Both of my sisters think that hell is funny and cool

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ellam25

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Hi, I have 2 sisters. Both aren’t “real Catholics” (the older one is 22 and never goes to church, the younger is 15 and goes to church only because my dad forces her to when he can). Lately I have been seeing them post stuff on facebook that is very disturbing to me. One of them was a meme that said: “I already know I’m going to hell, so at this point it’s go big or go home!” My mother, who is not a practicing Catholic and is divorced from my devout caqtholic father, liked the picture and even commented on how funny it was. My 15 year old sister posted a statu update tonight that said: “I like to take extra hot showers to practice burning in hell.” It makes me very upset when they say things like this, and the 15 year old has recently gotten into reading books about wicca and posts pictures of herself wearing very dark makeup with captions like “My favorite color is black like my soul.” After my parents divorced my mom encouraged this kind of behavior. They say I am a prude when I get offended and to get the stick out of my ***. My dad doesnt know because he is hardly in the picture at all, my mom pretty much cut him off from my underage sister and my other sister barely visits him. All this, I believe, is a direct result of my mom cheating on my dad and ending their 25 year marriage. There is nothing I can do, I know but pray for them. Neither of them would ever listen to what I have to say. But it makes my heart hurt when I see the influence Satan has had on my family and I just want to hide away and pretend its not happening! Any advice/kind words/prayers?
 
Pray for the conversion of their hearts. Be a good example for them.
 
The more you let it bother you, the more it encourages them, I would think. That is assuming that you are at least part of the show of “what do others do when we say these things?”

Do not let them have power over you. If they scare you, then Satan has gotten to you through them so that puts you in no better position than them. You really could learn to let them go. First I’m not sure how old you are, but I got the impression you are of age. And unless the 15 year old is your dependent than she is not direct charge for how she thinks and behaves.

Given the situation you are describing, it’s not hard to imagine they may not be too cool on whatever structures they feel like either failed them or they were forced to engage in when smaller until they could rebel – that’s a bit of a guess though so you can verify.

Contrary to popular opinion and certainly popular modeling, it is not God’s will that we become angry and defensive and frustrated when others speak poorly of our faith, or take things lightly that they know bother us a lot:

Matt 5:10-11
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We’re not rejoicing and being glad because they are misguided. We can rejoice and be glad because their words have no power over us, but until we learn to receive them with rejoicing and gladness they will continue to do so. And when we do learn this, we will have been tested and purified as in fire. Like learning to let those comments go right through us.

This is what you can do. What they do is between them and God. Maybe if you quit being upset, at least as far as they know, it will take away some of their energy by taking some of their rewards out of their game.

My own pastor jokes about hell with me and a certain few others when we’re alone, I think in part to emphasize that hell has no power over us. Like I said, “Father I did wrong – am I going to go to hell?” He answered, “yes, probably, but don’t worry because you’ll have a chaplain!” Then a big grin. 😃 That said, he is very sincere about avoiding hell, and has zero intention of either of us going.

But if they see you keeping a good nature and not joining or fighting back, or encouraging them by getting upset which they think is hilarious, maybe it will show them something they don’t expect to see … that somebody can be religious without being so easy to trigger. 😉

Are there other people they seem to like to tweak other than you? Or are they just showing off their freedom like, “ha ha I can say these things” or “see God didn’t strike me down” or whatever? Maybe they are trying to prove they can say things they are “not supposed to say” and “color outside the lines” and see who still loves them and accepts them. Maybe they really are a bit concerned about it at a deep level and are using attempts at humor to keep it hidden; that’s another way they might go.
 
That must be very difficult; I am sorry to hear that. You and your family are in my prayers.

I had an acquaintance at school who used to say similar things. “Hell: Where the Good Music Is!” he once wrote on a very macabre drawing of his. He was very immature at the time, as are many young people. I think he was, in his own way, trying to look tough or bold.

No one laughs about going to prison, so you can be sure that people who laugh about Hell almost certainly don’t believe in it. Such childish comments are just that: childish. Try not to let them bother you. A state of lukewarmness is, in a sense, more to be feared.

Pray that God will grant the gift of Faith to your loved ones. He is eager to save us. Offer the Mass for them when you get the chance, and don’t forget to include them in your Rosary. This will go a long way.

“All the praise, the love, the veneration, the worship, the thanksgiving, which Christ presents to the ever-blessed Trinity in every Mass far transcends all the praise of the angels, the adoration of the saints, so far, indeed, that were all the penances, the prayers, the good works of apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and all saints offered to the Holy Trinity they would be less pleasing to the Divine Majesty than one single Mass.”
– Ven. Rev. Martin von Cochem

Additionally, try to be a good example to your family, and ask God for wisdom and prudence, to guide your words. Sometimes it is good to be silent; at other times, to talk; at other times, it is good to walk away. Trust God and He will guide you:

“Draw me: we will run after You to the odour of Your ointments.” (Canticles 1:3). “O my Jesus, there is no need then to say: In drawing me, draw also the souls that I love. The words “Draw me” suffice. When a soul has been captivated by the odour of Your perfumes she cannot run alone; as a natural consequence of her attraction towards You, all those whom she loves are drawn in her train.” (St. Therese)

‘Observe how birds are snared in birdlime; in the same way souls will stick fast to you, and you will win them to Me for eternity.’ (p. 268, Vol. 1)
  • Jesus to Bl. Anne of St. Bartholomew
“My children, we cannot comprehend the power that a pure soul has over the good God.”
  • St. John Vianney
“Marvel not if your words are sometimes fruitless… It is through My divine providence that all things are arranged and perfected in the fitting time, as appointed by Me.”
  • Jesus to St. Gertrude
“For in the Scriptures I have commanded men to seek first the Kingdom of God and His justice, that is to say the progress of the inward man. As for those exterior things, I did not say to seek them even in the second place; rather have I promised to give them over and above.”
  • Jesus to St. Gertrude
 
ellam25 said:
Hi, I have 2 sisters. Both aren’t “real Catholics” (the older one is 22 and never goes to church, the younger is 15 and goes to church only because my dad forces her to when he can). Lately I have been seeing them post stuff on facebook that is very disturbing to me. One of them was a meme that said: “I already know I’m going to hell, so at this point it’s go big or go home!” My mother, who is not a practicing Catholic and is divorced from my devout caqtholic father, liked the picture and even commented on how funny it was. My 15 year old sister posted a statu update tonight that said: “I like to take extra hot showers to practice burning in hell.” It makes me very upset when they say things like this, and the 15 year old has recently gotten into reading books about wicca and posts pictures of herself wearing very dark makeup with captions like “My favorite color is black like my soul.” After my parents divorced my mom encouraged this kind of behavior. They say I am a prude when I get offended and to get the stick out of my ***. My dad doesnt know because he is hardly in the picture at all, my mom pretty much cut him off from my underage sister and my other sister barely visits him. All this, I believe, is a direct result of my mom cheating on my dad and ending their 25 year marriage. There is nothing I can do, I know but pray for them. Neither of them would ever listen to what I have to say. But it makes my heart hurt when I see the influence Satan has had on my family and I just want to hide away and pretend its not happening! Any advice/kind words/prayers?
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First. Here’s a thing for you. Just for you. I am incredibly proud of you. I mean you’re choosing a way on your own in this. You’re not taking the easy path at all. I’m impressed with that. You’ve got me standing by thinking you’re an ace.

Second. These sisters. They’ve been hurt in this divorce. They’ve been damaged. They’re reacting in a more predictable way. They’ve learned that driving wedges between things is the way. It’s the expected version of life now. So they’re adapting that. They’re driving wedges between your father. Between you and them. Between them and God. They’re reacting to pain with pain. They’re spreading disillusionment because they’ve brushed too close to it. They’re reflecting their anger at God maybe. They’re rebelling in the most clear way they know.

Third. If they want to know the road they’re going down. If they want to know the things they’re headed towards. If they want an eye-open moment. PM me. I’ll give you my email address. They can ask. I’ll paint them a pretty nice picture. I’ll give them the whole cause and effect. Because I’ve lived through it. It’s a dark ride. When you give up so totally on light. When you’d rather live in the shadow of the dark. But really. I don’t know what you can really do. Words won’t reach them. Prayers might chip away at it. The only thing I can really think that could ever help. Is the long play. The long angle on this. Stay mindful of them. But live your own life. Go straight and true. And your life’s contrast to theirs might be the only thing that might give them that final reason to wake up.

So just hang in there. And be that good example. And pray for them. And pity them maybe. But don’t hate them. They’re reacting in this. They’re reaching the wrong conclusion. But they’re reaching just the same. I respect you standing strong in this. Truly.

Peace ellam. Peace for sure.

-Trident
 
It seems to me that they are just being immature goofballs. (Normal for the 15-year-old, less so for the 20-something) What they are attempting to express is the idea that they don’t care what other people think of them and they presume that the only reason a person would try to be “good” would be to please a God they don’t believe exists. If you feel that such immaturity requires any response at all, I would start by pointing out that the world is full of people suffering at the hands of self-centered sociopaths who don’t care how their behavior effects others and how much better the world would be if people spent a fraction of the time they devote to offending others and stirring the pot on making it a better place.
 
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

He is watchful over all of us, whatever our position, in ways we don’t understand or see.
 
Pray for your mother and sisters. Do not judge them or act disapproving of them. Be a good example of Christianity to them. It is what they need.
 
There is a meme, back from before there were memes-- back in the 1900s, of Hell being cool and party town. Consider the old song “Highway to Hell.”

Evidently it hasn’t gone away.

While the older of your sisters should have moved past that kind of thing, ISTM that she is joining her teenage sister in pulling your chain. Try to ignore her. Neither of them knows what they are talking about.

Then again, while someone pointed out that we do not joke about prison; we DO joke about death, which is something we fear very deeply. Maybe they are already ill-at-ease subconsciously?

Pray for them.

ICXC NIKA.
 
I do believe that some of the strongest Catholics are those who once fell away from religion. Such persons seem to make religion there own, instead of being a lukewarm Catholic who goes to church out of habit which was formed while growing up.

Your sisters are in my prayers!
 
Prayer is really the only thing you can do right now for your family. But do not despair, St. Augustine had a very wicked past, and his mom, St. Monica, prayed him back into the Church (after 30 years of prayer).

I’d recommend the Rosary, in particular. Mary has a mother’s heart, and knows what graces your siblings need.
 
Obviously the behavior of both your sisters is the result of your parent’s divorce. It seems they are trying to strike back at what your dad has held holy. It’s a way of dealing with the pain.

Your mom’s reaction and the current attitude of young people toward religion is not helping matters, either.
Pray for them.
 
ellam25 said:
Hi, I have 2 sisters. Both aren’t “real Catholics” (the older one is 22 and never goes to church, the younger is 15 and goes to church only because my dad forces her to when he can). Lately I have been seeing them post stuff on facebook that is very disturbing to me. One of them was a meme that said: “I already know I’m going to hell, so at this point it’s go big or go home!” … There is nothing I can do, I know but pray for them. Neither of them would ever listen to what I have to say. But it makes my heart hurt when I see the influence Satan has had on my family and I just want to hide away and pretend its not happening! Any advice/kind words/prayers?
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You can’t pretend to know this, until you’ve tried.

By way of analogy, my dad always used to tell me"….you already have the 'no"–in the context of should I apply for this, or go for that, or even ask this or that girl out… because you have nothing to lose, since “…you already have the ‘no’”.

If you don’t apply…if you don’t go for X…if you don’t ask the girl out…you are in the very same position as if they said ‘no’ (or were denied when you went for X).

Do NOT presume your mother and/or sisters ‘will not listen to you’.

If they don’t…they don’t.

Then you’re right, as you presumed here. But make sure you’re correct on that count, before you act like you are.

You have nothing to lose, especially not against what you have to gain.

…and, you already have the ‘no’…so…

GO FOR THE YES!!!

Express your concerns to your mother and your sisters. Tell them how it hurts you, and how it effects you, and how and why you think it’s wrong.

They might just surprise you (and you might just surprise yourself).

fwiw/jmho.
 
I’m sad that so many people joke about Hell or think it’s something cool. People who don’t take Hell seriously or deny the existence of it have been lied by Satan and we should pray for them.
 
I’m a Christian, but there is no chance I will ever believe in hell. If this place was real (which its not) - do you not think Jesus would have spoken about it a bit more than he did? How much did he talk about hell? hmmm, nothing.

Here is a question - Jesus actually told us where Heaven is… anyone on here remember?

“man will search high and low for the kingdom of God but will never find it - for what he does not know is that - the kingdom is inside him”. We are already in Heaven guys… we are spirits already - Perhaps hell is something we can visit now - if we are not careful with our life chooses…

live in love/follow the teachings of Christ - you are already there… no fear of the boogie man. The hell story is just first testament nonsense. How many people read that one… we don’t belive people lived to be 900 anymore, we don’t believe in a lot of the text from the first commandment… yet some people believe in hell…

This is just kids being kids… nothing to fear, nothing that will not pass :o
ellam25 said:
Hi, I have 2 sisters. Both aren’t “real Catholics” (the older one is 22 and never goes to church, the younger is 15 and goes to church only because my dad forces her to when he can). Lately I have been seeing them post stuff on facebook that is very disturbing to me. One of them was a meme that said: “I already know I’m going to hell, so at this point it’s go big or go home!” My mother, who is not a practicing Catholic and is divorced from my devout caqtholic father, liked the picture and even commented on how funny it was. My 15 year old sister posted a statu update tonight that said: “I like to take extra hot showers to practice burning in hell.” It makes me very upset when they say things like this, and the 15 year old has recently gotten into reading books about wicca and posts pictures of herself wearing very dark makeup with captions like “My favorite color is black like my soul.” After my parents divorced my mom encouraged this kind of behavior. They say I am a prude when I get offended and to get the stick out of my ***. My dad doesnt know because he is hardly in the picture at all, my mom pretty much cut him off from my underage sister and my other sister barely visits him. All this, I believe, is a direct result of my mom cheating on my dad and ending their 25 year marriage. There is nothing I can do, I know but pray for them. Neither of them would ever listen to what I have to say. But it makes my heart hurt when I see the influence Satan has had on my family and I just want to hide away and pretend its not happening! Any advice/kind words/prayers?
Click to expand...
 
ChristianVoice, you need to reread your Bible again, Hell is no myth and Satan is not make believe…

Unfortunately the world is full of folks who think hell is a cool place to be and so they act like jerks and do all sorts of awful things,… to them leading a wild and crazy life will make them happy and even if they end up in Hell, it won’t be so bad because all the ‘cool’ folks go there,

The smartest thing Satan has done recently is to make folks believe he does not exist and that Hell does not exist. By doing this he has also made folks believe that God does not exist. No doubt the mother and sisters also think God is a myth… how sad !😦
 
christianvoice said:
I’m a Christian, but there is no chance I will ever believe in hell. If this place was real (which its not) - do you not think Jesus would have spoken about it a bit more than he did? How much did he talk about hell? hmmm, nothing.

Here is a question - Jesus actually told us where Heaven is… anyone on here remember?

“man will search high and low for the kingdom of God but will never find it - for what he does not know is that - the kingdom is inside him”. We are already in Heaven guys… we are spirits already - Perhaps hell is something we can visit now - if we are not careful with our life chooses…

live in love/follow the teachings of Christ - you are already there… no fear of the boogie man. The hell story is just first testament nonsense. How many people read that one… we don’t belive people lived to be 900 anymore, we don’t believe in a lot of the text from the first commandment… yet some people believe in hell…

This is just kids being kids… nothing to fear, nothing that will not pass :o
Click to expand...
You can’t be serious! Is this supposed to be sarcastic?
 
Robert_Sock said:
I do believe that some of the strongest Catholics are those who once fell away from religion. Such persons seem to make religion there own, instead of being a lukewarm Catholic who goes to church out of habit which was formed while growing up.

Your sisters are in my prayers!
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Ellam, I really do agree with what Robert is saying; that’s been my experience, too.

When they do eventually find their way back to God, they’ll be all the stronger for it.

Until then, I’m praying. And I’m sorry this is causing you pain.

:gopray:
 
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