HELP PLEASE:The most debilitating thought that I desperately need advice on

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I think that what I described as my debilitating thought can be interpreted as a fear of going to hell, in which case I’m perfectly in line with Catholicism and my trust in God has never been broken. The notion of going to hell is something that causes many people, like me, to tremble with fear and to experience great anxiety. Are not those in hell like slaves for all of eternity? Should not more Catholics have similar experiences?

Note that in my opening post I said that: “Overall, my spirituality is just fine and leads me to great devotion, joyfulness, and optimism!”
 
…Give us this day our daily bread…Lead us not into temptation…
 
Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread! I feel much more comfortable now in believing that what was a negative spiritual experience where I originally thought I had mistrusted God, was, in fact, my perception of eternal damnation in hell. If, and when, this type of thought occurs again, I think I will be in a much better position to battle it. Again, this type of thought has greatly distressed me in the past.
 
Robert_Sock said:
I think that what I described as my debilitating thought can be interpreted as a fear of going to hell, in which case I’m perfectly in line with Catholicism and my trust in God has never been broken. The notion of going to hell is something that causes many people, like me, to tremble with fear and to experience great anxiety. Are not those in hell like slaves for all of eternity? Should not more Catholics have similar experiences?

Note that in my opening post I said that: “Overall, my spirituality is just fine and leads me to great devotion, joyfulness, and optimism!”
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No. They freely chose to reject God and stay in Hell forever separated from him.
 
If the Op is true, how come I don’t feel like a slave?

Can God ‘punish’ or ‘enslave’ us with love and peace and joy?

Also, by what logic does an ALL powerful Being need slaves? :confused:
 
Robert_Sock said:
I do not love my life in this world and I’m very empathic towards so many people who experience pain, suffering, and hardships (especially the great multitude of those living in extreme poverty).

My starting this thread was all in hope of getting advice on receiving consolation from God, which I often seem to have, as I do right now in writing this post.
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Indeed, consolation and empathy can only come from God and other people. Sometimes God withholds His consolation precisely so that others can offer it through Him.

This and some of your other recent threads remind of a song that I like. I thought I might share it with you. It’s uplifting even though it’s called Bad Day.

youtube.com/watch?v=s8XuoyFZS1U
 
thistle said:
No. They freely chose to reject God and stay in Hell forever separated from him.
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Yes, I fully agree that they freely choose hell, but once in hell and being totally unable to escape be somewhat like that of being a slave to Satan? Again, I was just trying to figure out why I experienced what I would consider having been a spiritual vision. It makes sense to me that that vision I experienced somehow came from a totally unconscious schema of hell. Such visions, I believe, are hard to interpret and put into words, but at least for me, it’s beginning to make sense.
 
Lion_IRC said:
If the Op is true, how come I don’t feel like a slave?

Can God ‘punish’ or ‘enslave’ us with love and peace and joy?

Also, by what logic does an ALL powerful Being need slaves? :confused:
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Again, spiritual visions can be very personal and are sometimes hard to make sense of. No, I never really thought of God as a slavemaster, but my vision was that a person could really become a slave, in this case to Satan. The words I chose in my opening post were premature, without having had the opportunity to explore what I saw more fully.
 
God bless you Robert.
I will keep you in my prayers these coming days. ✞
 
Robert_Sock said:
Yes, I fully agree that they freely choose hell, but once in hell and being totally unable to escape be somewhat like that of being a slave to Satan? Again, I was just trying to figure out why I experienced what I would consider having been a spiritual vision. It makes sense to me that that vision I experienced somehow came from a totally unconscious schema of hell. Such visions, I believe, are hard to interpret and put into words, but at least for me, it’s beginning to make sense.
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Absolutely not. They freely chose to go to Hell knowing they would be there forever. Not slaves at all.
 
thistle said:
Absolutely not. They freely chose to go to Hell knowing they would be there forever. Not slaves at all.
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So they are in no way under the power of Satan once they enter hell? Will they have a free will once they enter hell? Can people sell or trade their soul to Satan, and therefore belong to him? Did not people in the Old Testament sell themselves into slavery using their own free will? If so, were they not slaves? Your post seems to maintain a very limited definition of slavery.

Noun: slavery
1. The state of being under the control of another person
2. The practice of owning slaves
3. Work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay

[WordWeb.info]
 
Aren’t we all slaves of some sort? We are born without our choice, we suffer without our will, if you were religious of the modern world, a god you didn’t know and choose was given to you, accept this god, you go to heaven to praise him all the time, reject him you suffer for ever the consequences of using your free will not as you are supposed to do. We’re like rats in a maze, led by either chaos or an evil mad egoist scientist who wants lesser beings to love him.
 
Robert_Sock said:
The scariest thought for me is that we are nothing more than specially designed slaves and that we will remain so throughout eternity! It’s a thought that deprives me of my faith. It’s the most powerful thought of sinful temptation that enters me and causes me to doubt the sincerity of God! It’s a debilitating thought that leads me to deep anxiety and depression! At no time am I more in need of God’s consolation! That we are like slaves here the lowliest world seems obvious to me and I can accept that (see the quote below) but that it will last throughout eternity bothers me beyond belief.

If anybody reading this has any suggestions on how I should handle such a thought, I would be so grateful for an effective solution!

Overall, my spirituality is just fine and leads me to great devotion, joyfulness, and optimism!
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It’s a satanic trick trying to undermine your Faith.
 
ANV said:
Aren’t we all slaves of some sort? We are born without our choice, we suffer without our will, if you were religious of the modern world, a god you didn’t know and choose was given to you, accept this god, you go to heaven to praise him all the time, reject him you suffer for ever the consequences of using your free will not as you are supposed to do. We’re like rats in a maze, led by either chaos or an evil mad egoist scientist who wants lesser beings to love him.
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Can you claim to have experienced the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit that are given for free to confirmed Catholics and include: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord? I experienced them, and I am hoping to explain to you that some people, like me, can see, hear, and understand things that other people cannot. I am hoping to enhance your curiosity and perhaps get you to seek a new part of your soul that you never knew existed.

And, yes, I would love it if you would become a devout Catholic and become “schizophrenic” by freely receiving the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The best things in life really are free, and I often pray for people like you will see the Light that I so desperately want you to see. I would never try to misguide you!
 
Robert_Sock said:
Can you claim to have experienced the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit that are given for free to confirmed Catholics and include: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord? I experienced them, and I am hoping to explain to you that some people, like me, can see, hear, and understand things that other people cannot. I am hoping to enhance your curiosity and perhaps get you to seek a new part of your soul that you never knew existed.

And, yes, I would love it if you would become a devout Catholic and become “schizophrenic” by freely receiving the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The best things in life really are free, and I often pray for people like you will see the Light that I so desperately want you to see. I would never try to misguide you!
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I don’t think the things you mentioned are monopoly to the confirmed devout Catholic, which part of what I said wasn’t correct or real?
 
ANV said:
I don’t think the things you mentioned are monopoly to the confirmed devout Catholic, which part of what I said wasn’t correct or real?
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You tend to cut down Catholicism without, I presume, ever experiencing its value. This life is tough, and I know that as a fact, but Catholicism provides me with hope, along with plenty of positive spiritual experiences. The crosses of this life we all must carry, but why not carry them in the name of Christ where rewards are promised?
 
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