Augustine on Hell

  • Thread starter Thread starter boatofcar
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
boatofcar said:
The Economist magazine just released an article on hell, which paraphrases St. Augustine saying (according to the author)

“Knowledge of the torments of the damned is part of heavenly bliss.”

Did Augustine really say this, or something like this?

Link to the full article:

economist.com/news/christmas/21568590-hundreds-years-hell-has-been-most-fearful-place-human-imagination-it
Click to expand...
One needs to understand Saint Augustine’s underlying theology in context to begin to understand and fully appreciate this statement. Click here for a bit of an explanation.

mda
 
"That the saints may enjoy their beatitude more thoroughly, and give more abundant
thanks for it to God, a perfect sight of the punishment of the damned is granted them."
  • St. Thomas Aquinas
 
MidnightSun12 said:
"That the saints may enjoy their beatitude more thoroughly, and give more abundant
thanks for it to God, a perfect sight of the punishment of the damned is granted them."
  • St. Thomas Aquinas
Click to expand...
No uncertainty there. What does it tell you about “Schadenfreude”?
 
Farien said:
No uncertainty there. What does it tell you about “Schadenfreude”?
Click to expand...
"Schadenfreude … is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

The difference is that while on this earth it is God’s will for all men to be saved. To rejoice at the suffering of those who are still alive would be contrary to the Will of God.

After God casts judgment on a sinner and sends the soul into the outer darkness, however, the situation becomes quite different. Now God has actively willed for this sinner to experience un-ending torments and it is just for us to rejoice at the fact that God’s will has been done.

Besides, the damned soul is so full of hate that even if you gave this soul the option to come to heaven and end its torments, it would slap your hand away out of pure rage and return itself to the fire. Anybody who goes to hell is going there because they have chosen this fate for themselves… God has merely granted them their wish.
 
MidnightSun12 said:
“Schadenfreude … is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others”
Click to expand...
That is exactly what Aquinas said. There is no “qualification”. Whether someone deserved their predicament or not, it is despicable to derive pleasure from their suffering. Of course this is merely my opinion. Your milage may vary.
MidnightSun12 said:
Besides, the damned soul is so full of hate that even if you gave this soul the option to come to heaven and end its torments, it would slap your hand away out of pure rage and return itself to the fire.
Click to expand...
I wonder… how many “damned” souls have you interviewed to make such a definitive statement?
MidnightSun12 said:
Anybody who goes to hell is going there because they have chosen this fate for themselves… God has merely granted them their wish.
Click to expand...
Really? Do people bang on the doors of hell, demanding admittance into the eternal fire? I would like to see a video of this event.
 
I think St Augustine is one of the most misquoted saints ever! It is so common to see people grabbing parts of what St Augustine said and changing it or misquoting that by now, I don’t even believe anything secular that quotes St AUgustine.
 
missadeangelis said:
One needs to understand Saint Augustine’s underlying theology in context to begin to understand and fully appreciate this statement. Click here for a bit of an explanation.

mda
Click to expand...
Hi Mass of Angels,

Could you explain which part of that passage you linked explains the alleged St. Augustine quote? Admittedly, the quote sounds pretty cruel, and I’m unclear why I shouldn’t just take Augustine at face value.

Thanks and thanks
 
MidnightSun12 said:
"Schadenfreude … is pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others"

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

The difference is that while on this earth it is God’s will for all men to be saved. To rejoice at the suffering of those who are still alive would be contrary to the Will of God.

After God casts judgment on a sinner and sends the soul into the outer darkness, however, the situation becomes quite different. Now God has actively willed for this sinner to experience un-ending torments and it is just for us to rejoice at the fact that God’s will has been done.

Besides, the damned soul is so full of hate that even if you gave this soul the option to come to heaven and end its torments, it would slap your hand away out of pure rage and return itself to the fire. Anybody who goes to hell is going there because they have chosen this fate for themselves… God has merely granted them their wish.
Click to expand...
So in the end, we are all where we want to be.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top