2006-11-09 15:01:05 · 14 answers · asked by . 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
According to Christianity, yes they can. Which nullifies utterly the idea of God being "just". All they have to do is grovel properly and they're in. Meanwhile, all the kids he abused and traumatized and possibly renounced his church get to fry for eternity.
Nice god you guys have got there...
2006-11-09 15:06:20 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 7 · 7⤊ 7⤋
This might be the most appropriate question for me to answr as I'm Buddhist, but what the hey, I'll throw in my several rupees.
The idea of good and evil have a little different meaning in Buddhism. Instead of associating good and evil with a deity, I see it as how it effects the wheel of Karma. One of the five precepts of Buddhism is to refrain from sexual misconduct, which pedophilia is.
What going against the laws of Karma does is add to the suffering that a person has in their life. This is the major consequence, which goes beyond the concepts of heaven and hell. Instead, the effect occurs in our world as it makes finding the end of suffering (Nirvana) that much harder.
The wheel of Karma doesn't lead to a destination of a permanent nature. It just goes around and around. The only way that I know to get off of the wheel is to achieve enlightenment. Probably a good analogy is to imagine Karma as a LP record, while enlightenment moves you away from the centre to the edge and ultimately off, while running against the laws of Karma move you towards the centre.
I suppose that the short answer is that pedophilia, by anyone, doesn't lead you onto a road to the end of suffering, or Paradise if you wish, but it need not be an eternally damning thing either. It is something that should be put behind them in order to have a greater communion with God, the Universe, or whatever you believe.
Hope that helps.
2006-11-10 05:04:52 · answer #2 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Do Adulterers? How bout Murderers, cheaters, theifs, liars, etc.?
Its sin, period. God knows that we all sin. In his eyes we are ALL sinners and thats why he gave us a saviour, who is available to all, so that our sins are covered. Its those who accept this gift who will be accepted in heaven. If you think its based on good works, you will be dissapointed. So the pedophile preacher is only going to heaven if he is a TRUE beliver and has repented. If only everyone had to go around with a big card around their neck telling everyone what sins they are guilty of, I bet no one would be so judgemental. God hates the sin, loves the sinner, and all will have their consequences.
2006-11-09 15:07:52 · answer #3 · answered by Coco 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The fact that they are pedophiles I think is enough proof that they are not what they profess to be.. so as long as they remain in the sin and never seek forgiveness or repent of what they did, they sure would not go to heaven.
2006-11-09 15:08:50 · answer #4 · answered by smashingdon 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What? I don't belong here.. with THEM! Why would I want to rub elbows with sex offenders? Don't we have enough of that on earth?
What an insult! No, I deserve something better.. or eternal damnation if it gets me away from them. I'd rather rot in HELL than sit next to a repentant child molestor. Yeah! That would teach God!
No, clearly, the only way a person could give this question more than a cursory glance and then dismiss it from their own thought is if they didn't believe in hell, didn't believe in their own sinfulness, and didn't believe in God's grace. This is the question of the older brother in the tale of the Prodigal Son. "What?! He left and ruined everything and hurt people in the process, and you welcome him back with open arms! That's NOT FAIR!"
Let's forget for a moment the sheer audacity of judging God (memories of Job linger here). Let's forget what it means to arbitrate human standards of justice on God (the infamous split baby nonmother found cleaving the child in two to be "fair"). Let's leave aside human dictates of holiness and worthiness in pursuit of sanctification (the Pharisees had a bit to say on that).
What is the alternative to rubbing elbows with sinners?
1. Only truly holy people, not bad sinners, get to heaven.
Are you without sin? Have you never acted in a way that caused hurt to another, either deliberately or unknowingly? Have you ever broken someone's heart? Have you ever caused harm to yourself through your decision or indecision? Have you ever done anything you've known to be wrong? Told a lie or even stretched the truth a little? Have you ever spoken with arrogance or been rude? Have you caused pollution or wasted resources? Have you been selfish, even to not sharing a crayon in first grade with that dorky kid who wore coke-bottle glasses? Did you think that he was dorky? Did you ever not do something nice because it wasn't convenient to take just a moment of time or a little spare change? Are you without sin?
I'm not.
2. God only forgives sin up to a certain point. Little sins are ok but not big ones.
So if only really truly holy people go to heaven, then what's the point for a sinner like me? On the other hand, maybe God really does like He promises, and forgives all sins. Washes every one clean in the blood of the Lamb.
Or maybe He only washes some of us. Those of us that deserve it. Those of us who don't molest children or murder people.
What if someone beats another person until they're only mostly dead. "There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive. "(Miracle Max [1]) So the man who did the almost-killing isn't a murderer, he's an almost murderer, even if he meant to beat the other guy up and maybe even kill him. Is he still going to be eligible for forgiveness? No? How about if he gets someone to ALMOST mostly dead? Then? You see where this leads. Ultimately, its these shades of blended grey with no clear distinction that lead Jesus to proclaim that to even look at a woman and desire to know her carnally would be to commit the sin of adultery with her; because the differences are imperceptable... its a blackbody radiation spectrum,the spectrum of sin is, not a line spectrum. The Sin-o-Meter above demonstrates the concept.
3. There is no hell.
This argument cannot be expounded on much, because you pretty much either believe that there are consequences for your sinfulness that include hell or you don't. I happen to believe that the Bible said that the wages of sin is death, that the unforgiven will be cast into the firy pit, and that whatever is in store for me without God's grace is something I'd rather not face. I am not prepared at this time to get into the exact nature of that alternative destination, except to say with certainty it is not a place where "there are no more tears or sorrow".
One is left, then, believing one of these postulates. With the first, you do not need God's grace, because you think you'll save yourself. It makes the question much more akin to Groucho Marx's infamous postulate "I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me for a member."
With the second, you think you can find a point of "forgiveable" and "unforgiveable" on a spectrum. This is the danger of that infinitely overquoted statement "Judge not, lest ye be judged with the measure you use." It means that on the sin-o-meter, there's only ONE measurement.. guilty. Not "a little guilty" or "a lot guilty". Just "guilty". In much simpler terms, you either are connected to God or you aren't. It's an I/O switch to a dimmer bulb.. as long as its on, the bulb is on, no matter how dim.
In the third scenario, what are you doing postulating on the intricacies of something to which you don't even accept the premise? While Heaven is desireable in and of itself, if you think there are myriad other wonderful existences, you have no particular reason to wish for Heaven. Then you're right.. why would you degrade yourself to be near those dirty rotten sinners.
As for me, I'm very glad that God forgives everyone. I'm thankful that I'm forgiven, because on a lot of scales I'd be unforgiveable. And when I get to Heaven, and if I see a repentant pedophile minister, I will rejoice that God managed to find beauty in such brokeness. Even as I weep now for those who are harmed by such.
2006-11-09 17:37:05 · answer #5 · answered by Tomteboda 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Who enters Heaven is totally up to God.
But I would hope not, as it is probably the worst of sins to take a child's innocence from them.
2006-11-09 15:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by mesquitemachine 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
All sinners who sincerely repent of their sins can go to heaven. Good thing for you and me, as well as them! Would be pretty tough if they repented and got in, and I didn't repent and got shut out. That's why I worry about my sins, not theirs.
2006-11-09 15:21:26 · answer #7 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Where is this heaven place. I`ll get a gun.
2006-11-09 19:44:45 · answer #8 · answered by wolfe_tone43 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
eventually after purgatory and if they repent. that maybe the only flaw to their character. however some may abuse their position and trust. God is omnipresent and omnipotent also loving and forgiving. Only he can judge.
2006-11-09 15:12:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, but they are put on the divine registered sex offenders list, so all the other angels will know who their neighbors are.
2006-11-09 15:05:36 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Scott M, ur a pretty screwed up dude....I mean ur thinking. "Let He who is without sin, cast the first stone" R u so perfect?
2006-11-09 15:13:24 · answer #11 · answered by mstrywmn 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋