Nikolay Bierdiajew as an inspiration for philosophical thinking about the hell

Authors

  • Mirosław Pawliszyn

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/lie.159

Keywords:

hell, justice, punishment, immortality, heaven

Abstract

In the discussion concerning the understanding of what hell is, the opinion of the Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev is very important. He is strongly opposed to the attempts to rationalize the problem saying that, sooner or later, they breed fear and anxiety. Hell is pure subjectivity, the inability to go beyond the circle of our spirit’s constant torment. Therefore, hell is not related to objectivity. Rather, it is a total confinement, a state of helplessness. It is being imprisoned in time, which has no end, a dream, from which it is impossible to wake up. Thus, it is not the result of God’s decision, a punishment for committed sins. On the contrary, it is the result of choice, being in favor of your own loneliness. Ultimately, it will remain only a creation of our rationalization. Therefore, we must have hope (which perhaps will be false) that hell does not exist.

Author Biography

  • Mirosław Pawliszyn

    Mirosław Pawliszyn CSsR – wykłada filozofię na Uniwersytecie Warmińsko-Mazurskim w Olsztynie oraz w seminarium duchownym redemptorystów w Tuchowie. Redaktor naczelny rocznika naukowego „Studia Redemptorystowskie” oraz pisma internetowego „Człowiek-Kultura-Przyszłość”. Zainteresowania naukowe: filozofia religii, metafizyka, filozofia
    rosyjska, filozofia śmierci.

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Published

2013-12-31

Issue

Section

Articles