That’s why I added the word “fulfillment,” to show respect to Catholicism (and Christianity in general) in that Christians do not think of this “revision” as change. Your point about eternity is certainly a valid one; time itself may be a human illusion, both from a scientific and religious perspective. But G-d supposedly created this human illusion so that we have a reference point to understand His purpose.
I really appreciated your respect toward Christian beliefs. It was obvious that you were choosing your words out of kindness. Thanks.
I have indeed heard this view before. It’s in a book called “The Great Divorce” by CS Lewis. He built the story around it. It’s fiction. Surprised Billy Graham subscribed seriously to this. Perhaps he was using the CS Lewis story as an example ?
God does not condemn us to hell. We do that ourselves. If it hurts our sensibilities to imagine eternal torment, how do you think God feels when those for which He gave His very life, choose instead darkness, eternity without Him. He loves us more than we can comprehend and it causes Him much grief to loose anyone. This is not the action of a vengeful God.
“We do that ourselves” sounds a little like Hinduism. But I think I understand what you mean: that we, through our own free will, chose to reject the teachings of G-d and therefore have condemned ourselves. I believe that, according to Catholicism, it is G-d who passes final judgment, however. Perhaps this may be thought of as justice; but an ETERNITY of torment still seems to me as not so merciful. Is it actual PHYSICAL torment according to Catholic belief?
Despite hearing that God does not change and that His dogma is final, your thick skull still cannot seem to reconcile with the fact that souls WILL NOT be released from hell. You can hold onto your heretical beliefs as much as you will, but you do not stand within or even next to the Church in your convictions. Everyone who is in hell has chosen to be there by their own actions, words, thoughts and so on. Besides, why would God want to remove anyone from hell, when it’s quite obvious that they wanted to be there to begin with. People who don’t actually want to go to hell and try to avoid it do not somehow end up in hell. God releasing them from hell (the people who hate Him and choose to be obstinate in their sins) and forcing them to be with Him in heaven would be a far greater torture than even the most vitriolic flames of hell.
We don’t know what kind of torment it is. We do know that it entails eternal separation from God. We are created as eternal beings with free will. We will either spend eternity with God or without God. Eternity without God is called hell. Eternity with God is called heaven. For most of us attaining heaven will require purification, after death, before we enter heaven. This is called purgatory. If we reach purgatory, we will attain heaven when our purification is complete. Some view this as suffering also, but the official stance of the Church is that we don’t know.
Think what you want, but I choose not to put arbitrary limitations on what God can and cannot do if He so chooses. I don’t think anyone knows enough about it to be able to say for certain that God cannot ever make an exception to this general rule, and I doubt that the Holy Spirit has spoken to the Church regarding this issue specifically. There is no heresy in my beliefs whatsoever, so feel free to put that accusation back in the holster for another day.
Your threading on dangerous ground. You are basically calling God a liar. His inspired word tells us that hell is eternal.
You seem to assume that God is Just… where is the Justice in condemning one for the crime of another (Adam/Jesus)?
God isn’t just?
Can you explain exactly what you mean?where is the Justice in condemning one for the crime of another (Adam/Jesus)?
Where does God or His inspired word tell us that Hell is eternal?
I think it is very arrogant to assume that you know what God can and cannot do. I am not calling God a liar. I AM saying that I don’t understand or know why every single person who goes to hell goes to hell, what they feel while they are there, the exact state of their souls, or the extent of God’s mercy and love with whom all things are possible. I am saying that God can do whatever He wishes in His infinite wisdom, without making Himself a liar. I am saying that I don’t think that every single thing about the nature of God and Heaven and Hell has been revealed to us. To assume that it has is absurd.
Would you care to explain why God is somehow not just, within a Catholic understanding? (Your tag says you are a “Roman” Catholic but your message seems to be suggesting something else)You seem to assume that God is Just… where is the Justice in condemning one for the crime of another (Adam/Jesus)?
Let’s see…
Source: latinvulgate.com
Everything you’re saying is in contradiction with the Church’s/Bible’s teachings, and you wonder why I said you’re holding onto heretical beliefs. You are persisting in a belief that is not supported by anything beyond your imagination. Those who are in hell choose it.
Notice here that Jesus is comparing eternal life with eternal punishment. If you believe that heaven will be eternal then you must believe that hell is eternal
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People go to hell because they willing reject God’s grace.
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Why even consider that? Trust scripture and Tradition and live your live so that you will be in heaven.
“It is through the Church that the manifold wisdom of God” had been made known Eph 3:10
First of all, to say that we know everything about God is beyond foolish. We know enough to get us into Heaven. That is all we need to know. To even think that we as humans could possibly understand the true nature of God in all of His intricacies is the height of arrogance. I think I’ll do my best to get into Heaven and leave the rest up to Him thank you very much.
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Why would God choose one ’ specific’ soul and leave others to suffer punishment?