Topic: What is hell like?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: January 10, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Robert

Question:   Hello. I have a few questions: 1) What is the Catholic take on hell -- is it an actual physical place, or is it a state of being in the absence of God? 2) Which Protestant faith(s) believe in predestination? 3) This may be very abstract and philosophical, but I wonder -- does God free us . . . by granting us grace (this implies that God chooses to whom he gives grace), or by in recognizing God do we free ourselves? Thank you!

Answer: 

Brooke,

1.) Hell cannot be an actual physical place as we understand "physical place" in the time-space continuum of this finite world. Eternity is beyond that. Hell is the state of being in the absence of God after the final judgment.

2.) That question cannot be simply answered. Most denominations, and also Catholicism, hold predestination in some sense. There is a Scriptural basis for it. However, there are many subtleties in how predestination can be interpreted. Also, within some denominations, some of the people may believe in it, and some may not. Not all denominations have clearly defined doctrines on a variety of things.

3.) One way to talk about grace is God's free gift of God's self with us. God is always primary in grace. God initiates. We respond and cooperate with God's grace. This is very important, but can never supersede God's action. We cannot free ourselves from sin. We cannot save ourselves. God saves us. However, we must cooperate with that grace. God does choose to whom God gives grace. God chooses, we believe, to give grace that is sufficient for absolutely everyone to be saved, if we cooperate with it.

Have a grace-filled day!

Father Robert