“Of all the theological errors commonly held today, the most popular is surely the denial of the doctrine of hell.”
—Msgr. Charles Pope
Even self-described Christians question whether God would consign anyone to hell. Msgr. Pope explains this false perception: “If it exists at all, it is largely empty, except perhaps for a few serial killers or genocidal maniacs like Hitler.” People who adopt this belief are ignoring Jesus’s teachings that instruct the exact opposite.
In The Hell There Is, Msgr. Pope defends the doctrine of hell against doubters and skeptics. The reader will learn how God has largely been refashioned and trivialized in much of modern thinking. The God of Scripture has been replaced by the “Jesus I know,” who would never impose demands on anyone. As in the past, those nowadays who invent their own god engage in idolatry. By denying the existence of hell, they choose a false god who is indifferent to their spiritual condition over the true God who makes demands on those He desires to save.
Msgr. Pope argues persuasively why hell plays a central role in God’s plan of salvation, based on a detailed examination of the scriptural evidence. A thorough explication of the teachings of Jesus on hell provides a convincing refutation of commonly heard claims that He never spoke about eternal punishment. Important questions about hell are answered completely based on sources from both Scripture and Tradition, including theologically sound insights from Dante’s Inferno. Through this edifying book, readers will come to better understand, and renew belief in, the doctrine of hell.
- Author:
- Msgr. Charles Pope
- Format:
- Hardbound
- Publish:
- 03/04/2025
- Pdf:
- https://tanbooks.com/content/3311_Preview.pdf
- Height:
- 7.00
- Width:
- 5.00
3 Reviews
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The More Unpopular It Is, The More We Must Preach It
Msgr. Pope has written an excellent introduction to the doctrine of hell. Many, even within the Catholic Church, will likely not welcome it. That's all the more reason why it is a necessary topic for our generation to hear.
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Hard Truth Charitably Delivered
Modern man has turned to convenience and comfort in this life as the summit of all achievements, and in so doing, has established suffering as a capital sin. The net result is that man has forgotten about Hell. Msgr. Pope, in his new book, "The Hell There Is," reminds the faithful that Hell exists, that real people go there, and that Our Lord came into this world to lead souls away from it, and to Himself.
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A desperately needed cause for holy conviction
I just finished this book and already know that I'll be using several points from this book to augment my OCIA class on the last 4 things. On a much more personal note, however, I was quite convicted going through. It helped me realize that for most of my Christian life I had been thinking of Hell as something for "those other people out there" who don't go to Mass, pray their daily rosary, and "do the things that I do." The reminder that even St. Paul didn't exclude Hell as a possibility for himself struck me to the heart and made me put the book down several times, pray, and nearly weep for the years I've been so presumptuous, judgmental, and bitter at others. The book helped me reach out to many who I haven't talked to in years and bury hatchets, putting away years-long grudges I've held, and let folks know that I hope good things happen to them in this life and that we all make it to Heaven one day. I've started to reconsider where I'm putting my money and how I can better serve the poor in my area. I hope more fruit will come as I'm sure I'll be coming back to this book again and again, but all that said...thank you thank you thank you, Msgr. Pope, for reminding us of what has been in front of us for so long, but so rarely preached about. Please God, by his grace I enter into Heaven one day, I will be eternally grateful for these needed words of conviction and comfort. It certainly marked a turning point in how I think of my earthly thoughts and actions.
