Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: kosta50; MarkBsnr; 1010RD
The Church does not teach that it is a place but a "state (or condition) of a soul." Technically peaking a soul could be in "heaven" right next to a soul that is in "hell."

Exactly. And this is the concensus patrum, which +Isaac the Syrian explained so well: "I say that those who are suffering in hell, are suffering in being scourged by love.... It is totally false to think that the sinners in hell are deprived of God's love. Love is a child of the knowledge of truth, and is unquestionably given commonly to all. But love's power acts in two ways: it torments sinners, while at the same time it delights those who have lived in accord with it" Heaven and hell are both in the "presence" of God and all souls are "there".

1,366 posted on 12/11/2009 4:04:14 AM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1364 | View Replies ]


To: Kolokotronis; MarkBsnr; 1010RD
Good find, Kolo mou! Kinda sums up the Orthodox mindset, doesn't it?

For your information, Mark, Pope John Paul II asserted this orthodox teaching of the Church when he said emphatically that heaven and hell are not physical "places" but conditions of the souls.

1,368 posted on 12/11/2009 4:46:24 AM PST by kosta50 (Don't look up -- the truth is all around you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1366 | View Replies ]

To: Kolokotronis; kosta50; MarkBsnr
The Church does not teach that it is a place but a "state (or condition) of a soul." Technically peaking a soul could be in "heaven" right next to a soul that is in "hell."

The Hebrew Sheol is a place. Spirits like Samuel's (when called forth by the sorceress at the request of Saul) he is brought "up". Some instances in that passage might mean "to meet", but 14 & 15 seem to imply an upward movement from a lower place. Sheol has the meaning of "underworld" (subterranean, pit), although it is not inconsistent with the sense of darkness - out of God's light - without praise of God.

In the NT Gehenna, Hades, and Tartarus all describe types of Hells.

In the NT Heaven is an assembly of Saints or even the abode of God (His presence is not everywhere, but somewhere). Christ also ascends up to Heaven (bodily). In the OT Heaven is a bit more amorphous. Sky, the celestial heavens of stars, planets, etc. and the abode of God.

Cannot Heaven and Hell both be places and conditions? After the Resurrection what is the location of Resurrected bodies?

1,492 posted on 12/15/2009 7:53:31 PM PST by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1366 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson