(OPINION) ETH – Comedian, Sarah Silverman just made a statement that isn’t really a “laughing manner”. A video posted to social media shows a clip from her weekly podcast, where the comedian and actress claimed that there is no Hell in an effort to remove the fears of those who believe in eternal punishment.

Her statement has raised both eyebrows and outrage among many on social media. “If you’re in the range of my voice right now, and you’re someone who believes [in] and fears Hell, let me release you of that fear right now,” Silverman said in the video clip. “There is no Hell. I promise you.” “I mean, what do I know?” Silverman, a secular Jew, added, seemingly recognizing that she could be wrong. However, she followed with, “But I believe it with my whole heart.”

Silverman recounted a time when she was in New York and blurted “there’s no Hell” at children who were finishing the day at their Catholic school. Silverman stated that after one boy responded to her, she asserted, “I’m an adult, and I’m telling you, I promise you there is no Hell.” Her friend then quickly corrected her, stating that she should not be telling other people’s children what to believe.


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Silverman responded with a cocky attitude stating that the worst that could come from it would be that she “ruins” Hell for them. She then went further and reiterated to listeners that she was releasing them from a fear of eternal punishment. “I promise you’re not going to be a crueler person because you don’t believe in Hell,” Silverman said, seemingly suggesting that people can be “good” and “kind” without God.

“You’re going to make the same mistakes either way.” She then declared, “If there’s Hell, may God strike me dead right now.” Because she did not die, Silverman smiled and said, “See, no God.” According to the Christian News Network, the responses from many seem to be even more frightening!

“Oh my [Lord’s name in vain], thank you for saying it. I’ve been released from this [expletive] spell for about two years now after being raised by an ultra-conservative fundamentalist Christian parent. [I’m] relishing my life in sin and so far I haven’t been struck down by any form of lighting bolt or fire,” one commenter wrote.

“You don’t need a belief in God or Hell to know what is right or wrong. I don’t believe in God and I don’t steal or commit other heinous acts,” another stated. “If I am wrong and I am standing at the pearly gates, I can tell Peter I chose to be the best person I could be without fearing the wrath of God.”

“If God is omnipotent, why is there a Hell? And if there was a Hell, why would Satan punish you for upsetting or disobeying God? He should reward you!” a third asked.

“She says there is no God, yet [for] her ‘be good, be kind’ stance she had to borrow from the biblical worldview,” one commenter noted. “Be good without borrowing from the 10 Commandments — let’s see how far you go.”

“There’s no Hell? Wow. Is there no evil either? Is there no good? No right or wrong?” another asked. “I know we now live in a world where there [are] no consequences for our actions, but I pray maybe your heart finds that there is Heaven. Because without Hell, there can be no Heaven.”