How and Why did Hell become a Place of Punishment?

[Sunstone]

The notion that souls or spirits go to some more or less dismal place after death does not seem to have always been associated with punishment for wickedness or disbelief. The Greek concept of Hades, for instance, was originally of a place that everyone goes to, regardless of how virtuous a life they led. The same is true of the twelve hells of the Aztecs. In fact, it seems to me largely a Christian and Muslim notion that hell is a place of punishment.

But how and why did the Christians and Muslims turn hell into a place of punishment? What was the motive? Who benefited from it?

 

[Glaurung]

The Greek concept of Hades, for instance, was originally of a place that everyone goes to, regardless of how virtuous a life they led.

The wicked according to both Greeks and Romans were punished in Tartarus.
Tartarus - Wikipedia

But how and why did the Christians and Muslims turn hell into a place of punishment? What was the motive? Who benefited from it?

Personally I believe that Hell is divine revelation, not something that was turned into anything, but overlooking that the idea that the wicked are punished in the afterlife does have a precedent in Hellenistic thought. It's not a matter of benefiting anyone, but rather reflects the basic human intuition that personal evil will eventually (in either this life or the next) be punished.

 

[Sunstone]

Wasn't the development of Tartarus as a place of torment or punishment for wicked people in general a rather late development?

 

[Glaurung]

Wasn't the development of Tartarus as a place of torment or punishment for wicked people in general a rather late development?

Only for the Greeks, the article implies nothing of the sort for the Romans. The more important point is that the idea of punishment in the afterlife is not a Christian/Islamic contrivance. The idea existed before Christianity. In brief, your premise is wrong.

 

[Sunstone]

Only for the Greeks, the the article implies nothing of the sort for the Romans. The more important point is the idea of punishment in the afterlife is not a Christian/Islamic contrivance. The idea existed before Christianity.

The idea may have existed before Christianity and Islam, but the scale of it seems to have been modest compared to its scale in Christianity and Islam. At any rate, why did Christianity and Islam adopt/invent it? Nothing was forcing them to do so, was there?

 

[Serpent Child]

Wasn't 'Hell' stolen from 'Hel' [Norse Paganism]?

 

[Glaurung]

The idea may have existed before Christianity and Islam, but the scale of it seems to have been modest compared to its scale in Christianity and Islam.

The Hindu tradition also describes various levels of Hell, as do the Buddhists. It's not an "Abrahamic invention". I'd say it's a basic human impulse that evil ought to be punished.
Naraka (Hinduism) - Wikipedia

Spoiler: Hell in Hinduism

Naraka (Sanskrit: नरक) is the Hindu equivalent of Hell, where sinners are tormented after death.[1] It is also the abode of Yama, the god of Death. It is described as located in the south of the universe and beneath the earth.

The number and names of hells, as well as the type of sinners sent to a particular hell, varies from text to text; however, many scriptures describe 28 hells.[1] After death, messengers of Yama called Yamadutas bring all beings to the court of Yama, where he weighs the virtues and the vices of the being and passes a judgement, sending the virtuous to Svarga (heaven) and the sinners to one of the hells. The stay in Svarga or Naraka is generally described as temporary. After the quantum of punishment is over, the souls are reborn as lower or higher beings as per their merits.[1] In a few texts, hell is described as a bottomless pit of darkness where souls are trapped for eternity and deprived of rebirth.

At any rate, why did Christianity and Islam adopt/invent it? Nothing was forcing them to do so, was there?

They adopted it, because they believed it to be the truth. It seems to me you're trying to imply a conspiracy. The doctrine is a simple extension of one basic premise, that sin (personal evil) has a price. The Dharmic, Hellenistic and Zoroastrian traditions all have a notion of divine retribution, it's not something Christians made up or "extended" for nefarious ends.

 

[Deeje]

The Bible does not teach that humans HAVE souls...it teaches that humans ARE souls. There is no spiritual part of humans that goes on living after death. That means that "hell" is an invention of a vivid imagination. But whose?

How many people are put off Christianity by the teaching that those who fail to acknowledge Christ will be forever punished in the flames of hell? God's adversary is responsible for this lie, just as he was responsible for the idea that humans go on living after death....he told the woman she would not die....God told her he would. Who lied? (John 8:44)

 

[Glaurung]

The Bible does not teach that humans HAVE souls...it teaches that humans ARE souls. There is no spiritual part of humans that goes on living after death. That means that "hell" is an invention of a vivid imagination. But whose?

You know, you could be a little more honest and preface that by "teachings of the Bible" you mean the teachings of your own chosen sect.

 

[Kemosloby]

Christianity says everybody goes to hell but only some stay there, more or less. It doesn't really say it is a place of punishment, it is described as a place where both your body and soul are destroyed. The first death destroys the body, the second death destroys the soul. Something like that...

 

[Deeje]

You know, you could be a little more honest and preface that by "teachings of the Bible" you mean the teachings of your own chosen sect.

It is the teaching of the Bible as distinct from the teachings of Christendom. The "soul" is the person, not something that merely drives a body. Adam was not given a soul...he "became" one when God started him breathing. Without breath, (spirit) a soul dies. Souls are mortal. (Ezekiel 18:4)

 

[JJ50]

Hell and heaven are figments of the overactive human imagination, imo.

 

[Deeje]

Christianity says everybody goes to hell but only some stay there, more or less. It doesn't really say it is a place of punishment, it is described as a place where both your body and soul are destroyed. The first death destroys the body, the second death destroys the soul. Something like that...

That is true. Everyone goes to hell (sheol, hades) It is merely the common grave. No one is alive in that state. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) Once the spirit of life is gone (breathing stops) all consciousness ceases. (Psalm 146:4)

The other "Hell" is gehenna...."the lake of fire", or the second death, a place from where no one returns. If one is in sheol, God can resurrect them, but if they are in gehenna, that means eternal death....not eternal conscious punishment.

 

[wizanda]

But how and why did the Christians and Muslims turn hell into a place of punishment?

As other posters have stated, it isn't only Abrahamic religions; Dharmic religions have Naraka...

Personally find the descriptions of Hell, Sheol, Hades, Naraka, the same in many cultures, it is a dark underworld, a place of lost souls...

Having had a NDE, can validate that is true based on my own experience; it is a dark dimension of lower dense vibration consciousness.

The suffering down there isn't because of external punishment, it is all self loathing, and regrets, of having not realized Oneness within this existence; then due to being faced with the separation they've chosen, it becomes a torture until they repent of their own malicious behavior.

Admittingly both Christianity, and Islam have comprehension issues within their texts; that Gehenna (Here) has been encompassed with Sheol (Grave)...

Bor (pit/abyss) isn't even recognized by most Abrahamic religions, as a the Jews don't understand their own texts.

So when we look at where eternal punishment is placed, it is the lake of fire that exists within the Messianic age; it is the fire that emanates from God, at the time of judgement for many...

There might be a place like Tartarus below Hades; yet since i've not been there, as it is only for those to be destroyed from reality, can't really answer on it.

 

[Fool]

The notion that souls or spirits go to some more or less dismal place after death does not seem to have always been associated with punishment for wickedness or disbelief. The Greek concept of Hades, for instance, was originally of a place that everyone goes to, regardless of how virtuous a life they led. The same is true of the twelve hells of the Aztecs. In fact, it seems to me largely a Christian and Muslim notion that hell is a place of punishment.

But how and why did the Christians and Muslims turn hell into a place of punishment? What was the motive? Who benefited from it?

it would seem that the underlying cause is loss of control; especially when one is trying to control another because self feels powerless. that is what rape, assault, power struggles, conflicts, punishment, is always about control issues with others, or within self. its the knowledge of good and evil.

When christianity became the official roman religion of state, it may have been associated with punishment against disbelievers? One wonders if you haven't intuitively grasped the effect of the crusades.

you can't control another because of their mental state. they have to question their own reality.

love doesn't create those scenarios.

 

[Kemosloby]

That is true. Everyone goes to hell (sheol, hades) It is merely the common grave. No one is alive in that state. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) Once the spirit of life is gone (breathing stops) all consciousness ceases. (Psalm 146:4)

The other "Hell" is gehenna...."the lake of fire", or the second death, a place from where no one returns. If one is in sheol, God can resurrect them, but if they are in gehenna, that means eternal death....not eternal conscious punishment.

I don't believe Psalms is saying all consciousness ceases. It could be interpreted another way which fits better in the context of the discussion about kings and princes being able to save a man. When they are dead all their plans (thoughts) come to nothing and they are as helpless as anybody else to save anyone.

Psalm 146:4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Their spirit departs to hell where they sleep until the judgement day. Like Jesus said, "He's not dead, He's sleeping"

 

[Kenny]

The idea may have existed before Christianity and Islam, but the scale of it seems to have been modest compared to its scale in Christianity and Islam. At any rate, why did Christianity and Islam adopt/invent it? Nothing was forcing them to do so, was there?

My understanding is that it was created for Satan and His minions (according to Christianity) and wasn't meant to be for people.

 

[Kenny]

The Bible does not teach that humans HAVE souls...it teaches that humans ARE souls. There is no spiritual part of humans that goes on living after death. That means that "hell" is an invention of a vivid imagination. But whose?

Who lied?

You?

 

[Desert Snake]

My understanding is that it was created for Satan and His minions (according to Christianity) and wasn't meant to be for people.

That didn't work out, did it.

 

[eldios]

The notion that souls or spirits go to some more or less dismal place after death does not seem to have always been associated with punishment for wickedness or disbelief. The Greek concept of Hades, for instance, was originally of a place that everyone goes to, regardless of how virtuous a life they led. The same is true of the twelve hells of the Aztecs. In fact, it seems to me largely a Christian and Muslim notion that hell is a place of punishment.

But how and why did the Christians and Muslims turn hell into a place of punishment? What was the motive? Who benefited from it?

To scare people into believing the imaginary gods they believe in.