Do Catholics belive in a Hell where people suffer forever?

Question

If I am a good person who is kind etc do I still burn because I am not a beliver in a God?.

Answer 1

Those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God and accept his FREE gift of grace get to spend eternity in heaven.

Answer 2

Catholics believe that you must be baptized to avoid an eternity in hell, and then, of course, you have to lead a "good" life.

When I was a little girl, I was taught that Purgatory is the waiting room between heaven and hell, where the "undecided" souls wait until they know weather they're going up or down ;).

I've often heard/read that Hell is "being removed from the sight of god," so I don't think all Catholics would agree that Hell is a literal land-of-fire (as some other Christians might argue).

In theory, I think that the Catholics would tell you to get baptized, and then continue to be good and kind. If you want to give it a go, think of it as an insurance policy (that's what my Dad would tell you)!

You should read the existentialists---Camus and Sartre are a good pair to start with.

Answer 3

One does not know for sure if a person will definitely go to Heaven or hell. A person who does not believe in God, inspite of being naturally good, will go to the fires of hell. But one never knows the infinite mercy of God. Perhaps in the last hour of life that person may repent and make a proper confession and receive the Holy Eucharist and be saved. But one must never take a death-bed conversion for granted. It is better to use the time available right now to reconcile with God and desire His Friendship.

It is better to be armed and prepared by taking advantage of the graces that are poured out on us by Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Confession, which have been specially instituted for us by Our Lord to save us from mortal sin, and thus from the fires of hell.

Even the greatest of saints suffered great agony and fear when their hour of death approached. They feared the fires of hell. Read St.Alphonsus de Liguori's life. He was one of them. He could have convinced himself that he could be going to Purgatory because of his goodness.

How much more then should we, mere sinners, in no way close to St.Liguori or the other saints, fear the fires of hell.

Answer 4

Yes, Catholics believe everything our founder, Jesus Christ, taught; and he certainly taught about an everlasting hell for those who freely choose to go there. The alternative would be to take people who hate Him, who have completely rejected Him, and force them to live in His intimate company for eternity. Where is the love in that? Obviously love demands that the personal decisions of individuals be honored. Which means that there must be a place where those who have chosen to totally reject God can live apart from Him for eternity.

As for people who live godly lives according to the dictates of their conscience, but who through no fault of their own do not recognize the Savior or the one true Church He founded for all mankind, the Catholic Church teaches that the mercy and love of God are great enough that such persons can also be saved. (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 847)

Answer 5

Catholics are taught that. Does not make a lot of sense though. I don't think it is about belief in particular, more right living.

Why are you kind and good ? In your heart, you know it is the right way to be. Religions try to grow themselves, partly to save souls, partly they are a business. IMHO.

Three books that you might find stimulating:
"The Case For Christ"
"Coming To Peace With Science"
"Chop Wood, Carry Water"

I think a person's hell will be undeniable awareness, and possibly experience, of whatever pain and suffering you caused in your lifetime. Deep regret and understanding of what you did may avoid or prevent it, but one can not lie to oneself nor to God.

Imagine the hell of Hitler, Stalin, and other evil dictators.

Answer 6

Many Roman Catholics do, but many do not.
Some Orthodox Christians do, but most Orthodox theologians down through the centuries rejected the idea of eternal suffering in hell, or that non-Christians burn in hell simply because they are not Christians.

Answer 7

I like what Dante says about Hell...The Catholics didn't take too kindly to that. Of course Dante's Divine Comedy was fiction but the Inferno part really struck a sore note with the Catholics.

Answer 8

Would it surprise you to know the Bible does not support dead humans suffering in a fiery burning hell or a purgatory?

Eccles. 9:5,10 shows the dead are unable to fell any kind of pain or pleasure.

Jeremiah 7:31 talks about some who sacrificed their children in fire. This was something detestable to Jehovah. Something that never came into His mind.

So, how could dead humans be tortured by fire? How could God ever condone this?

Answer 9

The problem is that the catholic faith got rid of limbo (where people who did not know of god go), but I feel that if you are a good person, you go to heaven.

If necessary, I'll put in a good word for you.

Answer 10

Hell is a basic tenet of Christian soteriological theology, so yes, Catholics believe it. Your second question is not identical to the first, and would take much longer to answer; the short one is that salvation is God's business.