Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site petsd.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!petrus!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!petsd!cjh From: cjh@petsd.UUCP (Chris Henrich) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Re: Why should I believe (long, not a flame) Message-ID: <666@petsd.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 17:34:52 EST Article-I.D.: petsd.666 Posted: Tue Oct 29 17:34:52 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 30-Oct-85 01:22:20 EST References: <2309@ukma.UUCP> Reply-To: cjh@petsd.UUCP (PUT YOUR NAME HERE) Distribution: na Organization: Perkin-Elmer DSG, Tinton Falls, N.J. Lines: 33 Summary: How easy IS it to get into Hell anyway? [] In article <2309@ukma.UUCP> slg@ukma.UUCP (Sean Gilley) writes: >... But I'm going to Hell. At least thats what all my good >Christian friends tell me. ... Within the Christian religion (or religions) there is room for wide differences of belief even among those who are entirely orthodox. The question "Who goes to Hell?" seems to have the widest range of answers. I half believe that the answers say more about those who give them, than about what the odds are on a comfortable after-life. Here are some opinions, from a Catholic viewpoint. (That qualification narrows the possibilities somewhat, but not much.) First, I think it is wicked to say of anyone, that he is certain to go to Hell or that he certainly did go to Hell. This presumes to make a judgement that is not ours to make, and disparages God's mercy. Second, I do not think that unbelief, or the failure to profess a certain creed, is sufficient to send a person to Hell. Faith, Hope, and Love may be hidden by superficial circumstances - or expressed in deeds rather than words. To "go to Hell" takes a kind of commitment: a fundamental choice to be unloving and selfish. Someone once said, "I believe that Hell is a place of eternal torment - eternally uninhabited." Mybe someone on the net can identify the source. Regards, Chris -- Full-Name: Christopher J. Henrich UUCP: ..!(cornell | ariel | ukc | houxz)!vax135!petsd!cjh US Mail: MS 313; Perkin-Elmer; 106 Apple St; Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Phone: (201) 758-7288