The Old Testament: none

The New testament: many

The Apocrapha:

4Ezra.4
[7] And he said to me, "If I had asked you, `How many dwellings are in the heart of the sea, or how many streams are at the source of the deep, or how many streams are above the firmament, or which are the exits of HELL, or which are the entrances of paradise?'
[8] Perhaps you would have said to me, `I never went down into the deep, nor as yet into HELL, neither did I ever ascend into heaven.'
4Ezra.7
[36] Then the pit of torment shall appear, and opposite it shall be the place of rest; and the furnace of HELL shall be disclosed, and opposite it the paradise of delight.
4Ezra.8
[53] The root of evil is sealed up from you, illness is banished from you, and death is hidden; HELL has fled and corruption has been forgotten;


I searched the bible. for hell (on-line Revised Standard). No hits in the Old Testament. Many in the New and in Ezra from the books not allowed in the old testament.

It seems that by the time of Jesus, the concepts of hell and heaven as a place to go to had become established, perhaps by Jesus. These concepts do not exist in reform judaism, but do exist in the orthadox. Not sure about consrvatives.

My view on strength of faith is :
1. Orthadox
2. Conservative
3.Reform

Reform judaism is not official in Israel. So I could not be recognized as a jew there.

yanniru

• nor myself... - robertgregory - March 24, 2003 - 05:09 UTC
  • Interesting question - yanniru - March 24, 2003 - 13:17 UTC