I agree that Dante who popularised it, but the concept that hell is only an "absence from God" as some Christians like put it, or as you state "just stay dead" is entirely contradicted by many bible verses speaking of eternity and concepts of firey hell

“The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”Revelation 20:14-15:

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Revelation 20:10

then the new testament to the lake of fire

"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.Matthew 18:8

"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."Matthew 25:46

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:Mark 9:47

"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."Matthew 25:46

and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42

"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; Matthew 25:41