Hell as conceptualized by Aquinas in Summa

[Gnarwhal]

I believe this was sketched by someone on Reddit, thought it was interesting in light of recently seeing Dante's depiction of hell.

https://imgur.com/j4Qk9Jd

 

[Rhamiel]

well Dante is a poet, and Aquinas takes a more theological

so his view is more "scientific" in a way

thanks for posting this Drew

 

[Michie]

Paul states that their own conscience will testify for those that have never heard or knew of a Christian God. God is just. He has it covered.

 

[Rhamiel]

One should think that the time a person is born into should have no relevance in their eternal destiny.

Unbaptized babies, Jewish Fathers, and good Pagans being denied a place beside barely-made-it-in-Christians is an insult to God.

well the Jewish patriarchs were saved from Limbo when Christ died and preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19)

as for unbaptized babies and good pagans
why would they be in heaven?
can any person earn heaven?

 

[FriendlyJosh]

One should think that the time a person is born into should have no relevance in their eternal destiny.

Unbaptized babies, Jewish Fathers, and good Pagans being denied a place beside barely-made-it-in-Christians is an insult to God.

Yeah that doesn't make any sense to me, why would unborn babies be sent to hell...

 

[Davidnic]

Yeah that doesn't make any sense to me, why would unborn babies be sent to hell...

Well the limbo of infants was only ever a theory. The Church now finds that hope for salvation in the action of Gods mercy the more likely answer.

 

[Davidnic]

well the Jewish patriarchs were saved from Limbo when Christ died and preached to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19)

as for unbaptized babies and good pagans
why would they be in heaven?
can any person earn heaven?

The salvation of the virtuous pagan has long been held as possible in Catholic faith. There are conditions to the theory but it is well within belief. No one earns heaven but considerations of the mercy and justice of God for those who came before Christ, were never given His word but lived a Christian life has long been held by the Church.

 

[FriendlyJosh]

The salvation of the virtuous pagan has long been held as possible in Catholic faith. There are conditions to the theory but it is well within belief. No one earns heaven but considerations of the mercy and justice of God for those who came before Christ, were never given His word but lived a Christian life has long been held by the Church.

I still don't get why that would even be a theory, Jesus made it pretty clear in scripture how important children are, when He was talking about if you cause them to sin it'd be better if you were never born, and when He spoke about how there's angels around them a lot. So I don't get why an unborn child, someone who had no chance to live would then be sent to Hell...that seems like it's the complete opposite of love and mercy.

 

[Davidnic]

I still don't get why that would even be a theory, Jesus made it pretty clear in scripture how important children are, when He was talking about if you cause them to sin it'd be better if you were never born, and when He spoke about how there's angels around them a lot. So I don't get why an unborn child, someone who had no chance to live would then be sent to Hell...that seems like it's the complete opposite of love and mercy.

It was a theory because of trying to balance the Mercy and Justice of God. So it was thought that there had to be a place of natural perfect happiness for those who died without Baptism. But it never had the force of Dogma.

The flaw with the theory is it did not account for the fact that God provides extra sacramentally. This was because they did not wish to presume on His Mercy. But because the concept of God's action as He will was expressed by the ECF's, the theory of Limbo was only a possible method. It still is since we can not know for certain. But the Church leans far more heavily toward that we trust in the Mercy and wisdom of God to bring those innocents to Him. Which, I think theologically makes more sense than the Limbo of infants anyway.

 

[Rhamiel]

The flaw with the theory is it did not account for the fact that God provides extra sacramentally. This was because they did not wish to presume on His Mercy. But because the concept of God's action as He will was expressed by the ECF's, the theory of Limbo was only a possible method. It still is since we can not know for certain. But the Church leans far more heavily toward that we trust in the Mercy and wisdom of God to bring those innocents to Him. Which, I think theologically makes more sense than the Limbo of infants anyway.

well look at it this way

are people born in a state of friendship with God?
no, original sin and all that

do little babies have the ability to make rational choices?
not really, so they can not "accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior"

God has great mercy, there is no suffering in limbo, only natural happiness

 

[Davidnic]

well look at it this way

are people born in a state of friendship with God?
no, original sin and all that

do little babies have the ability to make rational choices?
not really, so they can not "accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior"

God has great mercy, there is no suffering in limbo, only natural happiness

Oh I get it but the Church realizes the gaps. Which is why it stayed opinion. For indtsnce....early Church Father's attested to the desire of God to save all people. Not universalism but His desire for all. This normally requires our free will put toward Him. But a child can not choose. So in this we have reasonable hope of Gods mercy in extra Sacramental action. Limbo is one possible way but since we know that God can remove original sin at His choice we can also believe in heaven and the full beatific vision.