Author Topic: Hell at the Center of the Earth? (Read 5027 times)

Telesphorus · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:24:36 AM »

Quote

The Church has decided nothing on this subject; hence we may say hell is a definite place; but where it is, we do not know. St. Chrysostom reminds us: "We must not ask where hell is, but how we are to escape it" (In Rom., hom. xxxi, n. 5, in P.G., LX, 674). St. Augustine says: "It is my opinion that the nature of hell-fire and the location of hell are known to no man unless the Holy Ghost made it known to him by a special revelation", (City of God XX.16). Elsewhere he expresses the opinion that hell is under the earth (Retract., II, xxiv, n. 2 in P.L., XXXII, 640). St. Gregory the Great wrote: "I do not dare to decide this question. Some thought hell is somewhere on earth; others believe it is under the earth" (Dial., IV, xlii, in P.L., LXXVII, 400; cf. Patuzzi, "De sede inferni", 1763; Gretser, "De subterraneis animarum receptaculis", 1595).

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07207a.htm

Vladimir · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2009, 03:17:57 PM »

I think that Hell is in the centre of the Earth. It makes sense.

Alex · « **Reply #3 on:** August 27, 2009, 08:41:38 PM »

Matthew 12:40 says "for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth".

This refers to Jesus going to Limbo where the just of the OT were waiting for Heaven to be opened to them (their condition was one of natural happiness). The above reference about the heart of the earth, if taken literally, would mean that Limbo is also in the center of the earth alongside hell - which couldn't be the case.

I believe hell is a place but not that it is the center of the earth.

Dylan · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2009, 01:20:29 AM »

My online friend, who used to post here as Clodovicus, had this to say about the matter:

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As Aristotle posited, and Aquinas reiterated, there exists in this universe two planes of existence intrinsically bound together as one; the spiritual, and the manifest, such as one's body and soul.

On the physical plane, we might see a normal sky, but on the spiritual pane, we might see in it the war between the forces of God and those of Satan, as some saints certainly have. Like for example St. Teresa of Avila's ability to see the stranglehold a devil might have over an individual in sin in that she could see the devil's arms around him in captivity. On the physical plane, that would not be visible, but nevertheless it is as real as the physical one is. Another example:

The nature of a human is a body and a soul existentially bound together to form the one organism.

The soul is real, and the body is real, one physical, and one immaterial, but both enjoy the same reality. For instance, the Eucharist is to us bread, but is in reality the actual flesh of Jesus Christ. And so, I submit is the reality of Hell, while we might merely detect mineral deposits and a severely hot core, in the spiritual reality, there may exist a place of torment for souls and spirits.

The concept of theology I have just described is an aspect of philosophy expounded at length in Aristotle, known as hylomorphism, which may help to explain this piece of theology.

This makes a lot of sense to me.

Any other thoughts and ideas would be appreciated, though.

CM · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2009, 07:51:45 AM »

Quote from: Vladimir

I think that Hell is in the centre of the Earth. It makes sense.

Agreed.

Alex · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2009, 03:30:51 AM »

Quote from: Catholic Martyr

Quote from: Vladimir
I think that Hell is in the centre of the Earth. It makes sense.

Agreed.

Here's my thoughs:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." (Revelations 21:1)

At the end of time, our earth as we no it will no longer be the same earth, just as our bodies will no longer be the same bodies but resurrected bodies. Just as our resurrected bodies will be flawless and glorious, so too will the new earth be more beautiful and glorious - it will be like how the garden of Eden was. And just as our resurrected bodies will have no trace of imperfection or ugliness, so it is that the new earth will be perfect in every way. So, for the people who believe that hell is the center of the earth, how can we have hell being a part of the new earth? That would mean that either 1) the new earth is not a glorious garden of Eden place or else 2) if hell was a part of the old earth, then hell ceases to exist since it cannot be a part of the new earth or else it will lose its perfection.

I also believe that the aborted babies and unbpatized babies and children beyond the age of reason would be living on this new garden of eden earth

Jehanne · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2009, 07:02:03 AM »

Quote from: Dylan

What are your thoughts on this issue?

I believe that Hell is more of a state than a place, so, no, I do not believe that it is at the center of the Earth.

Belloc · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:24:08 AM »

Quote from: Jehanne

Quote from: Dylan
What are your thoughts on this issue?

I believe that Hell is more of a state than a place, so, no, I do not believe that it is at the center of the Earth.

True, it is liek the Soviets said when they got into space "hey, we did not see God" as if if it would be-and He would be-sitting on some astroid like a Disneyland park......dig into the center all one wants, will not see devils......it is a place, not one we can dig into.......that view really puts God into a box for us to pet Him like a puppy.....he is more powerful then that......

Jehanne · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:46:55 AM »

Quote from: Belloc

Quote from: Jehanne
Quote from: Dylan
What are your thoughts on this issue?

I believe that Hell is more of a state than a place, so, no, I do not believe that it is at the center of the Earth.

True, it is liek the Soviets said when they got into space "hey, we did not see God" as if if it would be-and He would be-sitting on some astroid like a Disneyland park......dig into the center all one wants, will not see devils......it is a place, not one we can dig into.......that view really puts God into a box for us to pet Him like a puppy.....he is more powerful then that......

A quote allegedly said by Yuri Gagarin, "The earth was blue but there was no god." One American preacher replied (paraphrasing), "If he (Gagarin) would have opened up the door to his spaceship and got out of his spacesuit, he would have seen God."

Belloc · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2009, 12:47:06 PM »

LOL on getting out of ship...........but seeing God would have impleid judgment, not that God is just floating amongst the asteroids like Gagarin's body would have been......likewise, i can dig into core, not see devils like I would see you if I broke down your door and/or walls..........one sees God and/orDevil at judgment or for some saints/mystics, shown for purposes of reminder to outside world......and to saints for increased faith......

Belloc · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2009, 12:47:54 PM »

BTW, are the Coneheads interviewable? (LOL :jumping2:

)

CM · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:19:46 AM »

Jehanne · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2009, 07:11:48 AM »

Quote from: Catholic Martyr

Spoken like a true Modernist.

I have no idea why you would accuse me of modernism?! I would describe myself as a neo-Feeneyite, in that I think that explicit faith in Jesus Christ and the vow ("vowtum") for Christian baptism are both necessary for salvation, therefore, infants dying without Baptism cannot attain the Beatific Vision but (probably) enjoy a perfect natural happiness for all of Eternity. Likewise, I profess One, Holy, Catholic Church, which is the Roman Catholic Church of which the Successor of Peter is the head, and at least at the moment of death, one must die in the bosom and unity of this one Church, which is the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ. I also think that good Catholic women should adhere to the traditional dress and hair length that they, for centuries, adhered to, but that's another post for another thread! I also accept the Church's immemorial teaching on contraception. I also profess the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture in the original manuscripts.

So, why do you think that I am a modernist?

CM · « **Reply #14 on:** September 09, 2009, 07:10:49 PM »

Quote from: Jehanne

the vow ("vowtum") for Christian baptism ... necessary for salvation, therefore, infants dying without Baptism cannot attain the Beatific Vision but (probably) enjoy a perfect natural happiness for all of Eternity.

Because this is exactly contrary to the Extraordinary Magisterium. The errors of the Modernists are directly opposed to infallible decrees, because they implicitly deny infallibility.

With this understanding, you should be able to see that:

Limbo of infants is heretical.
Baptism of desire is heretical.