Isn't eternity in hell a disproportionate punishment?

[vz71]

That’s the thing. NO-ONE in their right mind eternally rejects God (except maybe Satan and “the gang”). Take the worst person in the history of the world, the moment after death, and show them the hell that is in store for them vs. the paradise they missed out on and they will be BEGGING for God’s mercy, guaranteed.

No, it is not ‘guaranteed’.

We could hope everyone would accept God, but we know that is not always the case.

If someone does not want to be with God, where would you suggest they go?

 

[Thoughtfulone]

No, it is not ‘guaranteed’.

We could hope everyone would accept God, but we know that is not always the case.

If someone does not want to be with God, where would you suggest they go?

So do you honestly think that everyone who is in hell would not choose to be in Heaven right now if they could?

 

[Thoughtfulone]

Well you see !

That is a much clearer example. Don’t you think that God’s Mercy would apply in this situation?!

We must trust in God’s Mercy without making erroneous assumptions about His Justice.

It is sinful to not trust His Mercy but it is also sinful to not believe in His Justice.

Keep a life of prayer and a life of the spirit. Do the basic catholic things really, really well and trust in the Lord.

God bless you and your child.

I try to trust in God’s mercy, but the Church is pretty clear about what happens when you die with an unconfessed mortal sin on your soul. It also doesn’t help that so many people on this very site think you go to Hell if you doe on the way to Confession

 

[vz71]

So do you honestly think that everyone who is in hell would not choose to be in Heaven right now if they could?

Yes, I do.

I believe those in hell may wish to be anywhere else except with God.
They have rejected God, and will continue to do so for eternity.

 

[Thoughtfulone]

Yes, I do.

I believe those in hell may wish to be anywhere else except with God.
They have rejected God, and will continue to do so for eternity.

So someone who one Sunday crankily says, “Screw it, I’m sleeping in.” and then dies in bed is in reality consciously choosing eternity in hell and hates God? Mmmmkay…

 

[vz71]

I try to trust in God’s mercy, but the Church is pretty clear about what happens when you die with an unconfessed mortal sin on your soul. It also doesn’t help that so many people on this very site think you go to Hell if you doe on the way to Confession

Please cite the post indicating this.
I must have missed this.

 

[mangy_dog]

I try to trust in God’s mercy, but the Church is pretty clear about what happens when you die with an unconfessed mortal sin on your soul. It also doesn’t help that so many people on this very site think you go to Hell if you doe on the way to Confession

Sweetie, listen to yourself, " I trust God’s mercy but…"

The reason you are getting “cut & dry” answers is because your example is the same way.

God’s Mercy transcends our reasoning. There are poor souls in Purgatory, who did confess their sins but because their guilt remains and their pennance has not been paid, they are in that place of purging. Our prayers here on earth, help those poor souls to enter into the Church Triumphant. God is merciful!!

Trust in God’s Mercy. Whenever possible, to go Confession, pray the Rosary everyday and wear your Brown Scapular. Learn of the promises attached to the Brown Scapular.

I cannot emphazize it enough - Trust in God’s Mercy but, Don’t doubt His Justice. It really is that simple.

mangy dog.

 

[oldbrit2009]

But the bottom line is, if I go my entire life without sinning, then at the age of 95, I miss Sunday Mass because I just don’t feel like it for once and then I die without going to confession, the Catholic Church teaches that I will spend forever in hell.

Thoughfulone,
I think you picked a poor example to try and show how heartless and hard hearted Catholic teaching is.
For a start, no one goes through their entire life without sinning. There has only been one sinless human and that was Our Lady. And then you chose a 95 year old!
In certain circumstances, advanced age can releve someone of the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.
Even if you had given an example of someone in their 60’s who had led a life of piety and holiness and utter faithfulness to the Catholic Church, the chances of that person suddenly waking up on a Sunday morning and saying to themseves, “Stuff Mass this morning,” is vertually nill. It doesn’t work like that. Committed faithful Catholics don’t just miss Mass, because they can’t be bothered.
If a person misses Mass it is usually just the tip of the ice berg. Missing Mass demonstates a underlying malaise in that person’s spiritual life.
To conclude, the Catholic Church doesn’t teach that failure to go to confession will result in eternal damnation. It teaches that non repentance of a mortal sin will result in eternal damnation. In an emergency situation, a simple act of sincere contrition is all that would be necessary. A formal confession can come later, if one has survived the emergency!!!

 

[oldbrit2009]

Thoughtfulone,

“I try to trust in God’s mercy, but the Church is pretty clear about what happens when you die with an unconfessed mortal sin on your soul. It also doesn’t help that so many people on this very site think you go to Hell if you doe on the way to Confession”

I think you are scaring yourself to death here. You give me the idea you think God sits up there waiting to catch us out so He can throw you into the pit. God doesn’t want us to go to Hell, he loves us too much. People end up in hell because they have rejected God. It is people who hate the very idea of God who end up in Hell.
If you were run over by a truck on your way to confession, God would be aware of your intention of confessing your sins. Try not to be so legalistic and mechanical.