Can an atheist go to heaven if he's a stand-up guy?

Question

If a person is a staunch atheist and refuses to believe in Jesus and God, but is essentially a person with a heart of gold, could he go to Heaven?

(no I'm not talking about me, it's a hypothetical scenario)

Answer 1

That's a loaded question!
With most Christian beleifs, the answer would probably be 'no.' They say you must believe in Jesus and God, repent, and some even say babtized before the person goes to heaven. Most other religions that I know of, who have a set place to go after death, say it doesn't matter what you beleive because we all end up in the same place anyway. Still others think that once you die this time, that's it, there's nothing left after that and no were to go after we leave these earthly bodies. And, most wetsern religions mix and match these up to create their own ideas/beleifs.

Answer 2

Dear Warren Peace,

According to the Bible- God's word a person who does not believe in Jesus Christ will not go to heaven.

When we use the word, stand-up, or heart of gold, essentially you're saying a good person. Well who determines what is "good?" In Genesis when God created everything He said that it was good. God was the one who created good. Man sinned and no longer was everything perfect. God determines what is good and bad - and so it's based on God's standard found in the Bible.

In Romans 1 he talks about how it is evil for man to worship the creature rather than the Creator. To be a staunch atheist (to worship the creature rather than the Creator) no matter how "good" that person is by human standards- still falls short of God's standard.

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 3

When I was in Texas, churchachrist members told me that god rewards the good with material possessions - so you know the poor are bad. Also, they said that you could murder - daily - but if you've been saved, if you profess that jesus is the son of god and you ask him to be your savior, then you will go to heaven. And your posited atheist good guy, someone who is good because his own personal morality directs him this way, he's a sucker and a loser to churchachrist folks - and he's probably poor!

This is one sorry excuse for a religion. I blame Paul and the Romans. I think Jesus had a normal religion going, extending and refining the Hebrew ethics, basically. It was all about personal responsibility - it was about your actions. The Catholics even tried to keep that but the protestant reformation demanded the full realization of the pauline message - a religion that requires nothing, absolutely nothing, of its 'adherents.'

To read people here say that their faith in god teaches them the righteous shall burn for eternity because they didn't chant a few magic words is to be amazed at the depths of human depravity and credulity.

And listen to the story they want you to chant. That an all loving, all knowing, all powering god couldn't let us back into heaven with him, despite his longing for us - rules are rules. so, he mates with an earthling, taking a tip from zeus, and he creates a super guy, again, much like heracles, say, and then god incites humans to murder his super son so we can all slide into heaven on his blood.

just chant that you believe that lunacy and you are in with the Man.
It's simply incredible to me that there are any grownups who believe this - except when i pause to recall my own thesis: this is a religion that demands nothing and allows everything.

Answer 4

Before you can go anywhere, you must first believe that your chosen destination is there. Most people and especially Religious people, have not the faintest idea what it would be like to live in Heaven. We enjoy our lives on Earth to a great extent because of what we do with them If we are creative, or if we love doing things that are Risky, what fun could you possible have in a place where everything is sweetness and light. Hah: Boring.
What makes life worth living is overcoming challenges. Without challenges, how could we possible adapt. What to do? go around smelling the Flowers. Think about it. We make our own heaven or hell right here on earth, by how we conduct it and react to life itself. That is, if we have the intellect to do so.

Answer 5

If he has a heart of gold, why dont he believe in his creator.
If search around he would find signs of his creator.
If the heaven is created by our God for those who believe in God and never go in the way of satan ( not believing in God , athestist), what can we say else than that.

Answer 6

Yes .. If you believe there is a heaven for good people and hell for bad persons.. Yes he will goes to heaven. Because any god never asked us to believe them. Only all religions asked you to be a good person , care for each others and share your love with every others. This is the basic request from every religions. The different is their holy books are having different names and different languages which are belong to different cultures. that's all.

Answer 7

No. The whole purpose of life here on this planet is to develop, in the course of a finite lifetime, a relationship with the creator. Not believeing in that creator and living a life that was good, but not a part of Him or His plan would negate any opportunity to be a part of the life He offers.

Answer 8

The natural disposition of a person is to accept God. Its against the nature of man to reject God. This is why whoever rejects God will end up in hell fire.

For further clarification read the books by Dr. Jeffrey Lang who was a catholic, then became an atheist and finally became muslim.

Being a mathematician, He takes a very logical approach to religion.

Answer 9

A person need not believe in God to go to heaven. If he is good ,honest,truthful and sincere well wisher of humanity he will have a special place in heaven. Quote Abu Ben Adam
"Abou Ben Adhem (May his tribe increase)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace
And saw, within the moonlight in his room
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom
An Angel writing in a book of gold;
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so."
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee then
write me as one that loves his fellow men."

The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God
had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem's name led all
the rest!

James Henry Leigh Hunt

Answer 10

According to the bible no, but for the athiest he doesn't care because he is able to come to grips with the fact that he is gonna go the same place everyone else goes..in a box under six feet of dirt and some sod...