Donald Baker:
If one has ever picked up a book on medieval history, one has no doubt run across paintings and depictions of hell. The images of demons with forked tongues and pointed tails tormenting the hapless multitudes of writhing condemned souls is repeated throughout the Middle Ages. Dante Ahligheri's Divine Comedy gives us perhaps the most comprehensive vision of what hell might be like from a very symbolic literary point of view. Nevertheless, I don't think his concept of hell meshed with Paul's or King David's version. Some theologians have speculated that the concept of hell was not a part of the Old Testament. They claim that the Jewish concept of hell (gehenna in Hebrew) was more associated with the darkness of the grave (sheol). Christ gave a very graphic vision of hell when he said that those who were cast into it would suffer tremendously--wailing and gnashing of teeth was how he described it. By the time of the Middle Ages, however, people actually thought that people were already in hell suffering their torments. Theologically, I have often wondered why people would believe that God would cast people into hell before he judged them of their sins? I personally believe that there is no one in hell currently. I believe that God will not cast anyone into hell until after the judgment when the sheep and goats are separated. But during the Middle Ages, the fear of hell was extremely prevalent. The Church's practice of selling indulgences and the concept of Purgatory no doubt contributed to the heightened fears of hell. I think the Church is thus guilty of frightening the uneducated masses of Medieval Europe into thinking people were already burning in the flames of hell to convince them to purchase indulgences. What do you guys think? ???
kyfatboy:
Pretty much agree with you donnie boy.
Phidippides:
Dante obviously painted a picture of the Inferno which was meant for purposes other than those theological; he put a certain pope (I believe Celestine II) in hell, when in reality I believe this pope was canonized a Saint.
The abuse of indulgences was just that - an abuse.
I could argue against your point by saying that in modern times, the concept of hell is extremely non-prevalent; in other words, people don't consider it. Yet, to deny it exists is to deny Christ's words.
kyfatboy:
I suppose that in these times, folks relied alot on what their prior expierence was. Many were from pagan religons, were A demigod ruled in the underworld. So having that for their expierecne it is not hard to understand were they came up with the concept that the devil and his angels were waiting in hell to torment sinners.
Preacher:
--- Quote from: kyfatboy on July 02, 2006, 01:05:01 AM ---I suppose that in these times, folks relied alot on what their prior expierence was.? Many were from pagan religons, were A demigod ruled in the underworld.? So having that for their expierecne it is not hard to understand were they came up with the concept that the devil and his angels were waiting in hell to torment sinners.
--- End quote ---
That Satan or demons are in hell is one of the great myths. They are not there, yet...