Let me get this straight. A loving god will punish me for all eternity if I choose not to adhere to his wil as brought to us by the catholic church. Seems like i'm better off reading the bible to find out what is acceptable or not. Last time I checked Adam and Eve lost their life for being disobedient without mention of any torment, and as perfect people I might add. But now as we are born in imperfection, we are going to be eternally tormented. That sounds a little skewed doesnt it??I tink that's why he made the bible available now in so many languages.We can get truth through study, rather than at the doors of the catholic church. Forgiveness comes at a price at those doors.Why buy forgiveness when it comess for free???

garth, san diego,

i want to remember what this person has said at the beginning of this discussion, he did some good research and should be heared out:

The notion of living "in everlasting hell-fire after death" was introduced into many religions from ancient pagan worship.No such notion is mentioned in Scriptures and our
Lord did not preach eternal damnation in the sense that there existed a "lower region" where a "departed soul" was condemned to physical burning. A good dictionary will reveal that the Greek word "hades" was merely a grave; the same applies to the Hebrew word "sheol". In other words "eternal damnation" is death. Our common sense tells us that our Creator, a God of Love, would never countenance eternal torture in the terms described by Dante. Believe anything you like, but pagan beliefs are more commonplace than you think;
it just takes a little dose of awareness to discover how true this is.

C.E. Roberts, Buenos Aires, Argentina


READ THE BIBLE, DONT MAKE THINGS UP!

jason hunter, bern, switzerland

My parents were good and raised their sons to be good, but they were not religious... I can not believe or raise my family in
fear of a everlasting hell fire. We all believe in God and His main rule to Love Him with all our hearts as well as neighbors.
I believe I will see my parents,family and friends come the end of this world to receive a reward that God wants us to have but the very evil, I
believe will be destroyed all at once not burning over and over.
My simple mind can not accept that God would do that even in a revengeful way. I believe that no one can really find it in their hearts to continually torment someone forever.

Stan, Tinley Park, ILL.

All I have to say on this issue is that I am praying for the souls in hell. I just can't imagine the feeling of separation from God for all eternity. So I am praying to lessen their pain of separation.

Diane M. Beck, Bedminster, USA

Some have prayed and prayed and prayed to Jesus for faith just like your saying. Every time it's been the same, since infant baptism 25 years today, some people can't be convinced that you are speaking for God. It still sounds just like everyone else who says their God is speaking through them to non-believers. God can speak for itself, it doesn't need your religious claims.

Jod, las vegas,

Yes there is a hell. but everyone out there, you don't have to fear it! Jesus has paid the price. Believe on Him now!Hell was not intended it for us, but 'for the devil and his angels'. Our sins have been nailed to the cross with Him. The full wrath of a God angry at sin was laid on Jesus as He willingly died on the Cross for our sins! There is power at the Cross, amazing power, to wash our sins away, to make us right with God, who is the source of life and who Himself is Love. All glory be to Him. He did it, and told us to spread the Good News, not to bind us down to a dead religion and tradition, but to set us free, entirely free in Him. The freedom of God is real Freedom. And no matter what life throws at us, 'all things work together for good to them that love God'. Our physical life is of Him as well, so every minute is an opportunity to get right with Him. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but Jesus Christ will be my rock and my hiding place forever. Thank You Jesus.

vicki schmidt, Belfast, N Ireland

This may be seen as "empty philosophy", perhaps similar to what "Paul" thought about anyone who believed differently than he and his religion, but, doesn't it seem insanely cruel to think that a deity would eternal torment someone who "disbelieves" in the "right" theology (Say, for instance, the many non-Christians who have their own religious tradition, some involving alleged miracles and prophecies). Also, I am wondering if Retha actually complies with everything the Bible says so that she herself wouldn't need to "repent"? For instance, does she keep quiet in the church, do all of her male relatives "greet one another with a holy kiss"? Does she wash other's feet? Does she do every single thing the Bible says?

Just because God is "holy", where is the logical necessity that would require him to eternally torment people? God is supposed to be omnpresent, so he has been exposed to "sinners" for thousands of years, correct? So, "sinners" can be in his presence, can't they?

undisclosed, Somewhere on earth,

Hell and Heaven are two literal places. Everything predicted in the Bible, all the prophecies, have been fulfilled later in the Bible. The end will come as predicted in the Bible. Jesus will come and take the born again believers (Christians) with him to heaven. After the white throne judgement, all unbelievers and unrepented sinners will be thrown into the lake of fire, together with death and hades. The lake of fire (hell) has been created for the devil and his fallen angels, not for humans. But because God is holy and can not allow heaven to be defiled, no unrepented sinners or unbelievers can enter into heaven.
The Bible is full of warnings. All people heard the good news of the gospel at one time or another. Even if you think you are a good person or better than most other people, you will still go to hell if Jesus is not the Lord of your life.
Repent before it is to late....FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER..........

Retha Collett, Margate, South Africa

We must acknowledge we are sinners who have fallen short of Gods holy law and as a consequence only deserve his judgement and righteous penalty of separation from God in Hell.
It was never made for man but for the devil and his angels. But we have turned everyone to his own way like sheep gone astray. But he Lord loves us so much that he came to save us in the person of the Lord jesus and died the death that we should have died and God can now pardon us from our sins when we turn to christ. This is the condemnation that Jesus (The Light) has come into the world and men and woman love the deeds of their sins rather than the holiness of God because their deeds are evil and are afraid to come to the light because they fear being reproved.But joy it is when yours are forgiven for trusting in him. He was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification believe on Him and you will have true peace with God!! :)

Andrew Dawkins, london,

What if you are a Spinozan monist, a heretic to Jews and Christians?
Hell is a state of mind/soul/consciousness, not a geographical location!!!

Simeon, London, UK

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Those are the most powerful two (2) verses in the Bible. On our own works we do not qualify for Heaven just because we are "good" - it is through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (a Lamb without blemish) at Calvary and the acceptance of Him into our lives and hearts that qualifies us to escape eternal separation from God.

If there is a Heaven, then there is a Hell and a Lake of Fire.

John 20:29 - Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Praise be to God - He was talking about me!

Kae, NC, USA

I just cannot believe that so many people are not pereiving the world with true empirical equanimity. There is the subjectivity of theology on one hand and there is the objectivity of empiricism on the other. As an lawyer/empiricist with some 20 years experience in afterlife research, I suggest the Vatican study the results we empiricists get from the afterlife. It is universally accepted that whenever there is an inconsistency between theology and empiricism, inexorably, empiricism prevails and will alwyas prevail. The empirical punchline is that there is no hell of eternity. There is the Law of Progress, where everything in the universe is evolving. Objective authority prevails over any theology or other subjective authority recognised by those only who accept theology.
Victor Zammit, Sydney, Australia.

Victor Zammit, Beacon Hill, NSW AUSTRALIA

Peter is exactly right. I read a book several years back entitled, "What Do You Mean I'm Not Good Enough To Go To Heaven." By ourselves, we can never be good enough to enter into the presence of God. The only way is through Jesus Christ - who is The Way, The Truth and The Life.

God's Word tells us that hell is a very real place, as is the Lake of Fire. If you do not want to live there forever,
it's as simple as A-B-C. Admit that you are a sinner - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of the one and only God (creator and sustainer of the heavens and earth) - and Confess your sins. Then, live your life according to the Word of God.

Kae, NC, USA

If what the Roman Catholic Church has been teaching is true all along, and that is for those who reject God through the person of His son Jesus Christ, no matter how good you think you have been or plan to be in this lifetime, you are assured of an eternity in hell. Forever is a very long time, indeed.

The Roman Catholic Church prior to the Second Vatican Council preached the need for redemption from sins through Jesus the Christ, Son of God, and the Second Person in the Triune God. It consistently reminded faithful to be ever vigilant to be sure to live holy lives, receive frequent sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist, and live lives that are clean and holy with charity (love) for others and forgiveness for their offenses against you.

No, living what you consider to be a good live, being nice, and doing your best does not assure you eternity in paradise, but is a sure way to suffer for an eternity forevermore in hell. Not a good deal, I say!

Peter Kullavanijaya, Clarendon Hills, Illinois

Bob, we cannot find that love without God. We just have to relate to Him who is so mysterious or we keep missing out on love.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

And this man is supposed to be a philosopher? Personally, I'm with Dawkins, Grayling and Hitchens.

Westway, Glasgow, UK

The bottom line...we are all unknowing!

My thought...live for eternity today. In other words, if we do our best to live this life fully in love of others and self, and in the service of all life, within the spirit of God - if you so believe - then the afterlife will take care of itself.

And, if there is no afterlife, then we've at least had a rewarding few years on this wonderful awe-inspiring planet!

Bob, Murrieta, USA California

Religion is bogus Father Bryan. "Irreligion in religion" as you put it, means there is something there that should not be there. Most of it is all lies. The Hell thing is a pagan hoax that originates in Egypt, well before Christ. Thats not opinion, its fact. Most people are blinded to this

Alex, London, England

Actually, I'd like to say to Father Bryan Storey, with respect, the majority of all these posts speak common sense and are not "anti" religion just normal average peoples views. Therefore the common census would dictate belief in the Popes words in all regards is waning to say the least. Does that mean that mainly non christians read the TOL or the general idea is to be good to one another and follow your own path rather than a dubious writing? Religion's core ideas are fine but they should be attributed to humanity, not certain faith no?

God is within you, you are the centre of your own universe.

Nonplussed , London, Londinium

Frightening, in so many ways...

Nonplussed , London, Londinium

In our society we are constantly warned about the threats of cancer, aids, wars, global warming, etc, so why take offence when we are warned about Hell? After all, the Holy Father is reminding us about it precisely so that we avoid ending up there. I think we ought to be grateful to him for having the courage to give us an unpopular message, knowing full well that many people would scorn him for doing so.

Richard, Stockholm, Sweden

The question is: which of the two 'inerrant' / 'infallible' 'popes' is correct. Or, is this another 'mystery' such as 'three are one', and 'one is three'?

blzbob, Pensacola, USA

And the Lord said, 'Let there be light, and there was light...'

'I am the Light of the world.'
'He that believes in me shall never perish.'

And the light shined in the darkness - and the darkness comprehended it not.

SShirl, TX, USA

I find it troubling that the Pope has resurrected an antediluvian view of hell which has been employed, historically, to terrify the uneducated, unwashed masses into prostrated obediance to strictures imposed by the RC Church. What's next? Resumption of the water test for witchcraft? Burnings at the stake of ungodly heretics? The Earth back at the center of the Universe? Lest we forget, RCC historical precedent suggests that all one really must do to be "saved" from "eternal damnation" is to purchase a few indulgences from his holiness, or his local ecclesiastical representative, and salvation is blessedly assured! Apparently a little hard cash cut through the damnation issue much faster then a lifetiime of "Hail Marys."

The concept of Hell just doesn't work anymore. The availability of widespread education, Enlightenment philosophy, and Tho.Jefferson fixed that. At least Vatican officials are trying to spin the Pope's nonsense so that the Church doesn't look completely asinine.

Thomas, Atlanta, GA, USA

There's nothing original in saying there's a lot of irreligion in religion, Alex and you should know it. You'll have to find a better hammer than that.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

Its a fact that cant be denied and can only be known by those who have studied the subject in great depth that Hell is a PAGAN term and came from Egypt. Over the years the political systems have used its ferocious ideals in religion to place fear in people to follow certain orders. this way of politics STILL exists today. Wise up for God's sake. No pun intended

Alex, London, England

Steve. It isn't like it. Read those things again with different spectacles.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

Pope John Paul II saw fit to apologise to Galileo for the RCC torturing him for saying what he knew to be correct, a little belated, but good for him. Perhaps we ought to have a biblical appendix where Yahweh/ Jehovah apologises for His actively immoral and megalomaniacal treatment of Job, Abraham, the Egyptians and so on. As for Hell: according to the Pope, whether you are doomed to this fate seems to be largely a factor of where you are born, as this in the most part determines what religion you hold. So the majority of people in the two most populous countries on Earth, India and China, are destined for Hell for being Muslim or Buddhist. This also applies to those who like myself, hold no faith, however virtuous they may be. Fortunately this isn’t true.

Steve , Rickmansworth,

Marc, delusions are stronger and stronger without growing into the idea of God. Alex, yes we all need to mature but this doesn't happen without forgetting ourselves which is impossible without Faith in God. Alfred North, the life of Our Lord sheds great light on that mystery you mention.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

None of you Christians truly believe in your religion otherwise why would any of you even contemplate sinning for the infinitesimal tiny moment when compared to the risk of spending the rest of eternity paying for it in the most gratuitously perverted forms of pain and suffering a sick being can think of.

Farther Ted, Main Town, Heaven

God is true love, pure love and pure joy, and we as his creation are part of God. Then how can God ever condemn his children, part of himself/herself to eternal damnation? God is much much more than we give him/her credit for, we cannot compare God's love to ours as parents, first ly God's love is unconditional. If it pains God to send us to hell (even babies who are unbaptised that hang around in some sort of lesser hell called limbo) then why would God do it? Why would God tell us we have free will to do what we want but then tell us if we don't follow his/her way and path then we shall face the consequences! What a contradiction! As for the pope, i have alot of respect for the man but everyone knows the Catholic Church has its period of dark history and what they say one day will in the future be told differently. The church must be losing funds rapidly in order to come out with tbe whole "fearing" tactic once again, like in medieval times. Trust your heart-the divine resides there.

G.B, Midlands, UK,

I believe the teaching on eternal punishment hinges on one word in Matthew’s gospel that has been mistranslated to support the Church’s teachings on hell. I believe the bible teaches that Satan and his angels will suffer eternal torment because they are immortal creatures but humans are mortal and must receive eternal life to live eternally. In the book of Genesis the punishment for sin was death. We are destined for the second death, that is annihilation, unless we accept the gift of eternal life from the only person who has risen from the dead and now holds the power over life and death, that is Jesus Christ.

Leslie, Canberra, Australia

Of course there is such a thing as hell, symbolically, in my opinion. But I don't believe it has anything to do, or is convined to, religion. Whether agnostic, atheist, buddhist, christian, catholic, or otherwise. People create their own hell. If you believe in the good, the beauty of life, you will see life and live it as such, regardless of a potential "afterlife". In this sense reality IS personal and religion is utterly beside the point.

Zoe, Amsterdam, Netherlands

To all the non-believers out there...

News Flash

One day you will bow your knee to Christ... And one day your tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

When this happens, you will either be at His side or you will be cast out of His presence.

But one day your knee will bow and your tongue will confess it.

Because He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

SAS, TX, USA

It makes me feel sick that a "God" of infinite love who has created us through no choice of our own will ultimately screw us over and place unbeleivers in an "infinite hell". Thats a contradiction. Hell means unbeleiving children, grandmothers, grandfathers burning. As a human with the ability to save them, what would you do? leave them? WOuld you not save your own grandfather from a "hell fire" for not beleiving something. Is God's love a "here today gone tomorrow" kind of thing, worse than ours? Think about it for a few seconds. Also for those of a more learned disposition Hell is a pagan term that originated in Egypt and has no place in original scripture. In fact many bibles do not use this word. Religion is just politics.

Alex, London, England

I love the way people who consider themselves intellectually superior start their contribution to a discussion with words like “Oh please,” or “I can’t believe anyone could still believes this rubbish”. It always reminds me of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in the 1st century when he pointed out that … “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men……… but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

Leslie, Canberra, Australia

It's a shame to read all of these posts to attribute ALL the atrocities of the world to a loving God. Who rules this world? SATAN himself rules this world. You'll find that in 1 John 5:19 So to say that religion is the root of all wars, you'd be right....to a certain point. The war being fought now is not of our own. It's between Jehovah and Satan. Who will you love? Jehovah, the God of Love? or Satan, the God of this political mess? Man was never created to rule themselves. They simply cannot do it. We are an imperfect species, 6000 years away from perfection and getting worse by the minute.
The dividing line of religion/sovreignty began in the Garden of Eden. Satan challenged God's right to rule by tempting Eve with the forbidden fruit. That's where the war started.
Hell, Ha'des, She'ol....1 in the same. Mans common grave. Where we go from there will be decided by Jesus. To "everlasting cutting off" or" the meek ones will inherit the earth." Where are you going?

Tami, Bearden, USA

Those who do not believe should not mock those who believe, but those who believe should not judge those who don't (and there is rather too much of that).

Anyhoo. Both Islam and the Catholic church need to realise that what was accepted when the religions were invented is now incredibly outdated, and they need to move on.

Starling, Lancaster,

If God is an omnipotent, all-knowing (past, present and future) super-being, then he knows what you have done, what you do and what you will do in the future. It means that you life is more or less predetermined which means that you actually have no free will; you have no say in what you do. Do you sin or is your sin Gods own doing?

Alfred North, Oslo, Norway

And educated people are expected to believe this stuff?
The tooth fairy maybe but really!!!

Billy Davies, Houston, Texas ,USA

As a recovering Catholic I'm actually thankful for the Bishop of Rome to remind us of the dangers of Hell which is real IMO.

Now, as one that professes to be an Apostle's Creed Christian I must let others know that man-made doctrines and tradition are not always right. The history of the RCC is proof of that. I have personally rejected all religion for the sake of my salvation which rests solely on Christ's redemption work on the Cross. And if anyone believes they know what God thinks they are mistaken.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD. Isaiah 55 v.8

The verse above I'm sure will have many Bible literalists sqirmming in their seats. It is arrogant to assume we know what God thinks. That 's saying they are God! It is also wrong to hold the Bible at the same level to the Holy Spirit, the one that is the driving force of the individual. Acts 2. God is still speaking! The Bible does not close the book on God!

Ken, Las Vegas,

The following are facts recorded at the time by the Romans:
1. Jesus existed;
2. Jesus died on the cross;
3. Many believed that he came back from the dead.

For 2000 years, in separate parts of the world, the Latin Catholic, the Orthodox and the Syro-Malabar have practiced that if we renew the deal with Jesus at each Mass (John Chap. 6) then we will avoid Hell. Jesus was very clear about Hell. The choice is yours.

For those who congratulate themselves of being free of the superstitious myths in which they were raised in that they don't need a bible nor a German celibate in Rome to teach them right from wrong may I remind them of the comment, in the 1950s about communism, of John Foster Dulles that a society without religion would only last three generations! The fall of the Berlin wall proved that he was right.
By coincidence his own son, Avery Dulles, is a Cardinal in Rome!

Peter, Tyrone, Ireland

Religion is just institutionalised delusion that serves as a psychological crutch to prop up the weak-minded, gullible and naive who can't face the reality that stares us in the face every day. Believers debase the integrity of human intellect by willfully choosing to live in denial of the real world and substituting an absurd and childish fantasy one in its place. How many people have been and will be slaughtered over disputes about who has the best imaginary friend.

Marc, London,

If a person you love - a partner, a close friend, a family member- really hurt you, you will forgive them because you love them. However, if that person does not repent and say sorry for having deeply hurt you, even though you forgive them and still love them, they will never again be able to unreservedly share your innermost joy. There will always be an obstacle to their entering your infinite reservoir of unconditional love. If, on the other hand, they of their own free will express their deep sorrow at having hurt you, your love for them will be multiplied infinitely and your shared joy will be boundless and permanent.
Hell is exclusion from God`s unconditional love reserved for those who pointedly refuse to say sorry for having hurt Him. And it is dreadful because in the face of infinite brightness everything is black.

Peter, Leeds,

To those opposed to our Holy Father and the Catholic Church: many of your contributions are vindictive, offensive and scornful. If you don’t agree with the Church, fine. But why can’t you at least be tolerant of views opposed to yours?

With respect, the tone of these contributions says more about the people who made them than it does about Christianity.

Tony Thomas, London,

Religion is for people who don't believe in themselves and therefore have to resort to living there life through something else. All religion relies on fear and intimidation for not being part of the same crowd - just a form of bullying.

CJ, Bournemouth,

Good for the pope. It's a pity the Archbishop of Canterbury does not have the courage to stand up for historic Christian teaching. It isn't all bad news - Jesus went to the cross to mean that nobody need go to Hell for their sins.

Keith, Bishop's Stortford,

Geoffrey Palfrey, do you really think child abuse is confined to the Catholic Church?. Come off it. Where 've you been?

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

How can the article say that hell is a real place with burning fires when they then quote that hell is meant "symbolically rather than physically"?? Surely this is a massive contradiction.

Kate Gillam, Inverness,

It looks like some US Christian fundementlist forum has got wind of this artcile and decided to put everyone to rights.

If you are happy and secure in what you believe because you have really studied theology, answering your own doubts, studying alternative spiritual paths etc I can see no need to be so self-righteous, trying to strike fear and guilt into people for not believing.. Believing in something just because you were born into or just because it's the only was you know is missing the bigger picture.
Just as you wouldn't want others to force their doctrines onto you, don't do this to them.

Be happy.

SP, London,

Well they will need *somewhere* to put all the Godless Anglicans!!

Robert Mason, Toronto, Canada

To FREDERICK VAQUER, pasadena, ca/usa-

The answer is no. Once you draw your last breath on this earth and enter eternity, you will have sealed your fate forever. There are no do overs.

Kae, NC, USA

So, limbo is “only a theological hypothesis” ? What, like the existence of God, say?

RLM, London, UK

is it in the Bible?
What does simon Cowell think???
Is Hell eternal karaoke???

tom, butte, usa/mt

Hmmm, being an atheist it seems that I will be condemned to an eternity in some sort of Dante-esque Inferno.

I was already having a bad day, Mr. Pope. Thanks for cheering me up!

Daniel, Belfast,

In response to Simon Eld (UK) - you want "proof"... I say that even if one were to provide "proof" to your satisfaction, you would still not believe..... Many Christians bear witness of the truth - yet you (and those like you - mock us). If you really had a heart to know the truth, the Lord would open your heart... But alas.........

"If they hear not Moses & the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16:31

"But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep." John 10:26

SShir, TX, USA

Like Rowan Atkinson said in his sketch about arriving in Hell" OK hands up all those who don't believe God exists" and after a slight pause.... "My, my, bet you feel foolish now" - Hell is one of those places nobody wants to believe exists. I find the concept of an ALL Powerful, God whose Mercy endures forever out of balance with Eternal Damnation, but the bible does state that there will be punishment for those who refuse Gods offer of salvation, so something exists, maybe not the Roman Catholic vision of Hell, but still, given the choice (which we are) I will choose to be with God rather than without Him. It works better in life, so I imagine it's the right choice in death also.

John, Malaga, Spain

I'm not a catholic but I am a Christian and I'm so sorry that often we haven't done a very good job of communicating and living out God's love and justice. One must have a lot of faith to be an aetheist and believe that we and all creation are here by accident! There is no science that can prove there is NO God. Robert Murray McCheyne was a nineteenth century Scottish minister in Dundee. Speaking to his friend, Andrew Bonar one Monday morning, he asked, "Andrew, what did you preach on at church last night?" Bonar replied, "I preached on hell." McCheyne continued, "Did the Lord enable you to preach it TENDERLY, my brother?" My aim isn't to win an argument but to plead with people to at least consider Jesus Christ's claim that God loves you and me.

S. Weir, The Hague,

K. J. Keir of Aberdeen. Thank you for your courteous reply. I would still advise you to read 'Christ the Eternal Tao' and/or 'The Roots of Christian Mysticism' by Olivier Clement.

Dave, Wrexham,

"Embrace the risen Christ, or prepare to burn in Hell for eternity."
Sounds like blackmail to me.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

To Dan of London, who wrote: "If you really want to free yourselves & live a true & moral life, think for yourself & come to conclusions based not on a fairy tale but on rational thought". The 20th Century reaped the results of your thinking. Take away God & you take away Man's ultimate dignity & worth. Rational thought is a very good & important aspect of Christianity. But when you remove God from the equation or keep God as decoration, you have the Holocaust, Communism, the Killing Fields, & abortions by the millions. When you don't value human existence, it's because you turn from God. If you feel that human life has an inherent dignity that raises it above the commonplace, you have taken an important step toward recognizing God. You might think your secular humanism demonstrates independent thought. It doesn't. You people are like herds. Radical Islam will take full advantage of modern Europe's relativism & lack of religious belief. London is thick with terrorists. Lock the door.

Robert, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Tim in Michigan has got it totally right.
God is love and everything good comes from him. Hell is a place without God and thus without anything good.
And it is your choice whether or not to stop relying on your own 'knowledge', to swallow your pride and accept Jesus's love, compassion and friendship.

Accepting Jesus isn't just about getting to heaven - it's also about knowing true love and hope whilst on earth. I'm loved regardless of what I achieve (since heaven can't be 'earnt' regardless of how morally you think you live), what I look like, how rich I am or anything else the world thinks is important. And in this day and age that's the most amazing knowledge.

Katie, London, UK

E Newton, how many people have you spoken to who have come back from the dead?

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Can one repent after death? Is such a question blasphemous?

FREDERICK VAQUER, pasadena, ca/usa-

Surely no one actually believes this nonsense anymore. I honestly thought this article was a spoof when I first spotted it.

Still you can't blame the Catholic Church for trying; fear is a great motivator and it does keep the cash rolling in. It can't be cheap running a global political organisation.

Marvin, Hampton, , UK

I respect people's uneasiness about invoking the idea of Hell. I'm sure it has been abused a lot over the years.

If it doesn't exist at all ,however, I don't see why Jesus had to die or what his sufferings mean. I am certain that on the cross He was suffering the spiritual punishment for the wrongs I've done that I would have had to face myself after this life. And I love Him for doing it.

Karl Smith, Dundee,

I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don't have as many people who believe it.

Simon Eld, yORK, UK

Oh Please...
Heresy in the Church has been an excuse to burn people and control the population.
Quantum Mechanics dictated that there is no such thing as hell just as Galileo Galilei was ordered to stand trial on suspicion of heresy in 1633 for training his Telescope toward the sky and seeing that Jupiter has Moons and that Venus has phases proving that the earth was not the center of the universe.

The church will say something is real just to control the population and if it was not illegal to burn people at the stake, the Pope would surely burn people for saying that there is no Hell.

sabianq, washington d.c.,

I find myself having to respond to that last comment from Mark of London who wants proof ? well more then reasonable you would say but the aspect of God a higher power something that is not within our human concept is Faith not proof the two cannot be compared or put in the same bracket , There is a God and it is up to all of us to have faith in him not proof that he exists but faith .

As for hell the popes right there is one, the only difference being is that we live in it now

Tom Hammond, Bournemouth , uk

MEDIEVAL MUM-BO JUM-BO

PETE STAFF, SEAFORD, N.Y., U.S.A..

So "Hell is real" but not a physical place? In other words it is an imaginary contruct which only exists in the minds of those who say it exists in their minds. Sounds a tad delusional to me. As for the Catholic woman who claims Catholicism isn't forced on anyone, would she include babies who are baptised and young children who are indoctrinated and forced into reciting the Catechism, taking communion and being confirmed by their parents in that? Far from Hell being real, this one life is real. Love thy neighbour of course, but there is no need to be deluded into so doing.

John Smith, manchester, UK

Extra! Extra!

Pope revealed to be a Catholic!

---

Honestly; all you people getting so worked up about this! The Pope was just preaching to a Catholic congregation; I have no idea why this has made the news, but since the most vicious comments are coming from atheists, I suggest you remember that the Pope's sermon was not addressed to you, nor imposed on you.

Seriously, either go and read the entire Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and take your problems up with the Pope, or God, for that matter, or just live and let live! Is it really news to you that the Church believes in the concept of hell?

Sophia Morris, Manchester,

How can any one worship a God that is so evil as to condemn anyone to an eternity of hell.

tony windmill, Reading,

I have never been able to figure out why the Christian version of the afterlife differs so radically from its Jewish counterpart, and in particular why Christianity should promote the notion of eternal damnation when Judaism doesn't.

Christianity after all is meant to be based on Judaism. Did Jewish people get their notion of the afterlife so spectacularly wrong that Christians had to come along to clear up the confusion.

rob, london,

Unadulterated, superstitious tosh.

cath boylan, guildford, uk

To try and 'sell' an all forgiving God and glorious religion by threatening tourture and eternal pain, seems slighly contradictive. Threats of violence merely serve to enslave the ignorant, not enlighten the masses. I think the Pope has done a great deal of harm to the Christian Cult with his comments.

Chris , Sheffield,

On which planet is the pope on? Surely, in this day and age, he can not expect intelligent people to still believe in this stuff!

Can he actually prove any of this (god, heaven, hell, everlasting life, Jesus) exists, bible aside as the bible shouldn't be taken as gospel!

In fact, if anyone here can just PROVE that Jesus, the so-called son of god, alone ever existed, I will donate £1000 to a charity of their choice!

Amen brother!

Simon Eld, York, UK

I understand why people are nervous about invoking the concept of Hell. I don't understand why Jesus had to die, though, if God doesn't judge sin. On the cross, He was taking the spiritual punishment for the wrong things I've done that I would have had to face myself in hell after death and I love Him for it.

Karl Smith, Dundee,

How can atheists accuse the religious of ignorance?

Regard Geoff of Norwich. He starts well with an old question (why does God create sinful beings), but alas, he cannot maintain this philosophical plane and progresses rapidly to an accusation of Christian—surprise!—bigotry. He then quickly shows his own by celebrating human values (whatever they are, he doesn’t bother to name them), and next providing hapless readers with the standard potted history of the Roman Empire, followed by a quick jump to the Reformation and glorification of Martin Luther! (Was he bigoted?)

He--Geoff not Luther--thus neatly demonstrates grasp of neither philosophy nor European history, let alone a theological construct.

Mary Shelley, London, England

Eternity is quite a long time. Wherever you end up, it's all going to become rather boring after the first infinity years. I hope there's a bar.

Neil, Brighton,

Am I the only one who sees the irony in man who used to be a member of the Nazi party describing Hell as a real place? Perhaps that's how he got his insight.

Jenny Taylor, Manchester,

As far as I am concerned, everyone can believe what the hell they like, without fear of persecution or ridicule from anyone. I can tolerate anyone's religion as long as it's not mixed with politics and insanity and they don't force their beliefs onto someone else.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

More superstitious nonsense being peddled by an "organisation" that, throughout history, has had people tortured and burned, has connived at the suppression of women's rights, has ground any alternative way of thinking or life view under its heel, has covered up child abuse, has preached against homosexuality yet turned a blind eye to it within its own ranks, has feathered its own nest by taking money (in collections) from the poor. And they have the temerity to preach about hell.

Kate, Vienna, Austria

I have to comment on this story again, I can not believe the amount of people posting in support of the pope who truly believe in these archaic, controlling, quashing beliefs. Interestingly, they are mostly from America. Unless America is suddenly God's chosen land, why is it only Americans "get it", or is it more to do with their upbringing and the brainwashing churches that saturate America? I am not particularly picking on Americans for the sake of it but there is a definite bias in the comments.

If you really want to free yourselves and live a true and moral life, think for yourself and come to conclusions based not on a fairy tales but on rational thought.

Dan, London,

The way I look at Judaism / Christianity / Islam (may well be wrong!) is that of an overlapping trilogy in search of the "right" blueprint for overcoming the then problems of society.

Much as in today's democratic Western societies where we tend to flit back-and-forth from politically left to right solutions, differing the level of state control, so the 3 religious texts follow the same pattern; Judaism - general themes, conservative - "an eye for an eye" etc, 10 main rules to follow, Christianity (yeah-old test. all true, but...)- left wing, vague, only one main rule - "treat everyone as you'd like to be treated". By Mohammed's time, social cohesion still a bit shaky so developed the Koran (2 prev. books true, but..) -far more specific - eg "when you die your cousin's aunty's hamster shall receive 10% of your estate."

None of these approaches worked - we all have different ways of viewing and using the same info. Religion will never work as a worldwide socially cohesive tool.

Anna, Birmingham, Birmingham

D Leslie (Times 28 March) assures us 'there is nothing afterwards' i.e. after death. Do I believe him or Jesus?

E Newton, Dunstable, Beds

Chris from Poole, your 'ageing German gentleman' happens to be the Pope. If he means nothing to you, you are not obliged to listen. As the old Kraut says: 'the Christian faith is not imposed on anyone". Besides which, since when have age and German nationality been discrediting characteristics?

As for 'judgmental'... well, judge and be judged! Good Catholics (and all Christians) ought to be constantly evaluating their behaviour, and set high standards for themselves and others. Yes, of course we all sin; that's one of the basic understandings of Christianity. To be mortal is to be a sinner. But we ought to be aware of our sins, to reflect on our actions in order to avoid sin, and to repent when we have sinned. Forgiveness is always granted to those who are sorry. We just need to realise our sins and ask for forgiveness; only in this way can we make it to heaven. To suggest that an proudly unrepentant evildoer ought to go straight to heaven is ridiculous!

Amy Allen, Paris, France

A God that claims to represent unconditional love,selfless service and goodness that would send people to an eternal hell is a contradiction in itself. Unbelievablehow so many people can't see this.

Christianity in it's present form has been bastardized and made it a "control cult" religion.(study the early christians gnostics and their long running conflict with the orthodox
prisethood before Emperor Constantine sided with the orthodox elements and started persecuting the gnostics.)

As far as the OT god, Yahweh. He was one on many Gods/Goddesses the ancient hebrews worshipped before the ultra patriarchial jewish priesthood declared him the "one true God". He is a tribal war god and this is reflected in many of teh evil heinous acts that he committed outright or ordered followers to do.

Here is a test: If the God of the bible ordered you to go into a town or city and slaughter people outright ( as was the case in many instances in Exodus,Levitcus,etc) would you do it??

N.K, Toronto,

eerrrr, sorry to ask this as it may seem obvious, but can someone prove this to me ?
I mean show me that its all true, you know, God, Heaven, Hell, etc etc, proof that is
beyond a shadow of a doubt, conclusive and irrefutable ? and please don't quote me the bible, thats not proof anymore than Alice In Wonderland is proof that the Mad Hatter existed.
and one more thing, sorry if it sound stupid, but do Muslims go there too or is there a different one for them ?

Markc, London, UK

I became a Catholic four years ago, primarily because of the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, but also due to the intellectual coherence of Catholicism. One does not have to subscribe to the claims of the Church to be able respect a 2,000 year-old tradition of philosophy and theology formed by the likes of St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas. Sadly, that respect is lacking in many of the contributors to this forum. Likewise, I wonder how many of those who dismiss Pope Benedict XVI’s views so lightly and so uncharitably have actually read any of his works?

While failing at many points in her history to live up to her own teaching, the Church has never ceased to proclaim love of God and love of neighbour. That is why she is such a vast provider of assistance to the world’s needy. Those who advocate an aggressive form of secularism should themselves show a bit more tolerance and, while respectfully disagreeing with the Church’s teaching, acknowledge the good she has done, too.

Tony Thomas, London,

Or put another way, the good news of the Bible is that everyone, no matter what they believe, live-on after their mortal body dies. The bad news of the Bible is that we don't all get to live in the same place.

Steve R, London,

Hell is being brought up Catholic. It is a vicious religion that uses fear to control people. A certain type of man is attracted to becoming a priest, a controlling, arrogant, delusional man who can't cope with the reality of life and chooses instead to hide behind dogma and ritual. The Catholic church is not there for the good of mankind, it is there for the good of themselves. One had hoped it would die out, but given it's grip on developing countries unfortunately it appears to be growing. Any religion that says a baby is capable of sin is just wrong, plain wrong.

Derry Smiles, London,

I am not Catholic. But I have to applaud the Pope for emphasizing that Hell is real. It is not popular to hear that. But The Bible indicates that those who don't accept Christ as the one who can forgive their sin of worshiping themselves instead of God will indeed go there. But it is not God's will that anyone go there. Can you imagine being the Creator of the Universe, yet stooping so low as to take on the very form of your part of your creation (humans) and go through what Christ did just to provide a way of redemption? What we cannot fathom is that God is Holy. By his very nature He cannot allow sin in his prescence. So He did all He could by taking on the form of humans and offering up His Son to provide a plan of forgiveness. Hell is really a picture of how much God loves us. If we want to worship ourselves then we have to be cast out of his Holy prescence in the afterlife. It's our choice. It's not His desire. It breaks His heart to see anyone go there.

Carl Ramsey, Frederick,

I just cannot reconcile the Christian doctrine that every child born, being a gift from heaven, has to make a later choice to '... enter the kingdom of heaven... ' by the confession of sin. Doesn't this beg the question: Does god create sinful beings? A god who gives freedom of choice should not condemn to '... everlasting damnation...' (fiery or otherwise) if the vote goes against him.

It is not christianity which irritates but its bigotry. What arrogance to speak of 'Christian values'. What of 'Human values', to say nothing of the values of other faiths? Christianity was embraced by the Roman Empire to rule the world and keep in good order those of little learning and/or those who can't think for themselves, and still it continues to do so. How powerful! We were all dominated by Rome once, until Martin Luther decided he'd had enough; haven't we all had enough of religious wars, yet? How many gods are there?

No, the fires of hell are real and eternal only in the imagination.

Geoff Walker, Norwich,

If you want to think about the consequences of our actions here in terms of "Heaven and Hell", why not consider that your next awakening after dying here might be as a new-born baby in an area of conflict and starvation? Is it really so far-fetched an idea?
We already know there is an element of magic and mystery in this grinding drudgery life we all share. Sadly it is easy to point out the hellish scenarios. What frightens me most is the difficulty in identifying anything heavenly!
It's worth considering what we might 'come back as' and hopefully that will guide our actions in the here and now - and I don't mean taking other life to save our own!!!

D. O'RORKE, Farnham, Surrey

This current Pope is completely out of touch and has no comprehension about how to engage with young people. Why did the Cardinals choose a pope who so obviously lacks warmth, charisma and empathy? If I was a youngster still, I would regard this pope as a someone who looks and sounds scary .... I mean, be honest with yourself, if you found you were seated next to him at a dinner reception you would be gutted, if not slightly scared.

weedenbroon, wirral,

Perhaps those who say that evil does not exist and that there is no hell should look carefully around them; it wont take long for them to see examples of evil in every day life. The devil, or Satan, would want us all to believe that hell doesn't exist and deny the existence of evil, that would suit him down to the ground. We must all stand up to him strong in faith. Hell exists alright and the devil is at work in our world more today than ever before. Overcome evil with good.

Gerry Magee, Kilwinning, Scotland

I agree that in the medievel era, the church was the highest instutution in the political structure and therefore, scientific and social funding had to be done through them.
This however is no longer the case. Governments now control funding and therefore the churches power is reduced significantly.
'Hell' in the very essence of the word represents torment and suffering as a reprocussion of sin, not as 'Fire and Brimstone'. this is a very childish and moronic statement by a man who clearly want to bring back the Dark Ages where we all fear the power of Jesus and God.
Society has progressed too much for it to take any conviction out of these words. Whether there is an afterlife or not, I believe it is free from physical activities, such as burning or whatever those little red men do to you in 'Hell', but more of a spiritual torture.

Just be good to eachother and don't impose beliefs. Freedom is about choice.

A Linares, London,

The anger and hatred in many of these e-mails is near to Hell in itself.
To those who are so predudiced, infuriated and irritated by Chistianity I say 'live and let live'. Those of us who are blessed with faith do not go around bashing the athiests and agnostics but try to live our individual lives in peace and by helping others whatever their individual beliefs. To be Good Samaritans even? Turn your aggression away from the many good Christians who quietly get on with the support they offer to those in need.

Hell surely exists - it is an abcence of love, whether here or hereafter. Or, if it doesn't offend too much, remember 'God is love'; where there is love there is God. May His spirit of love touch all angry and bitter hearts

Andrew, Easingwold, York

I really struggle to see how the Pope has found evidence to, in effect, practically comdemn the whole human race; we all "sin" and we all know (whether we are believers or not) that we will sin time and time again. An ageing German gentleman has no right to define what hell is, or how one goes about his or her daily life. As the theologian Hugh's points out hell is contradictory to Christianity; vinidictive justice is not Christian, and if God is 'all loving' then He shall forgive all. Jesus did not die for the elect, but for all and I really can't see how the Pope can endorse Jesus and then go on to make hugely judgemental statements like this.

Chris, Poole, UK

The Catholic Church is a living company of people at the centre of whose religious insights is not a set of ideas but a living person: Benedict, our pope. It claims its religious authority not only through scripture but through historical tradition.

Whilst throughout the ages others have scoffed at—or persecuted and murdered—Catholic clergy and the Catholic faithful the Church is indisputably here—today!—relevant and alive, disseminating its sublime, Christ-centred message to faithful Catholics everywhere and to any others who might listen.

Mary Shelley, London, England

all i hear is "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah"

Carly, bangor, north wales

If there were no hell, how would we know heaven? Of course both exist.

Ted, Rome, Italy

if a doctor warns that you should-

get some exercise - as your heart will suffer
stop smoking - as it may give you lung cancer
drink less beer - as it's bad for your liver

all these can kill you.

Is the doctor to be condemn for using fear to help you?

Wayne, Stockport,

Afterlife insurance salesmen, that's all any organised religion boils down to. It's the ultimate scam, as no-one ever returns to dispute the "policy" they've been sold.
If the government of this country wishes to be progressive, organised religion should be next thing it bans, as it's oh so keen on banning things. I have nothing against people living by moral codes, (indeed things would be better if everyone did) and the core moral codes in the major religions are strikingly close, be it Christianity, Bhuddism or Islam. The problems we have is that the laws no longer enforce morals, there is no fear of the justice system when the ultimate "life" penalty is 5-7 years in a comfortable prison, and that as soon as 2 organised religions come into contact, it's "kill the unbelievers".
As for the pope's comment that Hell is eternal separation form God, until the great beard appears in the sky, seems he thinks we're all damned!

Pete North, manchester,

If what the Pope is really true and all the Catholic bretheren believe it, how come some many of them have sexually abused children with impunity? if they belived they were going to pay for it in Hell they wouldn't do it would they?

Graham Palfrey, Littlehampton,

The Bible says we have about three score years and ten. (Despite people being able to live longer these days, with war and disease and crime, world wide, I would think the average age at death is still about that same mark)
It seems a risk too great for me to gamble 70 short years against an eternity. And what is your gain in this world by dismissing His word as nonsense?

Mid J., Guangzhou, China

This Pope was a curiously political choice for a Church in deep trouble and he is doing no better in that capacity than he did as the fire and brimstone defender of the faith and that lack of credibility, sadly, diminishes the good work of thousands of very fine Catholics everywhere.

Kengoffard, Glendale, California, USA

If you're a Christian The Bible can be condensed down to this:

- Love God; and
- Love other people like you love yourself

If these two very simple premises were universally understood, religious leaders would be out of a job, and they wouldn't be able to use fear, sense of guilt, and ignorance to control those that continue to give them power and wealth.

Can the Catholic Church honestly say that it puts the love of others over and above its desire to maintain power and control over its followers? If it had the capacity to tell the truth, it would say,

"Of course not!"

Mark, Hong Kong,

If Christianity were the way some of your contributors are telling it, I'd leave. On the contrary, it's a truth that liberates and brings peace that so many of the contributors don't seem to have. I'd recommend further consideration.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

Do people really believe this fairytale nonsense? Come on get real!!! Remember you are hearing this from the Catholic church who are solely responsible for hindering measures to prevent the onslaught of the Aids epidemic in Africa, unwanted pregnancies(even for women who have be raped) and numerous accounts of Child abuse committed by their own numbers.

Ever heard of the Politics of Fear?

PM, Iceland,

Your post is pretty general. It would be nice of you to state specifics before attacking the Church. Has the Chruch as an institution messed up? Sure it has. But it is also the largest Charity in the world. The Church funded almost every scientific endevour of the medival ages. Monks in Ireland saved and preserved ancient writings from Aristotle and Plato from destruction by the barbarians. The Catholic Church is responsible for the very institution of the University. And the Church is thankful for the window of life and don't expect the world to be eternal. You look down upon followers of a religion that has lasted for over 2000 years. These aren't myths but truths. Humble yourself a bit and read about Jesus Christ you might be suprised and maybe you won't think of us as "delusional." People think that they can believe in whatever they want and live anyway they want without consequences. Well, consequences do last an eternity.

Rafael Viego, Miami, FL

The imagination of humankind can be put to much better use than to be wasted upon visions of heaven and hell. What a sad, sad state we are in. I believe there must be some other purpose to life that doesn't require us to lie to ourselves. Imagine where we would be without all this mindless superstition that holds us back. The Pope's Hell; Ahmadinejad's 12th Immam; L. Ron Hubbard's Xenu; Judaism's Messiah, etc. Think of the wars that would have been prevented, and the lives that would not have been destroyed. Weapons of mass destruction is not the single greatest threat to our survival--religion is.

Darryl, Mesa, AZ

no pressure to become a christian there then

Peter Godfrey, Skipton,

It amuses me when christians quote pretty little versuses from the bible and suggest we read the same. It is because we have read the bible that we know it to be non-sense. Suggestions to us by christians for bible studies only furthur exposes their ignorance. We do not believe it. Period. I do, however, welcome the growing trend in offering bible study classes in our public schools. In fact, it should be required. It is a part of our heritage and culture and everyone should know more about it. Rather than sitting in a church like a zombie a bible class would allow the faith to be studied in an open forum. This will allow serious critique and questioning that will demand proper answers. "Because the bible says so"; "How else could it have happened"; The lord works in strange ways" etc., and your personal faith are not very scientific and are meaningless.

Steven Callahan, Ashland, Ohio

Prove it! And if you don't feel like one should have to prove anything instead just have faith, then I have faith in the non existence of hell.

Brandon, Elk Grove, CA

i dont beleive in religon but if one was to exist in my opinion it has to be buddism, it seems the best way to live a "clean" life, sorry about spelling im a dyslexic and a physicyst

h, hhh,

God is loving, freely giving mercy to whomever would ask for it and live in it; and yet He is also just - the ultimate judge. So many speak that "God is love," and that is all they speak. Yes He is love - and He offers that love to us ALL. But for those that reject His love, there is a consequence. Just as a parent would scold his child, so does God discipline His children. If you read the Bible, from Old Testament to New, you will see the disciplinary actions of God. Because of mankind's sin/disobedience this earth has become a "hell." Some may say this is the only "hell," but Jesus' teachings state that the consequence of sin is death and eternal hell (separation from God.) Since none of us are "good," for only God is good, then we are all in trouble - until we trust in the sacrifice Jesus made for all people in taking our sins upon Himself so that we can be seen as righteous in God's sight, and spend eternity in His presence. I choose life. Much love to you all. *John 3:16

Jess, Athens,

Keeping the masses in your control by the use of fear .... hmmm is this not the way that most dictators (Iraq anyone) govern?? And why do they govern this way? They govern this way as through fear people are unquestioning, unwilling almost to crictically evaluate what they are being spoon fed.

I in my non-religous beliefs, unlike Christianity, have no problem with the other existing. I may be wrong, I may be right, but I can only go with what my head decides to be what I believe. Would this GOd described here cast me aside for that? If he would, then I for one am not interested.

I try to live my life as a good person, because I think that to be right. Not because I've read it in the Bible but because its how I've been brought up. Religion and morality are NOT THE SAME THING!

Ryan O'Neill, Southampton, Hampshire

Being raised Catholic, I was taught that God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, but this is a mystery, I was told, to the Catholic leadership, as it should remain to me.. Being a thinking Catholic, though, I then asked myself which part of God must be in Hell, if God is omnipresent? Because, you see, Hell is part of everywhere, and since God is everywhere, then part of God must be trapped in Hell for eternity, at least according to the Pope? So Pope, a simple question: Is God omnipresent or not? If you answer yes, then there can't be a Hell. If your answer is no, God isn't omnipresent, then God can't be omnipotent or omniscient either. Simple logic, which I'm sure Jesus would have appreciated. Oh, and if listening to Rock and Roll means going to Hell (as per Jimmy Crackcorn comment), so be it, as long as it isn't that Christian cult Rock someone's trying to pass off as Rock and Roll. I know what these Christian cult Rock cultists are really trying to do...destroy Rock and Roll.

The Oracle, Austin, TX USA

To paraphrase slightly from the bible.

In order not to go to hell one must worship/love/obey/give praise (or all) to god. Despite being a level of vanity only nearly matched by the worlds most heinous dictators, this is a sin (one of the seven deadly ones if I remember correctly). Now the bible also maintains god is infallible, however his/her sin shows that he/she is fallible.

Next point, god is a murderer (acts of god such as tsunamis etc) this goes against the ten commandments. God does not appear to have repented for either of these sins therefore he must be in hell. Now god is the king of heavan and that is where he resides, therefore he resides in hell.

Therefor god must be satan/lucifer/the morning star etc ...

Or it is all just a work of fiction.

Rob, Birmingham, UK

I had no idea that the new pope visited with VP Cheney in his office.

pastor Agnostic, chicago, Illinois

Believe a man that wears a funny hat and cross dresses, um, no. More scare tactics from the pope, oooooh. Rely on yourself, be responsible for your self.

Bat Guano, San Diego, California

The Catholic Church used to insist that the world was round, and tortured those who didn't agree. Their parnership with despotic monarchs destroyed the liberty and well-being of millions for centuries. They now contribute greatly to over-population, which is the root of starvation and environmental degradation to our earch, by opposing birth control in poor, third-world countries. They propogate ancient myths with, literally, smoke and mirrors, leading ignorant suffering people on with the false hope of living forever. Now the pope aims to earn obedience by spreading the fear of "burning in hell" which, of course, is complete nonsense. Why can't the pope and his delusional followers accept and be thankful for the window of life on this beautiful planet they've been given without expecting it to last for eternity?

Dusty, madison,

I'm so glad that the Pope has a spoken about Hell being real.The Bible does say that you need to get your sins forgiven and if you die in you sin you will go to hell.Luke 13:3.
Jesus came to call humanity to repent and to be forgiven of their sins.Its about time people woke up and realised that God has given us freewill and God doesn's send any one to hell but people send themselves by refusing to repent and accept His forgiveness through His son Jesus who died for mankind so we wouldn't have to got to hell.The bible says in John 3v3 "Unless a man be born again,he cannot see the kingdom of God".

People need to realise that we are ALL sinners and none of us measure to God's standard,in case you don't no sinning means to break God's law and all of us have done that.Think of the ten commnamdnets and see if you have kept them all?God calls all mankind to repent and to turn from their sins. You cnt sin and get away with it.Romans 6:23.You reap what you sow. God loves us.John 3:16

Joanna, London, UK

That's what the church needs,, a red hot poker in the faithfuls backsides to get bums back in seats. I think the pope is aiming for the uneducated conservative masses, having given up on the intelligent, informed types that actually realise all that waffle came from 2000 years ago. Well at least its more believable than scientology!

Brian, Chunghwa, Taiwan

The bible is the word of the one true GOD, given to us by our creator. Hell is an actual place created for Satan and the angels who followed him. God loves us and has given us a choice. Follow Jesus, have a personal relationship with our creator and accept his gift of eternal salvation and happiness or choose to be an enemy of GOD and go to Hell for all eternity. It's sad that so many would prefer to go to Hell, instead of thanking him for our lives and his love for us.
It's our choice to have a life that is full of joy, and love instead of settling for the short term pleasures that leave you wanting more. Becoming a christian is not the end of fun. Becoming a christian brings with it what real happiness is all about. It's GOD's wish that all would be saved and that we would love him and each other as we do ourselves. It's our choice. If you haven't made this choice don't let time run out on you for finding out what real truth is. It's in the Bible the only authority given by GOD.

sam, Tallassee,

To William Garrett, atheist, Harrow England: Christianity trumps atheism because it acknowledges one God, one Cause, one Authority, through Jesus Christ who was God as He walked among us. Ultimately we ALL have to answer for our sins before God. And He is loving, showing us that faith in Christ & living that faith redeems us. We ALL fail along the way, yes. Read a bible, you will see this, too, addressed. There is reward or punishment, even if you don't like it. Atheism says there's no Authority, no Scale, no Measure, no One to answer to, right & wrong being human values to be determined by humans. Stalin & the other communists thought so, too. Congratulations, you're in good company. According to your belief system (or lack of one) there is no wrong since there is no Authority. According to you, right and wrong are not divine determinations. If we are the ultimate authority then it follows that anything we say and do are okay and there will be no answering for it, ultimately. Sad.

Robert, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Seems that hell does exist, The US and its mates created it in Iraq, a branch office is soon to open in Iran.
BA.

BA, Sydney, Australia

Why did God stop speaking to his children. It seems to me that if He wanted us to believe in Him that now would be a good time for Him to speak UP! But He won't, because there is no He. The Pope, and everyone who believes are deluded.

Noone, USA, Baby!,

Reading all of these comments weighs heavy on my heart. Just because you choose not to believe in heaven and hell as describe by God's own word, does not make it untrue.

People 2000 years ago saw the miracles of Jesus and believed. We only have the opportunity to read about them.


“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may[ae] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John:20 29-30

Phil, Philadelphia, PA

He recalled that Jesus had forgiven the “woman taken in adultery” and prevented her from being stoned to death, observing: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

Actually, that story is not found in the oldest surviving versions of the Bible (see the book Misquoting Jesus) and was probably added at a later date by a scribe. Seems strange that the Pope would know that there is a Hell, but not be aware that this Jesus story he was using to make his point was a bunch of hooey.

Tom, Cambridge, UK

Hell makes perfect sense for anyone with a clear understanding of justice. None of us are perfect yet we all have a sense of justice and a God given conscience that lets us know when we do wrong...how much more justice could you then ascribe to a perfect and Holy God? If you break God's perfect law you face God's perfect justice and perfect justice always produces perfect judgement. In the end...people send themselves to Hell by refusing God's gift of forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ who happened to mention more about Hell than Heaven in the Gospels. Was he a liar or was he truly trying to warn you to escape the wrath to come? Read the Bible and find out the truth for yourself and try the test below to see if you are a good person.

Max, Gold Coast, Australia

Unfortunately not you, nor the Pope nor even the amazing I know the answer of what actually comes after death. Just take a moment. Honestly, you REALLY, REALLY don’t know.
I'm not saying there is no God, I believe there is but that's all I know. EVERYTHING else….just words of men to control people. You see how our leaders lie to us today? Well, nothing has changed. Look at the example by which they lead!!! What is so "Christian" (sorry, if Bush said he was a Buddhist I'd say it about them so ‘Lighten up Francis’) What is so "Christian" about starting an unjust war, dropping bombs & killing others? When has Bush or any politician for that matter come close to the vicinity of the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount?

“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. “

So if you really do believe that George than what are you trying to say?

Billy Vega$, Chi-Town,

Clarification: Limbo is not the same as purgatory. Purgatory is a place/ or state in which souls are purified before entering heaven. It is a dogma of the Church and exists just as assuredly as heaven and hell. Also quite biblical.

JCC, Houston, USA

It is with a sense of utter despair that I read articles like this.

Honestly in this day and age how can anyone take this utter nonsense seriously. It is embarrassing enough that these views are actually covered in the press but for people to take them seriously... it beggars belief. People are actually quoting extracts from the bible to back up the claims that this is all real as if this makes a difference. I suppose I can't begin to understand the brainwashing that must have happened to these poor unfortunates for them to even consider doing this.

Please, please, please - stop and actually think for a second. Let's consign religion to history so we can move on with living.

Barry, Newbury,

nowhere in the article or the quotes is physical fire posited as a requirement of hell. Hell is eternal separation from God, and is eternal, and once you're there, the pain of realizing what you are missing is more than enough, incendiary headline aside (pun intended)

Aquinas, Dallas, TX

Hey Jimmy Crackcorn,
Part of what will be experienced in hell is eternal separation from God and all God is. God is the maker of all good things. Therefore there will not be music in hell. You will be separated from all other people. If you go to hell, you will realize you were duped and made to be the fool by satan. There will be an eternity of torment to dwell on the biggest mistake you ever made.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

Repenting of sins and asking Jesus to save your soul is the best trade ever.

Take some time to think about it, you never know when your time is up. The clock is ticking....

Tim, Bayport, USA.MN

By Sacred Tradition handed by mouth and by Sacred Scripture. To those who absolutely hate the Catholic Faith. Learn first and hold judgement until after you understand. You will not find Limbo in the Catechism - no 'other' faith has such need to outline every doctrine - makes one wonder why so much bashing? Maybe the true faith has always scared those not in union - so instead take out some books of the Bible and remove all oral tradition and start my own deli style religion. IF you read the Gospels AND Old Testament - Macabees too - you will understand the Nicene Creed and find Jesus did not offer any other explanation to "Eat the Flesh of Man" "Drink the Blood" - no where when his followers left did he say - oh - really I mean just uhm pretend.

Happy Catholic, Philadelphia, PA

No wonder that people either dont care or dismiss church doctrine. Pope John Paul dismissed a fiery hell, and now the new pope heats up the literal fires again. To think that no matter what sin a person might commit for a mere 70 or 80 years means eternal torment does not make sense.
Even mankind made in god's image does not have this very
warped sense of justice.

nick saccomanno, milford, ct

To live is Christ to die is gain.

God Bless,

In Jesus' Name

Tino Fernandez, Houston, Texas

Perhaps some of you who are angry at the Pope's comments are in fact angry at God. You might be thinking, "how can a good God allow 'hell on earth' to exist for some followed up by a real, eternal hell?". The very foundation of Christianity answers your question. The Bible says that Jesus willingly offered himself as a perfect sacrifice so that we wouldn't have to go to hell. The only condemnation left in the entire world is this: that Jesus died and we have rejected him. Comparing 80 some odd years to eternity, doesn't it make sense for God to allow suffering if it leads to us choosing to believe in His Son? He allows a taste of hell on earth so we won't want the real thing! May the Lamb that was slain recieve the reward of His suffering.

Nathan, Costa Mesa, California

David from Australia is absolutely correct. The only "Hell" spoken of in the Bible is the "grave" or the "pit"...which is where we ALL go when we die. "Purgatory" or "Limbo" is an invention to try to explain all of the questions/problems which arose due to the faulty doctrine of an eternal burning in Hell as punishment for all sinners in this life. As God's Word says, DEATH is the punishment for sin...NOT eternal life in Hell. Which is how some try to twist John3:16. However, the Bible speaks of another life...another "age" beyond this one. Christ NEVER said that we go to Heaven when we die. In fact, He said just the opposite (John 3:13). Christ's "Gospel" was not about Him but about "The Kingdom" that is to come. It is future. Just read the end of Revelation. Heaven (God's throne) comes to Earth!! NEVER believe what ANY man tells you (especially not me :-D). Pray that God open your heart to His truth, read your Bible and simply accept it for what it says.

Robert, Hurt, Virginia, USA

This is just as ridiculous as convincing children they should be good as Santa wont bring them any presents....
people need to be responsible for their own actions and take the consequences whatever they may be.
ooh scary.....
these words have no real relevance in this day and age anyway.

I say make the most of this life, people shouldnt be frightened into anything.

el, san francisco, ca

Dave from Wrexham, (my name is KJ, not JK, by the way) you seem to have fallen into the shockingly obvious trap of assuming that anyone who has made the choice to reject the doctrine you have adopted is A: Ignorant of it; B: Inherently AGAINST it. I am neither. I have read the Bible, and intelligently (since my IQ is above average, thankyou) and still find it unconvincing, due to the rather confusing contradictions. Secondly, I have no inherent 'problem' with Christianity, or any other pacifistic religion (as many posters here seem to have). I do not want to see any belief attacked, so long as it's a peaceful one. Even to a Secularist, after all, Christ's teachings can make a lot of sense. Compromise, realising that both 'the Faithful' and everyone else, can come to a middle-ground of understanding and personal freedom: only possible if one belief stops threatning hell-fire; the other unintelligent, fanatical ridicule.

KJ Keir, Aberdeen , Scotland

The pope is not condemning anyone. He is the leader of the Catholic Church, not the world. If you don't agree with what he is saying and you aren't Catholic, then don't get angry. He isn't talking to you. His job is to lead Catholics and help them get to Heaven. He is just reminding those who chose to listen that Hell is real and that most of the world has begun to lose sight of that. I am Catholic and although I don't agree with everything my church teaches, I do believe that Hell is a real place and people do get sent there. And the popes of the early church are NOTHING like the popes of today, so don't compare them. Anyway, I respect the pope enough not to call anthing he says "crap".

Caroline Davis, Lafayette, Louisiana

It really is amusing that so many people see fit to criticise one of the worlds top theologians, Pope or not, as if he was some silly school boy. Get over yourselves and do some proper theological research. If scripture is accepted as devine revelation then Hell is as real as the man says. He never mentions fire and brimstone but eternal separation from God that we ourselves choose in favour of sin. If you don't accept devine revelation then what's the point in even contributing since your disagreement is at another level.

Steve Naismith, Arbroath,

God didn't make man in his own image, but the other way around. All gods come from the need to explain things away in terms understandable to the human psyche. Of course gods are vengeful, punitive creatures with a power complex - they are created by humans with those characteristics. Hope is to be found in the fact that those who feel the need to keep believing in gods are, in general, giving them the more *humane* characteristics of love and forgiveness, proving that humans are moving in that direction. Outpourings of outdated rubbish such as the pope's just sound like the dying cries of a concept that is losing power.

It doesn't matter in what name, or none, that you do good things, just as long as they are good.

peakcrew, Sheffield, Rotherham

Let's see. There is an attempted coup in Heaven, that this "all-knowing" being was unaware of in the first place, and he tosses the rebels out of Heaven into hell: which just happens to be in the middle of the third planet from the Sun. Nice toss. He didn't toss them into the Sun, or another planet, or another galaxy. He didn't even destroy them, and according to his own statement, angels, on the hierarchy scale, are below man, and he destroyed all of mankind with a flood; so what's a few angels. And where did these angels come from? Who died? Wake up people. There is no such thing as god. God was created by ancient man as a way of explaining the world around him.

Tony, New York, NY

My biggest issue with religion (and that IS what this is about) is that it's like a 2,000 year old game of telephone. One guy said one thing to someone else, who heard it a bit wrong, and told someone else, who got THAT wrong. 2,000 years later, to insist that you believe what is true seems a bit pretentious. Not to mention the whole idea that, because you believe something it MUST be true. I suspect that the Easter Islanders believed in their gods as just as true until their society crumbled. As did the Vikings and the American Indians. And don't forget the Egyptians. So many beliefs, so little time.

Will Morrison, Erie, CO USA

Many people do not want to hear that they are accountable to God for all their sins and as a result deserve eternal damnation. The Bible clearly reveals compassion and love and humanities sinfulness and rejection of Him time after time. God from the beginning of time has not turned from anyone who desires to repent from their sin and trust Him. The apex of God's love, mercy and compassion to all humanity was Jesus Christ. I thank God for the Pope's message on hell. By definition eternity means never ending, by rejecting truth and wisdom that the work of Christ is false and hell does not exist in exchange for the limited knowledge of man is a price that is incalculable.

Barb, Holly Springs, United States,North Carolina

I've been brought up a strict catholic all my life and the only hell I've found is a world where George and Tony use the fear factor as justification for attrocities to all mankind. Is it my imagnination or is this the Devils spawn come to show us that Hell is just the new millenia where globolisation and capitalism are wrapped up in a word called democracy.

Fear not young children be true to yourself and enjoy life as much as you can. The pope and his stories are designed to scare you into a life of fear - fear of life. Just as much tosh as modern politicians spout these days they are all basically meglomaniac lunatics!!

Silva, London , UK

If Rock and Roll is the Devil's music, I can't wait to go to hell as they must have a kickass stereo system. Plus I'll see all my friends there.

Jimmy Crackcorn, Madison,

Those who do not want to accept the idea of a literal Hell are those who do not want to face the truth that they are responsible for their sin. The reasoning goes that if I can blame someone else for my sin, then I am not responsible. If I am not responsible, then I shouldn't have to be punished. Thus we deceive ourselves. Hell is a real place. Those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will end up there. The Bible plainly states that, many simply choose not to believe it.

Bobby Strickland, Killen, Alabama

There is one truth: "We do not know the full truth."

People have fought wars, killed, burned, destroyed, and devestated lives over things we are kinda sure about, oh but not really sure about. Ludicrous.

Believe in yourself. Have confidence in knowing that you are alive, and do all the things that make you and your neighbor feel comfortable and good.

Leave the guessing to the short-sighted.

Roach, STL MO,

I am confused. The Pope says Hell is a real place and not just a symbol (I agree), yet the "Vatican Officials" are quoted as saying, hell is "to be understood symbolically rather than physically." Is this a case of the infantry not being "in line" with the General?

Dane, Minneapolis, USA/Minnesota

Hell is a mistranslation.

Oh, how I wish I still had the essay I wrote about it for my Medieval Themes and Images course.

Starling, Lancaster,

I am so glad to see that the Pope is drawing people back to the Truth.

Daniel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I've got an elephant in my garage. It's big, grey, and knows everything, so I do whatever the elephant tells me to. But I can't show you the elephant to prove it exists.

Do you believe I have an elephant in my garage? Of course you don't.

But your reasons for not believing in my elephant are the same as my reasons for not believing in your god.

Andy Cunningham, Sandhurst, Berkshire

Hi Jeremy Irwin of Tokyo, If you get a chance read Romans 1:18-32. The Apostle Paul's addresses your question there. Its summarized in verse 20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature --have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Joan, Oakley, USA

It’s fascinating that when we, people of faith, voice our belief in the absolute truth of the Bible we are considered intolerant or bigots. Yet those same people who consider themselves tolerant are intolerant of the beliefs of Christians. So it’s ok for you to believe there’s no God or no Hell, but if I or the Pope claims there is a Hell then we are just narrow minded and living in the dark ages. That sounds pretty intolerant of my beliefs to me.

Joan, Oakley, USA

By that reasoning, Hell must be filled with Muslims, Christians, Buddists etc. Good grief, I am a Hindu! What shall I do? What shall I do?

Varodan, Atlanta, USA / GA

I 100% agree with TIm of St Joseph. There is one truth. You can believe it or not. That is your choice. That being said, Heaven and Hell are described in the bible in multiple places. It would be difficult to argue the Pope is just interpreting a passage taken out of context. For anyone who is curious about the truth, don't read forums. Just ask God yourself.

Matthew 7:7
7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

A good friend of mine badgered me with this passage for years while I was the 'villiage atheist' - Thank you Sean.

Rich E., Boston, USA/MA

Since the Pope knows there is a Hell,it only stands to reason that he knows where it is.If he would simply point it out on a map I would avoid going there.

RON, toronto,

prove it.

imindie, dallas, texas

Amazing. Religion is STILL an excuse to divide mankind. Sue, thats a GREAT God of yours who has divided massive amounts of people and thus has created HUGE wars and killed thousands...yeah sure, YOU'RE right and the rest of the world is wrong. God may exist, and if he does, I am sure...positive, that he is NOT interested in people forcing other people how to act, react, think and pray. Period.

Charles, San Francisco, CA

I am Catholic. I do not practice my faith out of fear and guilt. I practice my faith out of love of The Trinity. Stop looking at Jesus' message through mans eyes and ears. Ask Jesus to send the message to your heart.

Wendi, Riverton, WY, USA

Oh yea! Prove it!

Levon, Raleigh, NC

The existence of Hell and God's Word become real to us only after we receive that wonderful gift of salvation that the Bible speaks about, the forgiveness of all sin and the new life and relationship with Jesus Christ. To anyone not thus regenerated, all is abstraction and confusion with respect to God and His Son.

Maggie, Mansfield, Ohio

Limbo may or may not exist. However Purgatory does - and definitely Hell. It's about time SOMEONE started talking about the reality of Hell - and thank God it's the Holy Father! God bless you Holy Father! Hell may "sound" scary - but I don't want to find out the reality and I pray for all those who reject this teaching for I fear you will learn too late. And as for Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, etc - the Holy Father has spoken about that as well. Those who do not know Jesus and never had a chance to know of HIm, yet are moral in their acts and hearts are a lot more likely to get into Heaven than a Christian who rejects the reality of Hell and presumes he or she will be instantly saved despite many sins.

Alice, Loudoun County, VA, USA

Yeah, your Pope-iness (derisively.) Let's see the evidence.

James Stewart, Vancouver, Canada/BC

Funny, there was nothing in the Old Testament about hellfire and eternal damnation. It seems to be a Christian concept pulled out of St. Paul's fanny file. If you strayed from the teachings of the Church, God would eventually cast you into Hell for all eternity. If you disagreed with those teachings though, the Church declared you a heretic and it would do the burning right now. If the heresy was widespread, the Church would raise an army to kill all the heretics, confiscate their property and divide up their lands. Of course there was always an 'out'. Redemption could readily be obtained, but only through the offices of the Church, which conveniently sold 'get out of jail free cards' or Indulgences, as they were called. The history of the Church is quite messy and probably shouldn't be examined too closely. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Jim freemon, Prior Lake, MN, USA

Instead of the more abstract "War on Terror" being waged by the US & UK, the Pope should ask Bush and Blair for help in a more concrete "War on Hell"........

Frank Thompson, Chicago, Illinois

That this level of superstition still exists is astonishing.

That it exists in a supposedly educated man who leads the world's largest Christian sect is frightening.

If one wants to see Hell one need not rely on the deluded imaginings of events in a possible afterlife. Simply look at the devastation that religion produces on a daily, seemingly endless basis:

Northern Island, Lebanon, Palestine, Sri Lanka, India, the Balkans, Iraq...

RAS, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

Mythological nonsense. Nuff said.

Dionysis, Asheville, NC

Statement: Believe in my God or you will burn in hell for all eternity !!!

Response: Keep your prayers, belief in the patently ridiculous and your afterlife insurance. I don't need any of it.

Dan, Hampton, UK

So the Pope is a "cafeteria" believer, the very kind he and orthodox Christians blames liberals of being: he accepts that "limbo" might just be a religious image but not hell. His theology is medieval in form and content and should be disregarded as such.

Yvon Thivierge, Sault-Sainte-Marie, Ontario, CANADA

The Pope says it is an actual place, but then says it is a state of being, “state of eternal separation from God”, to be understood “symbolically rather than physically”. Please get your story straight. The whole thing is hogwash to scare the unthinking into obedience.

ckerst, Ft. Myers, USA

How can ANYONE believe this crap?

Marlenna Jansen, Los Angeles,

To Steve from Texas:

The Pope believes, as do all Catholics, that Christian authority derives from *both* Scripture and historical tradition. The Church posits that Christ revealed his truth to a living company of people--the "People of God"--who after his ascension became his body on earth. The Catholic Church claims to be these people and the Pope is their Vicar and the centre of their religious insights.

And limbo is not the same as purgatory.

Mary S, London, England

Oh, so in laying out that infidels really, really will burn in hell's fires, the Pope is merely, as the rebel insurgent, Tom Jefferson said, "explaining the laws of nature and of nature's God," is he?

Lets hope this papal explanation of the laws of nature pans out better than the one in which popes explained that the earth was the center of God's creation and that the entire universe revolved around us precious humans.

Gary L. Aguilar, San Francisco, USA

If hell is eternal as this Pope states, then how many Popes will reside there for eternity? It was the Popes that brought forth the Spanish inquisition and were responsible for the murder and torture of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims.

The Catholic religion through the ages, has been responsible for millions of deaths in the name of God - and if they were truly inspired by God, such witch-hunts and the like would have never happened. Religion has been responsible for so many major wars throughout history that it staggers the imagination - so to me, the "Pope" is merely a man, no better or worse than any other human being on thi earth.

Bill, Gainesville, Georgia

Father God be merciful to me a sinner

Anthony Leeson, Norwich, Norfolk

It will be nice when a future version of the DSM recognizes religion as "infectious, spiritual obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Then it will again have relevance, and hopefully a treatment regime.

Science, Earth,

You need the threat of eternal firey bowels of hell or eternal godlessness in order to have morals? Isn't that worse than the atheist who does the right thing simply because it is right?

I'll go chill in eternal damnation with the trillions of souls who didn't get to hear the word of your god because infallible god forgot to mass broadcast his divine message.

Jae Weisbrot, Milford, CT

Thank God I'm not a former Nazi SS guard and going straight to hell!

Ted Blodgett, East Randolph, Vermont

The problem today for the Church is that millions of Catholics have grown up under the Vatican 2 rules and do not know the old teachings.

For those that do remember the pre Vatican 2 rules, we do not want to go back.

Why else are so many Catholics "Catholic" in name only?

CB, Lincoln Park, Michigan

"These Popes are some of the brightest people who ever walked the earth. "

So was Mengele.

I know, under the belt and all that, but just to put it in perspective. Clever does not automatically mean sane, nice, or otherwise. It's not a characer trait.

Starling, Lancaster,

My God is all loving. I can't imagine a God who is all love condeming us to eternal hell. Seems to me that the Pope has a limited view of God.

And how does he know what happens after we die? Is this man dead already?

Sue, Denver, CO

If a person were to take all portions of the scripture referenced (Matthew 25) as literal, then goats are being thrown into a lake of fire and we humans have nothing to fear but, someone should call PETA.

The language in this scripture is symbolic. Everlasting fire symbolizes everlasting destruction. The punishment for sin is death (Gen 2:17;Romans 6:23), not torment in a fiery hell. This is one of many Babylonian teachings the Church has adopted. Of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion the Bible clearly warns "Get out of her my people if you do not want to share in hers sins" Rev. 18:4.

Tony, San Francisco,

Why do we endlessly strive for some kind of meaning and purpose in death? What is this fundamental human desire to believe endlessly and without question that we live to serve some greater purpose?

Life should be lived. Not in fear of failure, not in fear of 'sin', and certainly not in fear of some eternal barbeque orchestrated by a big red beast with horns.

We live, we die. No more, no less.

Eternal life is not something to be found in the clouds, it is in the hearts, minds and memories of the people you leave behind.

Dan , Warwick, England

There's nothing more sick and evil than a creator that would punish their own creation for being imperfect.

Jeff, Dunkirk,

Well, the pope ought to know, seeing as he is Satan incarnate himself.

I mean, really, what other "spiritual" organization is so obsessed with material wealth and sex with little boys?

There has been no greater crime commited against mankind than religious oppression which cripples the heart, clouds the mind and kills for "glory".

Richard Roe, san diego, california

I guess Bush and many others are going to hell for so much killing and neglecting the poor. So why should anyone follow him and his ilk?

God is love, mankind knows not love.

motorfingaz, Raleigh, NC

I find it interesting how many people deny God to salve their own conscience. The louder ther protest the more they really fear they are wrong but can not admit the fact and accept God's free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Robert L. McClimans, West Middlesex, PA, USA

My decision was simple. How much could I stand of ignorance, supersition, bigotry, homophobic, hipocritical, "I need an adult imaginary friend", types? Hmmmm, eternity with these religious folks or eternity with people who value education, knowledge, rationality, logic and true efforts in solving the worlds problems?

Decision made.

OK, I"M GOING TO HELL!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
Here's hope to see you there soon! Sounds like paradise!

Richard, Real , World

Has anyone noticed how Christians like to make things sound more important with capitals? "HIS everlasting WORD," for example. Spurious nonsense always sounds more impressive if you say it wearing robes, but new declamatory techniques have been employed in the Information Age in which the presence of robes aren't always apparent to the reader. See what I did there?
Peace.

greg, Northampton, England

What a load of nonsense.... There is no God, there is no Heaven and no Hell.

Now is where we are, enjoy it, be good to people and have a good life. Don't waste time on these false religions that aim to control and manipulate people for their own purposes.

Jamie, Hornchurch, Essex

Lets face it, there is no God

Ben, Kent, England

Gabe, Steve and Vince, it's not the way you're telling it. You're on the confusion train. Try to match the points instead of dividing them up please.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

I don't need a bible, or an out-of-touch zealot in the Vatican City to tell me how to live my life. I know the difference between right and wrong - it's a naturally evolved human trait. My head and my heart tell me what to do - and I grew these myself. I'm happy to love this life, it might be the only life I have.

Don't patronise me with tales of hell and eternal damnation, I'm more scared of the Loch Ness monster.

R. Fitzgerald, Dublin, Ireland

Tom Rook - You are misinformed. "Hell" is not the devil's empire. Jesus, at His resurrection, acquired the keys to death and hell (Rev 1:18). Also note that in hell, the devil will have no power over men's souls. He, himself, will be suffering punishment. Hell was actually created for the devil and the rebellious angels - not for mankind (Matt 25:41). This being said - in this same passage (and in Matt 25:46) Jesus himself said that on the day of judgement, men who had not believed in Him would be cast into this same place of punishment.

Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

SShirley, NEDERLAND, Texas

its a sad world we live in today.

for people who do not believe in GOD, just ask him to show his face or make his presence felt to you in your life, and you will drop to your knees. I guarantee it.

Jon, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

David says: "so... let's see a show of hands....who here believes God is so stupid that he would hand over his children to be tortured forever by his arch enemy? Come on now...don't be shy..lets see. "

Well, David, we shall see. Either there is a life after death or total darkness.
But perhaps there is a real hell in any case--the one we make for ourselves here on earth when we refuse to live by a decent ethic.

John Hubbard, Bangor, Maine, USA

After years of fruitless searching, I thought - albeit for a moment - that I had found God this morning, nestled behind a tin of beans in the back of my kitchen cupboard. It was, however, only another, differently branded, tin of beans.

greg, Northampton, England

"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." If someone really did some research they will surely find a big rock to cash at him. For a supposely great leader he is always casting stones at either gays or women or someone who does not see the world through his Prada rose colored glasses. I hate him because he is truly evil. And indeed if there really was a hell he would be there with alot of other Popes.

JR, Boston, MA

But what if the Pope and the Scriptures are correct? You now know the consequences of unforgiven sin. When the time comes, your eventual destination will at least have been a personal choice--possibly a small comfort if you have not accepted the savation of jesus Christ. Christ has promised that all who seek the truth will find it--just keep looking.

Don Guizzetti, Denver, CO

If you are born again, does that mean you have two belly buttons?

Ted, LA,

Why shouldn't we be reminded of the consequences of our actions? There is a price to pay for everything we do, and to say that religion or the threat of hell is the opiate of the masses is an excuse to go against the moral grain of society. That may be satisfying to one person but problematic for society. Holding ourselves accountable is what seperates the weak in character from the strong.

Chris Descovich, San Diego, USA/CA

Personally, although I am Catholic, I think God would be ashamed of the Organised Catholic Church and its stance on everything from its views on condom use in Africa to its support of brutal dictatorships, to its cover ups of paedofilia within the church and the fact that anyone involved with it still has the audacity to comment on anyone else commiting sins is beyond me

em, london, england

Bob,

These Popes are some of the brightest people who ever walked the earth. Their education and study would dwarf anything that you or I have accomplished.

Need to consider that.

bob, new york,

Jesus, you would think they'd stop spreading this midevil crap around. The Catholic Church should either go away or shut the h**l up!

SJim, Memphis, TN

Many people say they don't need God. To find out if you don't God, I encourage you to go through the simple test found at the following website: http://www.needgod.com.

Art Tracy, Rexford, NY, USA

at some point it will all become clear. JC said "you reap what you sow" and "all those who love are my followers" Now, if you look at the physical world we live in. the reality is. all this density of material is really illusion. we are more space than solid. our eyes see only a small fraction of what is really available to us.The same with the ears.
JC also said "you shall do greater things than I" So, when are we gonna get it that KILLING in WAR in no excuse...

michael carroll, new mexico,

You know, in studying the Bible myself in depth over the past several years, I have come to the conclusion that Atheists are half right. Atheists are wrong in denying there is a God. However, they are right in believing that, for them, there is no eternal life after death. There is no literal lake of eternal fire. That is only symbolism found in two passages. God is the only source of life. The Bible teaches that we are born physically, and are initially alive based on our physical bodies. That is the first birth. However, when this body dies, then we have absolutely no ability to resurrect ourselves, or to live without our bodies. If we live and die in sin, choosing willfully to rebel against and separate ourselves from God, then we die. However, if we choose to accept Christ (the way, the truth, and the LIFE), and reconcile with God, then we are "born again," spiritually, and have life that flows from God, the source of Life, and no longer dependent on our physical bodies.

Robert Preisser, Odenton, MD

A friend of mine recently did the Alpha course. She was told that pretty much everyone will go to Hell because we are all sinners. If that's the case, I shall carry on living as I do, and see all of my nearest, dearest and most beloved down there when I die. Wouldn't want to go to Heaven without them anyway - if either of these places exist. I'm happy to wait until I die to find out.

Jo, Nottingham,

Wow! The Pope is proclaiming a REAL heaven and hell...and doubting purgatory? Sounds like he has been actually reading the Bible, which begs the age-old question... Is the Pope Catholic?

DSteve, Nederland, TX,

Oh yes! We go into the earth and come back as a tomato. What a purpose...What a future!

Give me Christianity any day.

Mary Shelley, London, England

Atheists, have compassion.

You would not fault a blind man for his ignorance of art, as you should not fault the faithful for their ignorance of logic.

Faithful, have compassion.

You would not fault a deaf man for his ignorance of music, as you should not fault the atheist for their ignorance of truthiness.

Mark, Woking, UK

With regards to this issue the Bible teaches two things: 1) Hell is real (Mat. 10:28, 2 Pet. 2:4, and others), and 2) the Catholic Church (to include the popes) have for hundredths of years decieved people as to how a person is reconciled with God. Not by baptism, not by good works, not by keeping the Commandments, but by turning from sin and placing one's trust (faith) from the heart only in Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31, Jn. 3:16, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 10.10).

What is it to tell people hell is real, and then giving them false teachings as to how one is spared from the judgment to come?

Vince, Papillion, NE

The Christians belive that unless you respond to the Son Of God Jesus for salvation and put your faith in him, you will go to hell...the buddhist believes you will just fade into nothingness when you die,the hindu believes unless you are born as a brahmin you are condemned to endless rebirths for your sin till you are born a brahmin and die and merge with the great consciousness, the mulims believe it is upto Allah's will whether you go to heaven or hell, unless of course you take the Jihad shortcut...what are you prepared to put your faith in?

gabe, dublin,Ireland, Ireland

Pope Benedict is simply explaining "the laws of nature and of nature's God," as Thomas Jefferson put it in the Declaration of Independence. God created us out of love. If we want His love, we respond to His call to love one another -- and to act like it by following His laws (natural law and the Ten Commandments, for starters). If we don't want His love, He won't force us. After our death, our eternal souls will be either with Him -- if we have loved Him and one another -- or without Him, but with Satan and all those who have hated His Son, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They won't like us very much there, either. Heaven is not Disneyland, and Oprah will not be running the Last Judgment. Pray always!

Chris Inwien, Arlington, VA USA

Ther's no such thing as God or heaven or hell and when we die, we ALL become part of the earth again, as worm food, including the pope who is just a mortal human being like the rest of us.

Sophie, Bristol , UK

Organised religions have historically been used to control people. Hell was a convenient stick to threaten people with. What kind of compassionate God would punish the children who he couldn't save? It just doesn't make sense.

Mark, Cambridge, UK

How many species of man are in Limbo since man has been around millions of years B4 JC. Is there a limit to what it can hold? Is there a fire code?

RV, Liberty Township, ohio

Pope need to come back to reality, the concept of heaven or hell is about as real as the motther goose fables.

David Welsh, Macomb, IL, USA

My, what a lurid inner life the pope must have! Do devout catholics eye up all those atheists, protestants, hindus, muslims, pagans, etc, and see them all roasting in the fires of hell for being born into, or choosing, the 'wrong' beliefs?

Instead of spouting scary stories, he could do something much more useful by promoting birth control (inc the pill and condoms) to help slow down the growth of the worlds population from 6.6 billion to 9 billion by 2050, and cut HIV transmission!

paul, sheffield, uk

Tom of Texas, you are absolutely right, God does not hand over his children or feed them to his enemy (the devil). That is a choice we make by how we live our lives. It is that simple. If was left up to God, all of us would lead lives that honor our heavenly Father and His Son. But we have a free will, that allows us to choose what path to follow. We can choose to follow God or we can choose not to...I choose to follow Him.

Tim, St. Joseph, USA

In these times of moral relativism, everyone thinks that whatever they believe is the truth - but in reality there is only one truth and that is Jesus Christ. When you die you will either go to heaven or hell, your choice. That is the truth and if you don't believe it - sorry, you are wrong.

Sue, Shaker Hts, Ohio

It's amazing that these concepts are still taken seriously,
and religion is still just social control for the poorly educated
and gullible .....wake up....wake up.....wake up......
it's not the middle ages anymore......

If you want to find 'god' just look inside yourself

bob, London, uk

I like Father Bryan too, SShirley.

The quote you gave, however, talks only about condemnation, not what people are condemned to.

There's a huge poster at Lancaster station (of all places) that states that the souls of those who do not deserve heaven will perish. I wish I could remember what part of the Bible it's from.

I think the Pope is failing to realise that people can read nowadays. You can't just yell "repent, or else" anymore and hope nobody's actually read the Bible.

biblegateway.com is a great site

Starling, Lancaster,

Humankinds will to live to very strong and the concept of an afterlife can be found in almost all religions or cultures going back to the very beginning. However as the church or any religion cannot prove the existence of an afterlife then they cannot deny that when you are dead, there is no afterlife. live with it....Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust.

cormaquinho, madrid, spain

No, the fires of Hell are not real, or eternal.

I have exactly the same amount of proof to make this statement as the Pope.

Alfonso Armenta, Dublin, Ireland

so... let's see a show of hands....who here believes God is so stupid that he would hand over his children to be tortured forever by his arch enemy? Come on now...don't be shy..lets see.

When "christians" threaten you with hell, you can safely ignore them. God is not petulent, vindictive, sadistic or cruel. YOU KNOW that you have the freedom to do what you can with your life, but not forever. If God does not see you have value in his great plan..when you die, you are just dead..nothing more, and God turns his attention to those that love him, AND are obedient. God is not so stupid he would feed "souls" to his arch enemy, who he plans to destroy, or allow him an Empire.

Tom Rook, Arlington, Texas

Paul of Dublin, the Voice of Conscience is there within all of us humans.I find that fascinating. It's the aboriginal Vicar of Christ , there before any Catholic Church. Also this question of existence. It has to be ultimately and adequately explained.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

The pope is wrong. Catholism is a fusion of pagan concepts sugare coated with christian terminology. Hell and Hades are different names for the common grave of all mankind. The bible does not teach the ancient greek and pagan concept of an emortal soul. The soul can die Math 10:28. Future hope for the christian is the reserection.
Life is the reward for serving god, not the punishment for disobedience. John 17: 3

david, battery hill, australia

I believe there will be surprises for many when they die; I think the pope's analysis is accurate, albeit scary.

John, Vancouver, Canada

JOHN 3
19 And this is the CONDEMNATION, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Readers of these comments: If you have the Holy Spirit living in you, it will be very apparent who they are that tread upon the path that leads to Hell... the spirit of rebellion bears heavily upon so many...

BTW I appreciate Father Bryan Storey for his loving attempt at addressing those that oppose the truth.

SShirley, Nederland, TX

The Bible is very clear........Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. God is our creator and we were created to glorfiy Him. He is holy, sovereign and just. Who are you putting your trust in after you die? One day we will ALL stand before God in judgement. The truth is, we all deserve Hell. None of us have lived a perfect life....no one has, except Jesus Himself. It's not enough to just believe in Jesus. Even Satan believes and he and his demons tremble. It's about needing a Savior. Our only hope is to recognize that we are sinners....and that salvation is free...we only need to truly repent of our sins, then turn from our sin, putting all of our hope and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ and in Him alone. Our sins were nailed to the cross and by His death He paid a debt that we can never pay. So either we spend eternity WITH GOD or Eternity SEPARATED FROM GOD. Read The Book of John and find a solid Bible-teaching church.

Jo, Burnsville, MN

Does God exist? Yes. Is Jesus Christ His Son; God made man? Yes. Is there a Heaven and Hell? Without a doubt. Does God "send" us to Hell? No. How we, as individuals lead our lives will determine whether we, individually, go to Heaven or Hell. Is faith alone good enough? No. Per Saint James, faith without deeds is dead. Is faith a personal choice? Yes. I choose to believe. If people who do not believe as I do, choose to persecute me, let them. My faith in God and Jesus Christ is unshakeable. Am I sinner? Yes. By the grace of God, His Love, mercy and the blood shed by His Son, for all of us, I can make it Heaven. If I should choose (there's that word "choose" again) to lead a life that honors our Heavenly Father. I think that most people who choose not to believe, do so because they are afraid to be held accountable, for anything they do. They can't fathom that an all merciful and loving God could allow them to go to Hell for their sins. Sins they choose to commit.

Tim, St. Joseph, Michigan

All understandings are based on some foundational belief, whether it be humanism, theism or skepticism. The criticism that a foundational belief can't be proven is not valid, since such criticism presupposes a foundational belief which also can't be proven. That doesn't mean we can't be accurate about foundational beliefs, because such an assertion is also an "unproven" foundational belief.

The problem with humanism is that posits human nature as the source of morality or the standard of right behavior. This would justify all behaviors as moral or right, including Hitler's. It would also preclude criticizing anyone for their moral belief, since noone's belief could be justified as better than anyone else's. Those who are critical of theism and the pope, deny an external standard, and accept humanism, but then also criticize the pope as if there is an external standard. This is obviously contradictory and is indicative of how an external standard or God-concept is necessary .

Tom, Canton, USA

what about the hindus and buddhists. they don't go to hell either way. makes sense dont you think. i mean what about someone who cant read or learn about what is right or wrong?

jimbo, london, england

All you need to do is: Repent of your sins and ask
Jesus into your heart to be your personal SAVIOR and
the Holy Spirit will direct you from there.

Sue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It would be difficult to imagine people any more deluded than the misfits who populate the environs of the Vatican.

In a saner world the ravings of Herr Ratzinger would be done in the padded cell in which he truly belongs.

How sad that there will many people who will have nightmares because of this kind of nonsense. How many more children will be mentally scarred having fallen into the grip of these twisted allegedly celibate fools.



I wonder did he discuss his statement first with the Sugar Plum Fairy before making it.

Noel Grainger, Dublin, Ireland

I am curious to what the Pope has to say about the Jews, as one example, and their lack of belief in Jesus as the Saviour? Are they doomed, for instance? This question has always genuinely puzzled me.

Eric, San Diego, CA

To Brian Storey,
I refuse to call you father because you are not my father and as far as i know nobody elses.What makes you think that your "brand" of belief is any better than anyone elses?
Most people have had their say and left the forum,whilst you,on the other hand,have persisted in pushing your thousand year old indoctrination on the rest of us.It is exactly this type of persistance that has left your religion crumbling around you.I do appreciate the fact that either(a) you think you are helping us in some way by saving us from eternal damnation or (b) you are desperately trying to convince us,and yourself,that your beliefs are correct so that it may survive and you'll still have a job on monday morning.
Fact is,religion is no longer nescessary to control a rational,moral(instinctive,not from the bible) population,it has served its purpose and is no longer required,we understand most of the universe and no longer need a imaginary friend to explain it all away.

Paul, Dublin, Ireland

Im sorry but I feel insulted by comments such as "it's too late upon your death to learn that the Gospels were correct all along. Now is the time to turn to the Saviour.". I will believe what I want to believe upon a factual and quite simply what I deem realistic basis as I have no real faith as such.

How can comments such as "Now is the time to turn to the Saviour." be addressed with anything other than ridicule, when from my perspective there can be neither positive nor negative argument for the concept of a god or creationism for that matter. The concept of hell to me seems like trying to contemplate infinity as a number in the sense we are trying to think of something our minds cant comprehend "the worst of the worst of the worst of the....."

David, Derby,

Many thanks to our Holy Father for reminding us these concepts, that's the way we need you Father, playing an active role around the world, preaching as a messanger whin no fears and full of wisdom.
Dr.Eduardo Lopez. Mexico-U.K.

Dr.Eduardo lopez, Chichester, United Kingdom

prehaps we could take him seriously,after all he wears Prada,wears a dress and burns incense..if that doesn't convince you,be warned....please,it's 2007,not 1007,we have advanced since such tripe could move the collective
masses...I really think if the church doesn't
modernize it's thinking,it will be as irrelevent as communism,salvery and the U.N.

barry, Halifax, Canada

Heaven and Hell is real whether you believe it or not. Not believing something does not make it not true. The only thing that saves you from this eternal fire is confession of sin (I am a sinner), and faith (belief) that Jesus Christ is the only Son of the living God who came to this world and sacrificed himself in order give us (me) the oportunity to to be saved (from Hell). By asking him to come into our hearts and live and for you to turn from sin. Faith alone saves you.

Cynthia James, San Diego, CA

William Garrett, You are thinking of God in the wrong way. You are correct in that we did not ask to be born. So what about the wrongs that we do? How can anything be made right? Doesn't justice demand some penalty? How can justice and love and forgiveness happen at the same time? The only way that God can righteously overlook our wrongs & still be a fair, just and loving God is to do exactly what he did for humanity through Christ. Christ was God as a man. He was without wrong-and thus, He was the only one that could pay for man's sins (because he didn't have to pay for his own sins - there were none.) Just as we did not 'will' ourselves to be born, we cannot 'will' ourselves to be saved by some sort of good doing -all this loving God asks of us is to admit we have wrongs in our being and accept the fact that He Himself paid the penalty for us. "There is no greater love than this - that a man lay down his life for a friend." God is your friend... He laid down His life for you.

SShirley, NEDERLAND, Texas

My view of Hell is being utterly alone...no light...no sound...no smell...nothing to touch or taste...nothing but yourself forever and ever. Since everything is created by God, including sights, sounds, smells, taste and other people, and a person has rejected God, it may be they also have rejected everything that comes from God. While at first this state of hell may seem tame, give it a few thousand years and it will truly be painful.

Paul, Minneapolis, MN

There is a difference between knowing ABOUT Jesus, and knowing Jesus PERSONALLY. Those of us who know Him did not find Him. Rather He found us. If you want to be saved all you have to do is ask Him into your heart, be sincere, and He will do the rest.

As to who knows weather or not there is a Heaven and a Hell, Jesus knows! He not only created each, He's been to each, and He alone provided the way of salvation. Its a free gift, not something you can earn.

The Pope has told you the truth, in love, and you are free to believe or not. May the Lord Jesus open your hearts, may He reveal Himself to the lost and may you know His peace that passes all understanding. In Jesus name, Amen

Annie, AZ, USA

To all of the posters who sadly claim that Christianity is nothing but a child's tale, I challenge you to actually read the New Testiment. I believe that, after close and critical examination, you will find its premises to be quite intelligent and sophisticated. After this close inspection, you may even consider that Christianity isn't just a made up bunch of lies.

Scott, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Yeah!! As a former Catholic, i finally see something that
hopefully, the remaining Catholics will see. There is a Heaven and Hell, because my Savior,Jesus , the only Son of God, talks about it.. actually more than He talks about Heaven.. for He came not to judge the world ..but to save it.. And it is the free gift of salvation that He offers.. you cannot work your way into Heaven..Pick up a copy of Andy Stanley's "How Good is Good enough.?" Study scripture.. study the historical evidence of a man
called Jesus...ask God to open your eyes to the truth.. read
the gospel of John and pray for God to reveal himself.. even if you
are a atheist.. all you mockers.. what if you're wrong? what if the fairy tales turn out to be true? what if the words written in red in the Bible,are indeed, from the lips of God? Are you willing to risk
going to a hell because you are too lazy to do a little reading?
God loves you, and wants a relationship with you. What if your wrong????

Adrian, atlanta, Ga , UsA

I respect the Pope's beliefs as I do all other's. I don't agree, however. My own spiritual path has caused me to leave the Catholic Church behind, after 20 years of education in Catholic schools.

Guilt is such a counter productive motivator and one that seems endemic in Catholicism. For the past 20 years I have been a Unitarian Universalist and, as such, believe that in the end, all souls will be saved. It seems to me that an all loving Creator would have it no other way.

For the Pope, or any other religious authoritarian principle, to preach that he is the one who knows the absolute truth has no effect. I would advise him to limit his preaching to the sheep, they need a shepard.

I don't.

brisa, Galena, IL USA

All materiality in the physical universe is, at its core, a dance of divine non-physical energy. Everything in the known universe springs forth from this energy source (God). Therefore, any perception of separation is an illusion. Quantum machanics and cutting edge theoretical physics has shown this to be so. We are all made of this "ONE" source. We are all the same. Every human being on earth is an eternal entity of this energy. We are all timeless immortal beings having a temporary physical incarnations. We can never really die. Science and religion are coming together at last. Although, we can never know the absolute truth in this life, no matter what your spiritual beliefs may be, you would be well served to research what i have written here.

Walter, Sanford,

What about respecting other peoples' beliefs? If a jewish or muslim leader were to say this the PC folks would be defending their right to their belief.

Ask yourself, after a person dies, what happens? Do Mother Theresa and Hilter go to the same place?

Andrea, Sacramento, USA

The Bible clearly teaches the existence of Heaven and Hell and the Bible is not new. The arguments against it are not new either. The only way to get to Heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and turning from your sins. From that point on, no actions can remove your guarantee of heaven. Even Paul struggled with sin after his conversion. However, with salvation comes a new nature. One that desires to please God. It is impossible to please God without faith. And only faith in Jesus Christ can save. Islam is bankrupt because it replaces Jesus Christ with Mohammed. Judaism misses the mark because it rejects Jesus as savior. Christianity, the only faith (regardless of denomination) that accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is the only truth that exists. If this offends you, good. If this changes you, even better. If you say this isn't fair, I say it is fair to you because now you have heard and here is your chance. May God bless you and convict you.

Chris Gilder, Murfreesboro , TN

Monotheistic religion is a plagiarism of a plagiarism of a hearsay of a hearsay, of an illusion of an illusion, extending all the way back to a fabrication of a few non-events.

Holey Hands, Chattanooga, Tn

Proves his ignorance in one easy lesson.

Chris Smith, Chesterfield,

The Pope is correct to be a defender of the Faith.
You do not have to accept the gift of eternal life with God but may refuse it and take your chances.
I am so pleased and puzzled to see so many who now think they have proven some other plan of eternity. Your mocking words will haunt you for an eternity

jim Grinols, Woodbury, Minnesota

Go papa Ratzinger! As a young student in today's society of moral relativism, it is nice to hear some eternal truths and clear distinction between the right and wrong path to take in life. It was a good accessible sermon covering key Christian beliefs. Whether we go to heaven or hell is up to us; no beating about the bush but a simple plain fact. We can choose Christ's mercy or reject it and God is always here for us if we fall.

Sarah, London, England

I am not Roman Catholic but applaud this Pope as a defender of the faith. If the stuffing is ever kicked out of the Roman Catholic Church then we protestants are in trouble. The rest of you are already in trouble.

jim Grinols, Woodbury, Minnesota

I would suggest to all those making snide, and smart remarks to consider this; it's too late upon your death to learn that the Gospels were correct all along. Now is the time to turn to the Saviour.

Linda, New York City, USA

Sorry folks, I'm out. I am definitely going back to my conforting agnostic days. This Pope would soon start selling indulgences in Vatican.

Tina Garter, London, UK

"Perhaps a good starting point would be to pick up a bible"

I did, and did some very thorough research, concordance at hand, Arameic version at hand, and I concluded Hell doesn't exist.

Starling, Lancaster,

It is time I think for the white-coated gentlemen to be in attendance on the Pope - and I don't mean other clerics.

Anthony Back, Wellington, Telford, England

Starling, Catholicism upholds the eternal truths taught by Jesus. David, you'll see in that passage that Jesus updated old laws to get the balance. We need to avoid self righteousness and sin through acknowledging God and our own unworthiness deeply. Prayers for you all.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

What does the Pope say about pedophiles and those who cover for their activities? Will they too go to hell?

Uncle Sammy, Columbus, Ohio

Mad as a March hare the fella. I cannot believe that this baloney is given any credence whatsoever in 2007! This particular religion has spread more misery and despair than any other and I for one don't need lessons in morality from him. If I knew any of any paedophile committing offences I would notify the police instead of hiding them from the authorities and putting the fear of death into the children and no doubt, their parents too. Absolutely reprehensible behaviour, but I suppose his god has forgiven him and the rest of the perverts.

Harold, ashford,

Brian Vallance, you give the impression you want your own kind of religion, completely devoid of meaning. It has been said that God made us in His own image and likeness and we're always trying to return the compliment.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

KJ Keir of Aberdeen. Best way really to get into God is through unselfishness. Yet this only strongly grows through worship of God above everything else. If you don't believe in Him, best just to imagine He's there because he is and will enormously help you, have no doubt. Pascal says if he's not there you have to invent Him but of course He is there or else nothing would exist at all. Then we'd only have our make believe 'idols'. Every blessing for the most rewarding search imaginable.Keep at it!

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

Where is God? (asks J. K. Keir of Aberdeen). Well, you could try reading the Bible intelligently. Or if that is too old hat, read the Philokalia - but I warn you, it is longer than the Bible! Or for a shorter account, 'Christ the Eternal Tao' by Hieromonk Damascene.

Dave, Wrexham,

The Pope admitted that they 'made up' limbo, if only he'd admit they made the rest up too it would save so many people being victims of this outdated, pre enlightenment superstitious nonsence.

Stephen, London,

On the evidence of the (so far) 51 comments to this story, it's difficult to avoid the conclusion that, no matter what Christians believe, those who are brimming with scorn, contempt and anger are, by and large, secularists.

Andrew, Norfolk,

Everyone must be feeling very clever in running down the Pope’s comments on hell. Give yourselves a big pat on the back, you are all obviously extremely wise.

However, consider for one moment that if the Pope speaks the truth, and if you do have an eternal destiny, and that there is a risk that maybe by making the wrong choices now, you could be spending it in a place called Hell, then surely this is worth investigating.

Perhaps a good starting point would be to pick up a bible – the first time for many of you I am sure, and just read it from the beginning with an open mind. Then maybe that way you will know for sure.

RJP, Cardiff,

A very misleading article.

The pope did not say at all that "Hell is a place where sinners really do burn in an everlasting fire". He reaffirmed the existence of hell, but he did NOT say that the fire imagery is to be taken literally, as this article seems to suggest.

Also, the pope did not make those comments about limbo in October, but over twenty years ago in an interview, before he was pope.

In response to VB, London: eternity does not equate to endless duration in earthly terms; it is outside of time. As rejection of love and truth is definitive on earth, so too will be hell. We are not talking about time, we are talking about finality.

Abor Smith, Cambridge,

Very interesting, all this; soon he'll be making useful pronouncements about how many angels are dancing to the tune of Jesus Christ Superstar on an iPod on Easter Day. I wonder if the Bishop of Rome has any pictures of this eternal destination for all of us unrepentent sinners? I for one am more interested in my holiday that is coming up in the Cotswolds. I wonder, since the Bishop of Rome can make predictions for all eternity, if he could let me know what the weather will be like for the second and third weeks of April?

Sarah Asquith, London, UK

If there is any sort of absence of the presence of God, surely the populace will be primarily composed of those who took advantage of the innocense of children. This would have to include all Catholic heirarchy, and the Pope himself, who participated at the very least in covering up and protecting molesters if not committing the acts themselves. They have no moral authority and are not the arbitrators of my destiney now or in the hereafter. They destroy children and offer condescending pious platitudes in response to the need for accountability. I hope he is right and there is some burning fiery place for these evil priests and popes to spend in eternal damnation. Now that would be a just God!!

Ann, Knoxville, TN, USA

The Pope is just the messenger. This is what the bible states. Don't blame the messenger for the message.

alan, San Francisco , USA

I look forward to seeing the Pope's face when I make it to hell.

Jack G., Lisle, USA

Hell does exist and, judgeing by these comments, will surely be filled to capacity!

Chris McC, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

It's time Catholicism got dragged kicking and screaming from the middle ages into the 21st century (preferably grabbing the UK by he scruff of the neck as it passes the fifties), Father Bryan.

I'm listening to the St John Passion. It's the time of the year for it! It'll be played/sung at St Mary's in Stockport this Sunday, pity you're so far away, Father.

starling, Lancaster,

Father Bryan, how nice to hear from you again. If, as many feel, the bible is quite good as far as fiction goes, that many Christians decide which bits to take notice of and which bits to ignore (so we don't stone adulterers and I can sleep with my wife all the time), why, if we don't believe in your, or any other god, should we take notice of the scriptures?

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

It would be funny if so many fools didn't believe this nonsense.

Instead it's just sad.

Keith, London, UK, United Kingdom

If hell is a place of Eternity, then you would have eternal life. There is only One place for Eternal Life and that was given to those who would occupy Heaven.

Kelly, Saskatoon,

I would have to agree with His Holiness the Pope. I also believe that Hell does exist. The concept of reward and punishment is something that is common sense. We have it in this world and God has establised it in life after death. Bible has many verses about the existence of Hell. Islamic holy book, the Koran, also preaches that there is such a place burning with hot fire, and only the most wretched and evil people would be sent there. There are listed about seven or eight deadly crimes which a person can is free to commit which would make that person person go to Hell. God would judge that person as a cursed person, and hence confine them to eternal Fire of Hell. God is a just God. It does not suit Him to send Hitler, Osma Bin Laden, Gandhi and Mother Teresa and to the same place. I believe that each person would get what they deserved. I am glad that Pope has spoken on this matter to make things clear for our immoral world.

Z Hussain, Rochdale, UK

It intrigues me to watch a 2,000 year old empire, based solely in primitive fear, and beliefs in a punitive overlord, crumble.

It is so very clear that the fear of going to 'hell' is the only thing that has kept people terrified into submission and into believing they are 'sinners' by birth. And they need the church, as a 'get out of hell' card. Yet no one has returned to say that they got it 'right'.

The Pope should go to Iraq, and experience hell first hand.

Rita Corriel, Philadelphia,

Heaven and hell only exist here on earth now in the present. They are what we make of our own lives and the lives of those around us. Unfortunately that sometimes means that you end up in hell through no fault of your own – such as the poor people of Darfur. And sometimes those who deserve to be in hell seem to get away with it. Religions like Christianity and Islam have tried to use images of heaven and hell for centuries as a mechanism for controlling people.
If I am proved wrong and there is a heaven and a hell then you will get to one or the other based on your actions not which religion you do or do not believe in.

Kevin, Kent,

Damn! (please pardon the pun). My plan--when I get to Hell--is to volunteer for the Architectural Design Staff. Then I will be able to design Very Special Places In Hell for the most irritating jerks we have to deal with in life. For example, my plan for Bill Clinton is that he will spend eternity surrounded by thousands of clones of himself, all claiming to be the real Bill Clinton. My plan for Hillary? She's going to the same place as Bill.

Jim Nolan, Boston, USA/Massachusetts

The pope claims to speak for God and claims that the catholic church is the sole truth and light. The sitting popes at the time (and the church they headed) lead the Inquisition, profited mightily from slavery in Africa and Latin America, assisted in the genocide of Native Americans and turned a blind eye to the Holocaust. The Vatican Museum is full of the booty paid for by the suffering of countless thousands of those victims. Other than to apologize for the rest of eternity I'm not interested in anything the pope has to say. If anyone will be burning in hell for eternity it should be the pope.

nelson, London, UK

This papal outburst brings to mind Richard Dawkin's comments in his book 'The God Delusion' that this hellfire nonsence was itself a serious form of child abuse, which was just as serious as the tendancy for some catholic priests to 'like (abuse) their choirboys' and for others to protect them.

I was beginning to respect and admire recent pronouncements of the Catholic Church (changes re 'purgatory' and 'St.Judas' etc). This obscenity is back to square one.

Brian Vallance, LEFKIMMI, Greece

It is hard to see a good and fair spirit in the letters of those opposing the Pope's support for the Saviour..

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

To all the people who have 'found god': Would you please tell us where he is? Perhaps if we all knew exactly where he was, it would help solve a lot of disputes.

KJ Keir, Aberdeen , Scotland

Yeah, nice - a finite time here on Earth, say 60-70 years, equates to an eternity in Heaven or Hell - really fair that! Nice balanced justice....well done.

VB, London,

Whisling past the graveyard you are-- search your hardened hearts deep enough, and you will know the Pope is right.

Jay Tilley, Raleigh, USA

The world's chief advocate for the return of feudalism, Benedict, has spoken.

John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada

The Pope is right.We have free will & only we decide to reject GOD.We choose hell or Heaven by our actions.The Pope never mentioned non Christians.M

Michael O'Connell, Mallow, Ireland

Hell is other people.....

Ftp, Harpenden, Herts

Burning in the flames every day does indeed sound grim, but it's surprising what you can get used to.

Rob, London, UK

Reading the Gospel, Robbie, you'll see who's fooling who.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

I'm impressed that a Christian can be sincere and say something whether it be fashionalbe or not.
Leadership! thats a great thing.
I don't think some wishy washy Aglican would say such a thing. they are so focussed on being 'nice'.
I am really impressed by the Pope, It's enough to make me consider being a Roman Catholic.

Daniel Robinson, Melbourne, Australia

Hell or Limbo don't exist.

When you've been bad, your soul will be destroyed. When you've been good, you go to Heaven. "Hell" is a mistranslation of many different words in the Bible.

What was the play that had Hell as having to spend the rest of eternity with people you can't stand? That was scary.

Starling, Lancaster,

People do not get asked if they wish to be born but, according to the Pope, when they are and commit certain sins they will go to an everlasting hell. So for a finite crime they have an infinite punishment. For this the loving Christian God has constructed a place of torment where people that He made in His image will be tortured for countless billions of years. What exactly is the point of this? The Pope depicts not a loving God but an evil sadist monster. If anyone truly believed this rubbish they would go through life as if they were in the ultimate concentration camp, trembling and attempting to please the camp commandant who has a a place of infinite torture at his disposal.

Thank God I'm a atheist.

William Garrett, HarrowEngland,

Jeremy Irwin, Our Lord's Redemption is for all time, before and after that mysterious and wonderful saving event- crucifixion and resurrection, yesterday, today, forever. Have faith in Him.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

We are born, we live, we die. There is nothing before nor afterwards. If I am wrong and there is an afterwards, then hell is where all the interesting people will be.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

"So, what about everybody who lived and died before Christ? Are they all burning in hell today as punishment for not being good Christians?"

The Church teaches a doctrine of pre-emptive Redemption, applying the fruits of the Sacrifice on the Cross to those who are saved prior to the Incarnation.

Several Jewish figures entered the Christian calendar as saints, such as St Elijah and the Holy Maccobean Martyrs.

Christopher Gillibrand, Brussels in exile, Belgium

Well I know for a fact that the pope is totally correct in his description of hell. The fairies at the bottom of my garden told me so.

Mark Allen, Nottingham,

The Pope has forgotten that we are in 2007 and people have reached a level of maturity and education which makes it hard to have them believe to children tales-

Roberto Castellano, Salsomaggiore, Italy

It's so patronising and arrogant to proclaim that non christians will burn forever because they have never 'found' christ.

Peter Webster, Bristol, England

Phew!, I'm so glad the Pope has managed to inform me of 'another' place called Hell!. Myself and many others are still in complete amazement that a period of 2000 years ago spawned such rubbish about civilisation and how we were created, that the other billion years or so of evolution is just a figment of our imagination. What's even more amazing, is that this 'brain washing' is generally the subject that creates so much hatred in the world and defines East from West!.
Hell does exist, it's here on earth listening to ex-nazi gunners preach the good word of hope to people who have generally lost their grip on reality!. Admittedly, people need and want hope for their future reckoning, but it can't come from someone who (believe it or not!) does not have bionic powers or a 'bat phone' direct to cloud 9!, it has to come from within the person and reflect their own ability to decide what is wrong or right!.

Stuart, Manchester, UK

The idea of Limbo was done away with because it was hindering the acceptance of Catholicism in the Thrid World. Parents disliked the thought of their dead, unbaptised babies ending up there.
The fact that anything goes in theology makes it easy for the Pope to decide one afternoon that Limbo no longer exists and that these infants actually go to heaven. I enjoy hearing these revelations from men who try and kid us that they aren't just making it all up as they go along.

Jake, Liverpool, UK

These views are an amazing testament to man's ability to maintain social cohesion through a shared belief system, even though the concepts are thousands of years old.

Makes you wonder what our generations will add to the mix!?

Mark Temple, Woking, UK

Meh, and I thought it was a social construct designed to make us Follow The Rules....

Doug, London,

Does all this burning perpetually contribute Co2 to the atmosphere ?
Perhaps we have been looking in the wrong place for a resolution to global warming ? I'll get my coat.....

barney, Burnley, Lancs

I recall, as a small boy in grey flannel shorts at a Catholic Irish boarding school, choosing specific prays to recite which would give me the longest number of days of dispensation in Purgator - which is the same place as Hell but only a remand centre.
I could be fooled then but not now, thank you very much!

Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, Uk

The Pope is reported as saying "the Christian faith is not imposed on anyone, it is a gift, an offer to mankind".

This particular gift did not arrive in Japan until 1542 when Portuguese sailors first landed there. The Japanese could be forgiven for being piqued that neither Jesus nor Jehovah could be bothered to send them a prospectus before then.

Jesus may save, but He must be terribly prejudiced, and He obviously doesn't spend much time at the office.

Chris Sawyer, Strasbourg, France

Ahhh, a nice bit of Catholic guilt for a sunny Tuesday morning. The sheer arrogance of this statement astounds me. For those of us living in the real world it would be amusing if not for the hoards of vulnerable people who believe this tripe. Consulting someone religious for a view of the world is like asking a parrot about his love of snowboarding, you might get an answer but I doubt it's right.

Dan, London,

Jeremy,

A very interesting point.

The good people who died before Jesus Christ were in Purgatory. After death on the Cross, Our Lord freed them to go to Heaven, but it's my understanding that henceforth of that moment Purgatory does not exist.

The issue of people who lived and died with no knowledge of the Word is interesting. It is my belief that the Holy Spirit is there to guide anyone who chooses the right path, whether they encounter Biblical teachings or not.

Joseph Mulhall, London,

Hell really exists? I better join up and start paying my tythe to the church immediately then.......

Doug Bates, ST. Albans,

Does a petty burglar go to the same hell for eternity as
Hitler, Stalin etc ? Does Pol Pot qualify or does he go to an Asian hell ?

Paul Parker, Auckland, New Zealand

The Red’s ,SPD of Schroeder in conjunction with the Greens of Fischer ruined a great part of the German middle class and the economy. Not helped by the introduction of the Euro, truly it made all thinks worse with first 5 now 4 million unemployed and perhaps another 3-5million in state created 1 Euro jobs to qualify for H4 state benefit. This situation is not helped by the old west Germans who are arguing against ‘Kinderkrippen’ day care centre for the young, the new CDU family minister Ursula von der Leyen wants to create wich might help young desperate mothers.
Germany, the showcase under Red and Green towards state dirigism and how a modern country should not be run, will take a long time to recover.
Germans could not even vote to have the Euro nor will they be asked to vote for the European constitution, all is done by there politicians.In fact the Green leader Fischer, now Professor in Princeton ,was lamenting the unready ness of the German people in having a vote at all.

ewald widiner, shanghai, china

Maybe the Pope has Privileged information about the Hell or a direct red phone with God...

Sergi, Barcelona, Spain

I think that the biggest problem in understanding the Church's teaching on hell is the notion of "homo naturaliter immortalis" which is taken to be Christian doctrine rather than an ancient Greek philosophical idea. "Eternal life" is promised to those who try to respond to God's call to repentance and salvation; we live for ever because we share the life of the risen Christ. Those who do not share this life, because they reject God (or goodness) will be in a state of eternal death, which is being where God is not; and the only place (if it could be called a place) where God is not is non-existence. Consequently, in eternity, when God's plan of salvation is accomplished, only Good will exist; sin, wickedness, Satan, will be no more.
Understood in this way, it makes sense (to me at any rate) and the notion of eternal existence in a state of living death and torment need not be part of the equation. It is impossible to square such a notion with belief in a loving, merciful God.

M.P. Burns, Bridlington, UK

The Pope is God's servant of servants. He is underlining the Master's reference to Hell over two dozen times in the New Testament. We've been undermining sin to our detriment here and later.

Father Bryan Storey , Tintagel, UK

How ridiculous for anyone to declare with certainty what that night is that envelops man on either side. Who the hell knows? Those that say it is nothing are as silly as those who draw out bogeymen. Anything is possible. Pray for your favourite.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

I thought Limbo was a dance in the Carribean islands!!

Faqi, London, UK

Yes, and there really is an invisible pink unicorn at the bottom of my garden too...

Martin Penn, Warsaw,

The Anglican position is that whilst it would be presumptuous to deny the existence of Hell outright, it is entirely right and proper, given the love of God, to hope and pray that no one is actually there ...

Revd Richard Haggis, Oxford, uk

So, what about everybody who lived and died before Christ? Are they all burning in hell today as punishment for not being good Christians?

jeremy irwin, tokyo,

If the Pope is right about this, then I take great consolation knowing that one day my mother in law will be there, instead of here, making our lives feel like there.

LAurence Budd, Fort Collins, USA/colorado

I'm pleased that the Pope is retiring the idea of 'limbo' and I look forward to his clearing away more mumbo jumbo.
Assuming nothing was lost or gained in translation, it appears that this 2000 year old self development organisation is converging with the principles of Humanism.
Heaven or hell on earth are experienced according to one's hold on authenticity and integrity, in my understanding of Humanism.

Peter Webster, Auckland, New Zealand

The notion of living "in everlasting hell-fire after death" was introduced into many religions from ancient pagan worship.No such notion is mentioned in Scriptures and our
Lord did not preach eternal damnation in the sense that there existed a "lower region" where a "departed soul" was condemned to physical burning. A good dictionary will reveal that the Greek word "hades" was merely a grave; the same applies to the Hebrew word "sheol". In other words "eternal damnation" is death. Our common sense tells us that our Creator, a God of Love, would never countenance eternal torture in the terms described by Dante. Believe anything you like, but pagan beliefs are more commonplace than you think;
it just takes a little dose of awareness to discover how true this is.

C.E. Roberts, Buenos Aires, Argentina

For a religion that owes its existence to the Jewish faith I've long wondered where Christianity found these notions of an eternal hell. The Jewish understanding of the afterlife is much more compassionate, and far more in tune with what we as human beings would like to believe.

I was brought up a Catholic by the way.

rob, london,

Ah, but who goes where? Atheist Albert helps old ladies across the road because it's the right thing to do. Christian Charlie does so because he hopes to earn brownie points in the afterlife. Which one of them goes to Heaven? Which to Hell? Inquiring minds want to know...

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

I know that Jesus loves me and that God will not cast me into the fires of Hell just becuase I'm not a perfect human being. I'm really dissapointed in these comments by the Pope. Pope John Paul was not an alarmist, rather, he taught more of peace love and compassion. I think the subject of "eternal damnation" can be reserved more or less for those who kill their brother. Maybe that's why I am a Lutheran Christian, Idon't know.

Erik, Small Town, USA

So if you are bad you will go to a place no-one has seen; in a place no one has experienced; somewhere where science does not know of, and from where Houdini himself could not make contact.

Talk about making it up as you go along!

aussie soldier, Canberra, Australia