Concept of Hell
Pope John Paul redifines century old concepts of hell.
Wednesday, July 28, 1999
(This is an unedited, uncorrected transcript.)
PETER JENNINGS Finally from us this evening, it was not the heat that made us focus tonight on the concept of
Hell, we promise. It was actually Pope John Paul’s views on Hell, which he stated today. Just a week after he said that
Heaven is not some place up in the clouds, the Pope says that Hell is not “down there.” ABC’s Bill Blakemore, who
covers the Vatican for us, understands these matters.
BILL BLAKEMORE, ABCNEWS (VO) It’s the power of art the Pope is reacting to. Catholics have never taught that
Hell is a physical place, but a state you put yourself in by cutting yourself off from God. But down through the
centuries, artists were looking for ways to help make that spiritual state feel real. And over the years, many people
absorbed the art as the real thing.
2007-08-11 09:45:47 · 7 answers · asked by zorrro857 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Even in 1999, this was nothing new.
No one really knows what hell is like. It has been described by people who have not been there as everything from flames to a frozen lake (Dante).
The Catholic Church teaches:
Hell is the state of complete and final self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed, reserved for those who refuse by their own free choice to believe and be converted from sin, even to the end of their lives
I like to think of it this way. The only way a person will go to hell is if they want to.
God in His (or Her) unlimited love has given us free will to choose. Our most important choice is to freely decide to accept or reject God's constant offer of spending eternity with Him in heaven. God will respect the choice to reject Him.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1033-1037: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art12.htm#1033
With love in Christ.
2007-08-11 16:09:34 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do like the words that say, "If they are not against us, they are for us" and "if they are not for us, just leave them alone"
Why not just let the Pope and all others do what they want to do and concentrate on your own walk in life and your relationship with your God? This is how I make my beliefs my life and not just a way of life.
2007-08-11 15:59:21 · answer #2 · answered by cjkeysjr 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
despite if I do believe and have self belief the Bible to be God's be conscious and persist with it because of the fact the fact, i do no longer think it rather is common to pass to factors outdoors of the Catholic church for suggestion on what Catholics have self belief and teach. i understand case in point, that if everybody in basic terms Googled the call of my faith, or my God they are in all risk to return up with all kinds of fake and deceptive information superhighway web content. in accordance with Christ command at Matthew 7:12, i does no longer seem to those factors for suggestion on their ideals.
2016-12-11 17:11:24 · answer #3 · answered by mckernan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SO after centuries telling me that is a fiery place, now that is not the definition of that, sorry but what other thing you gave us a wrong definition.
God in His (or Her) ? her?
2007-08-11 21:38:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt if most Catholics are even aware of his statement. I don't think they spend that much time on doctrine.
2007-08-11 10:43:56 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Which means what, exactly?
2007-08-11 10:08:51 · answer #6 · answered by Cyndi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't listen to the "pope", and he's a false prophet anyway, so.........
2007-08-11 09:52:14 · answer #7 · answered by CJ 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋