Descriptions of Heaven and Hell

Larry Niven and a collaborator (I forget his name) wrote two novels about Hell. In a sense these are updates to Dante's Inferno, albeit shallower than Dante's visions. Since then I've thought about writing a novel set in the afterlife. I'd show Hell and Heaven, and then contrast them with two other "places." I should mention in this novel the bad guys are God, Satan, angels and demons.

Anyway, I know a bit of Dante's vision of Hell, both through Niven's interpretation and some reading in high school (I've not read the full Divine Comedy). I'm less clear about Heaven. any idea where I could find something more? I'm not looking for Dante in particular, but any visions, preferably popular, of both Heaven and Hell.

For my fans, this is a very long term project. I barely have a story idea in mind, and would need to develop it over months (I hope! I'm still trying to finish a triptic I began over ten years ago...) And then I'd have to actually put pixels on screen...

Just like the rest of the currently living, we have no concept of Heaven or Hell, and we have no proof of their existance.
Its a matter of faith/belief or the lack thereof. In short, we create our own version, and pimp to the peeps. Some are better than others.

Besides, its not really weather theres a Heaven or Hell, its all about me and my version. So much for the Agnostics.

Let's not forget the place in between, which is often called Purgatory or Limbo. I think the whole show Lost was supposed to take place in said place, but that is a subject of fierce debate.

Quote: Wizard

Let's not forget the place in between, which is often called Purgatory or Limbo. I think the whole show Lost was supposed to take place in said place, but that is a subject of fierce debate.

"Limbo" has been officially closed about 6-7 years ago, it was for people who died before baptism, mainly infants IIRC. Born with the sins of Adam and Eve they were not allowed into Heaven, but did not deserve Hell. Purgatory was a sort of "halfway house" where you waited for admitance to Heavan or the end of the world, when there was a general amnesty so to speak.

I think Hell would be far worse as a bitter cold place than burning up.

Quote: Wizard

I think the whole show Lost [..]

Never heard of it.

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: Wizard

Let's not forget the place in between, which is often called Purgatory or Limbo. I think the whole show Lost was supposed to take place in said place, but that is a subject of fierce debate.

"Limbo" has been officially closed about 6-7 years ago, it was for people who died before baptism, mainly infants IIRC. Born with the sins of Adam and Eve they were not allowed into Heaven, but did not deserve Hell. Purgatory was a sort of "halfway house" where you waited for admitance to Heavan or the end of the world, when there was a general amnesty so to speak.

I think Hell would be far worse as a bitter cold place than burning up.

I was found it very intersting and profound that the deepest and darkest level of Hell according to Dante had the Devil himself frozen solid in a great block of ice.

On the subject of Heaven, Hell, Angels, Demons et al, I have just watched the first 7 seasons of the TV Show Supernatural, which has a nice take on things. Best compliment I can give it is that its almost Whedonesque.