In all your religions with a god, what happens to people who never hear the name Jesus or God before they die?

Question

Surely they can't be sen to hell for eternity because they were born in the wrong place and just never heard of God? Surely they can't go to heaven either having lived a full life of Godlessness?

I'd like to add that in case you didn't get it I don't believe in God or any other diety being a buddhist. So I just want to know how people in these religions explain it.

Answer 1

This is truly one of those difficult to understand question/answers.

Some religions teach/believe that an unbaptized soul goes to a place called limbo - forever; a neutral assignment, compared to heaven/hell.

Some religions teach/believe that outside THEIR 'faith', there is no salvation. At death, these souls go nowhere, or hell, or ???

Some religions teach/believe that we recycle, for all eternity; others that we recycle, until enlightened.

Certainly is a lot of differences to consider, huh? Could take more than a lifetime to learn/consider/choose a religion . . . then one needs to consider if it's THE right one . . . and then, . . .???

Answer 2

There definitely is a heaven and a hell (whether you believe it
or not does not matter). Most people all over the World now
have heard about Jesus. We will not be the decision maker,
as God and His Son Jesus will be the judge of what happens
when each one of us dies. So, concentrate on making sure
YOU will be going on the narrow road to Heaven.

Answer 3

There is an innate goodness in all of us that is for (lack of a better term) "hard wired in" by God.
If the person has never heard of God, but follows that goodness "wired" in them, then they are following God, and will be welcomed with great rejoicing in heaven.
If despite that goodness that is "hard wired in" the person chooses to ignore it and do bad/evil things, then they would not be welcomed.
It really is as simple as that.

As far as worshiping in a certain way -
Matt 22:34-40 says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it" 'Love your neighbor as yourself'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

If you are not able to do the first commandment because of lack of knowledge, you can still follow the second.

Hopes this helps at least a little bit.

Answer 4

It is not possible to live a Godless live if you never heard of God and or Jesus.
Most cultures do believe in some Deity which is acknowledged as a supreme being/creator etc. by that culture.

(Personally, I feel God has many names and it does not matter by which name he is worshiped.)

If a person from such a background lives and respects the cultural norms and values of that culture, he is in fact living a good life - how can he be punished for that?

Answer 5

first of as a Buddhist how can you believe in Narvanah with out a deity being responsible for the creation of your soul.

the concept of a Soul is illogical without a Creator to create it.

as for what happens I cannot know for sure because I am not G-d but I imagine the same thing happens to them as to all people. They are judged on their actions in this world and receive their reward and punishment as such.

the only difference between an Theist and an Atheist is that a Theist has the opportunity to repent for his sins between man and G-d and thus able to lighten any cleansing of his sin that he might to after his death. The Atheist has rejected that option and so all the sins of his life time will be accounted for during his death.

both will receive their just rewards its just the Atheist is making it harder on himself
by the way I am not Christian I am Jewish

Answer 6

the Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish. i'm a Christian, & it is my firm belief that ppl who haven't ever heard the gospel will not be held accountable for that.

i think that when they die, they will be presented with the Gospel and given a choice, the same as if they'd heard it on earth. maybe, they won't even realize that they're dead yet, so it wouldn't factor into their decision. then they can choose God, Jesus, & eternal life, or Satan & a lake of fire.

i think that either they'll get a choice or they'll go straight to heaven. God is "abounding in mercy & love", and he wouldn't send ppl to hell if they hadn't heard His message.

Answer 7

For those who do not know Jesus or God they are "excused" from their sin. It is like a child who has not reached the age of accountability. He/she is not held accountable for their sins. That is why the Bible said every nation will know about Jesus and God before he returns to gather his children home. Once you know about him and right from wrong then you will be held accountable. And yes there is a hell and if you do not like hot weather or getting a burn down here on earth. Then you are in real trouble if you do not accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Answer 8

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

God will always reveal Himself to whomever seeks him. If they do not know of salvation, the Holy Father will get His message to them in one way or another. God's power to do this is incomprehensible to humans.

Answer 9

This is how I look at that question...

I know that God know everyone's heart. He knows who's hearts will accept Him and those that will never accept them.

I also know that if someone will accpet Him, God will make sure that they hear the Good News so that he/she will accept Christ into his/her heart.

So, if someone is deep in the middle of the jungle in Africa and their hearts are open, God will make sure that someone will get to him/her so they can get saved.

Ask yourself this: why would God waste His time (basically the time of His people) one someone that He knows will never accept Him?

They will go to Hell because their hearts are hard towards Him and will never accept Him even if the person hears the Gospel.

Answer 10

Catholic theology currently thinks that they will get a chance, after they die, to choose God. This is called "Baptism by desire". If they do, they go to heaven, if they don't, they go to hell. This is also the current theory for unbaptized babies. But there is no assurance that this is so, so it is very important to bring the message of Jesus to the whole world.