In 1999 Pope John Paul II described hell as "the state of those who freely and definitely separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy." While Christian fundamentalist who interpret the Bible literally disagree with this description of hell, testimonies from people who die and have so-called "hellish experiences" beyond death provide us with deep insight into the nature of hell through their direct experiences. 

Thereby, people who have Near Death Experiences can answer the question: what is hell? They describe having “hell-like experiences” and distressing life-reviews, a flash-back of their lives, where they experience the effect of their harmful actions towards others. As this is experienced in an otherworldly realm and in another state of being, the pain of these experiences is of far greater intensity than anything here on earth.  

Burning in a fire can describe this pain metaphorically but hell is not a literal place of fire and punishment. A literal interpretation of hell is problematic as e.g. the Bible uses different words for hell (Tartarus, Hades, Gehanna) that all have different meanings, and mainstream Christianity supported by direct experiences of hell through near death experiences points to a symbolic understanding of hell.

However, hell is still real as the painful separation from God in another state of being that is created through the ignorance of God and being unaware that God is within all of us.

When we know exactly what hell is - we will also know exactly how to avoid hell. You are invited to learn more about the true nature of hell explained through the research of real experience of people who have died and gone there. Learn more through the many resources on this site and the book behind it: The Light Behind God.