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LostOne4Ever

(9,767 posts)
16. Actually
Fri Apr 26, 2013, 03:20 AM
Apr 2013

The OP asks specifically about Hell. While the idea that the dead go somewhere is quite old and found in many cultures the idea of hell can be traced back to Zoroastrianism.


[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#dcdcdc; padding-bottom:5px; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom:none; border-radius:0.4615em 0.4615em 0em 0em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism#Principal_beliefs[div class="excerpt" style="background-color:#f0f0f0; border:1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top:none; border-radius:0em 0em 0.4615em 0.4615em; box-shadow:3px 3px 3px #999999;"]Achaemenid era (648–330 BCE) Zoroastrianism developed the abstract concepts of heaven and hell, as well as personal and final judgment, all of which are only alluded to in the Gathas. Yasna 19, which has only survived in a Sassanid era ([–650 CE] Zend commentary on the Ahuna Vairya invocation), prescribes a Path to Judgment known as the Chinvat Peretum or Chinvat bridge (cf: As-Sirāt in Islam), which all souls had to cross, and judgment (over thoughts, words, and deeds performed during a lifetime) was passed as they were doing so. However, the Zoroastrian personal judgment is not final. At the end of time, when evil is finally defeated, all souls will be ultimately reunited with their Fravashi. Thus, Zoroastrianism can be said to be a universalist religion with respect to salvation.


This is the earliest concept of hell as we know it. Though the concept of tartarus is similar and almost as old. The Ancient egyptians also had a destroyer who would punish you and then annihilate your soul (no eternal life for the spirit).

I guess it depends on what the OP meant by hell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell#Religion.2C_mythology.2C_and_folklore

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

October 7, 1996 by Rupert Murdoch. rug Apr 2013 #1
LMAFO!!!! hrmjustin Apr 2013 #12
Actually, you might be interested to notice that heaven is hotter than hell... as this article shows Vietnameravet Apr 2013 #2
that's great.. thx! \n Phillip McCleod Apr 2013 #10
your mind, when you were 7, by your parents rurallib Apr 2013 #3
By Middle-Eastern goat-herders, about 3,000 years ago. n/t backscatter712 Apr 2013 #4
I don't know when but it was by the avid for power chap who had just lost a wrasslin match to be dimbear Apr 2013 #5
If I recall correctly LostOne4Ever Apr 2013 #6
The notion that the dead go somewhere has re-occurred in many cultures struggle4progress Apr 2013 #7
as have dragons. Warren Stupidity Apr 2013 #8
Hmm. I'm not sure what that has to do with the OP, which struggle4progress Apr 2013 #9
you appeared to have made an argument ad populum for "an afterlife". Warren Stupidity Apr 2013 #11
No, what I actually did was to point out what an ill-formed question the OP asked struggle4progress Apr 2013 #14
Hell's just some place dead people go? Iggo Apr 2013 #13
If the OP intended a more specific discourse, perhaps a more precise question would have been struggle4progress Apr 2013 #15
Actually LostOne4Ever Apr 2013 #16
The English word is sometimes presumed to come from the name of a Nordic goddess, struggle4progress Apr 2013 #18
Im afraid you are mistaken LostOne4Ever Apr 2013 #19
If you wish to find Zoroastrian influences in northern Europe, more would be required struggle4progress Apr 2013 #20
Then I guess LostOne4Ever Apr 2013 #21
In which mythology or belief? Meshuga Apr 2013 #17
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»When was hell created?? ....»Reply #16