Prior to the murders, Lizzie's social life centered around the church (I wonder if she attended any church services while she was in Europe.)
I have to wonder if she ever thought about "the afterlife." If she committed the crimes, and she was a true Christian, would it have not bothered her that her earthly deeds would condemn her soul to an eternity of hellfire & damnation?
She was not catholic, and therefore did not practice weekly "confessionals" with a priest. But she might have confessed privately to a minister, and asked for forgiveness from God. Catholics are given penance to work out their absolution. I don't know what Lizzie's Protestant faith might have required of her to square her afterlife with her Creator.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: If she DID kill 2 people, and had even the slightest belief in life after death, wouldn't her transgressions have weighed heavily on her mind? How could she spend the next 30-plus years NOT wondering about it?
Did Lizzie believe in Heaven and Hell?
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Re: Did Lizzie believe in Heaven and Hell?
Good question, and one that is worth considering.
I presume you are Catholic by your words, but as a Protestant, or more importantly a true Christian. Lizzie would be required to have true remorse in her heart for her sins, and confess them to God through Jesus Christ, and not to any man , or priest.
So that would exclude any type of confession that might escape to the wondering public.
I read somewhere that a classmate at her church spoke highly of her , and said she always carried her Bible.
If she actually studied her Bible, as we are commanded to do, she would know there is only one mediator between God, and man.
I believe if she is guilty. there is no way she was a true Christian. The devil was a murderer from the beginning.
I believe God can forgive murder, but it is rare in my opinion, that murderers ever truly repent.
As far as Lizzie, what is so concerning, is that she never once mentioned her faith, or her love for Jesus Christ.
She may have enjoyed getting out of that house, and being around her churchgoing friends, but in reality had no real relationship with our Savior.
It may be that she like so many were raised to go through the family tradition of church attendance.
Because at this most dire time in her life, I haven’t read of any evidence that her heart was trusting in Christ.
It’s a sad thought that she didn’t speak of her trust in Him, but that is what we have, and so out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In her case , she didn’t speak of her faith.
I truly hope her to be innocent, but common sense tells us, it would take a mountain of sheer coincidence, or perhaps, just perhaps she was protected from the assailant by the only One who could.
I presume you are Catholic by your words, but as a Protestant, or more importantly a true Christian. Lizzie would be required to have true remorse in her heart for her sins, and confess them to God through Jesus Christ, and not to any man , or priest.
So that would exclude any type of confession that might escape to the wondering public.
I read somewhere that a classmate at her church spoke highly of her , and said she always carried her Bible.
If she actually studied her Bible, as we are commanded to do, she would know there is only one mediator between God, and man.
I believe if she is guilty. there is no way she was a true Christian. The devil was a murderer from the beginning.
I believe God can forgive murder, but it is rare in my opinion, that murderers ever truly repent.
As far as Lizzie, what is so concerning, is that she never once mentioned her faith, or her love for Jesus Christ.
She may have enjoyed getting out of that house, and being around her churchgoing friends, but in reality had no real relationship with our Savior.
It may be that she like so many were raised to go through the family tradition of church attendance.
Because at this most dire time in her life, I haven’t read of any evidence that her heart was trusting in Christ.
It’s a sad thought that she didn’t speak of her trust in Him, but that is what we have, and so out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In her case , she didn’t speak of her faith.
I truly hope her to be innocent, but common sense tells us, it would take a mountain of sheer coincidence, or perhaps, just perhaps she was protected from the assailant by the only One who could.