Is it hard or easy to get to hell?

[06convert]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

 

[expectthebest]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

I’ve often pondered this question. Especialy in terms of is it harder to get to heaven the more you know. I’ll look forward to responses from those more knowledgeable than I.

 

[elvisman]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

You’re speaking of “invincible ignorance” which is a pretty hard thing to accomplish in this day and age of instant information. It’s almost like seeing a tree and claiming afterward that you had no idea what it was.

I would say that the more time advances, the more difficult it becomes to claim invincible ignorance.

 

[coda]

I’ve often pondered this question. Especialy in terms of is it harder to get to heaven the more you know. I’ll look forward to responses from those more knowledgeable than I.

To those who have been given more, more is expected. None the less,God has imprinted charity and knowledge of Himself in all of us. It is only 'harder" to reach heaven{ regardless of level of ignorance} for those that will not submit to God’s commands… Heaven is actually quite simple to achieve-- love God and your neighbor while asking God’s forgiveness when you fall.

 

[rpp]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

You have this wrong. In order for someone outside the Church to have a chance at receiving God’s mercy, and we do not know how this is done, that person must not be living a life of dissipations and self-indulgence. Rather, that person must be earnestly seeking spiritual truth and attempting to lead a life of high morality, consistent with, at the very least, natural law. In addition to never hearing the Gospel, they would also have to be of a mind that if they had had the opportunity to hear the Gospel, they would have converted. Your party-hardy atheist with no conscience who lives in North America or Europe probably does not qualify.

 

[thistle]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

The words of Jesus in Matt 7:13-14:

13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.
14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.

 

[Maher]

You have this wrong. In order for someone outside the Church to have a chance at receiving God’s mercy, and we do not know how this is done, that person must not be living a life of dissipations and self-indulgence. Rather, that person must be earnestly seeking spiritual truth and attempting to lead a life of high morality, consistent with, at the very least, natural law. In addition to never hearing the Gospel, they would also have to be of a mind that if they had had the opportunity to hear the Gospel, they would have converted. Your party-hardy atheist with no conscience who lives in North America or Europe probably does not qualify.

I have a conscience, but I do not believe in the Bible or the word of God. I am an atheist, but I live by high morals. I am also a homosexual. Am I going to hell?

 

[TommyWommy]

I have a conscience, but I do not believe in the Bible or the word of God. I am an atheist, but I live by high morals. I am also a homosexual. Am I going to hell?

Ultimately, only God knows. He sees and judges the heart. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what light you have been given and what light you are capable of perceiving. He knows what constitutes an acceptance or a rejection of Him and His love.

He does love you, but He will not force you to love Him back. Heaven (as my finite mind understands it) is where we finally, perfectly, infinitely, totally, rest in His love. Him loving us, and us loving Him. Consequently, I suppose those in Hell would not like Heaven. That’s essentially why they choose Hell.

 

[thistle]

I have a conscience, but I do not believe in the Bible or the word of God. I am an atheist, but I live by high morals. I am also a homosexual. Am I going to hell?

Only God knows the state of a person’s soul at death. However, objectively speaking if you have rejected God and his word and are an unrepentent homosexual (which by definition means you are immoral) then yes you will go to Hell.

 

[bilop]

A strange question I know, but the more I learn about the things that put us at risk of going to hell, the more it seems to me like it’s difficult for the average person to get there.

Underlying the whole discussion is the fact that we have no idea what God’s mercy will allow or not allow to take place after we die, however:

I have read time and time again that if one sins, or turns his back against God, or doesn’t believe in Christ (ie. Jewish) through no fault of his own, meaning he didn’t have a real chance at learning the truth and didn’t willingly deny the truth after learning it, then he may very well still get to heaven because of God’s mercy and the concept that we can’t be held accountable for the things we don’t know.

So to me. This sounds like the average secular person that isn’t baptised, lives a life of premaritial relations, likes to go out and party and live without feeling regret or consequence. May get to heaven without any effort if he was completely ignorant to what he was doing?

Meanwhile someone else that has a well formed conscience, knows the truth about God and His plan for us. Lives a holy life for the most part. Commits 1 mortal sin, dies instantly and may not get to heaven, because he was held to such a high standard?

Interesting to think about…

I’m not saying there is any assurance in salvation, but interesting to ponder…

Not really. In order to achieve salvation through “invincible ignornace” the person must:

1. Truly have never heard the Truth of Jesus and the Church proclaimed (very hard in the modern Western world)
2. Lived a moral life despite not knowing Jesus, i.e. they must follow the Natural Law that all men know in their hearts (no killing, cheating, lying, stealing, adultering, etc.).

I would say it is very easy to go to Hell. All one must do is to do as one wishes, rather than to do as God wishes for us.

God Bless

 

[06convert]

Pretty good answers. I’m fairly new to the faith, I converted in 2006. I feel I have a good grasp on the basics, but when questions like this come up I’m always comforted by the fact that not only have these thoughts occured to other people, but there are always answers. That’s what I love about being Catholic.

I now have a better understanding about what I was thinking. It’s the first time I’ve been able to associate the term “invincible ignornace” to these thoughts.

Also bilop had a very good response, in that, invincible ignorance cannot be achieved, unless we adhere to the Natural Law that is instilled in each of us. This takes away the thought that someone can do whatever they want without consequence.

Ignorance can only help you so much, at some point you have to do what is right or risk spending eternity in hell.

I understand much better now. Thank you all!

 

[joecap]

I have a conscience, but I do not believe in the Bible or the word of God. I am an atheist, but I live by high morals. I am also a homosexual. Am I going to hell?

See, this is what is illogical about being an atheist.
If there is no God, there is NO morality.
Things would not be right or wrong, it just is what it is.
If there is no God, what determines conscience? Who cares?

 

[bilop]

See, this is what is illogical about being an atheist.
If there is no God, there is NO morality.
Things would not be right or wrong, it just is what it is.
If there is no God, what determines conscience? Who cares?

Very true. If there is no God then Hitler’s morals are just as good as Gandhi’s or Mother Theresa’s.

God Bless

 

[Maher]

Only God knows the state of a person’s soul at death. However, objectively speaking if you have rejected God and his word and are an unrepentent homosexual (which by definition means you are immoral) then yes you will go to Hell.

I will go to hell then. I live by high morals and I am kind and considerate. I will live my life as a homosexual but let me tell you this - I did not chose to be homosexual. It was natural to me. I would have rather be straight but not now. I’m gay and I’m proud of it.

Why should I be punished for something that is natural to me and something that I did not have a hand in?

Other than being homosexual, I am a good human being. If homosexuality is so wrong then why does Jesus Christ not even mention it?

 

[Maher]

Very true. If there is no God then Hitler’s morals are just as good as Gandhi’s or Mother Theresa’s.

God Bless

I don’t understand this.

Without God, we would know that Hitler was wrong and evil, would we not?

 

[davidv]

I will go to hell then. I live by high morals and I am kind and considerate. I will live my life as a homosexual but let me tell you this - I did not chose to be homosexual. It was natural to me. I would have rather be straight but not now. I’m gay and I’m proud of it.

Why should I be punished for something that is natural to me and something that I did not have a hand in?

It may seem natural to you, but how do you know it is properly ordered to you true nature? People born with deformities of there limbs did not have a hand it either. It is none-the-less a disorder of the human nature, is it not?

 

[Maher]

It may seem natural to you, but how do you know it is properly ordered to you true nature? People born with deformities of there limbs did not have a hand it either. It is none-the-less a disorder of the human nature, is it not?

So you’re saying homosexuality is abnormal? Abnormal based on what?

I don’t know if I was born as a homosexual or if factors during my childhood were a factor, but for as long as I can remember, I have always been attracted to other guys, always. It was not a choice.

So, do you think Homosexuality is abnormal? Furthermore, do you think it is against the natural order of things?

 

[theistgal]

You’re speaking of "invincible ignorance" which is a pretty hard thing to accomplish in this day and age of instant information. It’s almost like seeing a tree and claiming afterward that you had no idea what it was.

I would say that the more time advances, the more difficult it becomes to claim invincible ignorance.

But is all the “instant information” out there correct?

I actually think that makes it a lot more difficult for the ordinary person who is seeking the Truth. For example - just now I went to “Google” and typed in “which is the true Church?” The very first website that popped up was by a Mormon apologist!

 

[dkdempsey]

Hard I would imagine, since it doesn’t exist. Kind of hard to get into a place if it’s imaginary, don’t ya think?

• Bisexual, Catholic & Atheist

 

[Junebug999]

I have a conscience, but I do not believe in the Bible or the word of God. I am an atheist, but I live by high morals. I am also a homosexual. Am I going to hell?

It is between you and God. If you have a conscience, do not believe in the Bible or the Word of God, are an athiest, have high morals, and are a practicing homosexual…why would you even care to ask the question? I would think you would just live your life with your conscience, your unbelief in Bible or Word of God, athieism, high morals and homosexuality happily and just go your own way.

A Christian makes no judgment about you are your actions, that is between you and God. Therefore if a Christian gives you no judgment, and you live by “high morals”, then it is assumed you do not judge others, their beliefs, and their actions?

I will say I believe God’s Truth to be objective, not subjective, and not relative to each person’s interpretation.

Peace be with you!

ANDDDDDDDDDDD, answering the OP, I do believe it is very hard to go to hell. Considering God’s gifts and love for us, his grace is freely given, and by rejecting God and God’s laws a person would go to hell. Satan does not care if we go to hell either by rejecting God or by believing in God, but rejecting God’s laws. So, grace is up to God, accepting and living in God’s grace is up to me. I choose Heaven – since I’m a sinner, but have through repentance, a way to reconcile to God’s grace, my hope is Heaven.