What on Earth is HELL?

I believe it was the existential philosopher Sartre who penned the startling words, “hell is other people.” Although that quote possesses more truth than I’d like to admit, it lacks a certain definitiveness that the concept of hell warrants. Also lacking in its capacity to enlighten its audience on the depths of such a topic (no pun intended) was tonight’s ABC 20/20 entitled “Hell: Why are We Obsessed with Hell?”

That’s right, sandwiched in between episodes of George Lopez and a Jimmy Kimmel was a reportage detailing a concept which at one time ruled entire cultures: the concept of Hell.

Reporter Richard Wier interviewed a handful of individuals, ranging from a clinincally insane serial killer to a reformed preacher to an ex-nun.  Each interviewee had a different perspective of hell; some, such as Marilyn Manson and the serial killer, claimed that they were ready and willing to go to hell, since, ” you don’t get to do anything in heaven anyway.” Another man claimed he has already experienced hell a decade ago, when he tried to kill himself. Wier points out, too, that most world religions share some concept of hell, though its specific characteristics and invitation list differ.

The majority of interviewees, however, came to the conclusion that hell does exist– not in an otherwordly form, but here on earth.  Hell, they claim, exists in the minefields and genocides of Africa, in the eyes of cold-blooded perpetrators, and in the darkened prison rooms where women are raped.  In a definite breech with traditional Christian thought, as well as with many other prominent religions,  hell is reduced from something otherworldly and fearsome, to something profane and everyday.  Some even go so far as to reduce eternal damnation to matter of personal preference, much like one chooses a piece of fruit in the supermarket or a group of friends.  “Heaven just isn’t me, I wouldn’t fit in,” declares Marilyn Manson matter-of-factly, going on to state he wouldn’t mind going to hell when he dies.

I kept wondering, as person after person gave their opinions on hell, isn’t this somethign we should talk to God about?  I mean, we’re not talking about gun control or contract negotiations, here, but HELL. If ANYONE were interviewed, shouldn’t it be God himself?  While many of the interviewees disagreed on many of the more daunting aspects of hell, they all shared one common quality: all of their arguments were based around themselves and what they “felt” about the existence of heaven or hell.  I could be wrong, but last time I checked, I’m pretty sure that HELL existed independent of human reasoning or preference.

That question may lead to some tension, and heaven forbid ABC leave their audience with <gasp> something to think about the rest of the night.  In the nick of time, Wier offers a solution to the daunting puzzle of Hell: good deeds.  By performing good deeds of service, many people in the show comforted themselves from the “hell” they found around them (such as the holocaust or civil wars in Africa).  After all, if hell is merely a construct that exists on earth with no eternal ramifications, then by golly, we can beat this thing. Ladies and Gentlemen, the headlines: “Mayor Guiliani declared wednesday that the hell that infected NYC on 9/11/2201 is safely in remission, according to recent tests. This success is attributed to combined efforts between good deeds in all sectors of society.”

It must be pointed out that this optimistic view of hell, or whatever it is the reporter was trying to portray, vastly differs from most worldviews held by all citizens of the world from the dawn of man.  It certainly differs from all civilizations upon which our western cultural traditions are built. To shrug off the constraints of “superstitious” concepts such as hell, is neither virtuous nor intelligent, but ignorant.  I find myself outraged that even someone such as holocaust-survivor Ellie Wiesel, interviewed on the show, could place there trust in a humanity which is perfectable and inherently good; have we not learned this lesson many times before, this lesson of evil. Have we not learned this lesson hundreds of thousands of times in the 20th century alone?

The most clear thinking interviewee on the show was someone who first appeared crazy. It was a man who claimed to have had a near-death experience first as a child and later as an adult.  His experience as an adult differed greatly from that of his childhood; in fact, he had attempted suicide when he felt his life slipping from him.  He lost consciousness and woke up in what he knew to be hell. Although what he saw would be consistent with Judeo-Christian teachings on the subject, his description of that hell differed greatly from the mythical qualities we often assign to it.  It was an experience of isolation, alienation, and full understanding of the wrongs he had committed in life. The man ended up being brought back to life, he dramatically changed his behavior, including a $1,000/ week drug habit.  He now counsels survivors of suicide, but does not place his hope in his ability to do good while counseling.

To Wier’s question, “Why are we obsessed with Hell?” I would like to answer, “No one seems to be obsessed with Hell.” To be sure, we’re obsessed with something alright, but it ain’t hell. It’s something else: humanity. Ourselves, perhaps. Let us just hope that another brilliant philsopher was wrong when he said, “the greatest scheme of the devil was when he convinced humans that he wasn’t there at all.”