But the punishment is inherent in the decision.
They will, but you still shouldn’t wish then to Hell. You shouldn’t want anyone to be in Hell.
I’m sort of going to play Devil’s advocate here. I’m bipolar though I tend to have more trouble with depression than mania. Lately, I’ve been depressed a lot and I have to say that I’m often just not all that thrilled with having been created. I mean, as oppossed to what? No going through all the pain? Now, remember, I’m speaking as a depressed person so these feelings will not make sense to a lot of people. Still, just yesterday I was thinking how life is often, to me, more trouble that it’s worth and it’s certainly not something I’m thankful for. Surely there’s a bette way for whatever we’re doing here (what are we doing here?).
God dose not promise us happiness in this life but in the life to come. However, we are free to shun this promise - we are free to sin. But God has promised us happiness, so shunning that by sinning is absurd. The only thing that makes sense is to love God above all things and to love all things for his sake.I’m sort of going to play Devil’s advocate here. I’m bipolar though I tend to have more trouble with depression than mania. Lately, I’ve been depressed a lot and I have to say that I’m often just not all that thrilled with having been created. I mean, as oppossed to what? No going through all the pain? Now, remember, I’m speaking as a depressed person so these feelings will not make sense to a lot of people. Still, just yesterday I was thinking how life is often, to me, more trouble that it’s worth and it’s certainly not something I’m thankful for. Surely there’s a bette way for whatever we’re doing here (what are we doing here?).
Just a guess here, but you’re not bipolar are you? If you were you’d know that to say the above to someone who grapples with suicidal depression just sounds like nonsense. You don’t will yourself out of mental illness, it has very little to do with choice. I didn’t chose to be bipolar you know. They say God doesn’t give us more than we can handle but I think that’s a joke. It the Babie doll is defective the fault lies with Mattel. BTW, do you know anything at all about mental illness? I strongly suggest you not go into crisis counseling.
I can relate. I haven’t been diagnosed officially but believe me I understand. Being happy is work. I walk around in a state of wanting to quit. Everything. I have to fight alot of feelings just to function. But at the same time I do know God’s love.I’m sort of going to play Devil’s advocate here. I’m bipolar though I tend to have more trouble with depression than mania. Lately, I’ve been depressed a lot and I have to say that I’m often just not all that thrilled with having been created. I mean, as oppossed to what? No going through all the pain? Now, remember, I’m speaking as a depressed person so these feelings will not make sense to a lot of people. Still, just yesterday I was thinking how life is often, to me, more trouble that it’s worth and it’s certainly not something I’m thankful for. Surely there’s a bette way for whatever we’re doing here (what are we doing here?).
But there are days when I’m tired or it has been crazy that they try to creep in. But I am always in control.Just because I don’t know bipolar dose not mean I do not know what I’m talking about. Don’t insult my intelligence. Furthermore, I do know what sucidal depression is like, since I suffer from it myself. But I don’t let it cloud my conscience; I listen to what the Church teaches and I keep my heart open to the Spirit of Truth.Just a guess here, but you’re not bipolar are you? If you were you’d know that to say the above to someone who grapples with suicidal depression just sounds like nonsense. You don’t will yourself out of mental illness, it has very little to do with choice. I didn’t chose to be bipolar you know. They say God doesn’t give us more than we can handle but I think that’s a joke. It the Babie doll is defective the fault lies with Mattel. BTW, do you know anything at all about mental illness? I strongly suggest you not go into crisis counseling.
First I must say I know very little about bipolar disorder.I’m sort of going to play Devil’s advocate here. I’m bipolar though I tend to have more trouble with depression than mania. Lately, I’ve been depressed a lot and I have to say that I’m often just not all that thrilled with having been created. I mean, as oppossed to what? No going through all the pain? Now, remember, I’m speaking as a depressed person so these feelings will not make sense to a lot of people. Still, just yesterday I was thinking how life is often, to me, more trouble that it’s worth and it’s certainly not something I’m thankful for. Surely there’s a bette way for whatever we’re doing here (what are we doing here?).
).While I’m not bipolar, sometimes when I’m down, if I think of it, I ask God if I can offer up the sadness and anxiety as a penance, and ask God for more if it, if it really can be of any good. Then I try to focus on the emotional suffering and really experience it and think of it as my cross.I’m sort of going to play Devil’s advocate here. I’m bipolar though I tend to have more trouble with depression than mania. Lately, I’ve been depressed a lot and I have to say that I’m often just not all that thrilled with having been created. I mean, as oppossed to what? No going through all the pain? Now, remember, I’m speaking as a depressed person so these feelings will not make sense to a lot of people. Still, just yesterday I was thinking how life is often, to me, more trouble that it’s worth and it’s certainly not something I’m thankful for. Surely there’s a bette way for whatever we’re doing here (what are we doing here?).
I think the reason why hell is eternal is because the consequences of our actions are eternal. Unlike God, we cannot go back in time and change what we have done wrong. It is only through God’s forgiveness in Christ that we are able to go “back in time” so to speak and make amends, undoing the damage that was previously done, either to ourselves or to others we have harmed. Without God’s forgiveness through Christ we do not have access to this divine love either.
I personally don’t think that God sends us to hell. I think we send ourselves there when we sin against God and refuse to repent of these sins.
Very good answer Brendon.
I know you are trying to help and I really appreciate it. One of the problems with bipolar, or any “mental” disorder, is that it affects one’s ability to think rationally as it alters/distorts our perception of reality. So, IMO, it’s not the same as, say, a purely physical or emotional problem (though any kind of suffering can lead to mental imbalance, IMO). Chosing anything is often difficult because our perception is off, if you follow me. That’s why suicide is irrational IMO, because the decision is made in a non-normal state (my father killed himself). Although I’m not really talking about culpability - just the difficulty in finding hope when your mental capaicty for doing so is diminished by a condition beyond one’s control. Does that make sense?First I must say I know very little about bipolar disorder.
Your comment is about having difficulty finding joy in the fact of your creation.
In the absence of God and heaven, you’re right…all would seem to be a cruel joke; a pointless endeavor riddled with suffering.
With God we have the Promise of Heaven. He promises us that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived of what He has waiting for those who love HIm.” I know that man has conceived of quite a lot. Just look at movies, art, and fiction. God promises that heaven is more and better than the best thing we can think up ourselves. That is our goal. That is our inheritence.
In the meantime, we have the challenges of this life to “refine” us. I think it was CS Lewis who said that pain is God’s megaphone. Suffering can be both instructive and redemptive. We must strive to carry our “crosses” with the same humility and acceptance as Jesus had carrying His Cross.
God doesn’t “want” us to hurt. He wants us to accept the suffering and turn to Him.
This does not mean that we should jump the gun and try to get into heaven early. God has a plan for you. He also promised that “All things work to good for those who love Him.” That means that good will come from our suffering just as the pain of labor brings forth a newborn baby.
He knows your suffering. He knows every hair on your head (unless you’re bald
I think that makes sense, though I have rarely been in a position where hope seemed lost. When those times come, all you can do is hold on, not knowing if or when you will be pulled out, but with the knowledge/faith that, whatever happens, God is by your side. That He knows exactly what you are enduring. That your father is interceding for you.
You have a whole melee of concerns, issues, grievances, complaints and overall mis-conceptions about God’s Love; our free will choices; the existence of hell; purgatory etc etc etc etc. its all just to encompassing to enumerate.
Why should we pray for the ‘poor souls’ in purgatory. Those are the people who have lived a Christ-like life and are in their stages of purification before entering heaven. So these souls are not ‘poor’ at all.