tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post3451727817895114854..comments2024-03-22T18:43:00.710-04:00Comments on Unam Sanctam Catholicam: Spe Salvi and Universal SalvationBonifacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672810254075072214noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-23034064913117611132015-01-20T12:26:13.705-05:002015-01-20T12:26:13.705-05:00Ignatius Press doubling down on HVB: http://insigh...Ignatius Press doubling down on HVB: http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2015/01/new-von-balthasar-site-new-edition-of-dare-we-hope-new-interview-with-fr-barron.html#commentsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-13529318058401316632013-12-09T06:18:11.405-05:002013-12-09T06:18:11.405-05:00Thank you for these series of blogs on the error t...Thank you for these series of blogs on the error that it is reasonable to hope for an empty hell.<br /><br />In an earlier post the discussion came up of Scott Hahn's dismissal of the notion. IIRC it was in his lectures on the Gospel of John when he discussed Our Lord's comment that Judas was the "son of perdition." In the semitic worldview, to call somebody a "son" of something was to say something either about his origins or his destiny. Obviously Our Lord could not have meant that Judas originated from hell - He was indicating that hell was his destiny.<br /><br />This error of von Balthasar has been one of the most pernicious heresies to infect the Church in the last century. In order to hold it, the believer must oppose themselves to the constant teaching of Christ and the apostles in the NT that people will go to hell, or that people are already in hell. The excuse they make is usually in terms of God being too merciful to condemn any soul to hell. However, they seem to be completely oblivious to the blasphemous arrogance they exhibit by claiming to have greater insight into God's mercy than either Our Lord or the apostles. It is the arrogance which is typical of modernism in all its forms.<br /><br />Fr Barron's attempt to smear Ralph Martin with his comparison of him to a dissenter against Humanae Vitae was an unwarranted ad hominem, and shows the shallowness of the "empty" brigade's position - their doctrine is a house built on sand. Deacon Augustinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03549825303646357455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-3495170844603205362013-12-02T00:30:43.060-05:002013-12-02T00:30:43.060-05:00The idea you speak of is true insofar as moral sin...The idea you speak of is true insofar as moral sin is always freely chosen, and so hell is always freely chosen *at least indirectly*. The problem is that many such presentations overlook this aspect of indirect voluntariness, leaving people with the impression that no one goes to hell except those who directly want to go to hell. This is most misleading. Almost no one wants to go to hell precisely as such, and so we are all left feeling very comfortable in our sins. But again, the key point is, if you choose mortal sin, you choose hell, whether you realize it or not.<br /><br />A second point, often obscured or denied in such presentations of hell, is that once a man has died in mortal sin, God does actively judge him and condemn him to hell out of a positive will to show forth his justice. It's not merely a case of him letting you go to hell since that's where you wanted to go.Anselmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-28408490421512881012013-11-22T05:43:14.846-05:002013-11-22T05:43:14.846-05:00thanks for this series. I hear an awful lot of pe...thanks for this series. I hear an awful lot of people say that hell is locked from the inside. I guess that makes them feel better but what about the people in the gospel who Jesus locks outside and who want to come in? I think the idea is from CS Lewis but I could be mistaken. Maybe in some cases it could be that hell is locked from the inside, but surely not all? Just wondering if I could get some thoughts on this issue. It seems to me that the idea is one that lets people off the hook so to speak. They think, if I don't actively want to go to Hell, then I won't go there, since Hell is locked from the inside. It kind of seems like a universalist lite position to me and it has always bothered me. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11679981021081052320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-13648731393000957012013-11-20T23:08:15.212-05:002013-11-20T23:08:15.212-05:00Excellent work on this one. I had been troubled by...Excellent work on this one. I had been troubled by that passage with regards to the many/few debate (although as you say, it obviously has nothing to do with the all/some debate).<br /><br />But I hadn't noticed the subtle switch that may be occurring from all of humanity to all Christians. But I would agree that it at least needs clarification.Anselmnoreply@blogger.com