Why are not more Catholics adamant about avoiding eternal damnation at all costs?

[mdgspencer]

I wonder what is the source of this statistic? I’m not saying you are wrong, but this statistic speaks of a very serious problem, and I am curious about how reliable it is.

But now for the more astounding statistic: Of all those folks who still purport to believe in Hell, only one-half of 1% thinks that they could possibly be going there. That is to say, everyone is going to Heaven, and virtually no one will be in Hell. For all practical purposes, Hell might as well not exist.

 

[buffalo]

I wonder what is the source of this statistic? I’m not saying you are wrong, but this statistic speaks of a very serious problem, and I am curious about how reliable it is.
buffalo;1557485:

But now for the more astounding statistic: Of all those folks who still purport to believe in Hell, only one-half of 1% thinks that they could possibly be going there. That is to say, everyone is going to Heaven, and virtually no one will be in Hell. For all practical purposes, Hell might as well not exist.

(1) The poll was taken by the Oxnard-based Barna Research Group, an independent marketing research firm, which interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide during September, 2003. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. “The Pearly Gates … or Hell?” Connie Kang, Los Angeles Times, October 24, 2003.
A 2003 Harris Poll that surveyed 2,200 U.S. adults found similar results: 82% believed in Heaven, 69% believed in Hell, and less than 1% thought they could go to Hell. “The Harris Poll, #11, February 26, 2003”, Harris Interactive Internet site.

 

[fix]

A question I wonder as I continually observe many fellow Catholics who apparently seem complacent and unimpressed by the prospect or possibility of spending eternity apart from God for the choices they make while in this world. I encounter more Catholics seemingly hell bent on rationalizing away or searching for subjective exceptions to the objective sin choices they make.
Are they lacking the *fundamental choice *to be made or deepened: to ally themselves with, or to decide, against Christ (see St. Ignatius Loyola Spiritual Exercises)?

Is not lukewarmness a condition of choice that sets the soul at risk for eternal damnation? How forgiving is God of the sin of presumption? How much culpability does God impute to believers when Jesus repeatidly stated and warned – “He who has ears, let him hear.”? (see Matt. 11: 15, 13: 9, 43; Mark 4: 9, 23; Luke 8: 8, 14: 35).

One aspect of this problem is that people who understand that hell exists reason that such a terrible place would only be for those folks who do really bad things like murder and the like. That can’t fathom that things that do not immediately generate temporal ill effects would deem one worthy of hell. Why would contracpetion be such a bad thing if I don’t experience any physical or mental pain? Why would committing adultery in my heart be so bad, who have I really hurt?

Rationalizations, not taking time to inform our consciences, and the general distractions from life seem to motivate us more than moral truth.

 

[setter]

One aspect of this problem is that people who understand that hell exists reason that such a terrible place would only be for those folks who do really bad things like murder and the like. That can’t fathom that things that do not immediately generate temporal ill effects would deem one worthy of hell. Why would contracpetion be such a bad thing if I don’t experience any physical or mental pain? Why would committing adultery in my heart be so bad, who have I really hurt?

Rationalizations, not taking time to inform our consciences, and the general distractions from life seem to motivate us more than moral truth.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man "takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin."59 In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

 

[Steven_Merten]

Found it:

Americans Think Hell Exists,
But No One Goes There

Hello Buffalo,

This is a powerful link. I think it is right on track.

 

[Exalt]

Found it:

Americans Think Hell Exists,
But No One Goes There

I will point out that it’s not neccessarily out of impeity, a lack of spirituality, or a lack of reason that one comes to this conclusion. It’s not a problem of inadequate education at all.

Origen came up with it first. Sure, he was eventually condemned by the church a couple hundred years later, but his writings and teachings were highly respected by all kinds of Christians at the time - even on this very website. He’s quoted often on the apologetics section.

Just becuase you think hell is (or will become) empty doesn’t make you impious, uneducated, or a bad catholic.

 

[wcknight]

I think it is because most casual Catholics have a very lax view of mortal sin and its consequences. I think the common belief is that unless you kill some one, commit adultery (and maybe not even that) and are truly evil thoughout, you will at least end up in Purgatory.

PLUS they figure Purgatory will be a cake walk. They either don’t believe in a Purgatory or they believe suffering in Purgatory will be no big deal.

Out Lady tells us that most folks do go to Purgatory, BUT the next greatest number goes to eternal damnation. Much fewer folks go directly to Heaven.

That’s truly unfortunate, with the many indulgences that we can obtain, achieving Heaven directly should be a piece of cake. No one is assured of Heaven, but it should be the goal for everyone.

 

[buffalo]

I think it is because most casual Catholics have a very lax view of mortal sin and its consequences. I think the common belief is that unless you kill some one, commit adultery (and maybe not even that) and are truly evil thoughout, you will at least end up in Purgatory.

PLUS they figure Purgatory will be a cake walk. They either don’t believe in a Purgatory or they believe suffering in Purgatory will be no big deal.

Out Lady tells us that most folks do go to Purgatory, BUT the next greatest number goes to eternal damnation. Much fewer folks go directly to Heaven.

That’s truly unfortunate, with the many indulgences that we can obtain, achieving Heaven directly should be a piece of cake. No one is assured of Heaven, but it should be the goal for everyone.

Our digital thinking says heaven or hell.

Analog thinking says there are many mansions and we should try here on earth to increase our capacity to experience the beatific vision.

 

[setter]

I think it is because most casual Catholics have a very lax view of mortal sin and its consequences. I think the common belief is that unless you kill some one, commit adultery (and maybe not even that) and are truly evil thoughout, you will at least end up in Purgatory.

PLUS they figure Purgatory will be a cake walk. They either don’t believe in a Purgatory or they believe suffering in Purgatory will be no big deal.

Why is this? What can be done to awaken more souls to the eternal stakes at hand?

 

[AndyF]

shrug A focus on hell is a focus away from doing good, in my opinion. If we compell others to hold avoiding hell as the highest goal, then we invite complacency - they have no motivation to do more than *just *avoiding hell. … There is no motivation to do
*more. *

True to a certain point, and love of God without a degree of fear could lead to over confidence and self righteousness for some. But to most, what you describe is evidence of movement. I best see it as milestones. If I ask what a man feels most, love of God or fear of God, he may say it is fear in this particular instant of time. As one advances in enlightenment he moves toward the love of God. God in His patience allows for time for His creatures to trust Him.

It may very well stay this way for this person, or he may move on to a better acceptance of what God prefers. In fact one cannot be motivated out of fear too long in a sincere struggle armed with this motivator, has the character of good soon manifests itself in his realization and evidence of the effects of his works, along with an increase of graces they bring with it.[Mark 9,39]

The books of wisdom stresses mostly the fear of God and makes the point that fear of God is a great virtue, and is the sign of true wisdom. Sirach [19,17-19]; 21,6]; [21,11];[25,6];etc,etc. He who claims to love the Father, let him show it through his works [John 14,21]. He who does greater works through the fear of God may surpass him in entering heaven. [Mat 7,24] places emphasis on good works as proof of love, and a man who fears God and does good is not against Him, and is still counted on the savable list.[Mark 9,40].

AndyF

 

[wcknight]

Why is this? What can be done to awaken more souls to the eternal stakes at hand?

Part of the problem is because most folks are very liberal or so called progressive. People focus on mercy and forgiveness and not on divine justice. While the goodness, love, and mercy of God is great, they forget that we have a responsibility to respond to that love and mercy with obedience, good works, and piety.

Having fun, doing our own thing and living for the moment are the catch words of the day. Fasting, prayer, acts of penance are passe. Attending mass every Sunday is considered optional, confession is a rarity, if not altogether forgotten.

I think most people are into doing the minimum and sometimes not even that. I find recruiting for the Knights really difficult if not impossible, most people are too busy to be bothered. Spending time doing good is not on their agenda. Extra prayer time or extra Church time are unheard of.

IF you ever ask for volunteers, more than 90% will take a step backwards. Heaven forbid that you would ever ask them to do something. If you’re lucky maybe one or two will step forward. Saintly behavior has always been rare but I think it may be in danger of extinction.

As for a solution, I don’t know what can turn the situation around. I think part of the problem is the popular media. There is a noticable lack of role models in movie or tv. The law abidding ideal father or parent figure is missing from our popular culture.

The ill mannered sports hero or self centered multiple partner divorced dad or stud bachelors/bachlorettes are much more visible than your mundane monogamous dad or mom.

Maybe a tv series or movie series about folks living/dying and going to Heaven or Hell would be productive. Focus could be placed on what choices they made and why they merited one place versus another. (Ghosts with Whoopie Goldberg, Patrick Swaze and the girl from a Few Good Men had a touch of the Heaven Hell thing but only superficially)

Actually, I’m surprised that Hollywood has never made a movie about Dante’s Inferno or Purgatorio. I think it would have great popular appeal and interest. IF you want to see a real horror story, why not make a movie about Hell or Purgatory. PEople need a real good scare, and if they like torture, terror and gore, I’m sure Hell has a lot of it.

 

[setter]

Part of the problem is because most folks are very liberal or so called progressive. People focus on mercy and forgiveness and not on divine justice. While the goodness, love, and mercy of God is great, they forget that we have a responsibility to respond to that love and mercy with obedience, good works, and piety.

Having fun, doing our own thing and living for the moment are the catch words of the day. Fasting, prayer, acts of penance are passe. Attending mass every Sunday is considered optional, confession is a rarity, if not altogether forgotten.

I totally agree that too many Catholics neglect the dual aspects of God’s love – “the kindness and severity of God”, and the neglect or ignore the very real consequences of sin to their own peril. St. Paul made no bones about the risk of taking God’s mercy and kindness for granted.

“See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11: 22

 

[mrs_abbott]

A question I wonder as I continually observe many fellow Catholics who apparently seem complacent and unimpressed by the prospect or possibility of spending eternity apart from God for the choices they make while in this world. I encounter more Catholics seemingly hell bent on rationalizing away or searching for subjective exceptions to the objective sin choices they make.
Are they lacking the *fundamental choice *to be made or deepened: to ally themselves with, or to decide, against Christ (see St. Ignatius Loyola Spiritual Exercises)?

Maybe it’s because they believe that God is a loving and forgiving God? IMHO!

 

[setter]

Maybe it’s because they believe that God is a loving and forgiving God? IMHO!

True, as in lacking a sober, accurate and mature understanding and balance of the mercy and justice of God’s love. To neglect or ignore the fullness of God’s love is to one’s own peril, as St. Paul instructed and admonished believers:

“See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.” Romans 11: 22