Topic: Hell

[Seamus]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers. Is that a universal, sound teaching in the whole of the Orthodox Church or does anyone know for sure?
Thanks & God Bless†

[username!]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers. Is that a universal, sound teaching in the whole of the Orthodox Church or does anyone know for sure?
Thanks & God Bless†

What is your source for this information and the other information you have questioned?  Just curious.

[PeterTheAleut]

Have you clicked the "Hell" tag at the bottom of this thread yet?  That will take you to a list of some threads where this subject has been discussed before.  You might find some answers to your questions there.

[Seamus]

What is your source for this information and the other information you have questioned?  Just curious.

Well, the priest at the church I go to says that's what the early Church teaches. And I think St. Issac of Syria, if I'm not mistaken..

[Seamus]

Have you clicked the "Hell" tag at the bottom of this thread yet?  That will take you to a list of some threads where this subject has been discussed before.  You might find some answers to your questions there.

Thanks.

[username!]

Well, the priest at the church I go to says that's what the early Church teaches. And I think St. Issac of Syria, if I'm not mistaken..

um..  what church orthodox?

[Seamus]

um..  what church orthodox?

OCA

[username!]

OCA

curious, what you said on the pope thread you started and this thread, are you quoting him verbatim?

[Seamus]

curious, what you said on the pope thread you started and this thread, are you quoting him verbatim?

Who, the priest at my church? No, this is the only thing I posted that I talked to him about, I think. I just posted it because some say this is the way hell is, and other's don't.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers. Is that a universal, sound teaching in the whole of the Orthodox Church or does anyone know for sure?

This is my priest's opinion also. I would consider it a sound teaching, although not universal. I haven't found a universal teaching along these lines, but neither have I found one contradicting it. It just seems the Orthodox Church is much more concerned with Heaven than She is Hell.

[Heorhij]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers. Is that a universal, sound teaching in the whole of the Orthodox Church or does anyone know for sure?
Thanks & God Bless†

I am not that familiar with early Fathers, but right now, here's what one can find on the doctrinal page of the Orthodox Church's Web site:

"The end-time will follow, with a permanent separation between good and evil, between those who will be awarded etemal life of happiness and bliss in heaven, and those who will be condemned to the fire of eternal damnation, to the eternal remorse of their conscience for having rejected God and authentic life in Him and having joined the inauthentic life invented by the devil and his servants." http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8038.asp

I don't see here any rigid connection with "believing/non-believing." Rather, hell is for those who consciously chose to join the devil and his demons, i.e. to remain unrepentant, proud, selfish, unkind to others etc.

[Marc Hanna]

Doesn't the Apostle Paul say in regards to those who have not been preached the Gospel, that if they are good then the Law of God is written on their hearts?  Surely these people are unbelievers but are they not saved?

Maybe the question should be:  is hell for those who have been preached the Gospel yet chose not to believe?

[Riddikulus]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers.

This concept, that both heaven and hell are experiences of the same divine presence, is definitely Orthodox. But I venture to suggest that dividing people into believers and unbelievers and assigning them to conditons of heaven and hell might be a little problematic. Christ clearly shows in Mathew 25 that believers could experience the divine presence as hell, dependant on their lack of works, ie love to those in need. Simply being a "believer" might not cut it and the suggestion that it might sounds a little Evangelical to me.

[Riddikulus]

I don't see here any rigid connection with "believing/non-believing." Rather, hell is for those who consciously chose to join the devil and his demons, i.e. to remain unrepentant, proud, selfish, unkind to others etc.

^^ I should have read this before posting! 

[prodromas]

The way It was explained to me was that at the judgment God's eternal love will shine on everyone equally and those that were open and received this love (eg lead a Saintly life) this experience will be bliss (this is heaven) but those who despised God through their actions this will be "burning" (this is hell).

[tweety234]

Does the Orthodox Church have a direct doctrine about Hell? I've heard that She teaches what Heaven is for Christians is Hell for unbelievers. Is that a universal, sound teaching in the whole of the Orthodox Church or does anyone know for sure?

This is my priest's opinion also. I would consider it a sound teaching, although not universal. I haven't found a universal teaching along these lines, but neither have I found one contradicting it. It just seems the Orthodox Church is much more concerned with Heaven than She is Hell.

Since Heaven is our hope. Not hell. We are more concerned with heaven.