Interesting video.  Personally, I do believe that Hells exist - it is merely where people of a certain mind-set go when they shed their bodies.   

It is not about a temple or church being "the only way" to salvation - I agree with the Priest on that.  It is more that when we die, our consciousness goes on, and after death - our true inner nature comes out, and seeks others of its kind.  It may seem hard to believe that any of us would willingly consign ourselves to a hellish afterlife.  But it all depends on what floats your boat.   

A sadist or violent person may warp their mind with those thoughts and actions while alive, and turn away from more loving thoughts and actions.  If that is where you direct your mind, would it be any wonder, that after death, the person who reveled in violence on earth seeks it out when he is dead?  No, not surprising at all.  Those bound for a hellish plane, consign themselves there, willingly!  For that is where there minds and thoughts center. 

On earth you can speak with a forked tongue.  You can act in a pious way or lovingly in public, give to a charity for show, and yet in private treat people poorly or do horrible things.  In the afterlife, there is no such subterfuge.  After a brief period, your outer masks and things that were for show fall off.  Honest introspection then tells you what you truly love - where your thoughts are.  Then you go in that direction.

What can we do about this?  To my mind, our fates are not written in stone.  We can choose our thoughts, and our actions toward others.  We can master our baser tendencies, and aim our thoughts and actions toward love of others.  We may miss the mark, but wherever your thoughts go - there you are.


Matthew

David,

My experience leads me to pretty much go along with what this priest has to say.  The hells I have explored appear to have been created by the shared beliefs of the organization and followers who declare them to be real.

So for example when a church teaches its followers to believe that a hell exists that is a place of eternal torment and suffering, they (the church and its followers) create that place as a reality.  Then, those of that religion who believe the hell exists and believe they deserve to be sent there at death take themselves there when they die.  Not all of those of that religion who break the rules will go there, but some will.

I am certain there are lots of people from the religion of my youth who are standing waste deep in molten lava screaming and writhing in pain, FOREVER.  What torques me off  is that the ONLY reason those people are there suffering like that is because they chose to believe what their religion taught them to believe about hell.  The church creates the place and then the beliefs of that church (not God) condemn their own people to an existence within that reality.

It's just sick.

Bruce

I think we should distinguish those trapped in a fear based hell (as Bruce describes) and those who truly enjoy harming others (as Bruce also describes in "Max's Hell")

If someone believes they need punishment in hot lava, then their thought may take them there.  But if their inner nature is loving, then, to my way of thinking about things, they can move on as soon as they make contact - ask for help - and can let go of the limiting belief system. Admittedly, this could take a short time for some, but a very long time for others. 

Sadists like "Max" from Bruce's experience are a horse of a different color.  They are not chained by a limiting belief system; they choose to go where they find the most enjoyment.  They harm others, and are caught up with others who want to harm them.  For these people, their consciousness seeks out others of their inclination.  I would imagine that progress out of these willingly chosen hells would be far slower.


Matthew