More theft of links, this time from Karen Hall at Some Wear Clerics, this time on the subject of Hell. The article she links to is an old one (2005-ish), but a good one -- Fr. James Schall's essay called The Lighter Side of Hell.
He reasons to the existence of Hell by the argument that Hell is a necessary byproduct of free will. I think he is correct.
Like Karen, I've never really doubted the existence of Hell, either.
We hope it is empty.
We fear it is full.
We pray to avoid it.
UPDATE: Fr. Schall is one of the good Jesuits.