Fear of hell

[Eruvande]

I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell. The worst thing I can possibly imagine is getting to the judgement throne of God and hearing ‘get away from Me, I never knew you’.

So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to have been full of warnings - about legalism, about Mary, but most of all, about hell. My rational mind is just pootling forward, learning what I can, reading my catechism and praying. But I can’t shake this horrible fear - what if I’m wrong? What if my friends are right? What if I get to judgement and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?

 

[Catholic1954]

I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell. The worst thing I can possibly imagine is getting to the judgement throne of God and hearing ‘get away from Me, I never knew you’.

So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to have been full of warnings - about legalism, about Mary, but most of all, about hell. My rational mind is just pootling forward, learning what I can, reading my catechism and praying. But I can’t shake this horrible fear - what if I’m wrong? What if my friends are right? What if I get to judgement and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?

Your (well meaning?) friends are wrong. The Catholic Church is the one, true Church, started by Jesus Himself; the gates of the netherworld will never prevail against it. If Jesus is truth itself, then it is impossible for Him to start an untrue, or false church and you can 100% believe everything that the Catholic Church teaches. I suspect that the real source of your doubt does not come from your friends, but the Enemy, who is desperate to prevent another soul from uniting itself with Jesus forever. Keep praying and keep searching, the answers are out there and you will find them!

 

[Kal2012]

1. I’ve found in my own journey that Baptists and Evangelicals are way more legalistic than Catholics. (Catholic guilt is nothing compared to Baptist guilt. I know because I was once a Baptist.) Seriously…it’s night and day different. Yes, we might have obligation days and have to fast here and there, but priests don’t give me homilies about how I shouldn’t be drinking (I don’t), playing cards (once in awhile), or smoking (again, I don’t). Priests treat me like I’m an adult who can make good decisions on my own w/out having to be told “don’t do this or that”.
2. It really doesn’t matter what others think. What matters is how am I best serving and following the Lord given the knowledge that I have. For me, that meant becoming a Catholic. (Welcome Home, BTW).
3. I, too, have a fear of Hell. Baptists are very good at putting the fear of Hell and damnation into your soul.

However, ask yourself…are you saved? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior? (Yep, the Baptist still comes out now and then) Are you doing your best to follow the guidelines that Jesus laid out about treating people and living a Christian life…the 10 commandments, etc? Are you always trying to draw closer to him through prayer, reading your Bible, going to Mass, participating in Parish life, devotionals, etc?

I really doubt that God would turn his back on people who sincerely try to live a Christian life and know that Jesus is the path to salvation.

1. Everyone has their own spiritual journey to take. Yours has led you to the Catholic church (for various reasons). You really can’t let what other people think hinder your relationship with God. I love Catholicism and I wish that I would have opened my heart to it sooner, but I needed to take the journey I did to fully appreciate everything that the Church offers. I had a few people try to warn me (oh, you don’t have to become one just because you marry one), but the thing is when you really let your heart experience the fullness of the Catholic church, most everything else that’s offered out there seems empty in comparison. How do you explain that you have 100% of the blood/body of Christ every week in the Eucharist when other denominations are lax about communion, but still think it’s the ‘real deal’? The experiences are night/day different.

 

[po18guy]

I note that many of the most brilliant, well-educated, insightful and fervent Christians are converting to Catholicism. Conversely, those who are lukewarm and not well-catechized fall away and go elsewhere.

Have you considered spending a holy hour in the Lord’s presence? I most heartily suggest this an a great aid to your spirituality. Call a local parish and find out when they offer adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Then, just go and be in His presence. It takes great faith to look upon what formerly was bread and believe that it is your Savior. But, that is exactly what the Apostles did in the upper room.

If you doubt His presence, tell Him so directly. Then, be as patient with Him and He has been with you. As Fr. Benedict Groeschel says, “When you are aware that He is there, you will be changed.”

 

[Sarcelle]

I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell. The worst thing I can possibly imagine is getting to the judgement throne of God and hearing ‘get away from Me, I never knew you’.

So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to have been full of warnings - about legalism, about Mary, but most of all, about hell. My rational mind is just pootling forward, learning what I can, reading my catechism and praying. But I can’t shake this horrible fear - what if I’m wrong? What if my friends are right? What if I get to judgement and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?

You might want to educate yourself further on Catholicism.

I think YouTube has Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home network. Scott Hahn and Peter Kreeft books are also good.

 

[Eruvande]

You might want to educate yourself further on Catholicism.

Oh absolutely! There’s much I still don’t know or understand.

Have you considered spending a holy hour in the Lord’s presence? I most heartily suggest this an a great aid to your spirituality. Call a local parish and find out when they offer adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Then, just go and be in His presence. It takes great faith to look upon what formerly was bread and believe that it is your Savior. But, that is exactly what the Apostles did in the upper room.

If you doubt His presence, tell Him so directly. Then, be as patient with Him and He has been with you. As Fr. Benedict Groeschel says, “When you are aware that He is there, you will be changed.”

I discovered my local parish has just started doing this, I may well try and go along one week.

However, ask yourself…are you saved? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior? (Yep, the Baptist still comes out now and then) Are you doing your best to follow the guidelines that Jesus laid out about treating people and living a Christian life…the 10 commandments, etc? Are you always trying to draw closer to him through prayer, reading your Bible, going to Mass, participating in Parish life, devotionals, etc?

I really doubt that God would turn his back on people who sincerely try to live a Christian life and know that Jesus is the path to salvation.
.

I hope I’m saved (in the non-Catholic sense) I love Jesus. I talk to Him all day long and only want to do what He wants. There’s nothing in this whole world I’m more grateful for than the cross and the price He paid for my sins. I serve the poor through my church (I don’t say this to boast, God forbid, just to say that my faith isn’t just an inward, me me me thing) I haven’t been to mass since we moved, as it’s a car journey away and my husband hasn’t let me go so far.

Your (well meaning?) friends are wrong. The Catholic Church is the one, true Church, started by Jesus Himself; the gates of the netherworld will never prevail against it. If Jesus is truth itself, then it is impossible for Him to start an untrue, or false church and you can 100% believe everything that the Catholic Church teaches. I suspect that the real source of your doubt does not come from your friends, but the Enemy, who is desperate to prevent another soul from uniting itself with Jesus forever. Keep praying and keep searching, the answers are out there and you will find them!

Thank you. I ain’t giving up yet

 

[4love2God]

Eruvande is concerned : "I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell… So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to has been full of warnings [to me] … but most of all, about hell… But I can’t shake this horrible fear … What if I get to judgment and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?"

Wouldn’t it be NICE if God would just speak to each one of us, once in a while?
Then, God could explain what we have to do to ENSURE ourselves of getting to Heaven some day.

Unfortunately, that is NOT the Way God chooses to deal with this issue.
People who say they always know what God’s Will is are Lying.
They THINK that they know … after all, we do 1000s of little things each day, and the odds of doing ALL of them according to God’s Will are pretty low.

So, you Fear (that knowing what you do about yourself and your Spirituality), there is a REAL chance that you haven’t done EVEN well enough to get 100 years in Purgatory.
If you are convinced that you are possible Hell material, then there’s not much I can offer.
God is supposed to be a Forgiving Guy.

God is supposed to look inside my Heart (and Soul) to see my Intentions.
Therefore, if I believe that my Intentions for doing things are honorable, I should also believe that God will approve of me, enough to NOT condemn me to everlasting torment.

This issue is all about Faith.
If you believe that God is Just, then you won’t suspect that God will condemn you for something you were NOT even aware of.
So, then, looking at what you are doing (and Why) is most of the Picture.
I mean, have Faith that you are following what you consider a Valid Christian Life … and, that (by living that Life) you are NOT one of the evil people (who would probably be condemned to Hell).

 

[po18guy]

I discovered my local parish has just started doing this, I may well try and go along one week.

I had no devotion to the Blessed Sacrament for years. Then, all of a sudden, it arrived. It is wonderful. A place of peace and quietude. Silence is the norm, and it is only in silence that we can hear that still, small voice speak to us. Pray, read either scripture or inspirational material, or just gaze upon Him. Amazing things happen there. Miracles, even. It is the best-kept secret in all of Christianity.

 

[mikekle]

I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell. The worst thing I can possibly imagine is getting to the judgement throne of God and hearing ‘get away from Me, I never knew you’.

So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to have been full of warnings - about legalism, about Mary, but most of all, about hell. My rational mind is just pootling forward, learning what I can, reading my catechism and praying. But I can’t shake this horrible fear - what if I’m wrong? What if my friends are right? What if I get to judgement and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?

I have also have my fair share of sleepless nights spent worrying about hell, Ive had some very real nightmares about the place, and for some reason, when I wake up in the middle of the night for any reason, I feel very vulnerable, and I think about when I die, what it would be like if I wake up in terrible place, where people are literally being torn apart by demons, and similar horrors, but the more Ive thought about it, while hell does exist, It is more than likely not what we think it is, I tend to think this version of hell was put out as a way to scare people into church, I know they did this when I was a young child, i can remember certain teachers always saying, ’ do you want to end up in hell’?

If you look at the bible verses, hell was created specifically for satan and the fallen angels, it is also known these beings and humans(even dead humans) are not remotely close to being the same, so a place specifically made for the fallen angels as a place of punishment for them, more than likely would not also be a place of punishment for human souls.

And really, Hell is just a separation from God, many people live their lives separated from God, so it should not be much change for them, they are already used to not having God in their lives, some people will say in response to this that while those people dont live with God in their lives by their choice, God is still there around them, but I dont agree with that, as that would be a contradiction to free will, if we choose to not have God in our lives on earth, we will not be in our lives period…so, is hell just an extension of these peoples earthly lives? IDK, but it seems most logical to me.

Im on the fence about hell, the demons, Satan and related topics, I am trying to understand them more on here though, and by reading scripture, but I do truly believe there is alot about this topic that mankind does not know yet, and they are probably big parts of the puzzle.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I’ve always had a healthy and very real fear of hell. The worst thing I can possibly imagine is getting to the judgement throne of God and hearing ‘get away from Me, I never knew you’.

So here’s my big problem. Those of my acquaintance that I’ve mentioned my interest in Catholicism to have been full of warnings - about legalism, about Mary, but most of all, about hell. My rational mind is just pootling forward, learning what I can, reading my catechism and praying. But I can’t shake this horrible fear - what if I’m wrong? What if my friends are right? What if I get to judgement and God says ‘I didn’t know you!’?

Both Catholics and Protestants (and Orthodox for that matter) believe in heaven and hell. However we also believe in Purgatory, which is a refining state for those who have made imperfect contrition, or who have character defects which have not yet been repaired.

Put it this way - if a serial killer murders 10 people, and then repents at the last minute just before being hanged, will he then just waltz into heaven? Some Protestants seem to think so, which is garbage in my opinion. He may be forgiven, but he’d have an awful lot of cleaning up to do before he reached the perfection of heaven. So there is a refining fire called Purgatory.

As St. Paul wrote - 1 Corinthians 3:15 NIV -

If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved–even though only as one escaping through the flames.

To my mind that’s a direct reference to Purgatory, even if it’s not mentioned by name in the Bible. Nor is the Trinity for that matter - it’s inferred.

As for Mary, legalism etc., you need to do a bit more reading on the Catholic faith.

 

[Eruvande]

This is indeed about faith, no question. The issue is my protestant trained conscience believes I need to come to God at the judgement ‘nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Your cross I cling’, and that God doesn’t judge based on good intentions. My head knows the Catholic teaching - and is learning more all the time - but my conscience is still troubled by twenty years of faith alone indoctrination.

But you’re all quite right, I just need to kep reading and learning.

 

[Lin123]

I believe in the fact that a true confession is a place to start this is reflecting on the truth …Gods mercy and died on the cross for are sins… God will fill your heart with the light of truth …Then we must live as best we can to be like God… I think talking with your priest and taking your time with PRARY and having a TRUE CONFESSION will be a good start to relieve your worries…Your faith in God will see you through …Hope this helped…

 

[steve_b]

I have also have my fair share of sleepless nights spent worrying about hell, Ive had some very real nightmares about the place, and for some reason, when I wake up in the middle of the night for any reason, I feel very vulnerable, and I think about when I die, what it would be like if I wake up in terrible place, where people are literally being torn apart by demons, and similar horrors, but the more Ive thought about it, while hell does exist, It is more than likely not what we think it is, I tend to think this version of hell was put out as a way to scare people into church, I know they did this when I was a young child, i can remember certain teachers always saying, ’ do you want to end up in hell’?

If you look at the bible verses, hell was created specifically for satan and the fallen angels, it is also known these beings and humans(even dead humans) are not remotely close to being the same, so a place specifically made for the fallen angels as a place of punishment for them, more than likely would not also be a place of punishment for human souls.

And really, Hell is just a separation from God, many people live their lives separated from God, so it should not be much change for them, they are already used to not having God in their lives, some people will say in response to this that while those people dont live with God in their lives by their choice, God is still there around them, but I dont agree with that, as that would be a contradiction to free will, if we choose to not have God in our lives on earth, we will not be in our lives period…so, is hell just an extension of these peoples earthly lives? IDK, but it seems most logical to me.

Im on the fence about hell, the demons, Satan and related topics, I am trying to understand them more on here though, and by reading scripture, but I do truly believe there is alot about this topic that mankind does not know yet, and they are probably big parts of the puzzle.

Here’s some reading for you. catholic.com/search/content/hell you’ll find it is all supportable.