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Comment on Do Lost Souls Consciously Suffer Eternal Torment in Hell Fire? by davidlarkin

davidlarkin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:41:24 +0000

My use of the term “agnostic” to describe C. S. Lewis’s view of the traditionalist doctrine of eternal torment is based on two quotes. First, Evangelical scholar and historian F. F. Bruce is quoted in a Letter from F. F. Bruce to John Stott in 1989, as quoted in John Stott: A Global Ministry, 354:

“. . . annihilation is certainly an acceptable interpretation of the relevant New Testament passages … For myself, I remain agnostic. Eternal conscious torment is incompatible with the revealed character of God.”

You can find this quote in the Wikipedia article on annihiliationism as well.

Then F. F. Bruce compares his agnostic position on annihiliationism to Lewis’s in the following comments found in Bruce’s Foreword to Edward Fudge’s book, “The Fire that Consumes,” where Bruce wrote:

“It gives me pleasure to commend exposition of this subject. All that he has to say is worthy of careful consideration, but there is special value in those chapters where he examines the testimony of successive sections of the Holy Scriptures.

I suppose that, as the terms are defined here, I would be regarded as neither a traditionalist or a conditionalist. My own understanding of the issues under discussion would be very much in line with C. S. Lewis. Lewis did not systematize his thoughts on the subject (and I have not done so either); Mr. Fudge would no doubt ask (and rightly so) if our exegetical foundation is secure.”

Comment on Do Lost Souls Consciously Suffer Eternal Torment in Hell Fire? by Chris

Chris — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:24:05 +0000

That was really interesting. I strongly lean towards the annihilationist view and believe it’s far more biblically defensible than the traditionalist view. But I do have one question. Where did you read that C.S. Lewis was agnostic on this issue? I always thought he believed firmly in eternal torment.

Comment on Do Lost Souls Consciously Suffer Eternal Torment in Hell Fire? by Conditional Immortality Links from Around the Web December 2011 | Afterlife | Conditional Immortality, Soul Sleep and Annihilationism |Conditional Immortality

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:57:49 +0000

Comment on Who’s that Starring in My Dream? by terry

terry — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:42:39 +0000

I too have discovered that my dream persona has unique memories, some are of repeated experiences. Freaking me out. How is this possible? If my dream persona has his own unique memory, is he as real as I am real?

Comment on Do Lost Souls Consciously Suffer Eternal Torment in Hell Fire? by Tarnya Burge

Tarnya Burge — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:01:14 +0000

Thank you for writing this. You may be interested in our website: We have many articles that explore Afterlife | Conditional Immortality, Soul Sleep and Annihilationism.

Comment on The Twenty Million Dollar Golden Calf by davidlarkin

davidlarkin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:23:36 +0000

Thanks, Norm. Is Houllebecz’s work translated into English?

Comment on The Twenty Million Dollar Golden Calf by norm zamcheck

norm zamcheck — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 01:13:42 +0000

This is a fascinating discussion Dave. You might be interested in knowing that
Michel Houllebecq’s “La Carte et le territorie” deals begins with a disillusioned painter
working purely for money, who paints a sterile and stylized portrait of Koons and Hirst discussing their profits in Abu Dhabi. Houllebecq’s work, on the surface cynical, is highly spiritual.

Comment on Ash Wednesday Prayer for Christopher Hitchens by A Prayer from Alexander Solzhenitsyn « BETWEEN TWO CITIES

A Prayer from Alexander Solzhenitsyn « BETWEEN TWO CITIES — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:20:08 +0000

[...] Hitchens now diagnosed with esophageal cancer needs our prayers, as he faces death in a universe that is without hope. I have a prayer for Christopher Hitchens here. [...]

Comment on A Prayer from Alexander Solzhenitsyn by Ash Wednesday Prayer for Christopher Hitchens « BETWEEN TWO CITIES

Ash Wednesday Prayer for Christopher Hitchens « BETWEEN TWO CITIES — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 19:52:54 +0000

[...] I have written about Hitchens, and his remarks about the virtue of Alexander Solzhenitsyn before on this blog here. [...]

Comment on Who’s a Leftist Creationist? by davidlarkin

davidlarkin — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:10:53 +0000

Science does make claims to “explain” nature. See e.g., http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-explanation/ The whole point of science is to provide a rational explanation in the form of theory or proposed “ground rules” that are “followed” by observed natural phenomena. Richard Dawkins believes that Darwin’s theory of evolution “explains” where we come from. That is plain. There are arguments about whether “inference to the best explanation.” Peirce called this “abduction.” What you call “ground rules,” others refer to as “theories” offered to explain. You want to apply your definition of explanation, and claim that science does not “explain”, and that’s fine as long as you recognize you are doing so. Books have been written by phillosophers of science about what is “explanation”. However, I agree with you that ultimately, science does not explain everything. Certainly, science cannot “explain” essences and why questions. I wrote about this with regard to “force” http://betweentwocities.com/2010/01/26/what-is-a-force/

Your idea that the womb of faith is nonsensical you adopt at your peril of course. I did not choose my faith, rather I was chosen. See my spiritual memoir where I describe my experience with supernatural revelation. http://betweentwocities.com/spiritual-memoir/

You might enjoy arguing with C. S. Lewis about nature and explanation while you read his most philosophical apologetic “Miracles.” http://betweentwocities.com/2010/12/04/reason-spearhead-or-beam-of-light/