City of God by Augustine (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Firstly he further examines what it means to burn for eternity - for humans and also for demons.
Then Augustine discusses why eternal punishment should be given for an offence that is committed in a short amount of time. He points out that earthly laws do not equate the time taken to commit the offence with the time taken to punish - rather it is the seriousness of the offence that determines the size of the punishment. And it is the same with sin.
Next Augustine deals with the suggestion that punishment in hell is merely purification, just like discipline purifies in this life.
Then the conclusion of today's reading is a series of short chapters outlining misunderstandings about hell:
(i) humans and demons will not experience eternal punishment;
(ii) by intercession, saints can save those in hell;
(iii) Catholic religion with its sacraments and works of mercy will save people from hell.
Augustine will refute the majority of these claims in next week's reading, but today he once again emphasises that hell is eternal, both for humans and demons.
What grabbed me
I liked Augustine's reasoning for why people would suggest an eternal hell is harsh: 'Now the reason why eternal punishment appears harsh and unjust to human sensibilities, is that in this feeble condition of those sensibilities under their condition of mortality man lacks the sensibility of the highest and purest wisdom, the sense which should enable him to feel the gravity of the wickedness in the first act of disobedience.'
If you truly understand how offensive sin is then you would agree that hell must be eternal.
Trouble is we minimise the offensiveness of sin and therefore are offended not by sin, but by the doctrine of hell.
Conclude Book 21 by reading Chapters 24 to 27.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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