Madam, - Might you most kindly allow me to respond to two other letter-writers: Oran O'Dowd (March 29th) and John O'Brien (March 30th)? Both seem to deny the existence of hell. Paradoxically, however, the less we believe in hell, the more real it becomes. Surely one careful look at the world around us proves that hell exists - be it child sexual abuse, heroin addiction and terminal illness in Dublin, blood-letting in Iraq and Darfur, or child exploitation and prostitution in South America and India? Millions are living in a hell on earth; it is altogether too cosy, wilfully blind and dishonest to imply otherwise.
Matters shall only worsen, I fear: hell for some will become hell for all. Man has effectively created his own hell. Because of industrial pollution, the rapaciousness of the profit motive, and rank thoughtlessness on our part, the planet is dying. Scientists predict horrendous worldwide degeneration of climate and environment over the next 100 years to the point where the existence of the world, as we know it, is very much in question beyond that point unless, of course, we change our ways drastically, and that appears unlikely.
Regarding our behaviour towards each other, what prospect is there, really, that child sexual abuse and prostitution, the enslaving of more and more young people into drug, alcohol and sexual addiction, and massacre in the Middle East and Africa will abate? Are not violence, exploitation and viciousness on the rise? Do we not today have more and more wars? Is there the least sign that these will diminish? Worst of all, sooner or later someone is going to press the button and the world will be engulfed in a nuclear war, the immense destructiveness of which we cannot begin to imagine. That will be hell for all.
As for the "archaic words of Christ", Jesus not only spoke of hell, he lived it - or, to be more accurate, he died it. Most people agree that, if God exists, he is a God of love. Hell, then, is hate - murder, wrath, malice, greed, deceit, jealousy, lust - multiplied almost infinitely. On the cross Jesus took upon himself all the hate, of all the people, of all the world, ever. He suffered hell more than anyone ever has or will, in time or eternity. He endured hate so we could enjoy love, the everlasting love of God our Father.
Talking about hell today is like calling out to a child walking on a fragile cliff-edge. The child cannot see the danger, others can. Those others must do all in their power to warn the child, however deaf. Hence Pope Benedict's sermon. - Yours, etc,
MARK HUTCHESON, Glenview, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.