I don't think you can exonerate yourself from blame for my combative attitude, Faz. If truth be told, you have attacked me many times on this forum. In addition, I can rarely fail to be stirred to action by "progressive" attitudes because of the damage I feel they have done to the Church and to individuals.
However, given that you have indicated a desire to sincerely investigate a contradiction you perceive in the Church's doctrines, based on Scripture, I agree that, in purely human terms, there does seem to be a contradiction. A parish priest of my acquaintance has been quoted several times as putting it this way, that he can’t believe in “a God who creates people in order to send them to hell.” The pejorative “in order to” gives him away, in my opinion. Were he to express doubt about “a God who creates people, knowing that they will ultimately end in hell”, I would regard his questioning as sincere, as I am currently regarding your doubts. Please don’t look on that as condescension; the “currently” refers to now, in this post, as opposed to my former posts in which I was assuming the attitude of cynicism with which I have come to regard you.
The problem is, as I see it, that Christ Himself has stated that Hell exists. I don’t believe He was exaggerating, and even less that He was just waffling-on, when He spoke as recorded in Luke 16:19-31 (Douay-Rheims version) [19] There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. [20] And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores,
[21] Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. [23] And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom: [24] And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. [25] And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazareth evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented.
[22] "Abraham's bosom": The place of rest, where the souls of the saints resided, till Christ had opened heaven by his death.
[26] And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. [27] And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, [28] That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. [29] And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance.
[31] And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.
So, I guess it comes down to whether you believe the Gospel, and accept the Church’s reconciliation explanation involving our free will. We are free to choose to accept, or reject, God’s love. That makes sense to me, but, as I say, I know of many to whom it doesn’t.
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