I just read The Great Divorce--a story about someone who is in hell. The author admitted it to be complete fantasy only illustrating his points, and in the end the guy in the story actually finds out it was a dream...but anyway, it was quite the story. Lewis' point was "will you give up your most cherished possessions to get into heaven, or keep them and go to hell?" I really liked the story--if like is the word.
Thoughts on this overall topic:
Creativity is Good - when it's used correctly:
I think Biblical realities should be part of our normal daily lives: we should talk about them, think about them, write songs about them, write books and stories about them... I think that's all great.
God, being the creator of all things, and thus being the foundation and source of all "creativity", has made us with certain lesser, but wonderful, creative abilities. We should use these to glorify God, and to help each other.
Creativity is bad - when it contradicts Biblical truths:
However, thinking deeply about Bible truths, and then writing a story to illustrate them (as C.S. Lewis did) is very different than making up fanciful stories and claiming they really happened to you.
I'm not aware of ANY serious students of the Bible (people who've gone through serious Biblical training, and also BELIEVE the Bible) who believe all of these fanciful stories about people visiting hell.
Why?
Because comprehensive and serious study of the Bible shows us these things cannot happen.
Why?
Because they violate the principles God has put in place to govern his creation. They are simply unbiblical.
But can't God do ANYTHING - Isn't anything possible?
Can't God do ANYTHING?
Can't God choose to do absolutely ANYTHING?
Isn't anything possible?
No.
Absolutely not.
This is a common misunderstanding.
(This is a common misunderstanding by a lot of very nice people. Misunderstanding this doesn't make you bad, and it doesn't make you stupid - it probably just makes you part of the majority, which hasn't been taught the traditional Biblical view on God's omnipotence. The traditional Biblical view on this, explained below, will instantly make logical sense, and also, you will find this is the view held THROUGHOUT church history by ALL the church fathers, and which is still taught today throughout Christendom.)
God cannot do "anything."
God cannot do anything which violates his own nature.
God cannot lie.
God cannot contradict himself.
God cannot commit any kind of sin.
God cannot, in any way, violate his own words, and violate his own nature.
This means that if God lays out certain principles in scripture, he cannot suddenly violate them, and contradict himself.
The fact God cannot do "anything" is actually a GOOD THING:
This is precisely the reason we can count on God's promises in the Bible.
God cannot lie; God cannot contradict himself; God cannot violate his own principles.
Therefore, we can have 100% confidence in every promise God makes to us.
It's good that God cannot do "anything"; it's good that he cannot lie or contradict himself.
So, let's think about this a bit deeper:
if God cannot violate his words or principles about some things (like promises to us),
then he also cannot violate his words or principles about other things (like life, death, heaven, and hell).
What if you want to believe these stories about people visiting Hell?
Go right ahead.
I'm writing to give some Biblical and logical clarification for anyone wanting that.
But if you just WANT to believe these stories... go right ahead.
I think it's a mistake, and I think study of the scripture will show these stories are just fanciful creations.
However, if you want to believe them, go right ahead.
I'm not out to get you.