How does one get over one's fear of h**l?

Question

I am an atheist, but I used to be a Christian. Sometimes in the back of my mind I think: What if Christianity is right; then am I going to h**l? How do I get over this sort of silly thinking?

Answer 1

If you think about it, you can figure out for yourself why you are not afraid of the big bad wolf, you can figure out why you shouldn't be afraid of any h**l.

Answer 2

If you're a rational person, Christianity and all of it's consistancies cannot possibly be right.

You're safe.  

Answer 3

Go to the dentist. You'll forget h**l.

Besides, there's no reason to fear the Biblical h**l.

Job (in Job 14:13) prayed to be hidden in h**l. Why?

Because, in the Old Testament the Hebrew word "sheol" (generally translated "h**l") is described as an unconscious sleep-like state:

Job 14:10-13

Psalm 6:5

Psalm 13:3

Psalm 115:17

Psalm 146:4

Ecclesiastes 3:19,20

Ecclesiastes 9:5-10

Isaiah 38:17-19

Daniel 13:13

In the New Testament the Greek word "hades" (also generally translated "h**l") is also described as an unconscious sleep-like state:

John 11:11-14

Acts 2:29

Acts 2:34

Acts 7:60

Acts 13:36

1 Corinthians 7:39 [Greek]

1 Corinthians 15:6

1 Corinthians 15:51

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Moreover, the idea of torment in the New Testament is the result of people being unfamiliarity with the Old Testament.

For example where Jesus describes "Gehenna" (generally translated "hellfire") at Mark 9:47-48, both his original audience and the early readers of the New Testament would have recognized the reference Jesus was making.

They were familiar with this quote from the last verse in Isaiah. They knew what it talked about; not people being tormented; but rather about dead carcasses being consumed by fires.

Others cite the "parable" of Rich man and Lazarus, as proof of hellfire and torment. Luke 16:19-31. To do this, they deny that this is a parable. They claim it is literal.

However, in Luke 8:10, Jesus clearly told his disciples that he spoke openly ONLY to them, "but to the rest in parables."

So, to whom was Jesus speaking here? In Luke 16:14 we are told: "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things."

Therefore, either this is a parable (and should be taken as such), or else Jesus lied to his disciples.

Even in Middle English verb "to h**l" does not mean "to cook" it means "to bury" In turn, h**l comes from the Old English word "helan" that means to "conceal" or to hide."

Answer 4

Do some research.  "h**l" is Gehenna, which is now a park in Israel.  Look it up.

Answer 5

if ur afraid of that then ur not sure about ur decision to be an atheist, so think well about what you truly believe and when u do, and do what u think is right u'll get over that fear.

Answer 6

Lot's of interesting answers here, some good advice, some bad. There are some churches with a healthy spiritual tradition, who can explain the symbolism of the Bible without resorting to fear tactics. You might try one of them as a social outlet (fellowship), and for spiritual guidance. Or, a Buddhist or Sufi congregation. The way to discern a healthy-minded group is that they make people welcome from all walks of life, and do not condemn anyone.

Answer 7

You are atheist, you are not supposed to believe in Heaven/h**l.  Maybe you are second guessing yourself, are you sure you don't believe in God?

Answer 8

Not silly at all.  If you live your life for Christ you learn to trust him more and more and the fear is replaced with trust and longing for our true home.  I still have times when I worry, but they have become farther apart.  So, bottom line.  You live your life for Christ trusting in him and when you die nothing!  So what you still lived a great life.  But, living a "good life" without God smug in your superior logic you die and find your self staring at God knowing full well your name is not in the book of life.  

Answer 9

Time?

You haven't completely lost the fears of your indoctrination.  

And, you're not really an atheist.  

Atheists don't fear h**l.

Answer 10

i am a fellow atheist and believe the concept of heaven and h**l to be completely ridiculous.  First of all, if your "soul" goes somewhere after death then it won't be able to feel pain because there is no brain or body, and "you" wouldn't have any awareness or thoughts for the same reason.  The whole idea that there is a god and places for us to go after death make humans out to be some amazing race that are different from animals, when in reality we are just evolved monkeys and nothing more...

Answer 11

Why take the chance? If you think that there MIGHT be a h**l, maybe you should get right with GOD.  

Answer 12

You need to get back to believing in God.

h**l is real so you better repent and live

for God.

Answer 13

I remember that phase, it will pass.

(I sat myself down & reminded myself how absurd the bible was. Bible's  nonsense + god/demons/angels are nonsense = no h**l) I've been h**l-fear free ever since.

Answer 14

This worked for me, which I discovered by accident. Run this mantra in your head, over and over again, hundreds of times: "I am going to burn in h**l." Do this while out in public, such as on a city street. Notice the odd looks people give you, as though they are thinking "whatever that guy is thinking, it must be ridiculous."

I'm not an atheist, but for me, it was a major break with the past to come to the rational conclusion that J.C. is nothing more than a legendary person.

Answer 15

First of all, most Christians, except the very zealous ones, would not say you are going to h**l for deciding to be atheist.  Secondly, I think you are probably only agnostic, not atheist (not that it really matters, but most people are really agnostic even if they claim to be atheist).  Secondly, think rationally about this.  Even if God does exist, does it make sense that all All Might, Powerful, All Loving and Forgiving God really cares what religion (if any) you profess?  Wouldn't that god care more than you treated people well?  and respected the earth and its creatures?  God should be above pettiness, right?  What is more petty than an omnipotent being saying 'I am condemning to eternal punishment all souls who did not follow this or that particular spiritual path'?  If He is the god of all than isn't he the god of all religions and even the god of those who don't profess a religion?

Answer 16

I don't think you do. If I were you I would be very afraid. I read a book called "To h**l and Back" these people didn't think h**l existed either, but now they do.

  

Luke 12:5  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into h**l. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Answer 17

truth  their  is a god, their is a h**l, become a chritain again, and go to  heaven and this cuts out the bottome place h**l

Answer 18

Think: if I am going to go to h**l, I might as well live my life to the fullest NOW!

that's what I do

a church actually told me I was going to h**l ... and it gives me all the more reason to LIVE

it's good motivation.

Answer 19

Accept the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, that will keep you out of h**l and Jesus will give you peace that surpasses all understanding.............Were you really a christian or a church goer?  True born again believers will not leave Jesus.

Answer 20

Think of Pastafarian's h**l...

volcano beers? and live strippers???

Answer 21

sounds like you need to do some soul searching.if you are thinking that in the back of your mind then you look at whether or not thats what you truely believe.then when you figure it out,youll know you are either going to heaven or h**l.

Answer 22

don't. use it to fuel your return to faith. Christianity is right. best way to stop fearing h**l...read the bible and its incredibly comforting message of hope and salvation. Trust in Christ.

Answer 23

If I were you, I would read the Bible anew and I would start my study with 1 John chapter 4. And try a few of the modern language translations, not the KJV. Thanks for asking.

Answer 24

If you were once saved, you would still be saved so if you really are an atheist then you were never saved.  Trust Christ, for he conquered fear, death, h**l and the grave and HE did it for you.

Answer 25

I do not fear h**l for myself because I have accepted what Jesus did on the cross for me. God is a holy God and He can not look upon sin. and I am a sinner because my father adam sinned. Adam sinned and He passed that sin nature on to me...and you. you are a sinner too. but Jesus knew that we could not be a Christian without someone to go between us and God. so Jesus died a perfect sacrifice for you.

I am a Christian because I was saved. I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. the fear of h**l has been wiped away for me. it can be for you too.

Answer 26

You could start by learning what the Bible really teaches about h**l -- it is only a virtual place, books or records if you like.

Look at my homepage (address at profile) BB2 section, subjects "Sheol and judgment" or "What is the condition of the dead . . ."

Then you'll see that any eternal punishment is oblivion, erasure, destruction -- much like any 'good' atheist would believe death is.

Of course, you might also come to realize that the price of eternal life is righteousness, doing good to others (what many non-Christian believe already) that and believing that God rewards those who serve him and believe in his son.  A bargain indeed.

Answer 27

This sounds like a hangover from Pascal's Gambit...If you are truly convinced there is no God, you should not fear what happens if you figure wrong.  If your convictions are not strong enough to look beyond their consequences, no matter how illogical, you need to re-examine your resolve.

In short, if you're too afraid to disavow h**l, God's is still messing with your head.  Dump the whole load of baggage and live your life...

Answer 28

Maybe you aren't ready to be an atheist.  

Answer 29

ok im not going to talk about whats right, i am christian and i think that if you are afraid of h**l then you know in your mind that you think being atheist is wrong, im not saying it is wrong, but you have to either face your fear, or become christian, or actually you dont even have to become christian just as long as you know in your mind. that theres a god. and then you wont have the fear of h**l anymore.

Answer 30

Don't worry about it Bill- Billions before you have entered there and NONE are burning. People who don't understand scripture hope to scare people into worshiping the God of the Bible- like he Really needs us to Worship him? He wants people to Worship him out of Love- not fear.

  This " Burning" Dogma was struck down by the God of the Bible.Jehovah told his prophet Jeremiah: “They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart.” (Jer. 7:31) If the abominable practice of child sacrifice was something that could never have been conceived by the God of love, how could he possibly conceive of eternal torment for humans who violate his laws?

No wonder Jesus said of the Religious Teachers in his day and that extends into our day as well “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14)

Answer 31

You are just honest with yourself.