toledo_jesus Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 I have noticed that alot of times when Catholics speak about God and Heaven, they leave out Hell entirely. It's as if it isn't even an option. Mostly I find that those Catholics who believe in abortion and other sticky issues are the ones to soft-pedal Hell. I find that to be somewhat silly. My mother has told me that she doesn't believe most people go to Hell. She says it's all rooms in the same House or something... Further, I find that when a person speaks seriously about the danger of Hell often times they are shushed or the conversation is steered back to the pleasant and comfortable. I take issue with this because I believe that Hell should be talked about and understood as a seriously bad place. That way we can want to please God more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theoketos Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 You make a good point... If you give a little on what part of the truth the whole stack of Cards comes tumbling down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcceNovaFacioOmni Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 That Catholics Wake Up! Site has some good stuff on hell. Even some quotes from Our Lady in apparitions and visions of hell. It's terrible. [url="http://www.concernedcatholics.org/"]http://www.concernedcatholics.org/[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voiciblanche Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 [quote name='thedude' date='Aug 31 2004, 07:34 PM'] That Catholics Wake Up! Site has some good stuff on hell. Even some quotes from Our Lady in apparitions and visions of hell. It's terrible. [url="http://www.concernedcatholics.org/"]http://www.concernedcatholics.org/[/url] [/quote] You're right. That [i]was[/i] terrible. Sad thing about that is that I don't think it'd be quite right to try and follow God's Will just because you don't want to go to hell... that wouldn't be very good, I don't think... "I detest my sins because of their punishment of hell, but mostly because they offend You..." sounds like we should avoid sin out of love for the Giver of Life rather than avoiding sin because of fear of the prince of death... but it's also a combination of both, I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socrates Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Just wanted to say that I agree that Catholics (especially priests preaching to their congregations) need to acknowledge the reality of hell and speak out about it more. However, when approaching unbelievers with the purpose of conversion, it is probably best in most cases not to begin by talking about hell. Once one has been convinced of (or at least considers) at least the reality of God and the divinity of Jesus, then one should bring up hell (which is a key part of the reason for Jesus' mission - as a priest said, "if there is no hell and we are all saved, then Jesus made wasted trip." Again, I guess this all depends on the audience - I just think most people do not respond to "Join my Church or you will burn in hell!" as an intro to the Faith. I knew someone who insisted that this was the only "correct" way to go about making converts, but as far as I know, he hasn't made any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toledo_jesus Posted September 1, 2004 Author Share Posted September 1, 2004 I agree with you socrates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scofizzle Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 working in youth ministry I have noticed that the "themes" swing back and forth every couple of years. They go from the greatest and forgiving heart of God to the wrath of God. Youht ministry i the only place that i see this I don't know that I ahve ever heard it from the ambo and it kind of disapoints me. It's almost like we're only getting half of the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Wednesday Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 [quote name='Socrates' date='Aug 31 2004, 09:55 PM'] Just wanted to say that I agree that Catholics (especially priests preaching to their congregations) need to acknowledge the reality of hell and speak out about it more. However, when approaching unbelievers with the purpose of conversion, it is probably best in most cases not to begin by talking about hell. Once one has been convinced of (or at least considers) at least the reality of God and the divinity of Jesus, then one should bring up hell (which is a key part of the reason for Jesus' mission - as a priest said, "if there is no hell and we are all saved, then Jesus made wasted trip." Again, I guess this all depends on the audience - I just think most people do not respond to "Join my Church or you will burn in hell!" as an intro to the Faith. I knew someone who insisted that this was the only "correct" way to go about making converts, but as far as I know, he hasn't made any. [/quote] I agree. As I see it, Hell, being the absense of God, exists, as long as God exists. It's like you can't have light source without a shadow being cast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picchick Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Wanna hear something? I was talking to two atheist people about the subject of hell. I told them that there was fire and suffering down there and that no one wants to go there. Their response: "Well, I be it is just like one big bonfire where we all sit around and watch it." Sometimes, I wonder if people really want to look deep into their beliefs to question its crediblity. -_- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiat_Voluntas_Tua Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 It is crazy when people believe in God without believing in Satan...Or in Heaven without Hell... Truth is a package. Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theoketos Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 [url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/theology/libsin.HTM"]Every one should read this, "Liberalism is a Sin!"[/url] It goes over how "soley subjective truth" is not really truth at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I think we don’t like to talk about hell for a couple of reasons. One, we’re leery of offending people by being too harsh and so we’re afraid to call sin the damnable offense against God that it is. Two, thinking and talking about hell forces us to take a closer look at our own sinfulness and the things we personally do that separate us from God. That’s difficult to do, and most people are content with sweeping sin under the carpet rather than exposing it to the light of truth. Just as we get a glimpse of what heaven will be like here on earth, we also get glimpses of what hell will be like here on earth. No message of evangelization is complete without including something about the eternal consequences of our actions. But, by the same token no discussion of hell is complete without also discussing the greatness of God's grace and mercy. It's a package deal ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateri05 Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 [quote name='Ash Wednesday' date='Sep 1 2004, 04:08 AM'] As I see it, Hell, being the absense of God, exists, as long as God exists. It's like you can't have light source without a shadow being cast. [/quote] no no no! Heaven and hell are NOT codependent on each other. Evil is dependent on good for its existence byGood, ie God, exists completely without evil, heaven without hell. to use your light example: God, as Light, can shine so brightly to EVERY corner of existence so as to have NO shadows. however! thanks to Lucifer's pride and man's fall, such is not the case and there are shadows. but, i just wanted to clarify that God--Goodness, Truth, Light-- exists as His Own Being, omnipotent, omniscient and everpresent. hope that makes sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kateri05 Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 i didn't mean to jump on you ash wednesday i just wanted to clarify that point because that line of thinking can lead to gnostic type theologies and stuff. not that YOU were, but just in general. sorry again if that seemed abrupt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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