Yes, Folks. Hell Exists and We Need to Understand This for the New Evangelization to be Effective

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From Catholic Culture…
A US expert at the Synod of Bishops for the new evangelization has told the National Catholic Register that a renewed emphasis on the possibility of eternal damnation and the need for salvation will be “helpful” for the new evangelization.
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“I feel like there is a doctrinal confusion that hasn’t been paid sufficient attention to, that really is holding back evangelization,” said Ralph Martin, a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. “I would describe it like this: Many of our fellow Catholics look at the world this way — that broad and wide is the road that leads to heaven, and almost everyone is going that way, but narrow is the way that leads to hell, and hardly anybody is going that way.”
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“Of course, this is hugely problematic, as it’s the exact opposite of what Jesus said,” he continued. “There’s actually some significant teaching in Vatican II that hasn’t been paid attention to, that would really clarify this amazing doctrinal confusion.”
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“All our exhortations to be more enthusiastic about evangelization, more zealous, are going to fall on semi-deaf ears unless people really believe it will make a significant difference to people’s lives. Not just for this life, but for eternity.”
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Amen. For as much as we talk of a loving God we must also remember that God is Holy, and He is never Love without Holiness, nor is He Holiness without Love. In other words, He is neither licentious nor bureaucratic, but rather always a Father to His Children, ready to save those who are faithful to Him.
 
I was once surprised to hear practicing Catholics state that they don’t believe in Hell. Why even bother with the Faith if there is no reason to?
 
This is only the tip of the iceberg and not a bit surprising to me. In my opinion the Church needs to step up the message and make it clear what a Catholic really is and what needs to be done to avoid hell, whether anybody likes it or not.
 
This is why Father Barron said its dangerous to domesticate Jesus. Look how prevalent this is in our society. God is love so “obviously” He is for gay marriage because if two people “love” one another, and God “made” them that way, of course He’s proud for them. Sodom and Gomorrah weren’t destroyed because of sexual sins but because of blah blah blah. It allows people to justify any immoral action and pass it off as a Godly act. And that’s fatal.
 
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”
― Samuel Johnson, The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Vol. III

The problem for Mr Martin and the new evangelizers though, is that for adults such as myself, long term exposure to the fear of hell has already desensitized us to a point where it is no longer nearly as effective. Plus it invites that whole how-can-an-omni-benevolent-god-condemn-his-beloved-to-eternal-damnation debate thing. If they want to take that tack anyway though, then I would advise them to make a conscious effort not to self-righteously smirk when they do it as that frequently tends to really put people off.
 
cornbread_r2 said:
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”
― Samuel Johnson, The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Vol. III

The problem for Mr Martin and the new evangelizers though, is that for adults such as myself, long term exposure to the fear of hell has already desensitized us to a point where it is no longer nearly as effective. Plus it invites that whole how-can-an-omni-benevolent-god-condemn-his-beloved-to-eternal-damnation debate thing. If they want to take that tack anyway though, then I would advise them to make a conscious effort not to self-righteously smirk when they do it as that frequently tends to really put people off.
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You’re making the same, flawed, argument most people of similar thought make. God does not damn anyone, he does not send people to Hell for being bad. That is a horrific misconception, and I honestly have no idea where you people get that idea. People chose Hell by rejecting God. God, being just, gives people what they seek out in life. If people seek to live a life apart from Him, then that is what they do in the afterlife. God does not make Hell pain and torment either, it is simply an existence devoid of Him and His Love. The fallen angels who inhabit it have turned it into a place of torment.

People can reject Him in various ways, by ignoring His Truth or ignoring His Laws, or by simply refusing to accept He exists despite his constant calling to all people. Regardless of the form of the rejection, if you try to live without God, then He will give you your wish, and you can have an eternity apart from Him.

Apologies if I come across as self-righteous, it is not my intent.
 
cornbread_r2 said:
“Depend upon it, sir, when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”
― Samuel Johnson, The Life of Samuel Johnson LL.D. Vol. III

The problem for Mr Martin and the new evangelizers though, is that for adults such as myself, long term exposure to the fear of hell has already desensitized us to a point where it is no longer nearly as effective. Plus it invites that whole how-can-an-omni-benevolent-god-condemn-his-beloved-to-eternal-damnation debate thing. If they want to take that tack anyway though, then I would advise them to make a conscious effort not to self-righteously smirk when they do it as that frequently tends to really put people off.
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I agree. The emphasis needs to be on the fullness of life in Christ here and now rather than avoiding some uncertain future punishment.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
I agree. The emphasis needs to be on the fullness of life in Christ here and now rather than avoiding some uncertain future punishment.
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How can you, as a Catholic, call it an uncertain future? If you do not focus on it, then you have no reason to live according to God’s Laws, because by not acknowledging it you do not acknowledge any repercussions for sinfulness. It’s like a child who’s parent’s never disciple him. Why should the child not do whatever it wishes, since there will be no repercussions?
 
I agree with the OP’s post that, too often, contemporary preaching excludes traditional Catholic teaching on “The Four Last Things” - not just Hell, but Purgatory and Heaven as well. 😦

However, I think we must be cautious here. While there is undoubtedly suffering and pain in hell, which is beyond our imagination and eternal, we should present Hell first and foremost as a state of eternal, irrevocable separation from God. This is orthodox, and it is quite in keeping with the themes of the “New Evangelization” in general. Too much emphasis on presenting the fires of Hell in Hieronymus Bosch-like terms will be counterproductive, simply because our culture would not relate to that metaphor (no matter how close it is to reality). 😉
 
ProdglArchitect said:
How can you, as a Catholic, call it an uncertain future? If you do not focus on it, then you have no reason to live according to God’s Laws, because by not acknowledging it you do not acknowledge any repercussions for sinfulness. It’s like a child who’s parent’s never disciple him. Why should the child not do whatever it wishes, since there will be no repercussions?
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It is uncertain to those who need to be evangelized.
There are also repercussions to be expreinced here in this life.
The more virtuous reason to live according to God’s laws is through love of God not punishment.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
It is uncertain to those who need to be evangelized.
There are also repercussions to be expreinced here in this life.
The more virtuous reason to live according to God’s laws is through love of God not punishment.
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To those who need evangelized, our determination and insistence on consequence is all the more necessary. If we do not have conviction in the belief, then how can we convince them to?

I agree with your last statement, but doing things for the Love of God usually comes after first doing thing for fear of the consequences. That’s how it is for me at least. I began acting out of fear, now I strive to act out of love instead.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
To those who need evangelized, our determination and insistence on consequence is all the more necessary. If we do not have conviction in the belief, then how can we convince them to?

I agree with your last statement, but doing things for the Love of God usually comes after first doing thing for fear of the consequences. That’s how it is for me at least. I began acting out of fear, now I strive to act out of love instead.
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Same here. But were baptized as an infant or did you make a personal adult choice to come into the Church?

The fear motive works for the less mature. I don’t think it will attract adults into the Church. They need to be loved in, not scared in.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
Same here. But were baptized as an infant or did you make a personal adult choice to come into the Church?

The fear motive works for the less mature. I don’t think it will attract adults into the Church. They need to be loved in, not scared in.
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I was baptized as an infant, then stopped attending during college, and just returned this winter. I think that fear is a strong motivator for those who inherently accept that there is a Hell, but I do agree that love should also be a primary focus.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
I was baptized as an infant, then stopped attending during college, and just returned this winter. I think that fear is a strong motivator for those who inherently accept that there is a Hell, but I do agree that love should also be a primary focus.
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Fear kept me minimally engaged. Confessing missed masses. That’s about all.

Love brought about a real conversion and I suppose that was initiated by someone just reaching out to me showing how much richer my life could be, how much more joy filled.
 
We should Trust the One Holy Spirit found in the One Holy Church, and Jesus who founded that Church. The words of Jesus in Matthew12:30-32, are a warning to all those who would question the Power of the Holy Spirit, who through the chosen priesthood forgive sins in the manner Jesus described in John20:21-23(Catholics should realize the value of this sacrament as well if they have forgotten). That is what those who follow heretical teachings away from the Church all have in common, alienation from the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Holy Confession - one depriving souls from the life giving bread needed to reject sin, and the other leading to unforgiveness of sins which have been committed but not forgiven. To be deprived of these fountains of Grace leads to hell, just as satan desires. It does not matter that protestants believe differing lies, the unholy spirit loves divisions, mostly because they establish and feed the ego which clings to “their faith” or “their Jesus” or “their interpretation”, it is ego that kills and it is ego which satan feeds. If we truely love those God created we must warn them, not get caught in the false accusation of judging them. The saint of our times put it well - “Jesus I Trust in You”, the pope of our times put it another way - “Be not Afraid”. Humility does not require silence, but it always responds with the charity which motivates the meeting of the deadly lie with the saving Truth.
 
This is my first day on this cite, are there live discussions anywhere on this forum?
 
RPRPsych said:
I agree with the OP’s post that, too often, contemporary preaching excludes traditional Catholic teaching on “The Four Last Things” - not just Hell, but Purgatory and Heaven as well. 😦

However, I think we must be cautious here. While there is undoubtedly suffering and pain in hell, which is beyond our imagination and eternal, we should present Hell first and foremost as a state of eternal, irrevocable separation from God. This is orthodox, and it is quite in keeping with the themes of the “New Evangelization” in general. Too much emphasis on presenting the fires of Hell in Hieronymus Bosch-like terms will be counterproductive, simply because our culture would not relate to that metaphor (no matter how close it is to reality). 😉
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Actually, it will relate to that better than to “separation from God,” as a postmodern might ask you if they don’t care about God now, how can separation from Him be so painful? You’d then have to explain it to them.

It is not so much that they would not relate to the Boschian Hell, so much as the world he become so Cartesian that a physicalized eternity is no longer believable.

ICXC NIKA
 
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