In the spiritual realm, it is not necessary to occupy space, because spiritual beings have no mass. They cannot occupy space, as a result. Being is not dependent upon mass or occupying space. Magnetism exists. Yet, it occupies no space or takes up no mass. It is an effect on the visible universe. In much the same way, God also effects the visible universe yet takes up no space or mass.
God is not "in" hell because hell is a state of existence WITHOUT God. One must be careful to taking Scriptures that use anthropomorphic language - like the "hands" of God, or the physical divide between heaven and hell. Just as easily, we can interpret this divide in a spiritual sense, because we will either be in God's presence or not.
In the Catholic faith, my understanding is that you believe that Jesus descended into hell for a time, and then LEFT, presumably forever.
We do not believe that Jesus descended into HELL, but Hades. He descended there to bring Adam and the righteous people of the OT period with Him to heaven. Perhaps at this point, the wicked then were cast into hell? I am not sure about what happened at that point with regards to the wicked. But Jesus didn't descend into Hell as we refer to it.
Whether that means a physical place or a plane of existence, the idea of clear separation is unmistakable. Wherever, whenever, however God exists is confined to that existence not in common with hell.
No doubt. I will go with the later, an existence. God certainly keeps Hell in existence - but He is not there, as that is what Hell means - the lack of God. Really, I can't go much more than that on the subject, as there is very little to support it. My views are based on that fact that God is spiritual and spirits do not take up space or mass.
I presume that you are joking about the soul having mass!
Regards
But aren't you "crossing realms"? :) I have no problem in thinking that spiritual beings do not have mass in our realm, but as for their own realm, who can know? I think of Jesus and His resurrected body. We are told that we are also going to have resurrected bodies. These will take up space, somewhere. It doesn't have to be in our realm.
Magnetism exists. Yet, it occupies no space or takes up no mass. It is an effect on the visible universe.
In grammar school we are taught that nouns are persons, places, things, or ideas. I am only talking about the first three. I think of Magnetism as a description of a relationship between two or more "things". For the purposes of this discussion, I don't think ideas qualify as "things" in existence.
In much the same way, God also effects the visible universe yet takes up no space or mass.
I disagree. Using your own terms, you appear to be saying God is more like an effect rather than a cause, in and of Himself. I contend that a cause requires space, not necessarily in a dimension observable to us.
God is not "in" hell because hell is a state of existence WITHOUT God.
What is the difference between "state of existence" and "place", if "place" can include other dimensions?
But Jesus didn't descend into Hell as we refer to it.
Thanks for the clarification. I've just seen that so many times as being part of the Apostle's Creed.
I presume that you are joking about the soul having mass!
Yes. :) The article I linked to discredits the "science" behind the measurement of the weight of a soul. But I thought the attempt was interesting. :)