I’ve been thinking about von Balthasar’s “Dare We Hope” book. I think I understand the subtle mistake that he makes, or at least this his disciples make. Fr. Neuhaus says: “We may come at our question in a different way by trying this thought experiment: Do you know anyone of whom you would not say that you hope he or she is saved? Imagine that you could know everyone who now lives, who has ever lived, or will ever live in the future. Of whom could you say that you hope they are eternally damned? Perhaps in a fit of anger–or in an act of presumption in which you identified your moral indignation with God’s perfect justice–you have said that you hope somebody is eternally damned, but you know you were wrong in saying or thinking that. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Is it possible to forgive someone and, at the same time, hope he goes to hell? I think not. After you have, in this thought experiment, said to absolutely everybody, “I hope you will be saved,” have you not declared your hope that all will be saved?”
On von Balthasar's Hope
On von Balthasar's Hope
On von Balthasar's Hope
I’ve been thinking about von Balthasar’s “Dare We Hope” book. I think I understand the subtle mistake that he makes, or at least this his disciples make. Fr. Neuhaus says: “We may come at our question in a different way by trying this thought experiment: Do you know anyone of whom you would not say that you hope he or she is saved? Imagine that you could know everyone who now lives, who has ever lived, or will ever live in the future. Of whom could you say that you hope they are eternally damned? Perhaps in a fit of anger–or in an act of presumption in which you identified your moral indignation with God’s perfect justice–you have said that you hope somebody is eternally damned, but you know you were wrong in saying or thinking that. “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” Is it possible to forgive someone and, at the same time, hope he goes to hell? I think not. After you have, in this thought experiment, said to absolutely everybody, “I hope you will be saved,” have you not declared your hope that all will be saved?”