If you’re good you go up... if you’re bad you go down. That's the basic way many of us would describe the concepts of Heaven and Hell in a religious context.
Heaven and Hell have both fascinated and perplexed mankind for centuries. Tonight on Local 12, we are to examining the different facets of the afterlife and how different religions approach the subject.
On Local 12 at 6 p.m., we examined the mystery of Heaven:
A new movie is coming out soon called Angels and Demons. It's a follow-up to the highly successful Da Vinci Code. The concept of angels and demons, or perhaps more broadly, of heaven and hell, has both fascinated and perplexed mankind for thousands of years.
Local 12 Reporter Jeff Hirsh takes a look at images of the after life:
To millions, it is the ultimate either or question. Heaven...
"Our soul, the essence of what makes me me, and you you, and the viewers themselves, that is an eternal part of God."
Or hell...
"The church has always said there is a reality called hell."
Although to some, it's not either or ... it's neither:
"I'm with American Atheists. I'm national legal director for American Atheists. I do not believe in the idea of heaven or hell."
Most Americans, however, do believe in some sort of life beyond the grave. A recent Harris poll, for example, found 71 percent believe there is a heaven ... 62 percent believe in hell ...and that's nothing new.
Jeff Hirsh: "The idea of an afterlife predates the Judeo Christian era. For example, the ancient pharaohs in the pyramids and the early Native Americans buried not far from here in Fort Ancient, all were buried with worldly possessions to take to the next existence. But that existence was neither good nor bad. It just was... The concept of heaven evolved with the growth of judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The worship of one god, included a personal relationship with God ... following God's commandments ... living a good and faithful life.
Rabbi Ken Kanter, Hebrew Union College: "We talk of heaven and hell in worship. It's an understanding of what you get because you've been good versus what you get if you've not been good."
"We all have the hope, we all hope we get to heaven."
But is heaven a physical place ... up in the clouds ... or simply a spiritual place ...assuming you believe in heaven? Christian art from the middle ages is the image many still have today, although a more modern view in some faiths unites the soul with God.
Fr. Rob Jack. Mt. St. Mary's Seminary: "Heaven is God himself, the father, son, and holy spirit, this communication of love of the three persons together, and where you find happiness and joy and the constant presence of this ever creative love."
Of course, there are differences between faiths and even within faiths. Orthodox Jews, for example, believe in physical resurrection. But that's not part of the Reform Jewish tradition. And while Catholics believe in purgatory, other Christian faiths do not. And then there are those who reject it all.
Edwin Kagan of American Atheists says it's all a myth, trying to answer the un-answerable.
"As an atheist, I believe in life before death, not life after death."
But most Americans do accept some sort of heaven ... physical or spiritual ... but attainable:
"Can a non believer go to heaven, even if he or she doesn't believe there is a heaven? Well, that's up to God."
And, perhaps, up to the individual as well. If you live a good life, you will be remembered long after you're gone.
"And that's about as heavenly as you can get for anybody."
Later, on Local 12 at 11 p.m., Jeff Hirsh looked at hell, from the perspective of different religious denominations, and talked to a man who says he's been there.
We've all heard the expression "hotter than hell". It's an image which, visually at least, dates to Christian artwork of the middle ages when portrayals of the after-life went to the canvas. Tortured souls ... the devil ... a miserable eternity.
Fr. Rob Jack of St. Mary's Seminary: "Of course anything dark was always where the fire was and you always went below the earth and you suffered the torments of hell, and because of the lightness of the sky and the beauty, heaven was above. That's where God was."
But if the image of heaven was based on faith and belief, the image of hell was based on a real location ... Gehenna or in hebrew: "Gei Henom. The Valley of Henom. It's a place you can visit today."
And today, the place looks pretty nice. But in ancient times, it was ugly, where children were sacrificed to pagan gods: "And obviously our ancient forebearers said that was the worst thing they could imagine, child sacrifice throwing babies to gods."
"Gehenna was their description of a garbage dump outside of Jerusalem which at one time was a place of child sacrifice."
Rabbi Ken Kanter of Hebrew Union College: "At the same time the valley was a dump, literally a dump where refuse and garbage was thrown,so it must have smelled something awful. That was about as bad as it could get."
"So when they tried to communicate if you're not faithful to the law this is the kind of life you're gonna lead."
"So Gehenna or Gei Henom, the Valley of Death, was really the place called Gei Henom. JEFF "So that's the image of hell is burning?" Rabbi Kanter: "Yes."
Ironically, even though the image dates to ancient Jerusalem, burning in hell is not part of Judaism. An unrewarded after-life ...yes, if you deserve it. But not the way hell is seen in many other denominations: "So the concept of Satan as evil incarnate is not a Jewish tradition."
But Satan is a big part of some other faiths to the point that some who claim near-death experiences say hell is a lot like it's portrayed in that artwork from a thousand years ago. A dozen years ago, a then-Norwood pastor made national news saying died and went to hell: Rev. Howard Storm: "In desperation in that place, I remembered the faith I had as a little child, going to church and called up for Jesus to save me, and my experience was that he came and took me out of that place."
Reverend Storm says he then went to heaven but was sent back to earth to "Get it right."
Non-believers, though, like Edwin Kagin scratch their heads. Kagin, of Northern Kentucky, is the National Legal Director for American Atheists: "There are people who claim visions or being transported to heaven or hell and are returned. There are also people who claim to have been on flying saucers."
Even the faithful may find near-death stories hard to swallow. But a recent Harris Poll shows about two thirds of Americans do believe in hell.
As for Gei Henom ... where hell's burning image was created ... well even in the Middle East, it has snowed there. So maybe, hot or not, hell can freeze over.
We're also curious about your beliefs. Do you believe in Heaven and Hell? What are they like? Vote in our polls and click on "Add comment" to tell us about your views.
