The classic theological stance, often cited by Catholic and traditional Protestant sources, views hell as a place of literal or metaphorical fire where the "worm never dies".

: Many theologians emphasize that God does not "send" anyone to hell; rather, individuals choose it by persistently rejecting a relationship with the divine. Emerging Perspectives: Annihilationism and Universalism

Doomed to Hell: The Evolution and Ethics of Eternal Damnation