Problem of Hell in the context of Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy


Problem of Hell in the context of Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

⭐ Core Definition: Problem of Hell

The problem of Hell is an ethical problem in the Abrahamic religions of Christianity and Islam, in which the existence of Hell or Jahannam for the punishment of souls in the afterlife is regarded as inconsistent with the notion of a just, moral, and omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient supreme being. Also regarded as inconsistent with such a just being is the combination of human free will—on which the justification for eternal damnation for sinners is predicated—and the divine qualities of omniscience (being all-knowing) and omnipotence (being all-powerful), as this would mean God (not humans) would determine everything that has happened and will happen in the universe—including sinful human behavior.

C. P. Ragland of Saint Louis University writes in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy that the problem of hell is "a version of" the problem of evil. He defines the problem of hell: "If there is an omniperfect God—one that necessarily has the perfection of Goodness—then no one will be damned."

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Problem of Hell in the context of History of Christian universalism

The doctrine of Christian universalism has been rejected by most mainstream Christian churches, which tend to maintain at least the possibility that many will not be saved, but it has received support from many prestigious Christian thinkers as well as many groups of Christians. It has been argued that the Bible itself has a variety of verses that seem to support a plurality of views.

Universal salvation may be related to the perception of a problem of Hell, standing opposed to ideas such as endless torment in Hell, but may also include a period of finite punishment similar to a state of purgatory. Believers in universal reconciliation may believe that while there is a real "Hell" of some kind it is neither a place of endless suffering nor a place where the spirits of human beings are ultimately "annihilated" after enduring the just amount of divine retribution.

View the full Wikipedia page for History of Christian universalism
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