raindog, that much we do know about the textual Biblical references. However the OP question is not so much about the unscriptural origin of the commonly-understood popular-mythological concept of “Hell” (which derives more from Dante, who himself probably was inspired by the Greek Tartarus), but about the understanding by modern-day followers of the various Christian Churches of the concept of a “hell” as the destination of the damned as opposed to “heaven” as that of the saved. In that sense, thus, the (small-o) orthodox believers will hold to the doctrine that there IS a pre-resurrectional “afterlife”, as either an external phenomenon or an internal condition of the soul of which there is some form of consciousness of either bliss or despair/pain. And as mentioned in many religion threads by the active and former Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic posters, those christianities’ doctrines need not have a Biblical source.
Well, many brands of worldlier Christianity subscribe to the idea that, God being just, those who know not JC through no fault of their own (including being driven away by the conduct of bad Christians) will not have that counted against them, as long as they sought goodness and justice, and in the final moment of revelation will be able to see things clearly and accept or reject the Truth on their own. (Remember: Christianity believes there will be a general resurrection of EVERYONE before true final judgement)
As to the concept of Hell being alienation from God, from within those branches of Christianity this idea is inclusive of all, even nonbelievers. (Again, explaining not advocating): Under this doctrine, every human soul, whether the person is aware of it or not or cares, lives in an imperfect condition and requires God in order to be cosmically “complete”; so, all religion is a seeking of that completion, just that of course, Christianity claims IT has THE perfect answer to it (hey, so does Islam). Even he who does not know or care about the Abrahamic God and is living a perfectly fine Atheist or Pagan life IS experiencing, even unknowingly, a different or imperfect level of exposure to the Divine; and their existence will be vastly better off by becoming fully plugged in to the Divine, and thoroughly worse off by being cut off from it totally.
Or so it goes. I A N A Theologian nor have I played one on TV…
But then the athiests are as well off as the theists. I’m a good, caring, law abiding citizen - I do charitable things and help those in need. I have a moral code to live by, albeit based on christianity as most moral codes and laws are.
I don’t believe in God, but should there come a reckoning day, if given the choice, I going to go with the god thing, you’d be a fool not to, right? God will see I’ve been a good person and forgive this silly notion I have that he/she/it doesn’t exist.