Hi Osmanthus,
Thanks for telling me Allat is a female. I would have never thought of looking up the etymology of the name.
You think? Really "hilarious"? Well, I suppose I could have done worse.
It is interesting that you, as well as Allat, seem to have missed the point that I also had sources outside of the Bible to explain why the idea of a burning hell of torment is not what the Bible discribes.
It is not quite hilarious, perhaps mildly amusing, that you make a statement like the one quoted above.
So are you saying as long as it is a point that you want to make it is okay to ignore the evidence?
Nope. However I do think you are doing some judicious ignoring yourself.
Your whole argument centered around the origin of the word "hell". This is a red herring. It doesn't matter if you call it "hell" or if you call it "Uncle Wally's Bunnies and Kittens Garden Party". The name is irrelevant. What is relevant is what the bible says about it, not what you call it. Of course, concentrating on that would not help your point. I found it amusing that you had time to attempt most of the quotes Allat referenced but suddenly ran out of time when you reached Revelations. This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Revelations is almost impossible to interpret in a way you would like, would it? I may be cynical, but it does give that impression.
You could dispel that impression by tackling those excerpts from Revelations.
Revelation 1
1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation 6
6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Revelation 20
20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Now, notice that the lake of fire is not specifically called "hell" here. This means that sidetracks about etymology are not going to further the discussion. What you have to address is that part of the New Testament is describing punishment after death for people god does not approve of. Your argument that only dead bodies were thrown into the fire outside Jerusalem has no relevance here, because these verses are talking about people who have been deliberately resurrected to a live state by god, just so he can throw them into a lake of fire while they are still alive. Nice work, god.
Also notice that the "lake of fire and brimstone" is specifically for the purpose of having some beings "tormented day and night for ever and ever". Now, when you combine that with the other verses about "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire", which of course is exactly the same lake as the "lake of fire and brimstone", then you have a pretty solid case for saying that the bible (New Testament, not Old) specifies an eternity of burning torment for wrongdoers.
Obviously if you don't like this conclusion you can reinterpret to your heart's content, but I think it should be fairly clear that you are motivated to do this because what the bible actually says makes you feel uncomfortable.
Topic: Putting Faith in its Place