Monday, August 26, 2013

Hell

Is there such thing as a place called Hell? If so, what does it look like? If not, why not? Why do some people believe in Hell and others do not?  

145 comments:

  1. No,no person can definitely say there is a Hell without solid proof, which does not exist. Many people believe in Hell because it a basis on which the principles of many religions rely on; meaning that people follow the principles of that religion to avoid going to Hell. It can be viewed as a punishment for not living your life correctly according to your beliefs/religion.

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    1. I agree with what you have posted, I can't certainly believe in Hell because I don't have proof.

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  2. I personally don't believe in a place called Hell. I don't believe in Hell because it isn't a place that you can actually go to and visit and confirm that it is real. Many people believe in Hell because it is a part of their religion. Others who don't believe in Hell either are not very religious or are a part of a religion that just doesn't believe in Hell/Heaven like Judaism. According to different texts, TV shows, movies etc. Hell is where the Devil lives and is part of the "underworld", it is basically a fiery pit. Many people believe that the purpose of Hell is a place where the sinners go after death, although different religions have different takes on why someone goes to Hell, Hell is basically for people who did bad things.

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    1. Makes sense i'm Jewish. But i think super religious people can still not believe in Hell, it can be a personal choice as well.

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  3. I believe there is a place named Hell. Some people view hell as a place of fire and chaos, some view the place as a very cold and rocky cavern. I imagine hell to be a place that is mostly pitch black dark, and full of screams of tortured and lost souls. It could contain an inferno or lava pit somewhere in the depths of it all. Some people believe in Hell because they have seen it after coming back from the dead. Some because they are in a religion and are taught to believe in a Heaven and a Hell with Angels, God, Demons, and Satan. However, some people do NOT believe in the concept of hell simply because they do not want to or use science to break apart certain aspects of religion to try and disprove hell's existence; these people go by the names of Athiests, or other pro-science-anti-God-anti-religion-ideal groups. This topic is still something most people have controversies over to this day, and is an open topic to discussed upon further.

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    1. Well if they can't really see Hell if they "came back to life" because they weren't actually dead. So what they saw where visions in their mind related to death and the afterlife, but not what the afterlife is actually like. I agree that Hell is different as from the views of each and every person, and that some believe that Hell does not exist.

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  4. I believe that hell is not real. It was a place created by people's subconscious to keep one in line with his/her morality.Religion is another major factor as beliefs and customs are always exaggerated creating the image of a fiery demonic place(hell). People belief in hell out of fear that it could exist. Although its existence cannot be proven the notion that hell does not exist cannot be proven as well. Thus as a result, many tend to stay on the cautious side assuming that there is something of higher authority that punishes them for their actions. I feel that hell was also created by society as a way to protect themselves, and their liberty. In a world of anarchy, there are only morals to govern one form committing a sin. Thus, as a result beliefs such as hell and god aid in the protection of the weak and those who fear instability in a state of nature.

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    1. I completely agree with you. People may teach their kids that Hell exists while they are still at a young age to teach them to be good and build their beliefs around strong morals.

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    2. I agree with you, but I think that it is weird that we still have Hell, when we do have a higher authority in the present: the government. They can catch us when we do bad things, they will send us to prison if we break the law. Yet religions still emphasize Hell, even though we have a real thing to be scared of. But I guess it is just tradition.

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    3. Maybe belief in God and heaven comes from something subconscious. But belief in hell is an explicit word-of-mouth doctrine. In all the ways that religion is natural, hell is artificial. In all the ways that religion looks out to the cosmos, hell blindfolds. In all the ways that religion is ancient wisdom, hell is modern claptrap.

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  5. I believe that there is such a place called Hell. I believe it is the nightmares in one's mind. Hell has no set look since it is infinite because people have infinite nightmares and angers and hates. Hell is whatever horrors people think is in Hell, it is the compilation of all negative emotion. Some people believe that the Hell of catholism and religions does not exist and thus Hell does not exist, but it just depends on whatever people think the definition of Hell is.

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    1. You raise a good point Jarrett! I didn't think of Hell as anything but a place, but your definition of Hell is a different view. Though I originally said I don't believe that Hell exists, I believe that Hell as defined by you exists and plagues everybody.

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    2. This is an interesting point. I think this is a valid and interesting definition of Hell, not as a place that actually exists but simply the manifestation of all of someone's horrors, the least ideal place. For this definition, I agree that everyone does have a hell, and following this, everyone also have their own heaven. What someone's hell is, is reflective on their ideals, as well as what someone's heaven is reflective on their desires.

      -Vadim Pelyushenko

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  6. Some people, mostly those who do believe in some form of a God, believe in Heaven and Hell. Hell is supposed to serve as a negative, threatening place, to show people the consequences of doing bad things in their lives. If Hell were to exist, it would be a scary, unhappy, and depressing place, said to be far below the Earth's surface. Some people do not believe in Hell because there is no proof of this "underworld." Some people do not believe in Hell because it is not part of their religious beliefs, for example, Egyptians believe in the next life.

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    1. I agree with your view on what Hell looks like! I also agree with what you think people's view are on Hell. But the question is if you do believe in Hell or not.

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    2. I am a religious person, and I definitely believe in Heaven and Hell and how God can help you when life gets hard. But from the point of view of a student that likes Biology and wants to know about how the world started and everything being based on logical facts, it makes me doubt the religious theories about the world, mostly because there is no proof.

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    3. I agree with your idea and depiction on Hell. I like how you mentioned that Hell serves as a "threatening place, to show people the consequences of doing bad things in their lives" and gave an example on the Egyptians and their beliefs.

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  7. No I don't think hell exists because hell is created from certain religions. Hell is created to punish those who do not follow the rules of a religion. In addition, I think that hell is created to scare believers of a certain religion. For instance, if one does not follow the rules/beliefs of a religion, one will be punished for life. Hell is created to instill fear in people who believe in a certain religion. It is created to scare believers to make sure that they live their lives correctly according to their beliefs. People are entitled to their own opinions and in my opinion hell does not exist. I feel like people believe in hell because they want to believe that heaven exists. They think that if heaven exists then hell must exist. People believe that heaven exists because they want to feel like they have somewhere to go to if they die. They want to know what happens after they die. Death is a scary event, thus, they want to feel secure and they want to feel like heaven exists. Because people believe in heaven they believe in hell. They believe in hell because they feel like people that do not follow their religion or their beliefs should be punished. All in all, people share different beliefs and I think that hell does not exist.

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    1. I agree with your view that Hell does not exist and that its purpose was to scare people into following certain rules and laws. I also agree that people are scared of death and want to believe that they go somewhere when they die. I would also like to mention that the topic of Hell cannot be proved or disproved, so it is an arguable topic.

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  8. No, I can't honestly say that I believe in Hell because I am not religious. As Jake said, there is no solid proof on the existence of Hell and there probably never will be any proof that Hell exists. Though the existence of Hell is, in my mind, not a possibility, I won't go around telling people that they're wrong. People are allowed to believe whatever they choose, and for this reason some people believe in Hell while others do not. If it does exist, then I'm wrong, but until the moment when the existence of Hell is proven, I will continue to believe that Hell does not exist.

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  9. Hell is an imaginary, mythological place that we are introduced to via many novels, and the Christian Bible. People often make references to hell in order to label things or places that they detest. In Christianity, Hell is portrayed as a place of eternal torture and punishment and place that people go if they were not to ascend to heaven after they die. Hell is also illustrated in many novels as an underground place with inferno with the devil residing at the centerpiece. Some people believe in Hell mainly due to their Christian beliefs or maybe due to paranoia of their afterlife. Others choose not to believe mainly because this idea of Hell conflicts with their core beliefs. Either way, people are entitled to hold their own beliefs and how they view Hell.

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  11. I don't really believe there is such a place as hell. I imagine if there was a hell, it would be fiery and hot, with lots of red everywhere. There is no hell because it is just a place that some religions like to believe people will go when they do something bad or sinful in life. I believe that if people do something wrong in their life, that's all that will happen; no one will end up going to hell for their wrongdoings. Some people believe in hell because it is apart of their religious beliefs, like Christians. Others do not believe in hell because maybe they don't have those religious beliefs or they are atheist. Believing in hell could be a good thing if it keeps people from harming others and doing bad things in life.

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  12. There is no such thing as Hell, it was created in Ancient times to scare people into not doing bad things. Back then, when the government was not strong enough to enforce rules, people turned to religion to keep the streets safe, and to give people morals. Hell would be an eternal punishment for living a bad life, and it would convince people to not go around killing people. Nowadays, the notion of Hell is not emphasized as much because we have a stronger government, able to keep the streets safer. And we also have a real punishment, that everyone believes in: prison. It was made to look as scary as possible, but generally a lot of fire, and people suffering, people getting stabbed, etc. Some people believe in Hell because that is part of their religion, and they believe if that they do good, they will be sent to what the opposite of Hell is in their religions: Heaven. Other people do not believe it because their religion does not include it, or that they do not believe in religion. Some of these people don't follow a religion of scientific evidence, others don't believe in religion because they feel that they do not need a bible to make their moral compass, and that they already have their own morals. For them, they do not need some "fake" idea of eternal damnation to scare them into making the right choices.

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    1. I don't believe in a place called hell. Your ideas are very similar to my points. I feel like hell is created to scare people to make sure that they follow certain guidelines and beliefs. In addition, I feel like people believe in hell because they believe in heaven. All in all, the points you made in your paragraph are great.

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    2. I agree with you on your position about Hell. Your post was very thorough on why people believed in Hell, the reasons for Hell's existence, and how Hell is effected in modern day life.

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  13. I don't believe in Hell because there is no proof that it exists. I know that there are people who commit sins and that they deserve to be punished, but it's not like they ever came back from the dead and told us they were in Hell. I don't think there is an afterlife because the present life is more important than a life after death (and I don't want there to be an afterlife so I'd rather just not believe in it). Some people believe in Hell because their religion teaches them that their actions in life will affect their fates after death.

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  14. In my mind, there is such thing as a place called Hell. I think it looks like a dark prison, where people who go are slaving away doing who knows what. Although I don't know if it really exists, I believe that it exists to make myself feel better about the world. Thinking that people who do good and murderers go to the same place makes me feel uneasy, so having them separated is better. Some people believe in Heaven/Hell for religious reasons, but I'm not religious at all. It's just fun to think that Heaven exists so that when my friends and I die, we will be reunited. However, if I think Heaven exists, then there must be Hell. (My belief that Hell exists is purely for kicks, I won't argue with anyone about any religious because I know nothing about religion.)

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    1. Tiffany I like your take on this question. I guess it does make me feel better knowing people who do bad things will have consequences for their actions.

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    2. I think it is insightful how you believe in Heaven and Hell for motivation, as opposed to religion.

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    3. I hear that dark prisons are fun.

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    4. (Also don't you ever wish someone you hate "burns in Hell"? Yup, with my imagination they actually will. ;)"

      Just kidding. I don't hate anyone!

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  15. Some people may believe that there is a place called Hell but I don't. That's because I'm more Atheist than I am religious. In general, the majority of the people who believe in Hell are usually the people with religious beliefs. I don't believe that Hell exists currently, but I associate fire, dead things, the things from Greek stories with the place called "Hell". In my mind, Hell is depicted by what I learned from all the Greek stories and "myths".

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    1. I agree with you Renee, Hell is more of an abstract concept that may or may not exist. Associating fire, torture, and pain with hell is inevitable due to the stories and myths we have been told. I am also more Atheist than I am religious, which leads me to question the concept of hell and the fact that there is a higher power that ultimately determines our fate. The after-life is also a concept that is hard for me to believe in, due to the fact that it is also associated with hell and heaven.

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  17. I personally do not believe in Hell. I think that whether or not one believes in Hell depends entirely on ones faith, or lack thereof. In my case, I do not believe in Hell because I am not religious and see no definite proof of Hell's existence. However, for many people, Hell is a place where sinners are eternally punished. In many cultures, it is described as a fiery, sulfurous pit where the Devil subjects people to punishment for their sins.

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    1. Jessica, you have very nice and concrete thoughts on Hell. I also appreciate your use of sophisticated vocabulary. It is very interesting how you pointed out the description of Hell in other cultures, encouraging a global perspective on Hell.

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  18. I think most people perceive Hell to be some underground punishment for those who did something wrong or something against their beliefs. I don't think there is a place called Hell that exists. For me Hell or "going to hell" is more of an expression/saying that I use when there is someone doing something unacceptable. Some people believe in Hell because they're born into believing such place exists due to their religion and others don't because their mindset might be different.

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  19. According to the religious tradition, Hell is place of eternal torture and punishment afterlife. No one can prove that Hell exists. One can only figure out if there is such thing as a place called Hell after one dies. Therefore, no one can say if there is such place called Hell, unless someone comes back to life from death which is not possible. I think that imaginative place, Hell, is created by the religious people to make other people to believe in their religion. While some people believe in Hell because of their religion or culture, many do not because there is no proof that the place exists.

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    1. I agree with the point you bring up regarding how no one can prove that Hell exists. It isn't possible for someone to come back from the dead, so no one can positively say there is such a place called Hell. I also think that Hell is created by the different religions that people believe. But although a lot of religions believe in it, there is no definite proof.

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    2. I respectfully disagree with your stance. Various people have had a spiritual experience where they visit Hell and come back while physically being in a temporary state of death. Also, other people with near death experiences have also said that they have visited both Heaven and Hell. With so many different people saying that they have visited Hell and come back, this can be used as proof for Hell.

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    3. I agree that no one can 100% prove that Hell is real or not, but I do believe that there are some indications of its existence like David said of certain individuals who have apparently come from Hell and back. I don't believe with your standpoint that Hell was just created to bring people into their religion. It is specifically mentioned many times in the Bible and other religious books of its existence, so it can't possibly be "created" just for a better term, "fun's sake."

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    4. i agree eric nobody can prove that there is a hell

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  20. I think there is a place called Hell, which can be referred to with different names depending on religion. Although there is no definite description of Hell, some people describe it as a place that is scorching hot and painful to reside in, where corrupt souls go. Some also say that demons also reside in Hell, torturing the souls that are sent there. Overall, some people don't believe in Hell because there is no solid proof that there is a Hell, and some view it as a myth to scare people into behaving well. On the other hand, some people have had spiritual experiences who have gone to Hell and back, so they believe in Hell. Religious people also believe in Hell, where nonbelievers go when they die.

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    2. The statement that a majority of the people believe that Hell's sole purpose is to bring order is a popular belief for the non religious or skeptical (which is natural), but for those who do have religious beliefs have a different view of hell, as in they do not fear the idea of death and hell simply because hell is not a place they will go to after death, and because they know that their own friends may go to a supposed hell, they may want to try and convert others into the religion. But then the nonreligious see these people as aggressive or etc. and it ruins the idea of a religion.

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  21. I don't believe in hell. The concept of whether one's actions determine whether they go to hell or heaven in the after-life seems too black and white to me. It is more of an abstract term that can be interpreted in different ways. It is also a way to instill fear in others, making sure they do not stray too far in their lives on earth. I think some people believe in Hell and others do not because for some, it can be too restricting. Constantly being afraid for a terrible fate in the after-life is not an ideal mind set. But others think it is the most effective method to keep their lives on track. Many also believe in Hell due to their religion and the values constantly instilled in them from birth.































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    1. I think thats it's a very good point on how some people may not believe in hell since it is a bother to be aware of the consequences all the time. You make really good points on that. I agree with you on how the concept seems very black and white. I guess its almost silly that the Heaven and Hell that is portrayed in books and tv exists. Of course whether one chooses to believe in it, is a personal choice, and both sides have their own valid points on why they would, or would not believe in it. Good Job bringing those points into the light.

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  22. What is the guarantee that there is a heaven or hell? Is there any proof that people burn in hell? I believe that it is also possible that the good don't watch over us. It could just be that people have created these beliefs to overcome the loss of a dead one, believe that the bad people have atoned for their sins so that society and one's moral compass in balance. However there is no conclusive proof of the existence of hell, god, or supernatural beings.

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  23. I don't know if there is such a place as hell. I don't know what it looks like. It could look like anything. Classical literature, including Dante's Inferno, illustrates hell as a nine level destination for punishment of sinners for their sins after their death. Some people believe in hell because it is a part of their religion. Others do not believe in hell because they either adhere to another religion, atheism, agnosticism or there is exists a condition that prevents them from doing so.

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  24. According to many religions hell is an eternal realm where those who have sinned are sent to pay for their actions. Hell is typically viewed as a burning underground where those who have sinned are tortured for their sins. Personally, I believe hell was used as a scare tactic to promote good behavior. Some, like me do not believe in hell because there is no proof/evidence that it even exists. Yet most people believe in it not because they fear hell, but that they believe in something greater than themselves. Whether hell exists or not, DANTE'S AWESOME!

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    1. I agree! I am unable to believe in Hell because there is no evidence of its existence.

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  25. I don't think there is a Hell because although some people believe in Hell, there are also many people who follow religions that do not believe in Hell. It is a place described with negative connotations to encourage people to do good things in their life. To them, hell is a place for people who have sinned during their life. It is seen as a place with demons and punishment. However, for others, Hell is just a neutral place where the dead reside in the afterlife. For those who believe in Hell, there is also a Heaven. Many people believe in Hell and Heaven to find security about their afterlife. But this all results from the different religions that people believe, and if one religion believes in Hell and another one doesn't, then there is no definite answer of whether or not there is one. The idea of a place called Hell stems from different beliefs and religions, and each one sees Hell from a different perspective.

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  27. I don't believe that there is such a thing as hell as this belief is more for those who believe in the spiritual aspect of life. If it does exist however, it would most likely represent a place of grave consequences and pain for those who have sinned. Some people believe in Hell for the comfort of knowing that there will be consequences for whatever we do on earth. This belief was most likely created in order prevent too many wrongdoings, and ensure that people are aware of their actions. Also, some believe in hell because it defines the line between wrong and right, which is crucial for the society to run in an orderly manner.

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  28. 1. I personally believe there is a place called Hell.
    2. I think Hell looks aphotic, ghastly and feels excruciating.
    3. I think some people believe in Hell because they believe in consequences and the afterlife. I personally am not a strong believer in the afterlife, but I do believe that good demeanor will lead us to Heaven after we decease. Likewise, I believe bad demeanor will lead us to Hell after we die. Many of those who believe in Hell are religious and also believe in demons, angels, and God. I personally do not believe in demons nor angels, but I believe in God. I do not like to believe in negative things such as Hell, but I utilize Hell to remind myself to keep a positive attitude in life.

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    1. Yuri, I think you have very good points. Though we have contrasting views, I like how you use the concept of Hell to help you guide your actions in life.

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  29. I'm a Christian, so I do believe that Hell exist. My belief about Hell is a place where the most horrible punishments took place, but people who die still must cross this place for redemption. I also have a special unique thought that Slenderman resides here, which is why I sometimes call this place "the Gates of Abyss". In my thought, the souls of the dead warriors come here to seek redemption and change from the crimes of their past. Some people believe this place exist due to religious belief or custom, however others dont because they either dont care, or are atheists who believe they have scientific/mathematical proof that Hell doesnt exist.

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  30. I really like your last line, "If there is a Heaven, there is a Hell." It shows the clear separation between good and bad people and the consequences of their actions. But do you believe in, not only the concepts, but also the fact that your actions in life will determine where you end up? And if you believe in Heaven and Hell, do you believe there is some kind of higher power that created these places?

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  31. I don't believe in a place called Hell. I think that if there were a God, he wouldn't send any person to "Hell" because no matter what sins someone commits, there is always something positive about the person. Many people believe in Hell due to their religion. I think that many people believe in Hell (or Heaven) because they need an explanation of what happens when someone dies. I think that people also tend to believe in Hell because they want to assure themselves that criminals will be punished for their crimes. The truth is that nobody knows for sure what happens after death.

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    1. What's positive about Hitler.

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    2. But yes, I share what you think, I can't believe in something that isn't able to be proven.

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  32. I don't believe there's a place called Hell; I do, however believe there are repercussions for every action one makes in their lifetime. In this sense, I believe that if you die and have not experienced a form of punishment in this life, you will experience it in the next or wherever you go after death. The belief of a Hell stems from religion, or one's set of beliefs. Like mine, they believe there must be a form of punishment for wrong doing. However, unlike mine, their beliefs state that once you die, you are judged and that whether you are deemed "bad," decides your eternal fate in Hell or Heaven.

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  33. I believe that a place like hell exists where people enter after their death, but I do not believe in the notion of an underworld of nine circles of suffering. Because morality and the reasons for actions always differ, the line of ethics cannot be simply drawn where people are sent to either heaven or hell. Mainly people believe in Hell as a part of their religion, or as a thought that people will pay for their actions at the end of their life.

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    1. Very interesting view Chris. Since there cannot be a clear line drawn, does that mean that there can be multiple "levels" of hell?

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  34. I believe that there is a place called Hell. Due to my Christian background, I do believe that Hell exists and that it is the Devil's area. It is described in the Bible to be a fiery furnace that never dies. People that go to Hell are punished for eternity without any chance of leaving. People's screams resonate throughout Hell while devils and Satan's minions fly around Hell. Hell is supposed to be a place of fire and burning. According to my beliefs, people only go to Hell if they don't believe in the Savior Jesus Christ. So in Hell, it would not only be sinners but even people with good hearts can go if they don't believe. I think some people believe in Hell while others don't similar to people believing in God. Some people believe in life after death while some people think that such things are not scientific and can't be proven so such things can't exist. No matter the case, Hell is a highly debated topic that people will argue about its existence for ages to come.

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  35. I don't believe in hell because it is scientifically impossible for there to be such a place. Once someone dies, his or her body does not move to hell, and the soul doesn't go anywhere too. People may choose to believe in hell, and perhaps before they die, fear of all the things that are associated with hell like fire and suffering, but in the end, hell can just be their imagination. "Where is hell?" and "How do we get there?" are some questions that nobody knows the answer to, so I believe that for now, there is no evidence that hell exists.

    Some people may choose to believe in hell because they feel that humans will eventually feel the pain of all the sin they have committed and be punished. I am christian, and I believe there will be consequences for doing sinful things, but I still cannot wrap my head around the possibility of a place called hell.

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    1. Very interesting points you have.

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    2. Even though I may not (completely) agree with you, you do have some good points.

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    3. I also do not believe in Hell, but we cannot determine scientifically what actually happens after someone dies. Although there is no evidence for Hell, it is important to keep an open mind because many things have yet to be discovered. Even though science has answered many important questions of our generation, I do not believe it has the answers to what actually happens in the afterlife or if there even is one.

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  36. I believe that hell is a place absent of love, empathy, and kindness. It's a place where happiness is non-existent, and the souls that are there are subject to weeping and regret. Some people believe that hell is a place of fire, ashes, and burning sulfur, but I believe that its features are negligible compared to as what it lacks. I think a lot people believing in hell because they want people who have done bad things to pay for what they've done. Others do not believe in hell because it's not supported by science, and the whole prospect of it is by faith.

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    1. I agree with your statement jerry, hell does not love empathy or kindness.

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  37. I really don’t know if there is a place called hell or not. I personally think that it is ones choice whether he chooses to believe in it or not. I personally believe that you repent for all the bad things you do in this life and you start a new live again.

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    1. I also agree with you on the concept that you can repent for your sins but I don't think you start a new life, in the mortal sense.

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  38. I do not believe there is such a place called Hell. Although the concept of Hell is an important part of many religions as a place where sinful people go, the whole concept of the afterlife is very confusing to me. There are many different definitions of morality all across the world and many different cultural standards. What is the deciding factor for a person going to Heaven or Hell? Are we judged by what we think or what we actually do? These are all questions that contribute to my doubt in the afterlife. The reason people believe in Hell is that they have grown up with religion and their beliefs. It is impossible to scientifically determine whether Hell is real or not. The one thing we do know is that we do not know much about the afterlife.

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  39. I don't believe there is a place called Hell because I'm not religious and I believe that religion is unreal. I think people believe in hell is because they're religious or they just read too many books and the fantasy is caught up in their head, and the people who don't believe in hell just simply don't care.

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  40. I don't believe that Hell exists because I am an atheist who believes in reality. People believe in hell because they need a drive to make them act as a good person. Hell is not real because it was originally used to control people. I don't like being controlled by people but some people like to be controlled so they believe in hell and would believe that a scary place like hell can truly exist. When a majority of people in the United States believe in hell, then most people would believe in Hell so Hell can be used to change a person's perspective on life. People like to waste time on things, so they usually would waste time believing in religion and hell.

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  41. In my opinion I don't believe that there is a place called Hell. There are many people whose religion allows them to believe in Hell and some whose religion says that Hell doesn't exist. I think that the concept of Hell was created to prevent people from committing wrongful actions and to say that they would be sent to a place of eternal pain and suffering if they did commit these actions. Also there is no tangible proof of as to whether a place like Hell exists, there are a few number of people who have had near death experiences and have said that they have "seen Hell," or "seen Heaven," but how can we be sure?

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    1. I personally agree with your beliefs. Unfortunately we'll never know whether anything like an after world exists because we'd have to be, you know, dead.

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  42. I also believe that Hell is not a fun.

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  43. I respect that you can understand that some people believe and some don't believe in hell. You make very compelling arguments.

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  44. I do believe that there is a place called hell because I am Christian. I personally believe that hell is a place where people are tortured for doing unspeakable evil things in their mortal life. I think of it as a fiery place where Satan walks around torturing people. I believe that some people believe in hell because they are part of a religion where there is a concept of an afterlife. Usually if a religion has an afterlife, there is an equivalent of a hell that goes along with it. I think that some people don’t believe in hell because they think that after death nothing else happens.

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  45. I feel like there's no solid evidence or proof that really anything like Hell or Heaven exists. The idea of a Hell probably stemmed from religion, and since I'm not religious, I don't believe in Hell. Before the human race was as technologically and scientifically advanced, I think people used to look towards religion more as an explanation for certain things they could not explain. However, as humans continue to develop and learn more about the natural world around us through scientific means, I feel there's more evidence supporting that some aspects of certain religions aren't as valid anymore. Even though Hell seems like a great concept to keep people motivated to be better people in their lifetimes, I feel there's not enough supporting facts to prove its existence.

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    1. Very well said. You are entitled to your opinion!

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  46. Because I come from a Christian family, I was raised to believe in this abstract concept of hell. According to the Christian belief, those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and refuse to repent for their sins descend into hell, while those who seek God and ask Him for forgiveness ascend into heaven. I believe that hell and heaven exist, but I cannot even begin to imagine to complex nature of either. Hell is an unearthly place, and its existence is very difficult to prove. I can understand why some people do not believe in hell - it is difficult to grasp an idea that cannot be seen, touched, or heard. For the most part, people believe in hell because it falls into accord with their faith. Most religions are straightforward and constricted; followers are not supposed to pick and choose which aspects of the faith that they want to follow or believe. Religious individuals believe in hell simply because they are told to not question the faith. However, I believe that it is perfectly okay to question, and even challenge, certain elements of faith. Inquiry is a natural process and is ultimately essential to an individual determining what to believe in.

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  47. Yes, I think so, but not necessarily as a special place that people go after they die. I think that hell is just any place where the people there are suffering.

    Some people believe in hell and others do not because of the vast amount of different religious views. Because the traditional notion of Hell has to do with an afterlife, it is virtually impossible to prove of there is a Hell or not.

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    1. Then, what happens to people that die?
      Is there a real thing such as "hell on Earth?"

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  48. I do not believe there is a such a place called Hell. I believe Hell was created to give people a consequence for vices, and Heaven to give people an ultimate goal to work towards. Although there are good intentions behind these two ideas, I think people should learn to live as good people in the world we have proof of, and not completely focus their actions on an afterlife that may or may not exist. Even though this is my point of view now, I think all ideas come from some form of truth, so Heaven and Hell might exist somewhere, just maybe not specifically in the afterlife.

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    1. These are very interesting ideas, especially your point about the differences between the purpose of Heaven and Hell.

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    2. That was superb, Helen!!!!!!!!!!
      The points you make are insightful and I completely agree with you. Human nature is to always look for an incentive.

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    3. I agree with Anna! Your view on Hell and Heaven was quite interesting. I was caught off guard when you said all ideas come from some form of truth and how Heaven and Hell may be out there some where. I have never heard have that view point concerning Heaven and Hell.

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  49. I personally do not believe hell or any after life of any kind exists after life on Earth. I was formerly religious until I reasoned that scientific fact was more compelling evidence that made me believe that there may not be any kind of spiritual entity on this world. However, I can acknowledge that every person has their own religion and philosophy. As such, Hell is very real to them and serves as a sort of moral bolster. The idea of hell for some people is to represent an eternal punishment for sinners/criminals, so people are aware of what is good and bad. Hell may also serve as a purpose in life for other people or use the idea as a form of discipline.

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    1. I agree about the point you made of there being no evidence of Hell. However everyone has different beliefs and should be allowed to believe in whatever they want.

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    2. I also believe and really like that idea of how hell can make people be aware of what is good and bad.I also feel that it is really compelling how you were once a believer of hell but turned to the opposite.

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  50. To be honest, I still question the existence of Hell. No one can possibly know what happens in the after-life and the topic itself seems elusive. A part of me thinks that it doesn't exist, that there really is nothing after we pass away. Admittedly, there is a part of me that wants to believe it exists because there would be no Heaven if there was no Hell . If I were to define Hell, it would be a place that would induce a type of fear that is currently unimaginable. So in a sense, it is a state of mind. Everyone would have their own version of Hell because each person has their own form of tolerance and their own fears. The reason why I want to believe something like Hell is because it gives me an incentive to keep myself out of doing what I deem to be bad. In more optimistic terms, the idea of Heaven gives me the incentive to be good. In that way, I think that’s the reason why some people believe in Hell and other don’t. Sometimes it’s the religious ties, or lack thereof, that makes us believe in the idea of Hell.

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    1. Fantastic work, Allie!!!

      I agree with Hell being a state of mind. People believe it to be an ultimate place of torture to keep them going.

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  51. I also believe that you are Christian

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  52. Personally, I don't believe that Hell exists. I can't believe fully in something if there is no scientific evidence to back it up. I do think that there is some sort of a punishment for people who have done a lot of bad deeds in their lifetime, but this may just be to make me feel better that being good actually amounts to something in the long run after I die. I think that the main reason that some people believe in Hell is for closure. Also the presence of Hell can cause people to strive to be better so that they will not be punished in their afterlife.

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    1. Daniel I agree with you on the closure.

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    2. Daniel, I like the way you think

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    3. I think that you made a really interesting point when you said that you believe in some sort of punishment, but it might just be to provide comfort. I can never make out the difference between just believing in a possibility and when that turns into an outright expression of religion. Is it a choice? Or can the fact that you open yourself to possibility be proof enough of religious sentiments?

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  53. I don’t think you can talk about Hell without talking about religion. And I am not religious—I’m not an atheist, I’m not agnostic, I’m just wholly and completely nothing. So I hope I don’t offend, because I can only view religion from a completely impartial, third-party perspective. Religion is about faith; it’s about believing in something, if only to have something to believe in. Hell falls under that description as well: something you believe in because you want to believe in consequence or redemption or vindication, that sins will be punished and good behavior rewarded. Do I believe in it? No. But who am I to tell you that you can’t? Your religion is yours—and your Hell is too. And it doesn’t have to be something that exists only when you’re dead.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. I agree that is up to the individual to believe what happens after their death.

      Well Said!

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    3. I completely agree with this. Couldn't have worded it better.

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  54. Ahhhhhh joseph I agree with you on the 10 Commandments comment.

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  55. I personally do not believe in hell, but I know many people who do. Those people believe that if they do good things, they will go to heaven, but if they do bad things, then they will go to hell. One purpose of believing in hell might be to give an incentive to be a good person, and not do wrong in order to not go to hell. This might be a positive reason to believe in hell and can create a lot of good citizens. I notice that many people who are Christian tend to believe in the afterlife, probably from the influence of priests or their leaders. I also think that as more people believe in hell, peer pressure kicks in, and more and more people start to believe in it. I feel that the reason why some people don’t believe in Hell is because there is no living proof of hell existing. I think all people have a scientific side of the brain and need proof in order to believe in a belief or idea.

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  56. I find it hard to determine what happens when a person dies, whether they go to Hell or not. There are many theories suggesting that a person may go to Hell or may possibly be reincarnated after death, but the truth is that where a soul transgresses after it leaves its human vessel is beyond a human's scope of knowledge. From a scientific perspective, a death merely means a cessation of all vital organs, but what if there was the possibility that a different life continues after death? The concept of death brings a fear among us all because there is no record of what happens afterwards. Although there is science to prove all the reasons to the natural world during our lifetime, people continue to be superstitious or religious due to the fact that they need guidance and security to some of the events of life that they cannot control. Perhaps there is Heaven and perhaps there is Hell in order to separate the dutiful and the sinners and people may choose to believe in this predestination to fill the void of the knowledge after death. I, however, choose to look at it from a scientific standpoint and that once a body has functioned to its extreme, it will biologically decease. There is nothing that happens afterwards, no cycle to life, just a dead end. That does not mean that it is okay to live a immoral life and violate the rules of society since there is no punishment after death. It only means that there really is an end of the road.

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  57. No, I don't believe that there is a place called Hell because in my view, dead people are dead; their mind and body die together. The "soul" that would be sent to Hell is simply a representation of the thoughts, desires, and character of a given person, and they arise from the mind. Once the person dies and their brain and thoughts stop functioning, the mind and soul cease to exist. Another way to look at it would be to say that the soul is the ideas and memories people leave behind, in which case people continue to exist in the minds of others; however, after they die, they no longer have minds or souls that they can control and that will go to Heaven or Hell.
    People may choose to believe in Hell because of their religion. Hell provides a way for living humans to give dead people punishment they feel the dead deserve. By laying out what is "good" and what is "bad", people who follow such religions provide a simplistic answer to why people should not commit "bad" deeds: so that they won't end up in Hell. The concept of Hell varies by religion, however; the concept of karma in reincarnation, for instance, says that people who do bad deeds will be reborn as a person of a lower class or a lower being. In other words, they will experience bad times in real life doing something bad before. It is another take on why people should avoid being "bad", without using the concept of Hell. Thus, people with different ideas about life and death will have different beliefs about Hell.

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    1. I agree strongly with your idea that "people with different ideas about life and death will have different beliefs about Hell".

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  58. Max, I agree with your ideas and I liked your last sentence.

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  59. Due to my religious beliefs (I am Christian), I do believe there is a place called Hell. Although there is no "complete" picture of Hell, I believe it is a place where the most excruciating pain/suffering is held. The worst possible thing people picture in their mind about Hell is fire. Some people believe in Hell due to religious beliefs, and others use Hell as a conviction to live a honest lifestyle. Others do not believe in Hell because there may be no "actual" proof of this place and they may not be from a religious background.

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  60. I don't believe that a place like Hell exists--likewise I don't believe a place like Heaven does either. The world that we live in requires there to be opposites (contrasting subjects)in order to maintain a balance such as: Love, hate, good, evil, etc. I don't think any world could function with only all good (Heaven) or all evil (Hell) without the presence of the other as there would be no "good" to contrast the "bad" with or vice versa. Some people believe in hell because its a widespread belief across most religions and these teachings are deeply imbedded in our history. Another reason could be that some individuals seek consolation from the idea that one will either go to heaven or hell instead of become nonexistent after death. Some don't believe in hell because there is simply no proof that Hell exists, they believe that one becomes nonexistent after death, or like me--there is no logical explanation for a world like that to exist without a balance of both "good" and "evil".

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    1. I like your ideas about the balance of good and evil. They've made me wonder if there is a clear hierarchy within Heaven and Hell as well instead of all being good or bad.

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  61. Even though I am Christian, I don't think of Hell as a fiery pit of evil that some people imagine. I'm still not certain about what I believe happens after someone dies, but it doesn't follow the stereotypes. If there was a hell where people were punished, I think it would be individual like Dante describes with "contrapasso," but I don't imagine Hell as a place of extreme suffering because I believe that life is a process where it is inevitable that you will do things wrong and I think that’s okay. One of the descriptions of hell that I like better is simply the absence of God. Now I am not sure if Heaven and Hell are two distinctly separate places or if they even exist, but I think this is a better idea of the distinction. Hell is not necessarily bad by this definition it is just a choice that people can make if they don’t believe in a certain religion. However, my idea of heaven, or complete happiness, isn’t with people of only my religion, because I don’t believe there is anyone in the world who believes the exact same things as I do. To me religion is completely personal so I don’t think the world can be divided into two categories, heaven and hell.
    I think the idea of hell was originally created so that people have a reason to do good. One of the best motivations is fear and many people, especially those with a strong religious faith, try to do the right thing throughout their life with the hope of heaven and the fear of hell in mind. The reason hell is so controversial in my opinion is because no one can absolutely no what happens after death, so people can choose to believe whatever they want.

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  62. The meaning of Hell is that it's a place of eternal torture and punishment in an afterlife. I, however, do not believe in the concept of Hell. I don't believe in it because it's a figurative term used to get people scared of what happens to them when they die. Because of certain religions, many people somewhat believe in the concept of hell. Christians, who are extremely religious, believe that people who do good will go to heaven, people who do evil will go to hell. The religion of Islam also believes in this concept. The Jews, don't believe in Hell as they don't talk about it. But Hindus(my religion), believe that hell happens when reincarnation happens, as when we reincarnate, the process will never stop. Whether hell exists or not, that's up to you.

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  63. Hiearchy is not the correct word to use considering sin depends on a case by case basis. The degree to which sin is bad should be based on motive. To answer the question in a way yes there is a "heiarchy" of sin I think we can say that murder is much worse than being lazy but both are sins .Then again if this laziness helped end the lives of more people with full knowlege of said lazy person it would be much worse. This is why it is on a case by case basis and the whole point is to understand the motives behind the action or inaction than the action or inaction itself.Also sin itself can have different consequences but what they have in common is sin idoesnt get you any closer to god
    I believe there is a hell since i believe there is a god and the bible is the word of god and it says that there is a hell .Now what hell looks like is a little more tricky although there are some like dante who see it as a burning inferno and others who see it as a person lost in darkness totally seperate from god. There are those that believe hell doesnt exist maybe they want evidence or maybe they dont see the bible as the word of god while others may see the evidence in there lives feeling a divine hand guiding there lfie to a certain destiny. The choice is up to each one of us to deicide whether god is real but nobody can make the decsion for another it must come from the heart - Caleb Britton

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  64. I do not think that there is a such thing as Hell. That it is only a place people are told of to deter them from wrongdoing. People who believe in hell, I believe, are typically those who believe in a religion. They believe in a religion, their religion tells them that there is a hell, and therefore they believe there is a hell. Since the question doesn't ask me to, I am not going to go delve further into religion.

    If there truly is a thing as hell, I do not think that it would be a scorching hot place filled with other people who've done wrong, but rather that it is simply nothing. As in, a nothingness which we just can't do anything, that we cannot even perceive. Perhaps people are more afraid of being tortured for the rest of their lives, but me I am more deterred by the thought that when I die that there is simply nothing, where we cannot sense any senses, where we cannot do actions, where we cannot even think, a nothingness that cannot even be imagined.

    -Vadim Pelyushenko

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