Why do I have to believe in God to get in to heaven?

Question

First let me state that I am an atheist. But I do want to debate this question. I am a good person that follows a good life. I have a wife and children, I volunteer, and I try to set a good example. That being said, why should I have to believe in God and go to church to go to heaven if such a place exists? Wouldn't God see what a nice person I am and just let me in for the good deeds and other things. I really am interested in what kind of answers I will get for this question.

Answer 1

"Wouldn't God see what a nice person I am and just let me in for the good deeds and other things."

Yes, an all good god would let you in to heaven regardless of whether you believe in him or not.

"Consider all of the people who live in the remote regions of the world who have never even heard the "gospel" of Jesus Christ. Consider the people who have naturally adhered to the religion of their parents and nation as they had been taught to do since birth. If we are to believe the Christians, all of these people will perish in the eternal fire for not believing in Jesus. It does not matter how just, kind, and generous they have been with their fellow humans during their lifetime: if they do not accept the gospel of Jesus, they are condemned. No just God would ever judge a man by his beliefs rather than his actions."

Answer 2

i believe in the Muslim religion, coz it's a good religion and has all the good stuff in the Quran. (lol. i didn't mean jesus wasn't a god. or that being christian is bad) it's actually nearly the same but in different ways. womans are not allowed to go out withought a scarf she has to wear long stuff. not allowed to be dating with a boy, or even kissing a boy. u get the idea. so anyway i beleive in the muslem culture. and i think Alla is the only god on earth really. coz, some people think fire is a god. how come that be. it's only an object. well some people think cows r gods i don't know why. but it's really personal opinions. so i don't want anybody getting mad.lol. so if u respect god he will give u a prize which is enter heaven (as u believe) but a good thing is to try each religion and do what people do if they're in the same religion, andactually see which is the lucky day then just live with it u see. but also make sure u really do what they do. if u want to that is....well that's alli say. and that was good question too. thankyou for that.

Answer 3

If you read and study the Bible - you will see in the Old testament the History of what went on before Jesus came. God's chosen people would sin and disobey - they would be punished. When the people would repent from their ways - God would stop the punishment.

This happened over and over - the cycle of sin and punishment. The lesson from the Old Testament shows that not doing God Will will result in punishment. God described in detail the path for everlasting life in the New Testament - if you choose a different path - no matter how good you are, heaven will not be your final destination. Let me re-phrase that last part - you will have to answer for your own decisions, God will decide your final resting place.

Why would God create a Hell, if He never intended to send people there?

Thanks for asking a good question.

Answer 4

There is no question in my mind that God the Father Almighty will see the type of person you are and will recognize the good deeds that you have done. However, the Bible also makes it clear that it only takes one sin, even something as small as a little white lie, to make us imperfect in the eyes of God. And the problem there is God is perfect and holy, as is everything in Heaven, so nothing that is not perfect and holy can enter Heaven. Once we commit that one sin (some of us have committed a HECK of a lot more than that, I can tell you) there is nothing that we can do to get back to being perfect and holy.

This is where Jesus Christ comes in. He is referred to as The Lamb of God many times in the Bible, and it has to do with the Law of Moses. Under the old law, the people were required to bring a sin offering once a year. The offering had to be a lamb that was perfect (without blemish). The lamb would be placed on the altar, and the high priest would sacrifice the lamb. By the act of shedding the lamb's blood, the sins of the one who offered the lamb would be forgiven for one year. Jesus was referred to as The Lamb of God because he was perfect and without blemish in the eyes of God (because he committed no sin) and he freely sacrificed himself as a sin offering for all the people of the world. So the sacrifice of Jesus accomplished what we could not -- it is through the blood that was shed by Jesus that we can have all our sins forgiven.

God shows His love for all the men and women He created in so many ways. One important way is that he sent Jesus to die for us, even though we are all sinners. Another very important way He shows His love for us is that He gives us a choice. He doesn't force us to do things His way. He knows that's not love. He has provided the way for you, me, and everyone else on the planet (even those who would be considered truly evil like Charles Manson and Osama bin Laden) to enter the kingdom of Heaven. There's only one catch: If you want to enter God's Kingdom, you have to do it His way. The choice is yours.

Answer 5

Because the Zoroastrian god from which Judaism, Christianity and Islam are derived is a vengeful and jealous god - just read the Old Testament. Personally, I could never understand why a supreme being, all-knowing & all-powerful, would have any use for praise or revenge. He has everything already doesn't he? How could we little creatures give such a being any pleasure or displeasure whatsoever. I just don't get it.

Answer 6

Because your gods creation and he loves you just like he loves all his other creations. But being created as humans which is one step below his highest creation, the angels, we hold a special place in Gods kingdom. The battle of all battles is being played out right now on earth. The battle between good and evil, God and satan. Its been ongoing for the last 6000 years and its nearing its conclusion. God will take vengenance upon all the wicked that have lived on the earth when he returns and he shall have no mercy. Anybody that is against God is his enemy. So therefore they shall perish by the sword of his mouth when he returns. All you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ, confess that your a sinner, ask for forgivness of your sins, and believe that he was raised from the dead then you shall be saved. Which means that you will inherit the earth and expierence true life where there is no sickness, no death, no worry, no grief, just bliss and happiness for ever and ever. I havent given you any bible scriptures but i will if you need it. this is just str8 talk from you to me. God is real and he is coming back to cleanse the earth real soon. When he returns there will only be 2 sides to stand on. The righteous or the wicked. Good and evil. If you choose the latter then you shall perish and expierence Gods wrath without mercy. Thats the TRUTH. I cant sugar coat it, if i did i'd be liar and thats a sin. God bless. Hope to see you in heaven!

Answer 7

I don't think you have to believe. It's a huge misconception, based on an unenlightened interpretation of an archaic text.
It's possibly even a conspiracy. If we could get to heaven without believing in god and reading God's word, then a certain religion would die off.

Imagine all the people who lived and died before the King James Version of the bible was translated into English, and carried by missionaries to third world countries...all of them lived and died without any interaction with the Bible or any knowledge of God's word. Does God discriminate against non-Europeans. Is God Racist?

Answer 8

Who said believing in God and going to church will get you to heaven. That isn't written anywhere.

The Bible tells us that if you can get to heaven on your own merit then Christ is dead in vain. then it says God forbid.

You are under a misconception. Thinking Good men go to heaven. Jesus said there are no good men.

There is a religion that believes as you do.

Babylon, the whore , with her cup of fornication.There is another that has adopted those beliefs under the guise of Christianity.

There is no church or religion that by joining , even with your "good deeds" will get you into heaven.


Being a new creature , under the blood of the lamb of God is the only way, be not deceived

Answer 9

I ask myself this same thing, and then I think..."Hmmm...if I don't believe in God, why do I believe in heaven?" It really depends on your separation of religion and spirituality. The rules of heaven and hell and god should be what you believe and not the beliefs of others. You must already think this to some degree as you are an atheist, right? If you are looking for an idea of heaven without "god" look into spiritual humanism or buddhism.

Answer 10

The Bible says, because of sin, all humans are wholly and completely separated from God. We are all damned to an eternity in Hell (The lake of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth).

The Bible also says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Because Adam sinned, all humans were separated from the ability to be with God.

The Bible also makes it clear that the only way to attain heaven is by being perfect, or completely sinless. The only way for this to happen, is to have your sins covered by the blood of the lamb (Jesus Christ), "which takes away the sin of the world."

Jesus died so that all might live in eternity with him in Heaven. The key word there is "might." John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not parish, but have everlasting life." In order to be accepted into God's family, you must first accept him as God. If there was another way, he would not have come down in human form and died the most painfully horrific death in the history of mankind.