Questions From My RCIA Class About Heaven and Hell

Recently I tried something different with my RCIA class. At the end of class I asked the students to write down any questions they may have about God or religion, then fold your paper, no name on it, and pass it forward. Today I’m looking at one of those questions, which reads as follows: “Other than belief, what evidence is there for heaven and hell?”. I realized that I could answer his or her question merely by referring to personal accounts of heaven and hell, some found in sacred scripture and others found in the writings of the saints and other gifted persons. For example, in sacred scripture we have the division, after death, between Lazarus, in the bosom of Abraham, and the rich man, in the depths of hell (Luke 16:19-31). Also, in sacred scripture we have the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) and later the Ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:50-53).  Lastly, we have personal accounts describing visions of hell from Sister Lucia (Our Lady of Fatima, 3^rd Apparition, 1917) and two decades later by sister Faustina (Diary of St. Faustina #741).

I was planning to answer the student’s question with the preceding testimonies when  my thoughts shifted to an Advent and Christmas in another place in the past. There was a time during this special season when we had religious music on the radio, in the stores and almost everywhere we went.  I remembered a beautiful Nativity scene in wonderous detail displayed in the Boston Commons in the 1970’s. At that time thoughts of Jesus were everywhere, but it’s not that way now. Public respect for religion has completely disappeared from our culture, music, literature, media, from our conversation, and in many cases from our minds.

So, I can imagine how a young person could ask that kind of question and still cling to his or her Faith. This student is not challenging religion to prove its mysteries, so that he or she may believe. It is not a question which verifies or denies Faith, rather it is a question which manifests a Faith riddled with doubt and confusion. This question comes from a place of pain; a Faith weakened by the pressures and attacks on Christianity from within our culture. This question comes from a hunger for truth, a truth about life, death, salvation, redemption, heaven or hell.

Heaven and Hell

If heaven and hell are so important, then why are they hardly ever mentioned? Perhaps this young person does not hear “religious talk” at home. His parents, I imagine, are not bad people, and they are probably “good Catholics” by today’s standards. however, they are busy, like most of us. Busy with the things of this world which undeniably demand our attention. Like many Christian homes today, Jesus is pushed into a corner, other concerns take priority and the name of Jesus, his divine teachings, and the teachings of his Church are rarely spoken of within the household.

If this young person went to public school, he/she would have heard absolutely nothing about Jesus and religion. Has this young person been able over the years to strengthen his/her faith by listening to today’s homilies or when younger by attending catechism classes? I think that we as Catholics all know the answer. Many, if not most, of today’s homilies center on “love your neighbor” or some other theme of secular humanism. We just don’t hear about heaven or hell, judgment, or sin from the pulpit. After all, it’s unpopular and some priests want to keep the congregation from downsizing at any cost, and some priests and deacons will sacrifice doctrine in order to do so.

What About Catechism Classes?

Do our children really learn the teachings of Christ and the teachings of the Church, which for us Catholics are actually the same thing? The answer is clear, and has been for the last fifty years or so, of course not ! Perhaps some parents believe that their children are receiving a good Catholic education through our CCD programs and leave it at that. After all, they are too busy, and they most certainly don’t have time to teach the catechism at home.

So, what is happening today and for the last fifty years with religious education in our homes and in our catechism classes? The unfortunate truth is that catechism classes teach a “watered down” version of Catholic Doctrine which is often either confusing, boring or both. So, who is listening? Even if  young people did listen, what would they learn?

Most parents want to believe that their children are being taught our Catholic Faith in their catechism classes, and most catechism teachers and administrators would support that belief, whether it is true or not. After all, they are just doing their job following protocol and teaching what the Diocese wants them to teach, right? And isn’t that religion enough? Perhaps each grade level teacher believes that their students will learn more later on from the next teacher in the next grade level, and so it goes from nothing to nothing.

Of course, every catechist and administrator knows that the truths necessary for our salvation, the teachings of Christ and our Church can be learned at home without limit—so their consciences are clear. But is that really how it is? Even if parents have the time, how many know the basic teachings of the Church? And if they, themselves, have been improperly catechized, that is, fed secular humanism instead of Doctrine, then how can they teach their own children the sacred truths of Catholicism?

What then can concerned parents do to improve catechesis for themselves and their children? Since God is good, and no matter how bad things become his goodness always supersedes the evil of this world. As St. Paul tells us “…where sin increased, grace overflowed  all the more.”  (Romans 5:20, NAB). Through the grace of God, readily available for those who ask, the family that wants to keep and strengthen its faith, will do so.

Suggestions

In conclusion this writer would like to make the following suggestions. Firstly, the context for knowing God is love, and love in the family is the best teacher. Through charity the truths of God become manifest. Secondly, the family can learn God’s way by studying God’s word in sacred scripture. For example, by reading the Sunday Gospel at home and talking about it to reinforce the Gospel message presented during  Mass. Thirdly, read sacred scripture and pray often or daily. Pray the rosary as often as possible. Fourthly, parents teach your children to read about the lives the saints. Reading about the Saints is like listening to a person who has lived life close to Jesus; they are a witness for Christ and they tell us the truths he wants us to hear. Fifthly, the Catholic family that strengthens its faith is a family that participates in the sacraments of holy communion and confession frequently.

Strengthening and sharing our Faith is our personal evangelization in a world which is constantly trying to turn us away from God. This is what we must do to move from lukewarm to fervent followers of Christ; it is what we must do to keep our Faith, because if we are not increasing our Faith day by day, then we are losing it  day by day; there is no standing still in a world that has turned its back against God.

When the pain is gone, when Faith has been mended, healed, and made whole, there will be joy instead of suffering, and questions like “what is the evidence for the existence of heaven and hell” will already be answered because  “Faith is the …evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).