Are there Jews, Muslims, Hindus in heaven?

Question

The Christian Bible states (In Jesus words) There are none that come to the Father but through me. What about everyone else? Kinda seems a waste to banish all those souls doesn't it?

As I read all these answers, I see a desired result. With few exceptions, we all believe that it doesn't matter what you believe, we'll all be OK, if we try to be good people.

I believe we return to our normal state after death.

Answer 1

This is a misinterpretation of anyone who comes back from an enlightenment experience (much of Jesus' original message was misperceived). The individual is an illusion and this is realized from the experience - there is no separation from God and from anything. Therefore, the enlightened person becomes a symbol in our world of form for the One Way, the One Truth. After Buddha's enlightenment experience, he was also the One Way, The One Truth -- it's all ONLY One thing out there and there's only one way (to realize our true nature) but we who think we are separate individuals with separate things and objects around us can't understand it, of course. And we see two or more people saying that they're the Way as being contradictory because, again, we're coming from a deluded way of seeing. That said, EVERYONE is ALREADY in heaven -- there is no 'going' to heaven. The only difference between Jesus, Buddha and us is that they have direct experience and knowledge of this and we're still in ignorance of it (which can be remedied by having an experience while we are ALIVE).

Answer 2

"It seems rediculously wrong when I hear that really good people who aren't Christian are going to hell."

I believe in Jesus but I have problems with that myself. I want to believe in a God who respects a person's right to question things and have doubts. I guess you could say I'm somewhat confused on the subject of religion.

Answer 3

You can't take the Bible literally. If you did you would have to argue as the south did before the Civil War, that the Bible says, "Slaves should obey their masters." Be careful how you interpret things in the Bible, even things attributed to Jesus are subject to how the hearer perceived it and then wrote it down. On top of that there's the translations from the original, possibly in Aramaic, generally then in Greek, then Latin, etc. It all looses in the interpretation.

Don't get me wrong, I have much respect for the Bible and I am a practicing Christian. I also belive that all religions, including those you mentioned, are legitimate.

Native Americans believed that their people went to their own heaven and white men went to white man's heaven. When the Europeans tried to "convert" the Indians, many pretended to convert to receive government benefits, but generally they stuck with their own religion. Often they would say,"I would not feel welcome in the white man's heaven."

Answer 4

This is a translation anomaly it actually means that you get closer to the father by emulating the actions of Jesus. The language that Jesus spoke was called Aramaic. It is what is called a root language. In Jesus’ time it consisted of only about 10,000 words. In a root language like Aramaic one word often needs to do the work that several might do in English.

There is no way to translate many things exactly. For example the literal meaning of the phrase I am the way, is actually something like, just follow my example.

This is what Jesus was saying. If you want to become closer to God pay attention and do the things that you see me doing.

This has been twisted around to mean something that Jesus would never had thought in his wildest dreams. Jesus gave us a very simple set of guidelines to get our thoughts and actions in tune with what God always intended for us. These guidelines are haphazardly placed here and there in the bible so that they are hardly ever put together in a coherent manner that we can follow.

The first and most important is love your neighbor. Jesus made no exception to this rule. He intended that we love every one all of the time. Especially the people that make it the most difficult for us to love them.

The second Is judge no lest ye be judged. This one is no less important. If you are judging your neighbor, you are not loving him like Jesus asked. Jesus intended that we suspend judgment as completely as possible.

Third is turn the other cheek. This is important because you can’t love what you have judged the need to be defending against.

These are difficult things that Jesus asks of us, but they are the very principals that he lived his life by. His simple comment, I am the way is a formula to help us to get closer to God. This has been twisted around into some nonsense about accepting Jesus as ones lord and savior. Jesus could care less if you accept him, he wants you to accept his example and live your life emulating the example he gave you.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 5

There was a guy who died and went straight to Heaven. He met God. And God being a good sort of fellow and all, decided to give him a personal tour.

"And here," God said. "We have the Muslim neighborhood...and just across the river over there, are the atheists; they're building lots of condos in that area...it's a hot and growing area."

They continued around Heaven, visiting all the different neighborhoods. At one point during the relatively long tour...way… way…way out past the Wiccan neighborhood, the Jewish neighborhood, the Buddhist neighborhood, the Hindu neighborhoods, the Zoroastrian neighborhood, etc, & even a Satanists Neighborhood. "Imagine the surprise on their faces" God said, chuckling to himself), finally came to an immensely long and thick wall.

It was at this point that God whispered in a voice reminiscent to Elmer Fudd’s "Okay, now be very, very quiet." You see, contrary to popular belief God had a sense of humor. And so the man went along with God walking in utter silence, along the outer perimeter of the wall. After a while the wall curved away in another direction in which God breathed a sigh of relief & continued showing the man other areas of eternity.

The man looked back at the enormous wall and asked God: "What's that wall for, and why did we have to be so quiet?"

God answered. "Oh, behind that wall is the Christian Ghetto. They think they're the only ones up here. I'd sure hate to spoil it for them."

Answer 6

No. Jewishness is a nationality and you do not get to heaven by being born into a certain nation. Muslims and Hindus do not believe in Jesus Christ who is the only way to the Father and Heaven.

Answer 7

I think that many Christians are going to be rather upset if there are, since they think that they are the *only* ones who will be there.

("Isn't that rather discriminatory?" I ask. And someone will answer "No, you had the choice; if you choose not to be Christian, that's up to you." So - I choose not to be. And so, I am damned, even though I still believe in God and in the teachings of Jesus.)

I don't think that Hindus will be in heaven, and neither will Buddhists - not because they are not good people, but because their faiths do not describe such a place. Both teach reincarnation.

But, honestly, who knows? (And someone says "I KNOW. Only Christians!")

Answer 8

An atheist dies and is surprised to find himself standing before God in heaven. The man looks up at him in awe and says "wow! i guess i was wrong!" God answers "Only on one big point my son, but all is well, would you like the tour?" The atheist says "yes" and they begin their trek thru heaven. God points to a group of bearded men enjoying the company of a multitude of virgins and says "over there are the Muslims, fantastic bunch those guys... they really know now to party." Down the way a bit god points to another group of people, "There's the Jewish camp, nice folks those guys." They continue, on thru the Hindus, Zoroastrians, etc.. finally the come upon a wall and God says in his best Fudd voice "be vewwwy vewwwy quiet..." The atheist asks God, what's over that wall? God replies "That's the Christians, don't say anything, they believe they are the only ones here.

Answer 9

As a Christian my believe it as what was written in the bible. Jesus is the only way to heaven. But as at now, no one is in heaven yet till Jesus second coming.

Answer 10

Everyone has the chance to accept God's grace and go to heaven throught His Son.

What seems like a waste is that people would rather do what they want for 60-80 years rather than spend an eternity in paradise.