Is the Divine Comedy / Dantes Inferno a biblically accurate description of Heaven and Hell?
” Answer: Written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and 1321, the Divine Comedy is widely considered the central epic poem of Italian literature. A brilliantly written allegory, filled with symbolism and pathos, it is certainly one of the classics of all time. The poem is written in the first person in which Dante describes his imaginative journey through the three realms of the dead: Inferno (hell); Purgatorio (Purgatory); and Paradiso (heaven). The philosophy of the poem is a mixture of the Bible, medieval Roman Catholicism, mythology, and Middle Ages tradition. Where Dante draws on his knowledge of the Bible, the poem is truthful and insightful. Where he draws on the other sources, the poem departs from truth. In fairness to Dante, however, it should be noted that his work is intended to be literary, not theological. It does reflect a deep yearning for understanding of the mysteries of life and death and, as such, has generated tremendous interest over the centuries, remaining extreme
