Mehr Licht
Ave Sophia
For a long time I've found this one of the more problematic teachings at least in the manner it was commonly presented to me. Always felt more attraction to say Buddhist understandings of hell rather than the common mainstream "God hates evil people so he decides to torture them for all eternity" conception of that state. Eventually through the writings of Jacob Boehme , Isaac the Syrian , Origen, and Clement of Alexandria I've come to an understanding that makes a little more sense to me. Each of them touched on a different aspect of the reality and their understandings seemed a little more reasonable than the common description.
So, in this conception heaven and hell are realities that we participate in here on earth all ready. After we die we simply take one or the other with us. The seed of heaven or hell grows to maturity and we experience it outwardly after death as if the soul were turned inside out.
In Isaac's view the hell we can experience after death is the bitter remorse brought on by being in the presence of the Light. Love is offered to all . Isaac of Syria also goes on to teach that hell is not everlasting but more like a purgatory of sorts and that even the devil and the demons will eventual be restored.
Origen and Clement of Alexandria also viewed hell more as a purgatory. Clement called the fire of hell a "wise flame" that purify people of the dross of sin. Origen looked forward to the restoration of all things or apokatastasis when God will be all in all and hell will be no more. I don't have any quotes from them on hand but maybe I'll come back and post em later.
How does hell work in you Abrahamic tradition?
The student said: "Does the soul not go into heaven or hell just as a man goes into a house or as a man goes through a hole into another world? The master replied: 'No there is no entrance in such a way for heaven and hell are present everywhere. There is only the changing of the will either into God's love or into wrath. This takes place in the time of the body- as Saint Paul says, Our walk is in heaven (Philippians 2:20)
Jacob Boehme
Jacob Boehme
Those who are tormented in hell are tormented by the invasion of love. What is there more bitter and violent than the pains of love? Those who feel they have sinned against love bear in themselves a damnation much heavier than the most dreaded punishments. The suffering with which sinning against love afflicts the heart is more keenly felt than any other torment. It is absurd to assume that the sinners in hell are deprived of Gods love. Love is offered impartially. But by its very power it acts in two ways. It torments sinners, as happens here on earth when we are tormented by the presence of a friend to whom we have been unfaithful. And it gives joy to those who have been faithful. That is what the torment of hell is in my opinion: remorse. But love inebriates the souls of the sons and daughters of heaven by its delectability..
Isaac of Syria
Isaac of Syria
Origen and Clement of Alexandria also viewed hell more as a purgatory. Clement called the fire of hell a "wise flame" that purify people of the dross of sin. Origen looked forward to the restoration of all things or apokatastasis when God will be all in all and hell will be no more. I don't have any quotes from them on hand but maybe I'll come back and post em later.
How does hell work in you Abrahamic tradition?