You and I have no authority, nor am I making a spurious claim to be authoritative. However, the Catholic Church HAS spoken authoritatively.
Seek he Truth! - only the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of the Truth. And Her Magisterium has never taught the annihilation innovation.
(Pope St Pius X in PD speaking of how Modernist theologians misinterpret truth and how they argue that dogma evolves):“Hence it is quite impossible to maintain that they express absolute truth: for, in so far as they are symbols, they are the images of truth, and so must be adapted to the religious sentiment in its relation to man; and as instruments, they are the vehicles of truth, and must therefore in their turn be adapted to man in his relation to the religious sentiment. But the object of the religious sentiment, since it embraces that absolute, possesses an infinite variety of aspects of which now one, now another, may present itself. In like manner, he who believes may pass through different phases. Consequently, the formulae too, must be subject to these vicissitudes, and are, therefore, liable to change. Thus the way is open to the intrinsic evolution of dogma. An immense collection of sophisms this, that ruins and destroys all religion. Dogma is not only able, but ought to evolve and to be changed. This is strongly affirmed by the Modernists, and as clearly flows from their principles.”
This comment is absurd. I cited multiple reputable scholars from a range of denominations who think Annihilation is a very real possibility. You may disagree with it, but to say it is outrageous is to ignore the evidence. You undermine your own credibility with statements like this.
Today, scholars know more about the philosophical diversity of 1st century Jewish thought than they ever did before in the past. The New Testament & writings of the Apostolic Fathers are not the only documents that have survived from that time. Josephus, Philo and other Jewish sources were also preserved. There is also the Dead Sea scrolls & archeological evidence. Not only are there more sources, but a scholar like N.T. Wright, who reads Koine Greek fluently, has access to all of it. Then there are the other ancient Christian churches. The Orthodox & Coptic have different interpretations of Hell & the Final Judgement.
You don’t know what modernism means. We live in a post-modern world. Modernism is the notion that humans can socially engineer society to create a utopian civilization. It gave rise to things like the eugenics movement, states like the Soviet Union, and Hitler’s attempt to establish a master race. That all came crashing down in the wake of WWII.
It is not at heretical to say God can annihilate a soul. All you have accomplished by repeatedly asserting this falsehood is to allow me to make a stronger & stronger case for my opinion. I was willing to let the matter rest, but you wouldn’t let it go. Now, unless something has changed since 1910, you will have to argue with this source…
I also believe in the immortality of the soul so long as God wills it. Nothing in creation is inherently immortal. Only the uncreated God who sustains our existence is inherently immortal. It is by His grace that our souls cannot be killed, and by His grace that we are offered the gift of Eternal Life.
I’m not denying there was philosophical diversity. There is only 1 Truth about the everlasting punishment of Hell….unless one is schizophrenic. The Church has had to deal with heretics in every age. Dogmas are the same at the time of Christ and now….they cannot change. However, the Church has consistently taught Her members the immortality of every soul, damned or saved. And She has defended this reality against those who claim otherwise.
And how is this proof of annihilation? “Immortality of the soul as long as God wills it”…is taken to mean there comes a point in time where He doesn’t will it? Please don’t twist words.
I disagree.
I disagree.
The Vatican corrected the “Hell does not exist” part, but has been silent about the “souls disappear” part. I would also like further clarification, but for different reasons. It sounds to me like Pope Francis believes in Conditional Immortality & the eternal annihilation of souls.
The Eastern Orthodox & Protestant denominations are non-dogmatic when it comes to eschatology. Conditional Immortality is the official position of the Anglican church.
Not at all. I quote the author plainly stating that he does not agree with this view, and the reasons for why he disagrees. Here, I will reverse the emphasis so you can see…
I quoted this text to demonstrate that in 1910, many believed that ECT was not a de fide dogma of the church, but only an opinion that does not contradict dogma. The author of the article disagrees, but that’s just his opinion, he is not infallible! He further admits that annihilation is not intrinsically impossible for God (something YOU appear to deny) but in his opinion, there are reasons against it (Reasons that are neither good or true in my opinion).