Hi Bob. I appreciate your article. There are 2 points your article did not discuss, so I would appreciate if you could share you insights on the following: 1) How do you account for folks that believe they will go to Hell when they die, and when they have an NDE, they don't, and when they return to their body, they are surprised they did not go to hell? I agree that we create our reality with our thoughts and beliefs, so how do we account for this? 2) No one has heard from spirits in Hell. Why? Is this "proof" that Hell does not exist? Perhaps they can't communicate from such density. Perhaps spirits are not given access to Hell if they are meant to return to their body, such as near death experiencers.
Hi Karen, Saying that people have a hellish experience because they believe that's what they would have is not the same as saying all people who expect they're going to hell will have a hellish experience.
As to your second question, we could ask that question all day long about all sorts of subjects. For example, how do we account for there being no concrete evidence that unicorns exist? In the absence of evidence, conclusions are blatantly subjective. One could even suggest that conjecture sits on the realm of fictional. Consequently, these are answers that must be determined on one's own.
I should note that in my work, I prefer the word evidence over proof. Evidence is objective while proof is subjective. Everyone can agree on specific evidence, but not everyone will feel that the evidence equals proof, which is why we have deadlocked juries.
I like that you're asking questions for yourself. Questions are the motivation for every investigation. My investigation of the afterlife has always been primarily for myself. I never wanted to be a teacher. I only share what I've learned to help others navigate their own afterlife investigations. I'm happy to share what I've learned, but it's also important to me that everyone decide for themselves. I know you'll appreciate that more than most. Thanks.
Is Hitler a spiritual being of love on the other side? That’s really hard for many to grasp. Some say he is “encapsulated”. What are your thoughts on both of these?
Hi Nancy, I was waiting for someone to ask this question. It’s the most common one in relation to the subject of Hell, because it’s the most horrific example of a human being that anyone can imagine. Because this is a gigantic question, keep in mind that my answer is coming as a comment reply, rather than an entire book or dissertation on this subject, which is more in order for such a big question.
Your question is really asking where do the Hitlers of the world go if there isn’t a Hell. Many human beings feel comforted by the idea that bad people get punished, but that’s because we can’t imagine the spirit world as much different than the physical world, even though they are apples and baseballs.
On this note, many reject the idea that Hell doesn’t exist because they think that the human being gets a do-over (second chance) in the spirit world (call it Heaven if you prefer). In essence, we don’t want people to get off the hook.
That’s the equivalent of thinking that the wave gets a do-over when it rushes off the shore and returns to the ocean. Yet returning home to the spirit world isn’t about getting a second chance or being let off the hook, it’s about a finite experience (human life) ending in the infinite existence of an eternal spiritual being (the soul).
Yet, this isn’t really most people’s motive for asking the Hitler question either. The most common motive for asking this question is focused on justice or vengeance, both human concepts that don’t apply to the spirit world. If we like the idea of a forgiving God and an afterlife drenched in love, it would be contradictory to wish for a section of the hereafter designed for revenge and punishment.
So much of this question begs the question of: Where do we draw the line? People think of Hitler because he’s an extreme example, yet if we narrow the example down, it helps us to better contemplate the matter at stake.
Said another way, if Hell did exist, where would we draw the line on who gets into Heaven and who goes to Hell? Most people might agree on murder, but what about harming the environment, cheating on one’s spouse, or lying on tax returns? If you’re okay with those offenses, how about animal abuse, child abuse, or domestic abuse? Are murderers going to Hell but our soldiers who have killed people during war exempt? What about the pilot who drove the plane that dropped the atomic bomb, or the person who pushed the button to release it? How about the many people who built the atomic bomb or the guy who invented it?
You see, there’s a point where we must get honest with ourselves about whether our desire for justice or forgiveness is self-serving. For example, how do we feel when a person drinks and drives? Many might not send that person to Hell. But what if a person drives under the influence and kills a child? Would it make a difference if the driver was a teenager? The parents of the child killed in the accident might send the driver to Hell while the parents of the teenage driver might feel more forgiving.
At what point do we feel good about eternal forgiveness yet bad about a lack of justice? The good news is that these decisions are not up to us. If my conclusions based on the evidence I’ve seen are correct, the evidence indicates a loving and forgiving God that welcomes all his children home. But, as you say, what about Hitler, because that guy not going to Hell is especially hard to grasp. That’s a question for you to decide on your own.
There’s a lot more to this question than I can answer here, but it’s important to point out that I, Bob Olson, am not the guy letting anyone off the hook. Fortunately, I don’t make the rules; I simply report what the evidence suggests about the afterlife. As I repeat often, I don’t ask anyone to adopt my conclusions. In fact, I’d rather you don’t. My intention in writing about my investigation is to help you decide for yourself what’s true.
As I wrote in my last article on how and when we die, “Personally, I don’t think the human brain is capable of understanding the infinite, at least not in the way we’ll understand it in the spiritual dimension.” And yet, everything about the afterlife (and the spiritual) is steeped in the infinite, including the answer to your question.
I don’t have the definitive answer to your question, but I hope this simple comment reply offers you more to think about when making up your own mind. And I appreciate you asking it.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your time answering my question! I’m a new subscriber and fully appreciate the many audio podcasts to select! I hope to see more on people describing their NDE’s. Gives me much peace and I thank you for that, Bob❣️
*Have you discovered anything on encapsulated souls?
You're welcome, Nancy. I have a quite a few NDE interviews on AfterlifeTV.com. Regarding your question, people have different words to help them understand the afterlife. Encapsulated soul is not a term I've used in my 25 years in this field. I do make a distinction between soul and spirit, which is explained in my article, Will You Wait for Me in Heaven? I hope that helps.
Hi Sharon, I'm sorry it's been confusing. Apparently (I'm just learning today), it's in a different location depending upon where you read it. In my email inbox (yours might be different) and on the website, it's at the top below my name and the date. On the mobile app, it's more confusing -- located at the bottom "as" you scroll through the article. I appreciate you wanting to help me out (that's very kind), but no worries if you can't find it. Substack should make it easier. Your comments are most important to me, so I'm grateful to you for writing.
Loved the article Bob. And I especially like the way u explained it so succinctly. I remember when I first learned that there isn’t an actual place that is Hell, thinking that all the people who have done such terrible crimes, like murder, etc will not have to be relegated to a separate place to pay for their sins. But now, learning all the things I have about the spirit world, ( & how Hell is merely a state of mind, & about reincarnation & karma, I now know that all actions on earth are accountable & that for people who do terrible heinous crimes, that they will probably have to live another life in an opposite role to balance karma. Thanks for the great subject!
Thanks Shari. I appreciate that. There's something freeing and peaceful about the knowing that comes from experience, especially in reference to these big questions. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Hi Bob. I appreciate your article. There are 2 points your article did not discuss, so I would appreciate if you could share you insights on the following: 1) How do you account for folks that believe they will go to Hell when they die, and when they have an NDE, they don't, and when they return to their body, they are surprised they did not go to hell? I agree that we create our reality with our thoughts and beliefs, so how do we account for this? 2) No one has heard from spirits in Hell. Why? Is this "proof" that Hell does not exist? Perhaps they can't communicate from such density. Perhaps spirits are not given access to Hell if they are meant to return to their body, such as near death experiencers.
Thanks for your insight.
Hi Karen, Saying that people have a hellish experience because they believe that's what they would have is not the same as saying all people who expect they're going to hell will have a hellish experience.
As to your second question, we could ask that question all day long about all sorts of subjects. For example, how do we account for there being no concrete evidence that unicorns exist? In the absence of evidence, conclusions are blatantly subjective. One could even suggest that conjecture sits on the realm of fictional. Consequently, these are answers that must be determined on one's own.
I should note that in my work, I prefer the word evidence over proof. Evidence is objective while proof is subjective. Everyone can agree on specific evidence, but not everyone will feel that the evidence equals proof, which is why we have deadlocked juries.
I like that you're asking questions for yourself. Questions are the motivation for every investigation. My investigation of the afterlife has always been primarily for myself. I never wanted to be a teacher. I only share what I've learned to help others navigate their own afterlife investigations. I'm happy to share what I've learned, but it's also important to me that everyone decide for themselves. I know you'll appreciate that more than most. Thanks.
Is Hitler a spiritual being of love on the other side? That’s really hard for many to grasp. Some say he is “encapsulated”. What are your thoughts on both of these?
Hi Nancy, I was waiting for someone to ask this question. It’s the most common one in relation to the subject of Hell, because it’s the most horrific example of a human being that anyone can imagine. Because this is a gigantic question, keep in mind that my answer is coming as a comment reply, rather than an entire book or dissertation on this subject, which is more in order for such a big question.
Your question is really asking where do the Hitlers of the world go if there isn’t a Hell. Many human beings feel comforted by the idea that bad people get punished, but that’s because we can’t imagine the spirit world as much different than the physical world, even though they are apples and baseballs.
On this note, many reject the idea that Hell doesn’t exist because they think that the human being gets a do-over (second chance) in the spirit world (call it Heaven if you prefer). In essence, we don’t want people to get off the hook.
That’s the equivalent of thinking that the wave gets a do-over when it rushes off the shore and returns to the ocean. Yet returning home to the spirit world isn’t about getting a second chance or being let off the hook, it’s about a finite experience (human life) ending in the infinite existence of an eternal spiritual being (the soul).
Yet, this isn’t really most people’s motive for asking the Hitler question either. The most common motive for asking this question is focused on justice or vengeance, both human concepts that don’t apply to the spirit world. If we like the idea of a forgiving God and an afterlife drenched in love, it would be contradictory to wish for a section of the hereafter designed for revenge and punishment.
So much of this question begs the question of: Where do we draw the line? People think of Hitler because he’s an extreme example, yet if we narrow the example down, it helps us to better contemplate the matter at stake.
Said another way, if Hell did exist, where would we draw the line on who gets into Heaven and who goes to Hell? Most people might agree on murder, but what about harming the environment, cheating on one’s spouse, or lying on tax returns? If you’re okay with those offenses, how about animal abuse, child abuse, or domestic abuse? Are murderers going to Hell but our soldiers who have killed people during war exempt? What about the pilot who drove the plane that dropped the atomic bomb, or the person who pushed the button to release it? How about the many people who built the atomic bomb or the guy who invented it?
You see, there’s a point where we must get honest with ourselves about whether our desire for justice or forgiveness is self-serving. For example, how do we feel when a person drinks and drives? Many might not send that person to Hell. But what if a person drives under the influence and kills a child? Would it make a difference if the driver was a teenager? The parents of the child killed in the accident might send the driver to Hell while the parents of the teenage driver might feel more forgiving.
At what point do we feel good about eternal forgiveness yet bad about a lack of justice? The good news is that these decisions are not up to us. If my conclusions based on the evidence I’ve seen are correct, the evidence indicates a loving and forgiving God that welcomes all his children home. But, as you say, what about Hitler, because that guy not going to Hell is especially hard to grasp. That’s a question for you to decide on your own.
There’s a lot more to this question than I can answer here, but it’s important to point out that I, Bob Olson, am not the guy letting anyone off the hook. Fortunately, I don’t make the rules; I simply report what the evidence suggests about the afterlife. As I repeat often, I don’t ask anyone to adopt my conclusions. In fact, I’d rather you don’t. My intention in writing about my investigation is to help you decide for yourself what’s true.
As I wrote in my last article on how and when we die, “Personally, I don’t think the human brain is capable of understanding the infinite, at least not in the way we’ll understand it in the spiritual dimension.” And yet, everything about the afterlife (and the spiritual) is steeped in the infinite, including the answer to your question.
I don’t have the definitive answer to your question, but I hope this simple comment reply offers you more to think about when making up your own mind. And I appreciate you asking it.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your time answering my question! I’m a new subscriber and fully appreciate the many audio podcasts to select! I hope to see more on people describing their NDE’s. Gives me much peace and I thank you for that, Bob❣️
*Have you discovered anything on encapsulated souls?
You're welcome, Nancy. I have a quite a few NDE interviews on AfterlifeTV.com. Regarding your question, people have different words to help them understand the afterlife. Encapsulated soul is not a term I've used in my 25 years in this field. I do make a distinction between soul and spirit, which is explained in my article, Will You Wait for Me in Heaven? I hope that helps.
Yes it does! Thank you. And, I am going to listen “Will you Wait for Me in Heaven right now! You’re awesome! Thank you❣️
Bob... You keep leaving a message for us to Mark the heart to "like" you... I can't find one???
Me either!
Hi Sharon, I'm sorry it's been confusing. Apparently (I'm just learning today), it's in a different location depending upon where you read it. In my email inbox (yours might be different) and on the website, it's at the top below my name and the date. On the mobile app, it's more confusing -- located at the bottom "as" you scroll through the article. I appreciate you wanting to help me out (that's very kind), but no worries if you can't find it. Substack should make it easier. Your comments are most important to me, so I'm grateful to you for writing.
By hook or crook is how it was suppose to read. 🙄
I knew what you meant, Sharon. We're like minded. It made me laugh.
Thank you Bob for answering. I'll figure it out by him or crook. ✋🤗
Loved the article Bob. And I especially like the way u explained it so succinctly. I remember when I first learned that there isn’t an actual place that is Hell, thinking that all the people who have done such terrible crimes, like murder, etc will not have to be relegated to a separate place to pay for their sins. But now, learning all the things I have about the spirit world, ( & how Hell is merely a state of mind, & about reincarnation & karma, I now know that all actions on earth are accountable & that for people who do terrible heinous crimes, that they will probably have to live another life in an opposite role to balance karma. Thanks for the great subject!
Thanks Shari. I appreciate that. There's something freeing and peaceful about the knowing that comes from experience, especially in reference to these big questions. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Always a pleasure to read your writings - objective, informed, as evidence-based as can be. Thank you.
Hey Jon, I appreciate your comment. Very kind of you. Glad you're enjoying the articles.
Thanks for your enlightening viewpoint of hell based on 25 years of afterlife investigation. Your articles are always a joy to read. Thanks again.
I appreciate your support and generous feedback, Joan. Means a lot.