I’ve found that talking in percentages is meaningless for this discussion.13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~ Matthew 7:13-14
How can this be taken to mean anything other than that <50% of people will go to Hell?
Human nature I guess.Why are some folks so anxious to say how many people will go to hell?
The gate is narrow means one needs drop their sinful habits to fit through it. Leave that baggage behind. A wider gate and road makes room for all that garbage but that way leads to destruction. It does not seem to imply that the gate to salvation is too narrow to admit many souls, just how much baggage each soul brings to the gate. From the Cross, Christ said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. I used to think this meant those who participated in the crucifixion but have come to think it includes me and you and all the rest of us who have from time to time stupidly gone astray. I also have a difficulty in thinking that the Lord’s humanity project will be a substantial failure. Teddy Roosevelt said, “It is not having been in the dark house that matters but having come out”.13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~ Matthew 7:13-14
How can this be taken to mean anything other than that <50% of people will go to Hell?
Yes, it means few are saved. All the doctors and theologians of the church have agreed that few are saved.13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~ Matthew 7:13-14
How can this be taken to mean anything other than that <50% of people will go to Hell?
Whistling in the grave yard? Seriously, you have entirely the wrong idea. Yes hell is a place for punishment. But those who go there have decided they hate God and wouldn’t go to heaven if they were given a " go free " pass. So God allows them to go where he isn’t. Should he put them in heaven when they don’t want to be there?I don’t understand Christianity’s obsession with Hell. Hell, when you think about it, is impossible for many reasons. The Church even says that God is omnipresent, which means God is present EVERYWHERE. So given that fact, God’s presence would also be in Hell too. There is absolutely NO PLACE where God CANNOT BE. God is not separated from anyone or anything or any PLACE! Another thing is that God is UNCONDITIONAL. Meaning there are NO conditions. So if there WAS a place called Hell, God wouldn’t let anyone go there. If God only permits people in Heaven who follow him, well, that would mean he is conditional. You can only pass go and collect 200 dollars if you do what I want you to do: does that sound unconditional?
Then all the theologians and doctors of the church are wrong!Lets face it, no one knows but God.
However, God is all-powerful and could withdraw his presence from hell .I don’t understand Christianity’s obsession with Hell. Hell, when you think about it, is impossible for many reasons. The Church even says that God is omnipresent, which means God is present EVERYWHERE. So given that fact, God’s presence would also be in Hell too. There is absolutely NO PLACE where God CANNOT BE. God is not separated from anyone or anything or any PLACE! Another thing is that God is UNCONDITIONAL. Meaning there are NO conditions. So if there WAS a place called Hell, God wouldn’t let anyone go there. If God only permits people in Heaven who follow him, well, that would mean he is conditional. You can only pass go and collect 200 dollars if you do what I want you to do: does that sound unconditional?
Not necessarily wrong, but hopefully wrong based on what they were claiming ( although I don’t know the quotes). I merely said no one knows but God. Jesus never put a percentage on hell’s population.Then all the theologians and doctors of the church are wrong!
Is St. Thomas Aquinas wrong? What about Pope St. Gregory the Great? Or St. Augustine of Hippo? They all agree few are saved
If we accept the private revelation included in this sermon, then it is truly a bleak picture. Based on the ratio given here, a mere 350 000 people out of the world’s 7 000 000 000 will be saved. That’s less than the number of parishes in the world. That would mean that in thousands upon thousands of parishes EVERY single parishioner is damned and in the rest one, out of the thousands of parish members, might manage to get by. Even if you just go by the number of people who receive “the last rites”, the number of saved would be much, much, much higher than that. Are we to doubt the grace of the sacraments? Are we do doubt the absolution given during Last Rites? Are we to doubt the apostolic pardon?Yes, it means few are saved. All the doctors and theologians of the church have agreed that few are saved.
This sermon by St. Leonard of Port Maurice will explain why :
olrl.org/snt_docs/fewness.shtml