I don't know if he is actually in Hell, but I hope so. He have the blood of too many peoples on his hands, mostly innocent people, likeAnne or Katherine Howard. Add to this that he indirerectly ruined more lives, like Mary's, who could have married and have children and was badly treated, or in a way Jane Grey ( Henry never re-legitimized his daughters, so it was easier to contest their right to inherit the throne, and to put this innocent pawn on it).

Concerning the Christiant forgiveness, I'm quite doubtful. People can believe that theyare guilty in a way, or that they HAVE to forgive since it's the Christian way to act,no matter if the forgiveness is deserved. Recently, I've watched an emission about incest; in one segment, the father of an integrist Catholic family had abused his twins daughters, been condamned, and came back in hs family as if nothing had happened. When interviewed, the girls said that one's sin must be forgiven; never was their traumatism or their feelings taken in account. It really pissed me of!

I agree with Sharon in that we can't really know or decide this.  No human ever really, completely knew Henry's soul as a man apart from the monarch.  At the end of his life, only God knew what Henry's motives had been and whether or not he was repentant.

According to Catholic theology, Heaven is the Beatific Vision, aka, getting to “see” God in person.  Things like reuniting with loved ones, having happiness (from the Book of Revelation “God will wipe every tear from their eye”), etc., are considered secondary perks.  Being in the presence of God is what makes it Heaven.  Conversely, Hell is being kept away from God.  This is what makes it Hell, and many theologians and saints consider the “fire and brimstone” thing to be merely symbolic of the horrible nature of being separated from God.  

So, if we believe that, I'd say that Henry was in Hell for a long time already, having separated himself from God (and being a hypocrite about it since he was “the Most Christian Prince”) and pretty much setting himself up as a god in his own realm.  He was a self-worshipper, the most annoying kind of idolator. 

Very true Claire, he may have been devious, intolerant manipulative and a tyrant in later life but one thing he was, devoutly religious and most definitely, his mothers son.

You spoke from the heart Claire, so therefore it was spiritual. I think if we look back at the beginnings of the Church of England, you will find Henry's spirituality and what he thought.

 Sabrina, let's hope his wives have moved on to bigger and better things, and are not stuck with Henry somewhere.

If I may continue this chat on a lighter tone (by the way claire, what you said was very beautiful), I was reading Divine Comedy recently, and it made me wonder: let's assume that Henry is in Hell, and that his wives, having better to do than torturing him, have left the chore to Hell's inhabitant: in which circle of Hell would Henry be? I think he deserves all of them in a way. What is tour opinion? If youhaven't read Dante's poem, here are the circles: Limbo, Lust, Gluttony ( it works not only for food, but for wine and every desire that can't be drenched, except carnal d.esire), Greed, Anger, Heresy, Violence, Fraud ( includes hypocrites, seducers, corrupt politicians evil concillors, sowers od discord and falsifiers) and Betrayal. Except the Limbo, i think he could suffer everywhere!

Is Henry VIII in hell, is a very interesting question and everyone on here has a valid argument. 

I'm a person who believes in reincarnation and that the very souls of our bodies are reborn over time.  So I like to believe that Henry VIII soul is out there repaying all the karmic debts he owes to his six wives and all that happened during his reign. Then again you have to remember is was not Henry initially that led to the downfall of Anne Boleyn but Thomas Cromwell due to his dislike of her influence on Henry and the lutherian ideals she believed in.

It would be nice to think that after all this time that maybe Henry and Anne are possibly living together right now as husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, learning, realising that love is eternal, and that Henry (or the person whose body has the same soul) has worked through all the karma with his other wives at that Tudor time.

Even though Anne was only a Queen of a thousand days, her courtship and romance of Henry for years showed that what they had between them was special and I suspect as portrayed in the Tudors that Henry still thought of her to his dying days.

So is Henry VIII in hell, I don't think so as I suspect such a place does not exist and the only hell is coming back from “Heaven or spirit world” to Earth to learn life lesson or teach others for the progession of our soul.