Is It Morally Acceptable To Hope Anyone Goes To Hell?

The Federalist Patiot ^ | Dec. 6, 2004 | Dennis Prager

[Lindykim]

"Is it morally and theologically acceptable to hope anyone goes to hell? ... One...need not be a conservative Christian to believe in some form of hell for the evil. All one need be is a rational believer in a just God. For if there is a just God, it is inconceivable that those who do evil and those who do good have identical fates. A just God must care about justice, and since there is little justice in this world, there has to be in the next. And belief in the next world is also not confined to Christianity. As the Encyclopedia Judaica ... (edited largely by non-religious Jews) notes in the first sentence under the heading 'Afterlife,' 'Judaism has always believed in an afterlife.' ... Much of humanity has been adversely affected by modern-day terror. The lives of millions -- virtually all Palestinians and Israelis, for example -- have been terribly affected by Arafat. And there are hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been destroyed or shattered by him. At the same time, other than a few sycophants enriched by some of the billions of dollars he embezzled from the Palestinians, no one has had a better life because Yasser Arafat lived. ... Yasser Arafat single-handedly made nihilistic acts of cruelty routine, even respectable. ... Thanks to him, the Palestinian name is identified among people of goodwill with barbarity just as the German name came to be associated with barbarity as a result of Hitler. ... Just as any decent human being would want good people to be rewarded in whatever existence there is after this life, they would want the cruelest of people to be punished. So, of course, I hope Yasser Arafat is in hell. ... If you think that is hard-hearted, consider the alternative, that one of the most corrupt and cruel human beings of the past half-century is resting in peace. Whoever isn't bothered by that is the one with the hard heart." --Dennis Prager

[Walkingfeather]

Well I think we see that in the parable of the prodical son. It is a parable as much as the wild son as the "obedient" other brother and his resentment of getting the same reward for his faithfulness.

Also in the parable of the owner of the vineyard that hired men at the beggining middle and end of the day and paid them all the same wage, because that is what was the agreed price and the OWNER has chosen what price to offer.

Yes the battle of my will and flesh vs. Gods grace. I am sure we will be humbled when we review the game films and he shows us how much grace we actually needed to be there.

[wideawake]

What is purgatory? and where is it mentioned in the Bible?

In Catholic theology, Purgatory is a place or state in which the deceased who have not done sufficent penance for their sins in this life go to finish their penance.

Purgatory is temporary and will cease to exist at the Last Judgment.

The classical Scriptural locus for is 1 Corinthians 3:13-15.

[Tax-chick]

Benedicere cor tuo! Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?

My "Notorious North Carolina Niceness Nazi" signature line: Bless your heart! How did you get your hair to do THAT?!?

[lonevoice]

No. This question reminds me of that so-called pastor, Fred Phelps. He and his hate-filled minions have gone to funerals of gay people just to torment the families with signs saying such things as, "God Hates F*gs" and "Your son is burning in hell".

In my opinion, Phelps is one of the most disgusting pieces of human detritus imaginable. I can't help but hope that he receives God's justice, but I stop short of presuming to know what that is.

[loboinok]

Even the worst of the worst!

[JimRed]

Is It Morally Acceptable To Hope Anyone Goes To Hell?

Probably not; I'll have to ask for forgiveness.

[Tax-chick]

I am sure we will be humbled when we review the game films and he shows us how much grace we actually needed to be there.

Yup!

[texan75010]

I always thought that we couldnt do enough penance for our sins so Jesus had to die. So if Jesus died for our sins wouldn't that nulify the need for a purgatory?

[frog_jerk_2004]

I know you already received the answer but

From newadvent.org:

Presumption

(Lat. praesumere, "to take before", "to take for granted").

Presumption is here considered as a vice opposed to the theological virtue of hope. It may also be regarded as a product of pride. It may be defined as the condition of a soul which, because of a badly regulated reliance on God's mercy and power, hopes for salvation without doing anything to deserve it, or for pardon of his sins without repenting of them. Presumption is said to offend against hope by excess, as despair by defect. It will be obvious, however, to one who ponders what is meant by hope, that this statement is not exact. There is only a certain analogy which justifies it. As a matter of fact we could not hope too much, assuming that it is really the supernatural habit which is in question.

[Zacs Mom]

"Forgive Them"
By Charlotte Anselmo

I cannot bear to think
What He went through that day
When they nailed Him to that wooden cross
As His Mother knelt to pray.

Did He shout with words of anger,
Did He struggle, did He fight…
Or did he turn His eyes toward Heaven
To His Father and the light.

He didn't cry for vengeance,
As His body filled with pain
He didn't beg for mercy
As His life began to wane.

I picture His sweet Mother
As at His feet she knelt
Such suffering and anguish
Imagine how she felt.

With one last burst of strength
He spoke these words so true,

"Forgive them Father…
For they know not what they do."

[connectthedots]

No need to wish someone would go to hell. They make that decision for themselves.

[durasell]

My mistake. I thought you went to purgatory for pounding a quarter on the bar and yelling "Bar keep! Bar keep!" Easy mistake, since purgatory, I am told, looks remarkably like one of those theme bars in an airport. The bartender, a fifty year old recovering alcoholic wears a button on his uniform suspenders that says, "Ask me about hell!"

[the invisib1e hand]

Ask David via Psalms.

[bushisdamanin04]

Okay. Thanks.

[derheimwill]

Christians believe that we are saved by grace (we don't deserve it and cannot earn it) and not by works (so that is is God alone, and not we, who saves).

Muslims believe that our good and bad deeds are weighed on a scale on judgement day and that this determines where we spend eternity.

[wkdaysoff]

Thanks.

[Millie]

You asked, "In James it says the demons believe,,,,are they saved?".
In eternity past the demons choose to side with Satan.

[It's me]

What the heck????

Are you feeling ok?

[Tax-chick]

I've always imagined Purgatory as a golf course.