H is for Hell (as an expression).

Sometimes being a Pagan surrounded by Christians is as hard as Hell. I could try to raise hell about it, but all hell would break loose, and someone hell-bent on converting me would tell me I'm doomed to hell, to which I'd have to reply, "Go to hell!" just for the hell of it. Then they'd give me hell about that, which would start one hell of an argument, which neither of us would have a snowball's chance in hell of winning, unless hell freezes over. Maybe I could just scare the hell out of them and they'd flee like a bat out of hell. Ah, to hell with it!

As a pagan, I don't believe in Hell, so why would I use the word? Well, it is probably the best known name for a location of its type, at least in the Western world. According to Thesaurus.com, there is a list of synonyms for hell: Abaddon, Gehenna, Hades, abyss, affliction, agony, anguish, blazes, bottomless pit, difficulty, everlasting fire, fire and brimstone, grave, hell-fire, infernal regions, inferno, limbo, lower world, misery, nether world, nightmare, ordeal, pandemonium, perdition, pit, place of torment, purgatory, suffering, torment, trial, underworld, wretchedness. While many of these words could be used in place of hell in some circumstances, sometimes hell just works better. Many of these words still refer to the same Judeo-Christian concept of hell: Abaddon, Gehenna, everlasting fire, fire and brimstine, hell-fire, perdition. Some are just not as comprehensive as the word hell: abyss, affliction, agony, anguish, blazes, bottomless pit, difficulty, grave, infernal regions, inferno, misery, ordeal, pandemonium, pit, place of torment, suffering, torment, trial, wretchedness. A few are names for similar mythological places: Hades, limbo, lower world, nether world, purgatory, underworld. The only synonym left is nightmare, but let's face it: "Hurts like a nightmare" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Not only is hell a relatively unique word, but the fact that you don't believe in something isn't necessarily a reason to avoid talking about it or using it in conversation. I have friends who debate the physics within fictional universes. Most of us have heard the phrases, "I'm no Superman," and "What would <insert fictional character here> do?" Not to mention all the memes starring fictional characters or places. So the next time you say "What the hell?" and someone responds, "I thought you didn't believe in Hell." give 'em hell! ;P