Accurate or incorrect description of Hell?

[GDP21]

As a Catholic, I have found the concept of Hell very interesting. I have a quick question about it. Before I ask the question, let me give a little background to lead up to it. We know that all people in Hell (if there are any) chose to reject God, and that is why they are there. The Bible describes Hell with words and phrases such as “fiery” and “gnashing of teeth.” So, with all that said, is it possible that the terribleness in Hell is actually God’s beautiful presence (omnipresence), but the people in Hell cannot stand the Divine Love so it is described like that? Please, I do not mean to be heretical, and I do not believe this. I am just wondering if this is a possibility since we do not know too much about Hell and everything involved with it…

Thank you

 

[TheReYUI]

As a Catholic, I have found the concept of Hell very interesting. I have a quick question about it. Before I ask the question, let me give a little background to lead up to it. We know that all people in Hell (if there are any) chose to reject God, and that is why they are there. The Bible describes Hell with words and phrases such as “fiery” and “gnashing of teeth.” So, with all that said, is it possible that the terribleness in Hell is actually God’s beautiful presence (omnipresence), but the people in Hell cannot stand the Divine Love so it is described like that? Please, I do not mean to be heretical, and I do not believe this. I am just wondering if this is a possibility since we do not know too much about Hell and everything involved with it…

Thank you

I don’t think so. To my understanding the reason we go to hell is because we can’t stand to be in God’s presence so we go to hell.

 

[devoutchristian]

Those who choose to reject God go to Hell so that they don’t experience the beatific vision. Hell (already a place of infinite torment) would be infinitely worse if the damned experienced the beatific vision.

 

[DavidFilmer]

As you say, we don’t really know. We use earthly descriptions to try to approximate hell.

FWIW, C.S. Lewis presents a very interesting and thought-provoking picture of purgatory/hell in his book, The Great Divorce (which has nothing to do with marital divorce). It’s a fairly short book describing a postmortem bus ride through purgatory/hell to heaven, with various stops along the way (and meeting many colorful characters). I have read all of Lewis’ theological writings, and this is the book that I have pondered upon the most (with Screwtape Letters being a close second - especially the chapter on gluttony).

Catholics must allow for the fact that Lewis is an Anglican, and his theological understanding of purgatory is not as complete as ours. Lewis viewed purgatory as a lesser degree of hell. But this minor misunderstanding does not prevent Catholics from enjoying (and contemplating) this book. BTW, I don’t remember anyone in a lake of fire in Lewis’ rendition.

His description of heaven is especially interesting. One of the passengers wants to take an apple from heaven (something truly “real”) and return to hell with it. He is told, “All of hell cannot contain it.” Good stuff. Highly recommended.

 

[Rocky24]

As a Catholic, I have found the concept of Hell very interesting. I have a quick question about it. Before I ask the question, let me give a little background to lead up to it. We know that all people in Hell (if there are any) chose to reject God, and that is why they are there. The Bible describes Hell with words and phrases such as “fiery” and “gnashing of teeth.” So, with all that said, is it possible that the terribleness in Hell is actually God’s beautiful presence (omnipresence), but the people in Hell cannot stand the Divine Love so it is described like that? Please, I do not mean to be heretical, and I do not believe this. I am just wondering if this is a possibility since we do not know too much about Hell and everything involved with it…

Thank you

St. Anthony Mary Claret wrote extensively and has many works on Hell. Here are a few excerpts from them:

‘It is of faith that Heaven exists for the good and Hell for the wicked. Faith teaches that the pains of Hell are eternal, and it also warns us that one single mortal sin suffices to condemn a soul forever because of the infinite malice by which it offends an infinite God.’

'The Blessed Virgin, one’s guardian angel, all the saints, love a man, however wicked, as long as he lives on earth. But once he is condemned by God, then God’s friends agree in God’s judgment and condemnation. For all eternity they will not have a kind thought for this wretched soul. Rather they will be satisfied to see him in the flames as a victim of God’s justice. (“The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge” - Ps. 57:11.)

It burns so powerfully, O my soul, that, according to the ascetical masters, if a mere spark of it fell on a millstone; it would reduce it in a moment to powder. If it fell on a ball of bronze, it would melt it in an instant as if it were wax. If it landed on a frozen lake, it would make it boil in an instant.’

Find more here: olrl.org/doctrine/pains.shtml

 

[Verbum]

Hi GDP,

Your theory does not jive with church teaching. Here from* The Catechism of the Catholic Church :*

1. The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

Humans have been created specifically to be happy with God for eternity. The fact of being deprived of his presence and knowing that this situation lasts forever creates in them a state of permanent, incurable despair.

Verbum

 

[thenobes]

Hi GDP,

Your theory does not jive with church teaching. Here from* The Catechism of the Catholic Church :*

Humans have been created specifically to be happy with God for eternity. The fact of being deprived of his presence and knowing that this situation lasts forever creates in them a state of permanent, incurable despair.

Verbum

That being said, it is possible, but not doctrine or dogma, that the beatific vision is itself repulsive to a free will opposed to God. Some saints have said that hell is created so that souls may be removed from what causes them this pain, but in the process are removed from any chance of companionship with God, the source of any real goodness.

peace
steve