Is There a Place in Heaven for Monsters Like Hitler, Stalin, or Jeffrey Dahmer?

You may not like the answer. In fact, you might find it deeply disturbing. But if you read this article, you’ll see why there are compelling reasons to suspect that, yes, even individuals as monstrous as these might find a place in heaven.

Defining Heaven and Hell Through NDEs

First, it’s essential to clarify what “heaven” and “hell” mean based on Near-Death Experience (NDE) accounts. Contrary to traditional religious depictions, many NDEs describe arriving to an interphase an “in-between” state—a serene, reflective realm that bridges life and death.

For those raised in Abrahamic religions, this space is a calm and peaceful place of reflection on life experiences and the meaning of existence often perceived as a place of infinite love and acceptance, like returning home after a long journey. Meanwhile, those influenced by Eastern philosophies or religions may describe it as a place of understanding and inner harmony.

Take the case of Bridget F, who experienced a life review in this realm. She relived not only her own actions but also the joy and suffering she caused others. She concluded that such a review, for a person who lived a life of cruelty, would feel like hell. This is an opinion that is corroborated by a few NDE, like Ellen F

A Glimpse of Hell

Although most NDEs focus on the peaceful “in-between,” there are accounts of hellish realms. Jeffrey Cdescribed a terrifying journey through hell. Yet, even in that place of torment, he found guidance—a process of learning that eventually showed him the way out. For some, this escape is swift; for others, it might span what we would perceive as eons.

But these hellish realms often seem less like eternal punishments and more like phases of education, opportunities for growth and redemption. They suggest a process where even the most broken souls are given a chance to evolve.

The Concept of Judgment

Another perspective comes from Ken W, whose NDE suggested a form of judgment upon death. This isn’t the traditional courtroom scene, with advocates and juries deciding your fate. Instead, it seems to be an automatic process, driven by the soul’s own energy or vibration. In this view, a soul steeped in hatred and cruelty would naturally gravitate to a realm aligned with that low vibration.

By this logic, figures like Hitler, Stalin, and Dahmer should inevitably end up in hell. Yet, as we’ll see, the story doesn’t end there.

Pre-Birth Choices and the Role of Evil

Many NDE accounts propose that our lives, including the hardships and decisions we face, even when those actions involve harming others, are part of a pre-planned journey. This concept suggests that we, along with other souls, collaborate before birth to design the experiences we will encounter, often with the aim of achieving specific spiritual growth.

Consider the case described in a YouTube video where a woman recounts taking a life in one incarnation where she caused great harm to another person, only to reverse roles in the next. The perpetrator becomes the victim, and vice versa, in a cycle that serves a higher purpose.

Plato’s Myth of Er offers a similar narrative. During his vision of the afterlife, Er observed souls choosing their next lives, including one who deliberately selected a life of tyranny and cruelty. This choice wasn’t arbitrary but part of a larger cosmic plan for growth and understanding.

In another striking YouTube account, a woman who spent three days in heaven learned that even the most painful experiences, including being victimized by evil, were part of her soul’s pre-birth plan to accelerate its growth. Her spiritual mentors revealed that these plans often compress lifetimes’ worth of lessons into a single incarnation.

These accounts suggest that acts of evil, however horrific, may have a place in the divine order—not as a failure of good but as a necessary element of a greater design.

The Boundaries of Free Will

At this point, a natural question arises: if so much is preordained, do we truly have free will? Many NDEs emphasize the importance of free will for spiritual development. But both science and philosophy offer a more nuanced view.

Modern research, as well as Buddhist teachings, highlights the significant limitations of free will. Genetics, upbringing, and environmental factors play a massive role in shaping our decisions, often leaving little room for genuine autonomy.

One of the most controversial explorations of this concept comes from the story of the “Three Identical Strangers” This documentary reveals how identical triplets, separated at birth and raised in vastly different environments, still displayed strikingly similar traits. It’s a powerful testament to how much of our behavior is shaped by forces beyond our control.

Buddhism takes this idea further, teaching that true freedom requires years of meditation and spiritual practice to overcome the conditioning that impose on the outcome of our current decisions the consequences of past actions, our mental habits and the cultural background in which we have been educated.

Why Monsters Might Find Heaven

When we consider the constraints on free will and the possibility of pre-birth agreements, the idea of eternal damnation becomes less clear-cut. If even the most heinous actions are influenced by factors beyond the individual’s control—or are part of a soul’s preordained plan—can we truly judge anyone as irredeemable?

A Shocking Conclusion

NDEs suggest that all souls, no matter how dark their actions, are on a journey of learning and growth. Hell may be part of that journey, but it’s not necessarily the final destination. Instead, it may serve as a crucible for transformation, a phase where the soul confronts and resolves its own darkness.

This perspective doesn’t excuse the horrors caused by figures like Hitler, Stalin, or Dahmer. Their actions were unquestionably evil. But it does open the door to the possibility that even they are not beyond redemption.

If the accounts of NDE survivors are to be believed, heaven is not reserved for the “good” alone. It is a realm of infinite love and understanding, where even the darkest souls might eventually find peace and reconciliation.

This idea may be unsettling. It may challenge your deepest beliefs about justice and morality. But it is worth contemplating. In the grand design of the universe, perhaps even the most monstrous lives serve a purpose—and even they might one day find their way to the light.