Heaven, Hell, and the Measure of Humanity

In today's world, questions about the fate of the soul, heaven, and hell have become not merely religious speculations but a true test of our moral foundations. It all comes down to one thing: how we treat our fellow human beings. It is precisely our actions and care for those in need—from feeding the hungry to supporting a friend during difficult times—that serve as the measure of the depth of our human essence and our connection with the divine spirit.

At the core of the concepts of the Last Judgment lies the idea that this process is far removed from the familiar earthly judicial procedures. A person’s fate is determined not by bureaucratic formalities but by a personal encounter with Christ. This is not a fragment of mythological imagery but an important reminder that our lives are made up of small yet significant deeds that lay the foundation for the soul’s eternal state.

The notions of heaven and hell also reflect the inner state of each one of us. Heaven appears as a place of otherworldly beauty, an effusion of light and joy that surpasses any earthly bliss. In contrast, hell is not a physical space but a state of inner decay, where a person loses the integrity of their soul, sinking into loneliness and alienation from the divine spark. This approach vividly demonstrates that the criteria for salvation and perdition are not inscribed on the pages of sacred texts but reside in true humanity—in the ability to be there for those in need.

Thus, our future is determined by the quality of our actions and our attitude toward others. In every act of care and love lies the possibility of attaining a higher, divine nature, while every dismissive step leads to internal disintegration. May this message serve as a reminder: to be humane is to embody an eternal and radiant truth capable of transforming not only individual lives but the entire world around us.

What criteria and beliefs shape the understanding of the Last Judgment and the definition of heaven or hell?

The understanding of the Last Judgment, as well as the determination of heaven and hell, is based on several key beliefs. First, primary attention is given to the quality of human deeds rather than solely to religious faith or rituals. As noted in one source, the criteria for salvation and perdition come down to a simple yet profound question: Did a person display humanity? Did they feed the hungry, clothe the cold, give shelter to the homeless, visit the sick, or acknowledge a friend in prison? It is the care for one’s neighbor that serves as the true measure of humanity, through which a person can partake in the Divine nature (source: link , page: 1).

Second, the traditional notion of the Last Judgment as an earthly judicial process with judges, defendants, and witnesses is far removed from reality. As emphasized in one excerpt, the image of the Last Judgment does not correspond to earthly judicial procedures but is instead a meeting with Christ, where formal legal processes do not play a role (source: link , page: 3).

Third, the definition of heaven and hell also reveals the subjectivity of these states. Some theological reflections stress that the concept of hell is associated with the loss of wholeness, the breakdown of the divinely endowed personality, and the absence of any glimpse of divine light within the soul. According to one author, hell is a state in which a person sinks into absolute nothingness, disintegrates, and loses the ability to break free from the shackles of loneliness (source: link , page: 1). This perspective underscores that hell exists only as a result of the internal decay of an individual’s personality, rather than as a specific place.

Finally, the conceptions of heaven in these sources are connected with experiences that transcend earthly notions of beauty and well-being. The Apostle Paul and others who have witnessed heaven describe it as if “an eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” indicating the unfathomable splendor of the heavens and the abundance of bliss (source: link , page: 1; link , page: 2). Meanwhile, traditional images of heaven—characterized by scenes of gardens, rivers, blossoming trees, and Eastern-style temples—add a sense of wholeness and elevation, linking it to a divine order (source: link , pages: 1, 3).

Thus, the criteria and beliefs that form the understanding of the Last Judgment and the definition of heaven or hell include an evaluation based on spiritual and human qualities, the understanding of judgment as a personal encounter with Christ, and the recognition that the states of heaven and hell reflect the inner condition of the soul and the integrity of the personality.

Supporting citation(s):
"When I read, for example, the parable of the sheep and the goats, I am struck by ... all the criteria come down to one question: Were you humane or not? Did you feed the hungry? Clothe the cold? Give shelter to the homeless? Visit the sick? Did you not feel ashamed to admit that your friend was in prison?... If you were human, you could partake in the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)." (source: link , page: 1)

"The picturesque image of the Last Judgment is very often presented to us as an earthly court. There is a judge, a defendant, devils testify about one thing, angels about another—but this does not correspond to any reality." (source: link , page: 3)

"Berdyaev writes: 'Hell exists nowhere except in a self-contained, non-objective realm incapable of the transcendence of subjectivity.' More fundamentally, the definition ... describes the subjectivity of hell, associated with Berdyaev’s understanding of personality." (source: link , page: 1)

"The Apostle Paul was enraptured by heaven, and later up to the third heaven ... The nature of heaven, the splendor of the skies ... an eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man prepared by God for those who love Him." (source: link , page: 1)