Are heaven and hell ACTUAL places we go when we die? Or is the Bible merely using metaphorical language (which was common in that era) to explain the path one chooses to follow. Where exactly does the Bible point out that heaven and hell are PLACES?

My theory is, what if these places are just ideas that project how life will turn out for somebody because of the code of morals they live by?

For example, if one lives a life of "sin", he will inevitably suffer from it. He cannot know true happiness by living a life of wrong morals. But if one seeks knowledge and loves others as he loves himself, he will experience true happiness.

The problem with asking a question, in which, the answer will most likely come from the Christian bible, is that you will get several perfectly right answers.

Such is the magic of the bible.

I would imagine a good number of christian church goers, believe hell to be a lake of fire, and picture heaven on top of clouds. In other words, not here on Earth. You can't be too imaginative or critical, if you are a follower of christianity.

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Your theory is probably close to the original philosophy intended by the gospels.

For me growing up, being raised going to church and stuff, I believed that heaven and hell were a place, but I believed it to be like in another realm or dimension that we go to after we die...then I got a little older and started asking questions and realized that most of these people believe that heaven and hell are an actual physical places...like that heaven is literally in the sky and hell is in the middle of the earth...which i think is bullshit...so my views changed... I think (and hope) that heaven and hell are just metaphors like you were saying...well actually I wish that hell was just a metaphor... but then theres other theorys that hell is just when god ignores u in heaven or sum shit like that... but i dont know if it is a metaphor then does that mean we just cease to exist after? or reincarnation? i dont know, a lot of views that the general christian church have these days are based on specific one liners from the bible that somebody decided should be the center of the faith... i dont think the bible was ever intended to be read or worshippd or interpreted the way it is nowadays...its like the whole satan/lucifer/serpent/dragon/beast thing...from what i hear, back then the "devil"wasnt even such a issue wen it came to faith..theres very few references to these beings in the bible, but somehow we concluded that they are all the same beings, and that lucifer fell from heaven and this and that and whole buncha other fairly tale sounding stuff I would of never concluded if I read the bible to myself(without any biasd knowledge)... but yea, jus research the subject more and your ideas of heaven and hell will pretty much be up to you...

Ask yourself.

Or is the Bible merely using metaphorical language

Close but no cigar.

Most Catholics and many Protestants regard the pope as a fairly authoritative source of Christian theology. In 1999, Pope John Paul II said that hell is not a location, but a state of mind we choose to enter when we reject God.

This makes sense to me. Hell as an actual place was just another way that the clergy could maintain control over the laity. Worked, too.

Most Catholics and many Protestants regard the pope as a fairly authoritative source of Christian theology. In 1999, Pope John Paul II said that hell is not a location, but a state of mind we choose to enter when we reject God.

This makes sense to me. Hell as an actual place was just another way that the clergy could maintain control over the laity. Worked, too.

So...then....what about heaven?

I just really started thinking about this....I mean who could know for sure? Nobody has ever been to heaven or hell and came back to tell us about them. I just get the strongest feeling that Christianity is just another way of being a Buddhist. Think about it, hard.

When you sin, your life basically becomes "hell", in much the way Pope John Paul II states. But when we follow the teachings of Jesus, we experience the feelings of true happiness. Sounds a lot like karma to me, just being explained differently by the Christian bible. And, when you die, I can guarantee that within less than a fraction of a second, another child will be born somewhere in the world. Reincarnation could be real, after all Jesus did say he would return someday. Just some food for thought.

So...then....what about heaven?

I just really started thinking about this....I mean who could know for sure? Nobody has ever been to heaven or hell and came back to tell us about them. I just get the strongest feeling that Christianity is just another way of being a Buddhist. Think about it, hard.

Reincarnation could be real, after all Jesus did say he would return someday. Just some food for thought.

1)We create our own reality, and by our thoughts, words, and deeds creatye a heaven or hell for ourself here on earth. To me, "heaven" is just a metaphor, not to be taken literally.

2) You are grossly simplifying Christianity and Buddhism by saying they are much the same. They reflect totally different mindsets, east vs west, and vary differently in their respective theology and dogma.

3) And yes, reincarnation is real, and Jesus has returned many times, as have we all.

2) You are grossly simplifying Christianity and Buddhism by saying they are much the same. They reflect totally different mindsets, east vs west, and vary differently in their respective theology and dogma.



The similarities are there.

Although, I can't actually think of anything specifically off of the top of my head, but I remember being struck by the 'eastern' ideas in the Bible... Well, New testament anyway.