Tishrei4

Can anyone tell me where Sartre says that those in hell are there because they want to be and the gates are locked from the inside. I know that apologists like to quote out of context so I made quick search on yahoo using words like Sartre, hell, locked, and inside. I get many hits for christian sites and all of them just seem to be quoting each other without actually saying where this quote can be found. Can someone please tell me where I can find it?

Thanks!

Diadectes

I think (though I could be wrong) that this is a reference to Satre's play "No Exit", about three people who find themselves trapped in a drawing room that is actually a room in hell. As I recall (it's a long time since I've seen it, so I'm ready to be corrected) the main thrust of the play is that 'hell' is other people. Imagine being stuck in a room with two people you've never met for the rest of eternity (worse still, imagine being stuck in a room with two of your friends for the rest of eternity!).

At one point in the proceedings, the door of the room opens, but the three characters find that they cannot leave, not because anyone or anything is stopping them, but because they are too afraid of what they might find. At least, that's my recollection.

chekmate

Erm... Wasn't Satre an atheistic existentialist?

Rational BAC

"Huis Clos" is a great play. And "l'enfer, c'est les autres" is probably very correct.

Sartre WAS an atheist, as I recall---------and I don't think the play has anything to do with religion at all.

Diadectes

Tishrei4 -

A quick search on the internet brought me to this

http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/hell/sart.html

where you can read the entire play.


I guess a modern equivalent would be a version of Big Brother where no one gets evicted...ever!

NightWatchman

proverbs 15:24 read it, it answers your question
nw

Diadectes

"Wise people walk the road that leads upwards to life, not the road that leads downwards to death" Prov. 15:24

What does this have to do with the question?

Tishrei4

Diadectes
I think (though I could be wrong) that this is a reference to Satre's play "No Exit", about three people who find themselves trapped in a drawing room that is actually a room in hell.

Tishrei
You know... come to think of it... I may have seen that play in college. Should have made the connection. Once again you have confirmed what I thought about missionary tactics. [I know that apologists like to quote out of context ]

Proverbs 15:24
A path of life [is] on high for the wise, To turn aside from Sheol beneath.

Since you are quoting from a Jewish work then I will address your quote in a Jewish manner. In Judaism path and life can be synonyms for Torah... It could be that the proverb is speaking of the temple since many times that which is "on high" speaks of the temple. However in this instance the writer may actually be referring to Sinai... the place where Divine instruction originated. Since the Torah came from Sinai (and kept in the temple "on high") then it is conceivable that the path for the wise man leading to life is in the Torah scrolls which came from "on high" and are located in the temple "on high." By seaking out this path that leads to life one is kept from Sheol.

Sheol
The average person descends to a place of punishment and/or purification, generally referred to as Gehinnom (guh-hee-NOHM) (in Yiddish, Gehenna), but sometimes as She'ol or by other names. According to one mystical view, every sin we commit creates an angel of destruction (a demon), and after we die we are punished by the very demons that we created. Some views see Gehinnom as one of severe punishment, a bit like the Christian Hell of fire and brimstone. Other sources merely see it as a time when we can see the actions of our lives objectively, see the harm that we have done and the opportunities we missed, and experience remorse for our actions. The period of time in Gehinnom does not exceed 12 months, and then ascends to take his place on Olam Ha-Ba.

Only the utterly wicked do not ascend at the end of this period; their souls are punished for the entire 12 months. Sources differ on what happens at the end of those 12 months: some say that the wicked soul is utterly destroyed and ceases to exist while others say that the soul continues to exist in a state of consciousness of remorse. [jewfaq.org]

So it is quite plain then... by following and observing the commandments which are on high (and which came from on high) then a person becomes wise and keeps his life from becoming tormented - temporarily - in Sheol.

Vylo

Hell is great, now get off my lawn!