Many of my blogger friends have recently reflected on themes related to hell. Is it primarily a location and is the suffering associated with it due to the nature of that location? Or is the focus on the mental state resulting from a mindset and character that has evolved over time, and its suffering accordingly the perception of that mind which is unable to see anything else? If the former does play a role, is the suffering in hell due to God's presence in it or His absence? And what would "presence" or "absence" mean in this context?
Also, is it from God's perspective an act of punitive justice only without any restorative purpose or does hell serve a purpose beyond a punishment framed exclusively by vengeance?
Is hell going to continue forever for those who are in it, or does God's grace and God's work in people continue beyond the grave?
Is hell a picture of annihilation or torture from God's hand or is it something we essentially do to ourselves and God is just calling out that reality?
I've tried to narrow down what I've come to believe after many years of reflecting on this particular issue. If I had to define hell in one sentence, I would say:
"Hell is the anguish of a soul that will not allow itself to be comforted and freed because it cannot and will not grasp its true identity in love and grace."
