Original Research - Special Collection: Belief - church and community

Hemel en hel

Ananda Geyser-Fouche
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 71, No 3 | a3092 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v71i3.3092 | © 2015 Ananda Geyser-Fouche | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 24 June 2015 | Published: 14 October 2015

About the author(s)

Ananda Geyser-Fouche, Department of Old Testament Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Heaven and hell. Any conversation on ‘heaven and hell’ is nothing else but a conversation about ‘life after death’. To understand the concept of heaven, earth and hell as described in the biblical context and surrounding cultures, it is important to understand their concept of the cosmos and creation. Different perspectives of the universe lead to different ideas about life after death. Apocalyptic thoughts brought new perspectives to the understanding of life after death. All these different views can only be understood within the context in which they developed. Due to scientific results, the perception of the cosmos changed, urging us today to interpret ancient models metaphorically.

Keywords

Hemel; hel; doderyk; wêreldbeeld; Sheol; hades; Gehenna; Ge-Hinnom uitspansel; skepping; kosmos; aarde; mites; metafoor; lewe na die dood; apokaliptiek; opvaar; neerdaal;

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