No. It is well-established in Catholic doctrine that hell does exist, and anybody who goes there never leaves, and that the existence of hell is eternal.Is this view compatible with Church teaching?
no it is not compatible.For those who don’t know, Universal Reconciliation is the view that Hell either
A) Doesn’t exist (all go to heaven)
or
B) Serves the same function as Purgatory.
Is this view compatible with Church teaching?
actually the catholic view also talk about seperation. Im surprised you dont think it is emphasized.No. It is well-established in Catholic doctrine that hell does exist, and anybody who goes there never leaves, and that the existence of hell is eternal.
However, there is nothing in Catholic doctrine that says that hell could not be empty (ie, hell exists, but nobody has ever gone there, or ever will). I doubt you could find any Catholic theologians who actually believe and teach this, but if any did, they would not be heretics.
The Church does not teach what purgatory is like. Western theologians throughout history have emphasized a punitive nature, sometimes visualizing it in hell-like language (though the Church absolutely maintains they are not the same place). Eastern theologians, on the other hand, emphasize separation from God - purgatory is kinda dark and empty and lonely. Personally, I find the Eastern view more plausible.
I agree that seperation is talked about in the west, though not all western theologians mention or focus on it. Also I would just like to clarify that “Eastern” doesn’t mean “not Catholic”.actually the catholic view also talk about seperation. Im surprised you dont think it is emphasized.
Ubenedictus
by ‘eastern’ i believe you mean eastern orthodox, no? I believe HH JP II of blessed memory actually overemphasized it sometimes and all articles on hell and purgatory that i have read actually starts by talking about the seperation, that is why im surprised that you dont think it is emphasized. And i really dont know why you think im interpreting eastern as not catholic.I agree that seperation is talked about in the west, though not all western theologians mention or focus on it. Also I would just like to clarify that “Eastern” doesn’t mean “not Catholic”.
I think you could more properly say that hell could be empty except for the fallen angels.However, there is nothing in Catholic doctrine that says that hell could not be empty (ie, hell exists, but nobody has ever gone there, or ever will). I doubt you could find any Catholic theologians who actually believe and teach this, but if any did, they would not be heretics.
I’m sorry if I misunderstood you. David Filmer said there was a difference in emphasis in the teachings of Eastern and Western Theology. In commenting on his post you said that Catholics also emphasize the separation, ie, not just the East, ie, the Catholics are in the West. Maybe you didn’t mean to imply that, and if so I’m sorry for assuming you did. My point was just to make sure it is clear that there are many Eastern Catholic Churches which follow Eastern Theology but which are fully in union with Rome and fully Catholic.by ‘eastern’ i believe you mean eastern orthodox, no? I believe HH JP II of blessed memory actually overemphasized it sometimes and all articles on hell and purgatory that i have read actually starts by talking about the seperation, that is why im surprised that you dont think it is emphasized. And i really dont know why you think im interpreting eastern as not catholic.
Ubenedictus
points noted, thanks for the clarifications.I’m sorry if I misunderstood you. David Filmer said there was a difference in emphasis in the teachings of Eastern and Western Theology. In commenting on his post you said that Catholics also emphasize the separation, ie, not just the East, ie, the Catholics are in the West. Maybe you didn’t mean to imply that, and if so I’m sorry for assuming you did. My point was just to make sure it is clear that there are many Eastern Catholic Churches which follow Eastern Theology but which are fully in union with Rome and fully Catholic.
Also, I did not say that it is not emphasized, but rather that some western theologians do not focus on it. Which could be where the idea that the East focuses on the seperation and the West focuses on other torments comes from, even if it is not true to say that the West does not focus on this or emphasize it.
Matthew 7:13-14.Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!
And a certain man said to him: Lord, are they few that are saved? But he said to them: Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able. But when the master of the house shall be gone in, and shall shut the door, you shall begin to stand without, and knock at the door, saying: Lord, open to us. And he answering, shall say to you: I know you not, whence you are.
Luke 13:23-30.Then you shall begin to say: We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. And he shall say to you: I know you not, whence you are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And there shall come from the east and the west, and the north and the south; and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And behold, they are last that shall be first; and they are first that shall be last.
And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in:
Naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.
Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.
Matthew 25:31-46.And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.
Dear Godfollower,If universalism is true, then why did Jesus die?
Jesus tells us that many will go to Hell, and few will go to Heaven.
Matthew 7:13-14.
Luke 13:23-30.
And, of course, let’s not forget that Jesus told us how He will judge us, and what will happen to those of us who are judged harshly at the last day:
Matthew 25:31-46.
Universalism is a heresy – a beautiful heresy, but a heresy. Jesus has spoken quite clearly. Many shall go down to destruction. It’s easy to take a particular passage in Scripture (or in the Church’s writings) and make it support universalism. But there just isn’t any way I can find to reconcile universalism with the whole of Scripture.