Does God eternally experience hell?

[minion]

A question…

1. A person’s existence is contingent on God
2. God is omniscient, and knows everything that person knows (thus aware intimately of their every experience)

If a person goes to hell, his/her existence is still contingent on God. Doesn’t that mean God, being omniscient, shares with that soul eternal torment?

I heard hell is the absence of God, but that doesn’t seem to make sense to me in terms of a philosophically/potentiality-actuality-ish way.

tyia

 

[Pat_Payne]

Except that’s exactly what it is. The greatest punishment of Hell, even more that whatever fire, brimstone, guys in red pajamas and pitchforks and endless loops of Justin Bieber music there might be, IS the eternal anguish of being separated from God. God cannot be separated from himself. He feels sorrow that those in Hell chose to separate themselves from him, IINM, but that is not anywhere near the same as the anguish the damned feel for having lost the Beatific Vision.

 

[tonyrey]

Except that’s exactly what it is. The greatest punishment of Hell, even more that whatever fire, brimstone, guys in red pajamas and pitchforks and endless loops of Justin Bieber music there might be, IS the eternal anguish of being separated from God. God cannot be separated from himself. He feels sorrow that those in Hell chose to separate themselves from him, IINM, but that is not anywhere near the same as the anguish the damned feel for having lost the Beatific Vision.

A superb response! There is a vast difference between God’s presence as the sustaining Power of everything and everyone who exists and His personal presence as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to Whom the angels and saints in heaven are united by love. It is the absence of love on the part of those who reject God’s love that is the cause of their frustration and misery. An analogy is our biological presence in our children if they reject us but our love for them cannot possibly be as deep as it is for those who respond to our love.

 

[Mary_Estelle]

Endless loops of Justin Bieber? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[Thomas_Ruin]

I heard hell is the absence of God, but that doesn’t seem to make sense to me in terms of a philosophically/potentiality-actuality-ish way.

tyia

Heaven is being with God for all eternity.
Hell is the opposite, it is the absence of God’s presence for all eternity.

Makes logical and philosophical sense to me.

 

[Memaw]

Except that’s exactly what it is. The greatest punishment of Hell, even more that whatever fire, brimstone, guys in red pajamas and pitchforks and endless loops of Justin Bieber music there might be, IS the eternal anguish of being separated from God. God cannot be separated from himself. He feels sorrow that those in Hell chose to separate themselves from him, IINM, but that is not anywhere near the same as the anguish the damned feel for having lost the Beatific Vision.

God’s Justice is equally as fair and Grace filled as His Mercy. I don’t believe God feels sorrow as we know it because HE is GOD. I’ll ask Him when I get there!! God Bless, Memaw

 

[Sarcelle]

God suffers alongside with the suffering since He knows what the suffering are going through, knows what the perpetrator is going through and also knows it does not have to be this way but for sin.
There is a reason why Jesus talks about wrongdoing committed against others is also wrongdoing committed against Him. I have heard that intelligence brings a whole new dimension to suffering and God being more intelligent than all suffers more. The fact He has not punished us yet points to a being who is well supernaturally patient and forgiving.

 

[thinkandmull]

How can God’s simple nature suffer?

 

[Memaw]

How can God’s simple nature suffer?

Seems we are always trying to portray God as feeling and thinking and even suffering like we think He should. HE is GOD and I think we should let Him continue to be God and we should occupy ourselves with doing our best to be simple human beings that are His creatures and doing our best to, with His help, eventually go to Heaven and enjoy all HIS attributes face to face for all eternity. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Sarcelle]

How can God’s simple nature suffer?

This question can be answered in one word: Jesus

Jesus suffered, He felt compassion, grief, anger and pain. He is the second person of the Trinity. Memaw is right. We can comprehend more of God’s nature once we are with Him in heaven. We can however have a small glimpse of God in this life through what the Church teaches us about Jesus.

 

[Memaw]

This question can be answered in one word: Jesus

Jesus suffered, He felt compassion, grief, anger and pain. He is the second person of the Trinity. Memaw is right. We can comprehend more of God’s nature once we are with Him in heaven. We can however have a small glimpse of God in this life through what the Church teaches us about Jesus.

Agreed, as long as our thoughts are in line with what the Church teaches. Let’s don’t let our imaginations run away with us. God Bless, Memaw