Today, I wrote an article on my Dutch blog (www.katholiekleven.nl) to answer the question “why can’t blasphemy against the Holy Spirit be forgiven?”
After I posted the article, Jonathan sent me a link to a LifeTeen video on YouTube that was recorded as a response to the silly “Blasphemy Challenge“. It’s a great summary of the question, check it out!
Unforgivable sin? I thought it was going to be about suicide. There’s no opportunity.
I don’t think i agree with this either. Who can say with certainty that the Loving All Powerful God is incapable of forgiving (for example) Jews who have not accepted Christ? And such a God should be able to forgive suicide. As a limited mortal, i could think of a dozen good reasons…
No, there remains only three unforgivable curses.
I think its a good film…Really something to think about. I mean he has a point that nobody can say ‘this is to big for God’ or ‘God can’t forgive me’, it’s you who can’t forgive.
But I’m with Stephen though, I thought too that suicide was an unforgivable act. Could you clear that up for us Father? What does the church and the bible say about suicide?
I guess that’s where Divine Mercy kicks in; when a person blasphemes against the Holy Spirit by not asking for forgiveness, we “the Body of Christ” can intercede to obtain forgiveness for that person. Jesus’ promised St. Faustina this great grace! I believe God’s Divine Mercy is a greater attribute than His Divine Justice. What do you think?
I must start by saying my theology isn’t the best, however, I was taught what Steven said in that you couldn’t be forgiven for suicide as there was no change to repent. After thinking on this, I assume that in itself is restricting God’s love and mercy. This film is though provoking. I would guess that God would only not forgive someone if they chose not to be forgiven and weren’t truly sorry in their heart. I know it’s a bit more complicated than that, but I enjoyed the video and will think on it tonight over my tea.
In order my a sin to be mortal three things have to occur.
1. Serious matter
2. Knowledge or firm belief that the act is seriously wrong prior to committing the act, and
3. Full consent of the will
In the case of suicide, Full consent is questionable.
I think there is some confusion from both sides.
Yes, most people who say these things do misinterpret what is meant by the sin against the holy spirit in the christian sense as is pointed out. It’s understandable as they mostly aren’t religious and don’t understand these words as an internal orientation, the posture of the heart of making yourself small and humble before God.
But the same confusion I think exists the other way around; mirroring it.
If an atheist says “i blaspheme against the holy spirit” it isn’t always meant as a juvenile misguided courageous standing up to the perceived buly of christianity as it is made out to be in this video (not in FatherRoderick’s text by the way). It can be meant as a rejection of the branding of “doubt about the existence of something invisible” as a sin. In some places in the world this is truly courage.
In fact this denial-against-the-Holy-Spirit meme and the Blasphemy Challenge originated with Brian Flemming who basically responds to his fundamentalist christian education.
A quote from: “the god who wasn’t there” (which isn’t convincing in it’s denial of jesus historical existence – which might be just an intentional satire of about Luke 12:10 – but this is another matter):
“There is actually one unforgivable sin. Denial of the Holy Spirit. If you do that, you’re eternally damned. It says so right there in the bible: twice. It’s a doubly infallible rule: deny the Holy Spirit and you can never ever go anywhere but hell. And as luck will have it, the Holy Spirit is the easiest thing in the entire doctrine to doubt! God is out of reach, Jesus was 2000 years ago, but the Holy Spirit is with you right here, right now, so you’d better really feel the Holy Spirit. You can’t deny it in your thoughts because Jesus is in your thoughts… and if your mind starts to wander to the fact that there is no more evidence to the existence of the Holy Spirit than there is for unicorns, guess what you may have done? The greatest crime in fundamentalist Christianity…is to think.”
Catholocism as I see it is not about this fundamentalism.
For me the Holy Spirit is not a rock solid biblical certainty you cannot doubt as curiously both the LifeTeen video and the supposed blasphemy itself seem to make it out to be, it’s a belief you go into fully conscious and from this belief and acceptance can go into the experience and encounter God.
To label the blasphemic expression in itself as a sin is misguided as it doesn’t take into the context in which it is said and the real psychological reasons for people saying it into account. The expression can be
A) silly,
B) couragous
C) a sin against the Holy Spirit.
D) non of the above
About the quote: “It’s better to tie a stone on your neck then to lead someone into sin” with regard to blaspheming using this biblical line in this context will only serve to reinforce the interpretation as christianity as bullying people into submission. IMO this is not the way to engage atheists or young people strugling with their faith and doubt.
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About suicide, a friend committed suicide as she was so confused and in pain mentally that she must have thought that was the only way out. I believe God was with her her whole life (as he is with ours) right up until the end and it is my belief he will not let her go in death. Even if even He would let her go, I’d still pray for her soul and hold the memory of her dear.
Thanks for sharing Francis!
Jim in Columbus says “It can be meant as a rejection of the branding of “doubt about the existence of something invisible” as a sin. In some places in the world this is truly courage.”
Someone please show me some examples. Which ‘places’ is Jim referring to? Seriously…, Where in the world is is it dangerous or risky to declare someone’s doubts? Where is it a blasphemy to doubt the existence of invisible things? I can’t think of even one place.
I am not trying to be glib. I would really like to know.
Sorry, it was Francis who was quoted. My mistake.
Marker,
That must have come from Francis or someone else.
hi marker,
What was on my mind when writing was Brian Flemming’s account (the guy who started the blasphemy challenge) and his courage to resist and stand up against his christian fundamentalist schooling. Sure I cannot look in his heart, but I suspect it took him some courage. I am not atheist/agnost and thus his methods are not mine, but I can understand where he is coming from.
It took me courage to go my own way which was in essence labeled “black” in a catholic youth organization. It was pretty traumatic for a 12 year old even though I wouldn’t call that youth organization fundamentalist just conservative.
I have a friend who went to give her life to the mission inspired by her fundamentalism protestant upbringing – saving the lives of probably thousands op people by her decision. Still in face to face communication there are some emotional or intellectual areas that are off limits because of her fundamentalist views as they are “satanic”. In my view it’d take tremendous courage to doubt those views. On the other hand perhaps it’d take me more courage to make the same choices.
In Pakistan you may fear for your life denying or openly doubting the existence of God. At best you are cast out socially, loosing your job etc.
http://www.faithfreedom.org
And of course it takes courage to let your life be guided / inspired by something you can’t see. Both types of courage have some similarity, the internal orientation is the same; going your own way against the grain – in love.
I hope I could explain a bit where I was coming from – I’ll be out of my country for a week in 8 hours – so I have to pack and can’t reply sooner.
“The sin that can not be forgiven”
- is the unrepentant sin.
I agree that the one sin that isn’t forgiven is the one you don’t ask forgiveness for.
As for suicide being an immediate condemnation, I’m still unsure about that. I simply believe that we are no one to judge and therefore NO ONE except God can truly say “this person is/isn’t going to be saved”. Anyone who can confidently say “so-and-so is going/went to hell” is a flat out liar. We’re not Him, end of story.
I think the line about tying a rock around your neck is being taken out of context by many thinking that the bible says “kill yourself” which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sad really but then again most everything about our faith gets taken out of context and that’s where trouble is.