Fear of Hell

[beckycmarie]

Proper relationships with people are incredibly important to live a bearable life fully and confidently. The relationship with God (if one exists, that is) is a bonus, and makes living even more worthwhile. But since people are actually beings you have to come into contact with, you may as well treat them kindly-- even a precious few atheists have the common decency to treat people fairly. (I am not an Atheist, by the way; I am Catholic.)

Proper relationships with other people don’t happen unless we have a relationship with God first. If we see God as “a bonus” and not the first priority in our lives, then something is terribly amiss.

And what is this about being Catholic but saying “if God exists?”

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Proper relationships with other people don’t happen unless we have a relationship with God first. If we see God as “a bonus” and not the first priority in our lives, then something is terribly amiss.

As horrible as this is going to sound (even worse than my other posts), you can have an excellent relationship with people without God.

I’ve seen it done, and it’s a real eye-opener… that probably explains why I’m so secular with my responses.

 

[beckycmarie]

Blade,

Many of us, when we were teenagers like you, elected ourselves pope in our own minds and created our own form of Catholicism keeping the things we liked, and throwing out those beliefs that weren’t convenient for us.

Then at some point later, while wallowing in the pigpen of our lives, we became the prodigal sons and daughters coming back to the faith and accepting those things we had rejected. We learned the hard way that doing things our way led to misery. One of the Fathers of Mercy, speaking at my parish said that the theme song to hell is “I did it my way.”

I’m trying to save you a lot of trouble and heartache by telling you this now. Hopefully you’ll listen instead of insisting on learning it the hard way, too.

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Blade,

Many of us, when we were teenagers like you, elected ourselves pope in our own minds and created our own form of Catholicism keeping the things we liked, and throwing out those beliefs that weren’t convenient for us.

Then at some point later, while wallowing in the pigpen of our lives, we became the prodigal sons and daughters coming back to the faith and accepting those things we had rejected. We learned the hard way that doing things our way led to misery. One of the Fathers of Mercy, speaking at my parish said that the theme song to hell is “I did it my way.”

I’m trying to save you a lot of trouble and heartache by telling you this now. Hopefully you’ll listen instead of insisting on learning it the hard way, too.

I already went through the heartache of accepting the fact that I am not in charge. I am only Catholic through a label; or rather heritage. I embrace it for all it’s worth because without it, I wouldn’t be who I am today.

Understanding the diversity of world through a Catholic’s eyes is a painful process (maybe a second or two), but the freedom is worth it.

With the exception of regular teenage stuff that won’t matter in a year or so (I’m a senior), I am very happy with the outcome of learning more about my faith and other faiths.

I appreciate you trying to help me, but I don’t need it–not from anyone here. (No offence)

Ironically Yours.

 

[Eucharisted]

Remember, sinner1, that God is infinitely merciful.

A good book to read, which will show you God’s Mercy, is the Diary of Saint Faustina.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Christianity is not for everyone– It is an honest remark. Some find there comforts in it, others obsess over it, and a precious few are frustrated with their paranoia of leaving it. It’s an honest truth, and if people were more responsible with it, there may be more Christians in the world.

Christ came to save the whole world. Do you believe that Christ and His Church offer the fullness of God’s revealed truth, or do you believe that there are many pathways to the same place and Catholicism is just one of them? If you believe the latter, you are not a Christian but a relativist.

The Catholic Church is not just a philosophy to live by or a set of commonly-held opinions. It is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth which presents and conserves the unchangeable truth. The Catholic Church represents reality. Hell, unfortunately, is real, and is not a place we should want spend eternity. Jesus refers to Hell (or the analogous Gehenna) many times - the Church didn’t invent the concept. It would be foolish to believe that there was no devil, just as it would be foolish to think that Al Qaeda doesn’t exist. Satan is real and far more deadly than terrorists, who can only take your life. He desires to lead us away from Christ by any means possible, including sin, despair, confusion, and the occult. If our faith was based only upon common opinion, hell would have been voted out centuries ago, but the fact remains that we must remain vigilant and keep our lives centered in Christ and His teachings. If we do this, we have no reason to fear going to hell.

 

[Angels_Unaware]

I’m not into astrology. It’s an interesting subject to study, but I do not practice any of it. What can I say? I love religion, therefore I study as much as I can.

Proper relationships with people are incredibly important to live a bearable life fully and confidently. The relationship with God (if one exists, that is) is a bonus, and makes living even more worthwhile. But since people are actually beings you have to come into contact with, you may as well treat them kindly-- even a precious few atheists have the common decency to treat people fairly. (I am not an Atheist, by the way; I am Catholic.)

I read some of your writing on your blog, and you are quite creative and intelligent. You also seem to have a real penchant for subjects with emotional depth. Very 8th house/Scorpio.

I am curious what you think the difference between studying and practicing Astrology is, because there isn’t a difference.

It sounds to me like you like religious ideas, but those religious ideas don’t have any personal meaning to you. They’re just interesting things to intellectually explore. If that is the case, it would be most truthful for you to say that you were raised Catholic, but do not hold Orthodox beliefs.

If you do not want to use the religious ideas of your heritage as spiritual nourishment, that is your choice, but it might be helpful to state upfront in your profile that you do not hold to and practice the teachings of the Church.

 

[Lujack]

I am curious what you think the difference between studying and practicing Astrology is, because there isn’t a difference.

This is a tangent, but there is an enormous difference between studying and practicing astrology. If there wasn’t a difference between the study and practice of something, we wouldn’t be able to understand any other religions, because reading the Qu’Ran or the works of Martin Luther or the Hindu vedas would be the same as converting.

 

[Angels_Unaware]

This is a tangent, but there is an enormous difference between studying and practicing astrology. If there wasn’t a difference between the study and practice of something, we wouldn’t be able to understand any other religions, because reading the Qu’Ran or the works of Martin Luther or the Hindu vedas would be the same as converting.

As a former Astrologer, I disagree at the level of study she has given it. But it is a tangent, so why not stop?

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

I read some of your writing on your blog, and you are quite creative and intelligent. You also seem to have a real penchant for subjects with emotional depth. Very 8th house/Scorpio.

I am curious what you think the difference between studying and practicing Astrology is, because there isn’t a difference.

It sounds to me like you like religious ideas, but those religious ideas don’t have any personal meaning to you. They’re just interesting things to intellectually explore. If that is the case, it would be most truthful for you to say that you were raised Catholic, but do not hold Orthodox beliefs.

If you do not want to use the religious ideas of your heritage as spiritual nourishment, that is your choice, but it might be helpful to state upfront in your profile that you do not hold to and practice the teachings of the Church.

I am not the type of person to label something as “dangerous” it is unknown. I really hate being confused about something, so I study it, but I’m not *into *it. Sometimes I’ll mention it in other posts for a bit comic relief, but that varies on my mood.

A lot of my beliefs are very influenced by Catholicism, so of course, many values I have and religious ideas from Catholicism do have personal meaning to me. But I do see what you’re saying. Recently, I’ve realized myself that everyday I’m straying away from the Church and going back to God. (No, that isn’t a typo.)

Ironically Yours.

 

[Angels_Unaware]

I am not the type of person to label something as “dangerous” it is unknown. I really hate being confused about something, so I study it, but I’m not *into *it. Sometimes I’ll mention it in other posts for a bit comic relief, but that varies on my mood.

A lot of my beliefs are very influenced by Catholicism, so of course, many values I have and religious ideas from Catholicism do have personal meaning to me. But I do see what you’re saying. Recently, I’ve realized myself that everyday I’m straying away from the Church and going back to God. (No, that isn’t a typo.)

Ironically Yours.

I tried to find the post on your blog that drew my attention, but I really just skimmed it, and I couldn’t find it again. I thought your posts were very interesting, and I was curious about your religious affiliation, which is why I clicked on your blog. The post was about Pisces… something about the night?

The sentiment that you expressed, “I am not going to label something as dangerous because it is unknown”, is kind of a warped expression of Catholic teaching on Occult knowledge.

I want to explain it to you the right way; of course, it’s your decision about what value you place on the teaching.

The reason why I said there is no difference between studying and practicing Astrology is because it’s a system of occult knowledge that takes advantage of metaphysical laws that govern the spiritual world in the same way that the physical laws govern our material universe. Astrology is, of course, not a religion, so to study it has nothing to do with studying philosophy or comparative religion. It has nothing to do with beliefs. It is about occult understanding of the universe. I can never un-learn the principles that Iearned, even though I am a Catholic who follows the teachings of the church and do not practice Astrology.

The question then becomes, why not learn these things? Why is the knowledge forbidden? I will not go into a long philosophical discussion, except to point out that Adam and Eve asked the same questions before they sinned and brought corruption upon themselves and upon the world by eating of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. The primary reason “why not” is because we divert attention away from our relationship with God here and now in the present when we focus exclusively on intellectual and metaphysical knowledge. God asks that before we study Him, we first know Him.

That’s all I will say here, but I hope you will think about that.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

With the exception of regular teenage stuff that won’t matter in a year or so (I’m a senior), **I am very happy with the outcome of learning more about my faith and other faiths.
I appreciate you trying to help me, but I don’t need it–not from anyone here. **(No offence)
Ironically Yours.

This sounds like a prideful answer from one who is trying to be a be all for himself. I hear the phrase" I need help from no one". Trying to look at “Mine and other faiths” will only confuse you and put you in a position of picking and choosing without having the sound theological depth to make any discernment between what is objectively and subjectively out there. I would prayerfully suggest if you are truly interested i knowing about Catholicism, you seek out someone within the Church who can truly guide you and explain the differences which you apparently still hold in your mind. Truth is one, singular and immutable. It does not change, has not changed and never will change. And it is the truth which will set you free.
If one follows ones conscience, one has a moral obligation to correctly form his/her conscience. Following ones conscience is not just doing what I think is right without having sound moral principles upon which to base that “thought”.
This is sound advice being offered with Christian love and caring. “NO Offense”.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

This sounds like a prideful answer from one who is trying to be a be all for himself. I hear the phrase" I need help from no one". Trying to look at “Mine and other faiths” will only confuse you and put you in a position of picking and choosing without having the sound theological depth to make any discernment between what is objectively and subjectively out there. I would prayerfully suggest if you are truly interested i knowing about Catholicism, you seek out someone within the Church who can truly guide you and explain the differences which you apparently still hold in your mind. Truth is one, singular and immutable. It does not change, has not changed and never will change. And it is the truth which will set you free.
If one follows ones conscience, one has a moral obligation to correctly form his/her conscience. Following ones conscience is not just doing what I think is right without having sound moral principles upon which to base that “thought”.
This is sound advice being offered with Christian love and caring. “NO Offense”.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Nice try. Perhaps I should’ve elaborated on that, however.

When I found this site, I wanted very much to read about the beliefs of various people within the Church. I was a Catholic, in practice, but was very annoyed with the people at my public school-- the ones who continued to pressure me into their faiths.

But then, as I continued to read and debate with people here and at school, God seemed less and less like the God I learned about in Catholic school.

Bottom line: This site was the straw that broke the camel’s back, therefore, anymore help will only drive me farther away. It’s nothing really personal-- I still believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of course.

… I may have to post a new thread for that, though.

Ironically Yours.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Nice try. Perhaps I should’ve elaborated on that, however.

When I found this site, I wanted very much to read about the beliefs of various people within the Church. I was a Catholic, in practice, but was very annoyed with the people at my public school-- the ones who continued to pressure me into their faiths.

But then, as I continued to read and debate with people here and at school, God seemed less and less like the God I learned about in Catholic school.

Bottom line: This site was the straw that broke the camel’s back, therefore, anymore help will only drive me farther away. It’s nothing really personal-- I still believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of course.

… I may have to post a new thread for that, though.

Ironically Yours.

I don’t know why, but I did expect an answer like this. Suffice to say, you will remain in my prayers.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

I don’t know why, but I did expect an answer like this. Suffice to say, you will remain in my prayers.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

You will remain in mine.

Ironically Yours.

 

[apromisemade]

Here’s how I see it…

Walking with Christ, living a holy life, is something that should be done out of love for Him, not fear of Hell. Christ did, after all, say “…love one another, as I have loved you” Do good deeds because you love Christ and you want to honor his love and his sacrafice, because it’s the good and righteouss thing to do, not because you fear for your soul. Doing or not doing something out of fear of hell makes you no different than the guy who hides the beer under the bed when the cops come because he’s on probation and doesn’t want to go back to jail. Don’t do anything out of fear. Fear blinds us and leaves us unable to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, those who need help and those who are truly out to do us harm. Fear robs us of our trust in God. And when we allow fear to completely consume us, we create our own Hell.

Fill you heart with love of Christ, not fear of Hell, and you will have nothing to fear.

 

[fhansen]

Having Catholicism as our heritage is a worthless cultural phenomenon by itself unless or until the concepts taught become personally understood. I didn’t understand them and so left the Church as a teenager-I left for over 25 years. And I didn’t return until, after much seeking and studying, I began to realize that the gospel message was a message of love-that God *is *love-a love so powerful and yet rejected by Adam & Eve because they hadn’t learned its value. And when we come to see that mankind never had a reason to hate or mistrust God, then that love can begin to dispel-or “cast out”-fear.

 

[Mystic_Warrior]

For those who believe in hell, how do you live your day to day life without being absolutely terrified? The thought of spending eternity anywhere is frightening. Hell, a place of eternal suffering, is all the more terrifying.

I don’t hold orthodox beliefs about hell and I’m non-Catholic anyway. However, I will say that even when I did hold those orthodox views, I didn’t dwell on them. In other words, it’s healthy to think of the reality of hell. It becomes unhealthy if you are constantly afraid of it.

Your hope and life should be focused on Heaven and your obedience rather than Hell and disobedience. For, if you focus on the positive aspects of obeying the commandments you have little time to fear the terrible affects of Hell.

I don’t know what I believe in

Are you Catholic, non-Catholic or …

but I’m scared that I might end up in hell. When I am in the state of a mortal sin, which is often, I have trouble falling asleep knowing that if I don’t wake up in the morning, then I’m doomed for all eternity.

Why are you in a constant state of mortal sin? 3 things have to be in place for you to be in a state of mortal sin. Are you sure you are? The next question is: If you really are “often” in the state of mortal sin, are you going to confession as soon as you can?

I just don’t have faith in God, but yet Pascal’s Wager haunts me every day.

And this is the crux of the matter. You claim that you don’t have faith in God. That’s a real problem. Have you been baptized? I lost my faith in God some years ago, but He brought me back to faith in a very direct manner. If you lack faith, you should ask God to help you with that.

Most people I know seem confident that they won’t go to hell because they consider themselves generally a good person. But how can you be sure? How do you know that you’re actually doing what’s right and how do you know that you’re actually following the right faith?

Generally being a good person doesn’t qualify you for one-way ticket to Heaven. If you have been baptized, confess your sins often and follow the teachings and commandments of Christ, then you are doing your part. We all fail at times. That’s why there’s confession. Trust that the Bible and Tradition of the Church are steering you in the right direction.

If hell exists, then following the right faith is the most important thing in the world. Yet everything is so vague. There are so many different faiths out there, and within each faith there is so much disagreement over what is true. With our eternal soul at stake, why doesn’t God make it more clear what path to take?

The most important thing is to not trust just your own judgment (which is not 100% accurate) but to also rely on the apostles, the early church, the Scripture and the revelations that have been given us.

I disagree that everything is so vague. Have you ever read the Catechism? It’s pretty detailed if you ask me. Yes, there are many faiths and I’ve followed others in my lifetime, but found my way back to Christianity because there is no other power on earth that can match the one and only Jesus Christ that the Christian church professes.

You should do what you can to understand and practice the “correct” faith. Read books like “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell and others he was written. And you should find a spiritual director to help you find your way. You seem to have lost your way in a world pulling at you to believe one thing or another. And last, but not least, pray dear friend. Pray.

As for why didn’t God make it more clear? Well, He did. It’s like Adam and Eve. They knew the truth but walked away from it. We do the same today, whether we realize it or not.

Peace…

MW

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

For those who believe in hell, how do you live your day to day life without being absolutely terrified? The thought of spending eternity anywhere is frightening. Hell, a place of eternal suffering, is all the more terrifying.

I don’t know what I believe in, but I’m scared that I might end up in hell. When I am in the state of a mortal sin, which is often, I have trouble falling asleep knowing that if I don’t wake up in the morning, then I’m doomed for all eternity. I just don’t have faith in God, but yet Pascal’s Wager haunts me every day.

Most people I know seem confident that they won’t go to hell because they consider themselves generally a good person. But how can you be sure? How do you know that you’re actually doing what’s right and how do you know that you’re actually following the right faith?

If hell exists, then following the right faith is the most important thing in the world. Yet everything is so vague. There are so many different faiths out there, and within each faith there is so much disagreement over what is true. With our eternal soul at stake, why doesn’t God make it more clear what path to take?

Part of the answer: “Do nothing that you cannot offer to God” (St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney)​