This question is for people who believe in hell, obviously. Are there different degrees of suffering in hell, or is it the same amount of suffering for everyone who goes there? Why I ask is because it seems rather unfair that everyone should face the exact same punishment. Take murder, for example. Say someone goes to hell for murdering one person in a fit of rage. Should they have the same punishment as say, a Hitler or an Idi Amin (who were responsible for the murders of millions of people) would have?

educatedhorse_2005

I think there are diffrent degrees of hell.
I believe it just depends on why you were sent there

31pumpkin

I think there is only one degree of hell or one hell. The Bible does say that if one's name isn't written in the Book of Life then they will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Now the murder you mentioned, may or may not go to hell. If he confesses and repents of his sin (basically changes) then the Lord would judge that man's heart and repentance accordingly. He could very well be saved.

The thing is with Hitler, he had long been possessed by Satanic spirit.
He was so far away from the Lord that he wouldn't be able to communicate with God any more.

talaniman

I think we humans make our own heaven or hell right now as we live. I have no clue what happens after we die, but I do know the choices we make on this earth either make us happy or sad and all that is in between.

orange

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. Pumpkin, I was just using murder as an example. I guess my point was, some people are always going to commit worse sins that others, so it doesn't seem fair that both receive the same punishment. But I guess hell is more than just a punishment for sin, it's also the result of rejecting G-d.

aqua@home

I think there might not be different degrees of hell as there might be different degrees of heaven. Everyone can be forgiven of almost everything except the one unforgivable sin. Which I believe is the rejection of God. However I don't think it's fair for someone like Ted Bundy to go to the same heaven as me. Not that I am perfect. If we use our judgement and live a life as close to what God wants, He will decide and we will be judged accordingly. The question for me is what type of sin is bad enough for a different degree of heaven? Isn't cheating just as bad as anything else? Adultery is in the commandments yet so many people don't follow that one. I know the bible talks about different degrees of glory and different kingdoms in I Corinthians, chapter 15. I hope this helps. Take care.

DrJizzle

Doesnt the Bible teach us that sin is sin.... that no sin is worse or better than another??

jduke44

This is totally my opinion. I haven't researched anything like this in a long time. I think there might be different degrees of Hell even though God looks at every sin the same.

DrJizzle

So if there are different degrees of Hell, wouldnt there be different degrees of Heaven, as well??

valinors_sorrow

I believe in hell Chava, but it may not match the hell other people believe in or exactly what you had in mind but I hope this is okay. If not, stop reading here?

The hell I know is here on earth - It was visited a few times against my will (shares a ptsd past with you) and now as a part of what I am routinely asked to do here.

I don't know that this particular hell comes in degrees, or even that its designed to punish anyone - the specific circumstances of it vary greatly. But I do know without question that all human suffering is equal. Pain is pain in any language. And some of the worst pain is self inflicted because its so hard to fathom.

I acquired an understanding one day that we each are ultimately held accountable for our actions (both good and bad). How I come by that is tougher to explain but it is an almost unshakable belief when very few of my beliefs are that solid. This accounting appears to me as absolutely unavoidable so I have long ago let go of any concern that "they are getting away with it". I know they aren't and so therefore neither am I.

Better to concentrate now on making heaven on earth instead too.