I want to be convinced

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I think the related question of why does an all knowing, all powerful, all seeing God,
allow such horrible unearned suffering is the more difficult side of wondering about damnation.
I hope I do not get lambasted on an unprovable devout speculation.
I think like the imaginary plane for handling squared of negative numbers;
or Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment of expanding quantum mechanics
to the ‘macro’ level; or like ‘halo decks’ in fictional prose;
we have been sent to an extremely contingent lucid shared dream;
called Biblically such things as The Valley of decision; or The Valley of tears;
or The Valley of the shadow of death.
If we look at Genesis, before a plant grew God created Adam and planted
a Garden of Eden for Adam to till and take care of with Eve. There are
two Creation stories of humankind in the theological poetic book of Genesis.
__Humankind needed to be ‘slain in The Spirit’ to be shown the result of dissatisfaction
with God and God’s harmonious perfect peace and joy ways. We needed to be tested
and refined by fire like gold for those who choose not to blaspheme The Holy Spirit; the only unforgivable sin in this life and the next as Jesus Christ taught.
Yes, I realize how ‘crazy’ this sounds.
But a person that becomes reprobate loses their Guardian Angel, and only listens to his or her own rationalizations, self-important gleaning from the world, and the evil spirits.
They may look good in their own eyes; but not all who say Lord, Lord will inherit The Kingdom of God; but only those who do God’s Will with what they know.
As for the permanency of hell; that is Written in The Word of God.
I truly believe at the end of time as we know it; all enemies will be under Christ’s feet.
They chose of their own free will Mercy through Jesus Christ.
But, while there is no pleasure there; and they must be as far as I understand not allowed
to relish in memories like molesting a child; or any sin;
they blame God forever stewing in their own egotistical narcissistic manipulative natures. They stay in a self punishing existence in a permanent imaginary plane, worse that this one. And there obviously are no children there.
But those justified and made pure through the Righteousness, Grace, and Mercy of God,
through Jesus Christ will live in peace, joy, and harmony with God, God’s Ways, and each other. A ‘concrete’ perfect existence where any kind of tendency toward disharmony;
which leads to worse things like abusing one another emotionally or physically;
simply cannot happen.
(cont…) just a little bit
 
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We think history here is a very long time. But God sees, yesterday, today, and forever all at once. And in more than one place; however God keeps ‘time’ in Eternity; it is in one of
the Psalms and 1st or 2nd Peter that a thousand years is as a day to God. But God is right here, also; by God’s Perfect Empathy through The Cross, experiencing all unearned suffering. Isaiah and Peter both wrote, by His Stripes we are healed; and we know this is to follow Christ’s Example. And Jesus did not speak a parable when He said that what is done to the least among us is done unto Him. Bishop Sheen spoke on this and how it is directly related to The Eucharistic Body of Christ of The Church. I’m sorry I didn’t note which video as a reference.
Just some thoughts; but I will know for sure one way or another on by and by.
Peace.
 
Emptytundra said:
I was baptised Catholic, but have been skeptical, agnostic, and indifferent about religion since I was very young. Lately the notion that we are all just sacks of meat and one day none if it will matter has become rather depressing - while it might be true, it seems unhealthy for individuals and for societies to acknowledge it as such. I want to believe there is more to life and the universe than food and sleep and television. I have been thinking seriously about suspending disbelief and attempting to return to Catholicism or at least Christianity, which will be difficult for a number of reasons.

One major impediment for me is the idea of worshipping a God who would allow people to suffer in hell for all eternity. I know apologists have filled libraries addressing this question and that people like Jimmy Akin and Trent Horn have provided some useful, concise responses. But I remain unconvinced. For me it is not just an abstract question (well what about Hitler… etc.) but rather something very personal. My father grew up Catholic, went to Catholic schools, and had a basic familiarity with various arguments for God’s existence. He just remained unconvinced. I don’t think this was the result of arrogance or intransigence, but rather the conclusion he reached after considering the arguments. He remained an atheist until he died, and I specifically recall an incident when he was near death and he emphatically told someone at the hospital that he did not want to see a priest or anything like that. Apologists will say that people can be reconciled with God in ways that we don’t understand, and we can be hopeful of anyone’s salvation, but this seems like a cop out aimed at evangelizing to people like me. An honest assessment from a Catholic perspective would probably be something like yeah we can never be sure but he is probably in hell. And the idea of offering praise to an omnipotent entity when there is even a possibility that he would allow good people to go to hell because they honestly remain unconvinced by Christian apologetics is very unappealing. Even if I could bring myself to believe in such a God, and to fear Him, I don’t know that I could will myself to love him.

If anyone has any insights or recommend reading I would be grateful. Thank you and I’m sorry the post was so long, or if I posted it in the wrong place.
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If God was to let everybody in Hell into Heaven it wouldn’t be Heaven anymore.You get what you deserve in the next life, good or bad.
 
Emptytundra said:
Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. I will reflect on all of this.
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Well, friend, you did bring out the best in a lot of people here.

I think that you can see that people are “all over the map” concerning their images of God and man. It’s all acceptable, for sure. A mature believer comes to find his or her own way of seeing; sure there is doctrine, but there is definitely a lot of “wiggle room” for actual images of God. If you don’t mind my saying, the image you are indicating in your OP is a beautiful one, a non-coercive God, a God who loves and forgives without limit.

And if we point and judge anyone, we don’t know what we are doing.
 
Say, that “sacks of meat” is getting me hungry. I need to get to the grocery store soon.

Here’s my (name removed by moderator)ut. I suggest you go to confession, (have you received the sacrament of confession & confirmation yet?), have a talk with a good and holy priest, start going to Mass, start going to Adoration, start saying the Rosary even if you aren’t convinced, start doing some good spiritual reading - books with imprimatur - all while praying to God about your apparent doubts.

It’d be much better to have these feelings while in a state of grace.

One of my favorite sayings is “be careful what you ask for, you might get it.”

And please pray for me. I’ve been having doubts and struggles these days too. God bless you.

My two cents.
 
Blessings
First, relax. Enjoy the simplicity of the scriptures. There is a Godwho created us & loves us. He wants us to be safe, so He gave us rules. Ten Commandments & 2 great commandments.
We broke fellowship w Him at Eden.
We wandered w/o rules for centuries. He missed us & spoke to Abraham & moved them to the promised Land.
He gave the 10 commandments in this time frame. Stumble along till Jesus came to free us from sin & bring us into fellowship w the Father, again. He sacrificed & died & ROSE AGAIN. This way we have everlasting life w the Father, in heaven.
Exciting times walking w Jesus…
Look on YouTube for NDE. Photos of angels & spirits leaving bodies. Don’t listen to scientists about NDE. They happen.
There are a limit in letters here. It’s late. I need to go to sleep.
I’ll get back at cha!!
God bless
 
I’m sorry for your loss :cry:
I remembered your father in my prayers.
 
Sorry for your loss…
I don’t get why people say Hell is for Eternity
1Cor-5.5 says you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

Jesus said you WILL serve one of two masters, your dad I’m afraid to say served satan in rejecting God, he had no choice he had to serve one of the two and one you will hate , this is why he seems to have had hate for God.
Jesus said also that all sin will be forgiven except for Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
So there is still hope in the mercy of God on judgement day.

lastly we are Born to Love and serve the Lord and we do that by serving each other, especially the poor and sick.
Sounds to me like you need some motivation and a change in life style, you will have a better disposition towards God if you are in a happy place,turn off the tv, is my advice and get out of the house. satan will walk all over you if your in a bad place, most likely he caused the bad place to happen.
if you want my advice it is this, you should offer up masses, prayers fasts for the reprieve of your fathers soul.
 
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