The Images of Hell are Metaphors Pointing to a Real, but Indefinable State.

======= Resolution ======= The images of hell are metaphors pointing to a real, but indefinable state. 1 ======== Clarification ======== The debate will be about the nature of hell. That is from two main differing perspectives, namely, the metaphor view vs the literal view. Both views agree that God (Christian Faith) is not pleased with disobedience and has appointed a day to judge the peoples of the world. 2 There are also other points of agreement such as, the intermediate state (Hades/Paradise or Abraham's Bosom), the destiny of the body (the grave), the bodily resurrections of the believer and the unrighteous, and the eternal destinies (Unbeliever's final destiny: Gehenna: "Lake of Fire" and Believer's final destiny "Heaven"). 3 The sharp disagreement between the views comes down to the interpretation of the language that the authors of the Bible used when describing the nature of hell. Definitions are provided, especially on the word "hell" since some translations of the Bible use the word hell to mean: "Hades", "Gehenna", "Tartarus" and "The Grave". Hence, Bible scholars encourage Bible students and seekers alike to use at least one translation from all translations spectrum: "By using different translations the reader can acquire a fuller understanding of the meaning of the original text." 4 Sources: 1. Crockett William and Gundry N. Stanley, "Four Views of Hell," p. 45 2. Crockett William and Gundry N. Stanley, "Four Views of Hell," p. 7 3. Zodhiates, Spiros, "Life after Death," p. vi 4. http://www.newlivingtranslation.com... ======= Definitions ======= 1. Gehenna: n 1. Old Testament the valley below Jerusalem, where children were sacrificed and where idolatry was practiced (II Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 19:6) and where later offal and refuse were slowly burned. 1 2. New Testament, Judaism a place where the wicked are punished after death. 4 Note: Known as the second death, lake of fire. 2 2. Hades: 2. New Testament the abode or state of the dead. Note: The intermediate state before the resurrection and final destiny. (Matthew 22:32; John 11:26; Luke 16:19-31;23:43; 2 Peter 2:9; Philippians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8) 3. Tartaros: 2. a part of Hades reserved for evildoers. 6 Note: The prison house of fallen angels. (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude 6) 4. Truth: 1. the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth. 2. conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement. 5. Evidence: All types of information (observations, recollections, documents, concrete objects, etc) 6. Proof: A body of evidence supporting a contention. Those facts from which a conclusion can be drawn. 7. Inference: the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation. ==== Rules ==== 1. My opponent must be a Christian within the traditional Protestant denominations who holds the literal view of hell. 2. Any issues must be made in the comment section. ====== Structure ====== Round 1: Acceptance and Clarification Round 2: Opening arguments Rounds 3-5: Argumentations Sources: 1. http://dictionary.reference.com... 2. http://dictionary.reference.com... 3. http://dictionary.reference.com... 4. http://dictionary.reference.com... http://plato.stanford.edu... Note: The Correspondence Theory of Truth 5. Oran, Daniel, Oran's Dictionary of the Law, pg. 189 6. Oran, Daniel, Oran's Dictionary of the Law, pg. 419 7. http://www.thefreedictionary.com... (From the Thesaurus)