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To: Forest Keeper
As my priest has told me, it is precisely the presence of God in hell that makes hell so miserable for the damned. The love of God is for them like a burning fire that is painful and repulsive. In other words, God never leaves; it would be impossible for Him to do so. He is necessarily everywhere, sustaining all things by the word of His power. And of course the Holy Spirit never "fails". But in Catholic doctrine humans have free will. Humans put themselves in hell; the Holy Spirit does not force anyone into heaven or hell.

-A8

460 posted on 11/22/2006 8:03:47 AM PST by adiaireton8 ("There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse." - Plato, Phaedo 89d)
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To: adiaireton8
As my priest has told me, it is precisely the presence of God in hell that makes hell so miserable for the damned. The love of God is for them like a burning fire that is painful and repulsive. In other words, God never leaves; it would be impossible for Him to do so.

So, are you saying that the indwelling Holy Spirit goes with the damned into hell and stays with them through eternity? I have never heard that before. What does the Spirit do there, tease the people?

I have heard of the Catholic belief that Christ went down to hell temporarily, but I have never heard of God being an everlasting presence in hell. Isn't hell supposed to be the eternal separation from God? Assuming that there will not be even a pretense of relating this to scripture, where does this belief come from?

506 posted on 11/22/2006 7:36:27 PM PST by Forest Keeper
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