Letter: Return to hell?
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Your support makes all the difference.From Mr J. Gwyn Griffiths
Sir: I was glad to note that several of your contributors have welcomed the Church of England's revised views of hell. Its report refers to "appalling theologies which made God into a sadistic monster".
This is no empty tirade. A trenchant example is given by Augustine of Hippo, author of The City of God. He was able to recognise that torment in a fiery hell could not last for ever, since it was biologically impossible. In his City of God (21. 9. 47-8) he argued that the problem could be solved, since the ability of bodies to endure this torment for ever is "a miracle of the most omnipotent Creator".
Here is a piece of exquisitely subtle sadism which is ascribed to God himself.
Yours faithfully,
J. Gwyn Griffiths
Department of Classics
and Ancient History
University of Wales
Swansea
23 January
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