Are most people going to hell?

[opticks]

What you are saying is heresy. better watch it.

I committed heresy? So I just committed mortal sin and thus am condemned to Hell if I don’t go confess? Not by the CCC. I did not know criticizing church teaching landed one in such a state so I cannot be guilty of heresy. You on the other hand did. You just proved my point.

 

[jmcrae]

I committed heresy? So I just committed mortal sin and thus am condemned to Hell if I don’t go confess? Not by the CCC. I did not know criticizing church teaching landed one in such a state so I cannot be guilty of heresy. You on the other hand did. You just proved my point.

It is not a sin to ask questions in the spirit of seeking understanding.

It would be a grave sin to say that the Church can be wrong about anything that it teaches de fide, since this is the same thing as to say that God could lie to us.

 

[opticks]

It is not a sin to ask questions in the spirit of seeking understanding.

It would be a grave sin to say that the Church can be wrong about anything that it teaches de fide, since this is the same thing as to say that God could lie to us.

Again, you proved my point. I knew nothing about “de fide” teachings so I could not have been culpable and did not commit mortal sin according to the CCC. But now since you have enlightened me, I am (statistically speaking) closer to damnation than I was just a few minutes ago!

 

[Steve40]

I think most will go to hell. Jesus said the gate is narrow for heaven and He Is It. Original sin is mortal sin and it is handed down from generation to generation.

The fact of the matter is that we all deserve hell, like it or not. I don’t understand this but I believe it to be true and that it is only the Grace and Mercy of God that is our salvation.

 

[jmcrae]

Again, you proved my point. I knew nothing about “de fide” teachings so I could not have been culpable and did not commit mortal sin according to the CCC. But now since you have enlightened me, I am (statistically speaking) closer to damnation than I was just a few minutes ago!

Well, now you have an opportunity to increase in virtue, and as a consequence of virtue, gain a greater capacity for happiness.

 

[Steve40]

The final exam given by Christ has more to do with sins of omission than commision. I was hungry and you did not feed me I was thirsty and you gave me no water and even though He didn’t say it, He may say I was in the womb and you did nothing to stop my mother from having me killed.

Many us will be going to hell for what we did not do and not necissarily for what we have done.

 

[Ahimsa]

Many us will be going to hell for what we did not do and not necissarily for what we have done.

Are you going to hell?

 

[Steve40]

Are you going to hell?

I don’t know. I don’t believe in “once saved always saved”. I’m Catholic. I deserve to go to hell. But God’s Mercy is greater than any of my sins.

I have come through the saving waters of Baptism, born again of water and spirit. I eat His Body and drink His Blood to have His Life within me. I confess my sins regularly and recieve absolution from someone who has been given the authority to give His forgive or retain His forgiveness.

I have the hope of salvation in the Blood Christ Jesus, but to answer your question again, I don’t know if I will end up in hell.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

You do realize that civil law is NOT God’s law. For example civil law allows abortion. God’s law does not. Yes, there are the 10 Commandments, which are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.”

As I stated in my above post only God knows and judges the heart. We can NOT know what is in someone’s heart and therefore can not judge.

How did you ever get from “Are most people going to Hell?” to judging someone’ heart. Also making “judgments.” This is not the topic; it’s not even close.

We are talking about the separation from God by sin…sin is NOT an alien subject–it’s been around since the Garden of Eden. And speaking of the Garden of Eden…even Adam and Eve KNEW they sinned against God…they covered their loins because they felt naked. The sin was egregious enough to lose paradise and know death. Murder wasn’t far away in time either (Cain killed his brother Abel).

As for “judging” a heart—that is reserved to the sinner and his desire to be forgiven. Nobody, is suggesting we are “judging” but rather are going over the pitfalls we come upon in life and ultimately the afterlife.

Maybe there is some application to Jesus’ words, “…many are called but few are chosen…” This could mean fewer go to Heaven…just a thought.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

Again, you proved my point. I knew nothing about “de fide” teachings so I could not have been culpable and did not commit mortal sin according to the CCC. But now since you have enlightened me, I am (statistically speaking) closer to damnation than I was just a few minutes ago!

It was not asking questions that is heretical…it is saying you do not accept all of the conditions layed out by the Church that makes a sin mortal.

It is a rejection and what makes it profound is that you “reject” on a public forum. This is not very different from Martin Luther and his public denouncement of the Church.

Be careful…something like this could allow another departure from a soul: False Pride.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

I don’t know. I don’t believe in “once saved always saved”. I’m Catholic. I deserve to go to hell. But God’s Mercy is greater than any of my sins.

I have come through the saving waters of Baptism, born again of water and spirit. I eat His Body and drink His Blood to have His Life within me. I confess my sins regularly and recieve absolution from someone who has been given the authority to give His forgive or retain His forgiveness.

I have the hope of salvation in the Blood Christ Jesus, but to answer your question again, I don’t know if I will end up in hell.

Good post, Steve. In observing the sacraments as you do there is a kind of “bank account” kept in Heaven…it is sometimes called, “The Book of Life and Love.”

In keeping the sacraments you are securing , at the very least, the Mother of God will be at your side praying and interceding on your behalf at the hour of your death.

The great thing about all this is we know that death is not forever; it is only TEMPORARY.

Some years back, I made a “General Confession.” This is a good thing to consider. It might take an appointment with a priest who will allot his time for this.

It involves going over your past life as far back as you can remember…even as a young boy. There will be some embarrassing recalls here and there but it is a spiritual review of your entire life with a most forthright heart. This pleases God as much as anything we could do.

The sum of it all: you come out as clean as a newly baptized babe-in-arms. It is a life-changing experience.

 

[opticks]

It was not asking questions that is heretical…it is saying you do not accept all of the conditions layed out by the Church that makes a sin mortal.

It is a rejection and what makes it profound is that you “reject” on a public forum. This is not very different from Martin Luther and his public denouncement of the Church.

Be careful…something like this could allow another departure from a soul: False Pride.

Well then, I hear Protestants are always looking for a few good men.

 

[TOP]

Well then, I hear Protestants are always looking for a few good men.

Thats a pretty cheap cop out. I have to go often to confession because I believe the Church has the power giving to it by the Lord to bind and loosen. Its a tough structure for some, no doubt. But, you can’t just give up like that. It’s not easy to be Catholic, but the Lord is the narrow gate. As far as the op, I have no clue. Throughout time there has been a moral law writing on the hearts of people that has been accepted for the most part. But the last 100 years has been a mess. Makes me wonder about this generation, myself included, and if we are saints or damned for the most part because of what we face now.Tim

 

[outfctrl]

I know before I came back to the Church in June of this year, I lived in mortal sin. Mostly of the flesh. Since I have been back, my life has changed. I never miss mass and go to confession on a weekly basis. I missed confession one time and couldnt receive the Eucharist that Sunday. I left Mass with an empty feeling.
I believe hell is not fire and pain, but it is a place you will never see God for eternity. That is hell in itself.

 

[AndyF]

opticks:

I believe heresy takes much more work and intention worthy of the assignment that people imply here. Most authors add that the offence must be consummated, i.e. complete and perfected in its kind (in genere suo). The late Card. Msgr F.J. Sheen stated:

*“I certainly believe implicitly the official and defined teachings of the Catholic Church since Christ said, ‘If a man will not hear the Church,let him be has heathen.’ But I may investigate as much as I wish. The more I find out about the truth taught by it the better the Church is pleased. It is one thing to deny a doctrine; quite another to investigate it’s full significance. But not all the investigation in the world will ever prove a single dogma of the Church untrue.”

“The strangling of reason is left to people who are ready to believe anything they hear about the Catholic Church.”*

What can we learn about the learning process itself? We can turn to Cor 1Cor 2, and here discover that* faith matures*, that every one of us moves forward at a pace that the Holy Spirit dictates. But one thing is sure, everyone is in movement. There is none of us at the destination station on a solid platform giving advice to another. We are on two trains running on parallel tracks with the windows open administering and supporting each other while we move along to the station of complete Faith.

This is not to say we should throw caution aside. We must be careful of motive as evil influences seek a crevice in our learning process. Our intent should be to be open minded, to realize that not in all cases will we be able to understand using human reasoning where what is really called for is Devine reasoning reserved for the elect and those who the Holy Spirit incrementally blesses here. We need to know when enough is enough, and say to ourselves, “this is enough for now, all else is dangerous ground”.

Specifically I would say most people here seek to better themselves in their Faith and venture into Sententia Communis* ground. The sincerity is usually sententia pia, and they are of usually opinio tolerata persuasion. A smaller minority have an agenda counter to Church teaching before even signing on and these are hostile.

AndyF

• The Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ludwig Ott

 

[valient_Lucy]

Thank you so much for this topic. I’ve been worried sick since I read in another thread about a sermon from St. Leonard where it was said, in a vision, that only 3 out of 33000 were saved. I got depressed.

Isn’t anxiety over one’s salvation something to be avoided?

Yeah, I almost got depressed too, especially when he talked about people who confess a sin, and then commit the same sin a few hours later. That’s happened to me with gossip a couple of times. I am having a lot of trouble with one of my co-workers, and it’s REALLY hard not to say bad things about her to other people. Once, I went to confession, and a few hours later I saw a friend. She asked me how work was going, and I started complaining about her. And I thought, “Good grief! I’ve already fallen off the wagon, and it hasn’t even been 24 hours!” It was a bad moment.

But yeah, we aren’t supposed to despair for our salvation, and the priest does pray that God will “protect us from all anxiety.” So anything that leads us to do that is not a good thing.

 

[johnstown_johnn]

I know before I came back to the Church in June of this year, I lived in mortal sin. Mostly of the flesh. Since I have been back, my life has changed. I never miss mass and go to confession on a weekly basis. I missed confession one time and couldnt receive the Eucharist that Sunday. I left Mass with an empty feeling.
I believe hell is not fire and pain, but it is a place you will never see God for eternity. That is hell in itself.

You have been blessed by your return to the sacraments. Consider yourself one of the “called” and chosen. Your post serves as an inspiration to others on this thread. Never know, you may be chosen for a particular role in these days.

Yes, Hell’s greatest suffering is the eternal lonliness of never seeing God.

On that topic (seeing God/ remorse) I often think about our “Particular Judgment” that is,immediately after our death. Both sinner and saint are given a glimpse of God, ever so briefly, before we are designated to Heaven, Purgatory or Hell.

The souls that have been damned have that all-so-brief Vision to lament losing while in eternal Hell. Hell is also a place of torture and there are levels in Hell in accord with one’s transgressions…there is physical pain inflicted as well as the Great Loss of God.

I think it was St. Athanasius who wrote, “The pavement of Hell (the bottom most section) is filled with the skulls of bishops.”

Blessed Mother has said more than once, “…to those that was given much; much is expected…”

My guess is that sins of the flesh suffer an actual carnal torment forever. Hell is a place of eternal adversity…everyone hates everyone else. Demons prod all of the damned with unimaginable pain.

The message here is Heaven or Hell? IT IS A CHOICE.

Today, God is being mocked openly and comedienne Kathy Griffin mocked Our Lord recently and got a lot of replays.

These are a sign of the times. Jesus’ Return is drawing close…we know this by the creative ways to offend God.

 

[outfctrl]

You have been blessed by your return to the sacraments. Consider yourself one of the “called” and chosen. Your post serves as an inspiration to others on this thread. Never know, you may be chosen for a particular role in these days.

Dont even talk like that. I am a nobody. I have sinned my whole life and didnt think twice about it. I have even read books on devil worshipping when I was young. I can never make up for what I have done in the past. Never.

All I can do now is pray for forgiveness for my wretched life. I still sit near the back in Church and I am still scared to go into that holy room where the Eucharist sits.
My first day after 35 years, walking into the Church to go to Confession, was one of the scariest days in my life. I swear lightning was going to strike me. I got there like a half hour early and sat in the last row, staring at the Cross. Tears rolled down my face. Looking at the suffering our Lord went through for us and here I am, rejecting him for so many years, committing sin after sin and laughing about it.

I dont deserve to go to Heaven just because I repented.
I probably will be lucky if I make it to Purgatory. How can you be forgiven so easy? How can the Priest tell me to say 5 Hail Mary’s after what I confessed? What kind of Pennance is that? I at least deserved to say 50 Rosaries or something.

I look around at Mass and see people praying, saying the rosary, eyes closed and giving their entire being to Christ. Then I look at me. It’s funny how small you feel at times.

 

[TOP]

Dont even talk like that. I am a nobody. I have sinned my whole life and didnt think twice about it. I have even read books on devil worshipping when I was young. I can never make up for what I have done in the past. Never.

All I can do now is pray for forgiveness for my wretched life. I still sit near the back in Church and I am still scared to go into that holy room where the Eucharist sits.
My first day after 35 years, walking into the Church to go to Confession, was one of the scariest days in my life. I swear lightning was going to strike me. I got there like a half hour early and sat in the last row, staring at the Cross. Tears rolled down my face. Looking at the suffering our Lord went through for us and here I am, rejecting him for so many years, committing sin after sin and laughing about it.

I dont deserve to go to Heaven just because I repented.
I probably will be lucky if I make it to Purgatory. How can you be forgiven so easy? How can the Priest tell me to say 5 Hail Mary’s after what I confessed? What kind of Pennance is that? I at least deserved to say 50 Rosaries or something.

I look around at Mass and see people praying, saying the rosary, eyes closed and giving their entire being to Christ. Then I look at me. It’s funny how small you feel at times.

Sounds like my story. The Lord introduced me to St. Faustina and His divine mercy. This has been a great comfort to me and has helped me better understand our Lord and His mercy. Read some of her diary and try to do the indulgence for divine mercy sunday.
ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/stfaust.htm

 

[boppaid]

I don’t know. I don’t believe in “once saved always saved”. I’m Catholic. I deserve to go to hell. But God’s Mercy is greater than any of my sins.

I am confused by this. I am Catholic, too, but doesn’t scripture tell us that we can know that we are saved, even though we are sinners? Your post really bothered and confused me because it went against what I always believed. So, I did a search of scripture online for assurance of salvation to make sure it was biblical. This is what I came up with:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

It sounds to me that God WANTS us to KNOW if we are saved. It doesn’t sound like it’s supposed to be a guessing game. help