is mistaken. Their reasoning is as follows:is mistaken. Their reasoning is as follows:

Gehenna - 4Gehenna - 4Consider these typical texts about Gehenna:Consider these typical texts about Gehenna:

““Fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” Fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” (Matthew 10:28)(Matthew 10:28)

““If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:47,48)die, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:47,48)

In the time of Jesus the valley of Gehenna was used as a In the time of Jesus the valley of Gehenna was used as a rubbish tip where material was burned continually and where rubbish tip where material was burned continually and where organic matter was biodegraded by worms and the like. Along organic matter was biodegraded by worms and the like. Along with the background of its use as a place of child sacrifice and as with the background of its use as a place of child sacrifice and as an image of hell after judgement it was a powerful model to use.an image of hell after judgement it was a powerful model to use.

Gehenna - 5Gehenna - 5 But what does the model intend to teach about the fate of those But what does the model intend to teach about the fate of those

who are judged and found wanting by God? We have to interpret who are judged and found wanting by God? We have to interpret the model. the model.

Consider these two alternative views of the soul:Consider these two alternative views of the soul:

[1] Once created by God your soul is immortal. This is a typically [1] Once created by God your soul is immortal. This is a typically Greek philosophical view. This would mean that the action of the fire Greek philosophical view. This would mean that the action of the fire and the worms would be an eternally enduring reality. Presumably and the worms would be an eternally enduring reality. Presumably you would be conscious of your never ending punishment. Tortured you would be conscious of your never ending punishment. Tortured for eternity.for eternity.

[2] The soul has conditional immortality. God can choose for you to [2] The soul has conditional immortality. God can choose for you to live on for ever or to be destroyed. The image of Gehenna is best live on for ever or to be destroyed. The image of Gehenna is best understood as one of final destruction. Rubbish on the tip returns to understood as one of final destruction. Rubbish on the tip returns to dust. Jesus is speaking of the final fate of the enemies of God as one dust. Jesus is speaking of the final fate of the enemies of God as one of destruction, of annihilation.of destruction, of annihilation.

Gehenna - 6Gehenna - 6

All models have positive, negative and neutral features. All models have positive, negative and neutral features. They are like the reality they try to depict in some ways but They are like the reality they try to depict in some ways but not in others. not in others.

Perhaps by latching on to the (wrong?) understanding of Perhaps by latching on to the (wrong?) understanding of souls as being necessarily eternal, interpreters of Jesus’ souls as being necessarily eternal, interpreters of Jesus’ model have misunderstood him. A consequence has been model have misunderstood him. A consequence has been to sharpen the problem of how God can justly punish to sharpen the problem of how God can justly punish people for eternity in response to finite sinning. people for eternity in response to finite sinning.

Other theologians have suggested that to understand the Other theologians have suggested that to understand the model, you need to see it as a temporary punishment and model, you need to see it as a temporary punishment and purging to prepare everyone for heaven. Is this what Mark purging to prepare everyone for heaven. Is this what Mark 9:49 is about? “Everyone will be salted with fire.”9:49 is about? “Everyone will be salted with fire.”

Gehenna - 7Gehenna - 7

One model: Gehenna. Three interpretations depending on what One model: Gehenna. Three interpretations depending on what you believe about other matters such as the nature of the soul. you believe about other matters such as the nature of the soul. Models and theories form a complex nexus of beliefs and it is Models and theories form a complex nexus of beliefs and it is almost impossible in theology and in science for one idea to be almost impossible in theology and in science for one idea to be understood in isolation from the rest of the content of the understood in isolation from the rest of the content of the discipline.discipline.

GehennaFire & Worms

ETERNAL CONSCIOUSLY ENDURED PUNISHMENT

ANNIHILATION

TEMPORARY PURGINGPRIOR TO HEAVEN FOR ALL

FINFIN