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Bradski
Guest
I think God might have had second thoughts about letting him to heaven. I can just imagine Hitch berating Him: ‘And another thing while I’m here…’
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7_Sorrows
Guest
whether he is in Heaven or not I do miss him.
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Bradski
Guest
Likewise. I often didn’t agree with what he wrote but I always enjoyed reading it.
Who would be his religious equivalent? I can’t think of one.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
I also enjoyed reading what he wrote and watching him being interviewed even though I seldom shared his point of view.
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rose_kelly
Guest
I wasn’t aware of that, where did that information come from?
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Bradski
Guest
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Memaw
Guest
Earthly “happiness” is not quite the same thing as Eternal Happiness with the very Jesus Christ he denied. Only God knows his destiny. HE’S the judge,. not us. And we can’t “fool” HIM! God Bless, Memaw
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fisherman_carl
Guest
I would say that is a very negative view. I don’t think that is what the church teaches. For instance the church takes a more merciful view on unbaptised babies who died. Also, the Church teaches we were not completely corrupted by original sin. There is still some good in us.
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openmind77
Guest
He is probably still in purgatory. The average time spent in purgatory is about 25 years. Some people spend many more years.As we all know, Christopher Hitchens has been dead for nearly 5 years.
He was the witty, insightful, implacable enemy of all organized religion, especially Catholocism. You cannot deny that he was an interesting adversary
He was a proud atheist, basically thought that anyone who believe in God was dumb or pitiable, and that organized religion brings out the worst in mankind.
Yet could he be in heaven despite that?
In some ways… you have to give Hitchens credit. He was a person who thought about religion deeply, and for the life of him much of it did not make sense to him and (in his mind) caused great harm and suffering.
In some ways, doesn’t that attitude show more of an inquistive interest and attention for things of God, than say a lukewarm Catholic who goes to mass weekly “just because?”
Im not saying Hitchens state is at all preferable, it’s just that I really hope that he wasn’t… lost for good.
I actually prayed for him the past week. As I was praying… I got sort of a sense that he was (hopefully not still is) in purgatory. I only thought that because I did sense that my prayers for him were doing good, and I got some strange feeling of gratitude when I finished.
Thoughts?
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openmind77
Guest
Yes, but the exact number is not important - maybe it is 30 (but it is not less than 5).
An additional point: I don’t know if it is deliberately done that way or if it is a happy coincidence, but when anyone enters purgatory, your previous generation (parents/uncles/aunts and sometimes grandparents) are there to greet you.
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rose_kelly
Guest
My goodness, with that kind of power, no wonder he had so much influence.
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John_Lazarus
Guest
This is just my opinion…
I don’t know if Mr Hitchens is in heaven.
I do know that per Catholic teaching, it could be revealed so. But the Church would never state that he is in Hell. They have not said that of Judas, so…
Plus, the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice is such that there is no sin so great (other than final unrepentance, or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) that it cannot be forgiven.
In Mr Hitchens’ case, we should pray for his soul.
I don’t know if Mr Hitchens is in heaven.
I do know that per Catholic teaching, it could be revealed so. But the Church would never state that he is in Hell. They have not said that of Judas, so…
Plus, the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice is such that there is no sin so great (other than final unrepentance, or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) that it cannot be forgiven.
In Mr Hitchens’ case, we should pray for his soul.
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Memaw
Guest
That is NOT Catholic teaching!! God Bless, Memaw
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NM505StKate
Guest
Mr. Hitchens is gone. Dead and buried.
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openmind77
Guest
The Catholic teaching is that he is probably in Hell, but we will be generous and say that God’s infinite mercy may have saved him.
I personally think he was a good man, except for his support for the Iraq war - that was really bad judgment.
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Bradski
Guest
This is not an argument against your position but rather one prompted by it.
Can a man who makes a bad decision, in good conscience, be described as a bad person if it it shown that he was wrong?
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Memaw
Guest
The Catholic Church doesn’t teach that someone is in Hell, the Church leaves that up to God as it should be!!! THAT IS what the Catholic Church teaches!!! I like the way non-Catholics try to tell us Catholics what we believe. Very wrong!!! We pray for all departed souls, including those of non believers. God Bless, Memaw
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Memaw
Guest
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Aloysium
Guest
It must be frustrating to not get a simple yes or no answer. The problem lies in the question, which is complicated, composed of certain assumptions and ambiguous terms such as bad, conscience and wrong. I suppose you cannot escape your basic atheistic perspective. Judgement is the prerogative of God who knows us better than we ourselves, whose love is justice. The man before God will know what he has done and why he did it. As he has lived his life and judged others, that’s how he will be judged. The truth that we can think and talk about is in the reality of the person. There is nothing equivocal or subjective about it.
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openmind77
Guest
Not sure what you mean. I did not say he was a bad person, just that he showed bad judgment.
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