I am not sure where this belongs but since it is religious, here it is.
I am a Christian but don’t believe that non-believers are going to Hell or won’t be admitted to Heaven. However, based on other great debates I have skimmed, I seem to be in the minority.
Do you really think all my atheist friends are going to Hell? If so, I will be really lonely in Heaven…
No, I don’t believe that. There isn’t any basis for the claim that only Christians go to Heaven. Rather, the judgement is based on whether an individual chooses to be with God or against God. Heaven is the state of being united with God, Hell is the state of being separated from God. So those who choose to be united with are, and those who to be divided from God are.
C. S. Lewis’ book The Great Divorce provides a thoughtful look at the subject in allegory form.
I thought I read a poll somewhere that most people in the US do not believe that non-Christians are going to hell, but I can’t find it.
ETA: Ah, here it is: Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life | Pew Research Center
The Catholic position is that we know of some avenues to God’s grace, but we do not claim to know all of them. For all any mortal can know, Hell might be completely empty, aside from Satan and a few other fallen angels, and if there is anyone in Hell, it would be presumptuous of us to say who.
Certainly, there are some factors which would put a soul at risk, but God is merciful, and even the worst sinner might be forgiven.
I am Christian and believe the same. Don’t be misled by the very vocal minority of Christians who believe otherwise. Or by the non-Christians who want to believe only that minority exists.
Right. Both “officially” and in my opinion, none of us can say for certain one way or another.
I don’t believe any human has any authority to say who is and/or who isn’t going to Heaven/Hell. That decision is God’s and God’s alone.
I believe an individual can know their own destiny. I know, without any doubt, that I am going to Heaven and I know people who, without doubt, know they are going to Heaven.
In the end, it’s all up to God. I know without doubt I am going to Heaven, but if God says to me “Kid, I’m sorry but… You’re not allowed in. I’m sending you to Hell”, then glory be to God and His righteous judgment. I know He won’t be saying that to me. If I thought there was any chance He would say that to me, I would have doubt about going to Heaven. I have no doubt I will spend eternity in Heaven with God and His people.
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When I was a Christian, I was of the mindset that a loving God would not condemn people to Hell unless they chose to deny Him a presence in their lives. This line of thinking led me to question the other teachings of the church, and I found them wanting for rational or historical support.
In my experience, it’s hard to believe in both an all-loving, rational God and the dogmas of the Christian Church. If there is a loving God, why would He condemn anyone to Hell just because there’s a dearth of facts supporting His existence?
Nah. The vast majority of Christians, (including all the large denominations), gave up on the “We’re the only ones who will be saved” idea a long time ago. Unfortunately, a small number of loud groups still hold to that belief and the posters most critical of Christianity, (or religion), find it easier to mock that position as though it was a majority stance.
You have not been reading the opinions of Christians, but the scorn of others.
The dogmas of the Christian Church? I don’t think there is any such thing, at least as regards who goes to Hell—and this thread seems to back me up.
A side note, what makes you think you have a permanent bunk in Heaven? Isn’t there precedent for getting kicked out?
I struggle to avoid presumption on either side- that only those trust in God thru Jesus will inherit Eternal Life, and that Eternal Life is available regardless of one’s trust in God thru Jesus. As a Christian, I believe this- that Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life and faithfulness to Him is the only guarantee of Eternal Life, but that He knows & understands & has contingency plans for the multitudes who die outside of trusting Him.
I do believe there is a Hell, and that it is not some Eternal Torture Chamber but is rather a state of alienation from God/Jesus, that for some it may be final extinction, for others it may be eternal rebellion against the reality of God/Jesus, and for many it may be an ordeal they have to experience to drive them into the arms of God/Jesus.
Be the best Christian you can. Let your atheist friends know you trust Jesus. Don’t avoid it around them & don’t push it on them.
God desires all His children to be saved and it is God who decides when we will be called. I believe there are people who’s souls are in torment in hell while they are on earth blinded to that torment, but it still effects them.
The only conclusion that I can come up with is a form of what we call reincarnation, which I don’t like that term, as it is our soul that is a single life, the bodies are just ‘tents’ which we dwell in for a while.
As such I believe people sink down to a certain level before coming to God, as they sink they experience greater and greater pain, some sinking to hell. People not worshiping God may have to fall to a lower level, but may not, and will avoid lost of pain if they come to God.
My own opinion (I label myself Catholic but believe religion is an individual phenomenon with collective labels, my idea of God isn’t the same as my mother’s) is that, God being all-merciful, going to Hell (i.e., spending eternity away from the Eternal Love) sort of requires an effort to reject that Mercy, to reject the Love.
Someone who’s convinced that he will go to Hell (like my grandfather) will (hypothetically) get to Hell, not because God doesn’t forgive him (the stubborn old coot insists on forgiving everybody), but because he’s convinced he’ll go to Hell. It’s like when that philosopher sold real 5-peseta coins for 4 pesetas as an experiment: the offer was real, but nobody took him up on it. God does give 5-peseta coins, not for 4 pesetas, for free - but we still need to take Him up on the offer. There is more than a path to His house; after all, let’s say the official Catholic path is a righteous one… what, anybody born BC can’t get in? That’s silly.
I like Christian Universalism.
That’s twisted.
I’m a well-behaved atheist.
Various Christians have told me that when I die:
They all assure me that their version is the only correct one.
It’s probably some sort of quantum electrodynamic afterlife. You do all those things, but only settle on one when observed.
Now, if only there were some book that clearly laid out the rules and regulations on who goes where. That would be sweet, especially if it came from the big Guy himself. An omnipotent being could certainly write a book like that and make it clear enough for everyone to understand. Probably avoid some strife along the way, too.
What do you think you will be doing there? I don’t have too many problems with heaven, but eternity is hard to grasp. <might be too much of a derail?>