If all religions are wrong except one?

Question

For the sake of argument, let us assume that Christianity is the one true religion. What is the fate of a devout Buddhist who devotes his entire life to performing good and helping others through all his works? While he may be aware of the religion known as Christianity, it is not societally acceptable in the region he lives to be anything but a Buddhist. He has endeavored to help his fellow man at every turn, but has never given a thought to whether Jesus is his lord and personal savior. Is this man doomed to spend all eternity in suffering, or are people judged more based on the purity of their works and intentions than by what name they use for God?

Answer 1

Very well said.
People dont believe with their hearts though, they believe in what mommy and daddy told them since they were kids..
And since religions are nothing more than football teams, their supporters hate each other or hate different supporters.
Go figure...If god does exist indeed he would be no more than a child playing with its ant colonies...

Answer 2

The phrase "personal savior" has been only around the last few years or so. Early Christianity never had that phrase, we believe that we are saved through the help of many.

The idea of saved and unsaved is irrevelant. How does anyone know they are saved or unsaved. Only God knows this. In my church, the oldest church, Eastern Orthodox, none of us say we are "saved". We say we are saved, being saved and will be saved. It is a paradox. How can we say the Buddist will not be saved? We cannot say that.

Also, Eastern Orthodoxy has an understanding of God being without time. Many of our beloved Saints have prayed for those who were in a place of great darkness... who have already passed. The idea of salvation question only being open when you are living on this earth...is not the fullness of Christianity. God can do anything... AND he is a merciful God. A very merciful God. So to answer your question. WE DON'T KNOW if that person is saved or unsaved. Having said all that.

What we DO KNOW... is that the Eastern Orthodox Church is the vessel that God has made to help us to be saved. The Church prays for everyone throughout the world. So, with the Prayers of Our Holy Fathers and All the Saints may God be merciful unto us and SAVE US. This is a constant prayer in our tradition.

It is a far better thing to be unsure of your salvation and to be praying for mercy from God and asking Him to save now and ever unto the ages and ages....THAN to have a few seconds of prayer...and think one is saved instantly.....and waste the whole life thinking that, and end up lacking. It is the equivelant of the man who buried his talent in ground...and wasted it. The kingdom of heaven suffers violence....means, that it is an active life that takes the kingdom of God within you. Don't bury the hope of salvation under sins and religious ideas that you are just fine. Don't ever assume you are saved.... you may be but you just may not be. If these ideas offend you, think about exactly WHAT the early church believed...and don't assume it is your pet theology. It is easy to do that, but deception is close when we assume.

Find an Eastern Orthodox Priest, Russian, Greek or Antiochian, and they may have some better answers.

Forgive me a miserable sinner.

Answer 3

okay - let me try and answer this one...

1) good works is not salvation, it is good to do and good to the community, but it doesn't get you through the gate in the first place. Even after you are saved, the good works thing doesn't get you any extra brownie points, but is the natural outworking of what God is doing in your heart. [if you want to check this out, Ephesians is a good place to read]

2) if he has no contact with Christians, and therefore no chance to hear and understand what God is offering before he died... I believe that God would take him anyway as he has not rejected. Same with the profoundly mentally disabled - why would a merciful God toast them if they had no chance?

3) to reject something because it is contrary to what is socially acceptable to those around you... is nuts. The worlds is a nasty, stressy and lopsided place and to accept and live out the principals of peace and love - that is being socially contrary.

4) to be vaguely aware of something would throw you into the 'haven't really heard' category, I believe.

I can't believe God looks for excuses to exclude people from heaven, but takes everyone He can without stuffing up the natural and supernatural order of things.

Answer 4

In christianity, ALL you have to do is except the free gift of eternal life by asking forgiveness of your sins, & asking Jesus to be your Savior. We do good out of love for God, not because we have to.There is no way anybody could do enuf good to get into heaven. God also gives opps for them to become christians - thru us alot of times, that is why we need to be spreadin the Word so all may hear. But it is so simple. Buddhists say they have to work for their salvation. Eternity with God is better than any other religious experience! And it seems to be the easiest way of salvation.

Answer 5

My Dad does not go to church, does not pray, and does not show any true belief in the Lord (although he doesn't deny His existence either). He is loving, compassionate, and helpful to others. He loves me unconditionally. The Bible states that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not be lost but have eternal life." John 3:16 According to this, my father will not enjoy eternal life in the Lord's kingdom. The Bible is the Word of the Lord. I have to believe that even though my father is kind and loving, he will not have eternal life unless he welcomes Jesus Christ into his heart. Even those who are persecuted for believing in Christ have to accept Him to be saved.

Answer 6

If you strip all the glamour from religion, any religion, the basic values, moral and ideals are the same- in all religions. The name of a particular religions god and the names of people in its holy books is irrelevant, it is the message that is conveyed through the telling of the story. I am not any religion myself, but I love religion, I love to hear people passionate about their beliefs and having so much faith. And hearing their stories, reinforceds what I have said, that they all carry the same underlying meanings. I therefore believe that we will be judged,as you said, on the purity of our works or soul and our intentions, the way we have led our lives.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about any of the teachings of any religion. There is no exclusive club to join to get to an imaginary concept of eternal bliss. The only truth that I believe in is that "nobody knows squat" about anything relating to spirituality or God. All that religious baloney is man-made and flawed.

Answer 8

Why...I ought to smack you a good one for asking a question like that. You're making my brain hurt. Stop it! You're trying to trick me aren't you. You're trying to make me feel sorry for all those good little Buddhists aren't you. Well, I'm not feeling sorry. They can all go to H E double toothpicks as far as I'm concerned because they weren't born here and indoctrinated with our brand of religion. Too bad, so sad.

As a matter of fact, they all need to follow the new true church, the Church of Don. Yes, that is the church founded on the wit and wisdom of me, Don. True followers are sanctioned by me, Don, and are called Donites. We are the chosen people of God.

Won't you be a Donite too?

Answer 9

What hap pend to thou shall not have any other gods before me budda has had every chance to read the bible. all that keep Sunday is in disobedience so that decreases the number of christians by a big enormous bunch. Try commandment keepers.instead of christians it will be more suitable in the future

Answer 10

You'll find you have stumped many of the fundamentalist christians with this question...and the silly of that lot will claim he will go to hell regardless.

Which Christian God were you talking about...that may help with the answer.

I'd say the Calvinist, Methodist, Baptist...Anglican and 7th Day Adventist Gods would probably ignore him. Possibly the Catholic God would keep him seeing as he has the mother figure of Mary to push him not to abandon a child.

Personally, I'd say an innocent would be welcome anywhere.

Answer 11

The bible says Confess me before man and I will confess you before the Father basically. Also says for him who knows it is wrong and sitll does it - To him it is SIN. Just because its not easy and accepted does NOT mean it is okay to ignore something you feel as true. (whether u do or not) God wants to have a personal relationship with you , with me , with everyone no matter their location in the world. The Bible says WORKS without faith is dead. meaning maybe you do good things but doing then and having no faith in the Lord wont get you to eternal security.