Letter: Hell is in Norway

From Mr John Challenor

Sir: Nicolas Walter, of the Rationalist Press Association, is being less than rational when he suggests (letters, 16 January) that Jesus, as reported in the gospels, spoke of a "literal and physical Hell". It is much more likely that Jesus spoke rhetorically, referring to Isaiah's description (66:24) of the wicked after death as like the rubbish on the dump outside the wall of Jerusalem - the dry burnt by fire, the wet eaten by worms. Admittedly, the Church later turned pictorial language into literal, and this needs putting right, but we should not hold Jesus responsible.

Yours rationally,

John Challenor

Catholics for a Changing Church

Cardiff

17 January