Sorry for the belated response, I didn’t these until they were pointed out on another thread.
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic]
Or sometimes Gehenna or Hades, but essentially, yes, they’re all just figurative references to death.
badchad knows this. I’ve had this debate with him more than once and in excruciating detail. I don’t know why he still clings to it.
[/QUOTE]
What I think is odd Diogenes is that even post our extensive debate, you still cling to the simplistic idea that references to hell were only about the extermination of souls. Didn’t you once admit that bad souls were tormented for some indefinite time period before the last judgment? The last time we talked I thought you only objection was to the length of said torment.
Anyway for your further edification here is a discussion on hell with links to just about any other Greek, Hebrew word for it that you wish. Also here, again, is where Jesus discusses conscious torment after death.
Now for me, your description of hell being death is not wholly without merit, but biblically speaking it sure isn’t a slam dunk. Whether Jesus taught that unbelievers have their souls tortured eternally, tortured then killed, or just murdered with such expediency as to make Hitler green with envy, is fairly immaterial. Jesus and/or his god are still monsters.
Also, just like heaven, the trinity, the bible, and anything godly, I still think the raindog described hell best when he called it a “man-made fabrication—and borne of man made traditions, folklore, fiction and politics…” Don’t you agree?