I fear hell, and this article made things worse for me. What do you guys think?

[The Valkyrie]

People only ever believe in hell because it's been programmed into them somehow. Indoctrination, or just being surrounded by people who believe and absorbing their belief over time.

There's no evidence that such a place is real. No more evidence than for tooth fairies, goblins or dragons.

Religion, in my opinion, works entirely on emotional beliefs. That's why logic gets so easily deflected, because the beliefs aren't logical. They feel true, and then people attempt to use logic to rationalise them. Or in your case, you recognise that it's irrational and illogical, but feel it is true anyway. It's a perfectly normal response.

Firstly I'd say that in my experience, with everyone I've talked to, fear of hell does fade over time. Secondly, the entire idea makes no sense at all. We have this supposedly supreme being, and one that is so often touted as being all loving, who has made this place which is obviously the most evil thing ever. That's just a ludicrous scenario. It's so insecure about people loving it, that it has to threaten them with hideous shit? A loving god would simply never make such a place. Thirdly, if the devil is evil, he'd be happy you went to hell! Why would he hurt you once you got there? He wanted you there! He's managed to "tempt you away". It's Yahweh that wants you to suffer. The devil is just a puppet. Yahweh holds all the cards, in the fairy story universe.

But bottom line, there is no evidence. It's not even something we could test since no one can even tell us "where" it is. There's no evidence that anyone even lives on, in any way, after they die. It's all stories. No one knows exactly what happens when we die, but all the evidence suggests a big fat nothing. Heaven and Hell are just woo stories. Carrot and stick. Religion works because people are scared into believing, or enticed into the benefits. Or because they're scared of dying. It's all about emotion.

This.

Many religions keep you believing (or at least donating) through scare mongering.

If they terrorise you enough you will keep going, you won't question, and the coin will keep rolling in.