Affirms
Hell exists as a place of separation from God for the unfaithful
The Amish affirm the reality of hell as a place of final separation from God, consistent with the Dordrecht Confession and with their inheritance of the Anabaptist martyrdom tradition in which the prospect of eternal life or death was a constant companion.
Amish preaching on hell is tempered by the communal posture of humble trust in God's mercy rather than judgment of others. The focus is on one's own faithfulness before God and the community rather than on speculating about who is or is not damned.
Key Distinctions
- Hell nature:
- eternal separation from God; emphasis on God's mercy
- Duration:
- eternal
- Who faces hell:
- those who finally and willfully reject God
Scripture References
Sources
- Dordrecht Confession of Faith (1632), Articles 17–18