ORIGIN OF “HELL” TORMENT TEACHING

The idea of a “hell” of torment stems from ancient Babylon. It is found also among the religious teachings of ancient Persia and Phoenicia. The Encyclopedia Americana (1956 ed., Vol. 14, p. 82) says:
“While there are many and significant variations of detail the main features of hell as conceived by Hindu, Persian, Egyptian, Grecian, Hebrew and Christian theologians are essentially the same.”

Though most religions of history have taught that there is a fiery “hell,” their teachings have differed as to its purpose. Says the Encyclopædia Britannica (1971 ed., Vol. 11, p. 320):
“The Roman Catholic Church teaches that hell is a state of punishment for those who die unrepentant in grave sin. Hell will last forever; its suffering will have no end. . . . The traditional Protestant teaching on hell remained until modern times substantially the same as Catholic doctrine and is still held by many conservative Protestant groups.”
On the other hand, Hindus and Buddhists teach that hell is a place of purification, akin to the Catholic “purgatory,” and that a person who goes there may have a rebirth, though rarely as a human, after his evil karma (deeds) have been burned up.(This is belief is similar to the Muslim believe that their faithfuls too will experience hell torment)

Describing the Buddhist hells, the above edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica states:
“There are eight hot hells and eight cold hells plus the realm of the pretas (ghosts with small mouths and great stomachs who are tortured by hunger and thirst). A person is born in hell as a result of the ‘ripening’ of his evil karma.”

The Contoversy

When did God create hell-fire? Is it before man creation or after? If it is before man creation is he a love God? If It is after man creation is there any evidence to support that? Which type of body will the sinners that will burn in hell have? Is it going to be physical or spirit body? If it is spirit body, can spirit body experience pain inflict by fire?,

Hell fire does exist. But as a symbolic place of destruction.

Hell fire exists only on the pages of religious texts.

Hell is it a place of fire? Let remove the word fire then hell will just be ordinary grave.