Q52. But why couldn't the ungodly simply be punished in this world, so that we could see it and believe?

If the ungodly were punished in this world, it would in all likelihood have destroyed the entire order that God has established among humanity. Who could have endured watching flames of fire, hearing the groans, and perhaps seeing the tears of condemned loved ones, whether parents or children? This is why, just as Tophet, the ancient place of execution outside Jerusalem, was located beyond the city walls, and just as gallows are built outside the towns, Christ has arranged for those who are to suffer this kind of torment to be taken away: "Take him away," He says (out of this world), "and cast him into outer darkness, and let him have his punishment there; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth"1. Beyond this, faith is not produced by peering into hell and watching the damned suffer before our eyes, but by "hearing the word of God"2. For the person who will not believe Moses and the prophets will not be persuaded even if someone were to come back from the dead, or even if someone were to appear to them in flames to convince them3.