According to Catholicism, how...?

Question

According to Catholicism, how does one get to heaven?
What is the criteria for gaining access to God and Heaven?
Who can get to heaven?

Please answer both of these completely WITH scripture from the Bible to back it up.

Thanks!

Be specific, please...

"love your neighbor" is not a good enough answer...

Let's assume I have a knife in my back, I have five minutes to live, WHAT SHOULD I DO (according to the Catholic Church) IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SALVATION?????????

BE SPECIFIC!!!

OKAY, so if anyone can be saved, then why should I need to join the catholic church? What is the need for me to get saved now if I will be given a choice before God after death?

What's the point? Use scripture or the Catechism!!! I want point-blank answers here! Don't skirt the issue with wishy-washy junk!

Answer 1

That is the WHOLE reason for the Bible and the Catholic Church, so my Reference is the Holy Bible, all of it.

And to understand what and how Catholics feel about it, my reference is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, all of it.

But if you want a short answer, we Catholics do not believe that only Catholics, or even only Christians go to heaven, we also do not believe that all Catholics or Christians will go to heaven, but we are not to judge others.

If you want the in depth answer, read the Catechism and the Bible.

Peace and God Bless!

5 Minutes is all, are you living a dangerous life? You can profess to believing in God and accept Jesus Christ as your savior, you can receive emergency baptism, and ask for forgiveness of your sins.

That, according to the Church should do it, (Not an Expert, you might ask at www.Catholic.com) but that is pretty close. Now that does not mean you have been absolved of all your sin, most likely not, since your soul cannot enter heaven until is is pure as a Saint, (If it could heaven would NOT be perfect) you would most likely spend some time in Purgatory (Not Hell) as a time to cleanse your soul and become saintly.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Although the Catholics use a "Form" of the Bible, they very seldom refer to it unless in an attempt to support the "Church's Authority" above All!!! That is to say, they IGNORE verses that are in their "Bible", just as Christians KNOW & UTILIZE those same verses to set people FREE!!! The Catholics want to Dominate ALL ASPECTS of their members lives from before birth to after death!!! They arrange marriages, children, education, giving and after death, if a "priest' says to the family that he doesn't think the departed is in Heaven, they arrange for the family to pay for people to "Pray" the departed into Heaven!!! With that kinda scam going for them, do U really think they spend much time telling their members about "Salvation through Christ alone, not of works lest any man should boast"!!! Eph.2:8&9 The "Catholic" church is NOT a part of Salvation, if anything, it's a Hinderance!!! That's counter productive to tell people they can be Saved on thier own if that's Ur "Business"!!! How do U think they became the richest church in the world??? John

Answer 3

Jesus is the Way the Truth and Light.
He suffered died and asked the apostles to teach all nations. The Church continues that apostolic Tradition, the Word of God was not written down in book form until around the 300s. The New Testament was written in Aramaic, Greek & Latin the major languages of the times.
To get to Heaven you must know, love and serve God in this world and love your neighbor as yourself. Since God is the final judge He decides who goes to Heaven we can only hope for the promise of salvation.
There is no step by step criteria for salvation, its all in God's hands but Jesus also told Peter the gates of Hell will not prevail against her and it has withstood the test of time for a couple of thousand years. Its a safe bet the Church knows what it is talking about when it tells us what is morally right and wrong, despite the press never quoting anything completely right to stir up controversy. It's all about Faith.

Answer 4

Hi Tagan,

The problem you're having - the reason you are not getting any point blank answers - is because Catholicism does not teach a cookie cutter approach to salvation.

There is no promise that if you do A), B) and C) you will attain heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 9 - St. Paul tells us this is a race we must run in earnest. Run so as to win.

Even St. Paul himself who was called by Jesus directly - was never certain he'd go to Heaven. If you read the epistles you will see this common thread.

The danger in being told, as many Protestant denominations do, that if you do A), B) and C) you will attain heaven - is that people do this and then sit back on their laurels. I've won the race. I can rest now. Salvation is mine.

Christianity isn't about self love. It's about love of the other. Jesus didn't go to the cross for himself. He went to the cross for us. For those who hated him. As Christians we are called to do the same.

It's not about us. It's about "them." The others. The lost ones.

Early Christians never stopped. The apostles never got to the point where they felt they were "saved" and could sit back and rest. Nor did the people they preached to.

Early Christians amazed the pagans of their day with their love of everyone. They took care of anyone and everyone. We've really lost that. We need to back up. Jesus said love one another as I have loved you. That's the NUMBER ONE Commandment. He was willing to die for people who despised him. Do any of us have that kind of heart?

Christianity is a narrow road with a tiny gate. Jesus tells us that himself. The road isn't easy and the gate must be continually fought for.

Catholicism also teaches that we can not know the mind of God. People we consider sinners may be doing God's work. Jesus hung out with those condemned by the religious leaders of his day. Tax collectors and prostitutes. I imagine today he'd be hanging out on the Castro since so many Christians love to bash the gay people. Jesus does not approve of this. There is no room for hate in Christianity.

Anyone who says he's going up and she's going down is claiming to know the mind of God and as such committing an act of heresy.

PS: Um, friend Moose? I beg to differ. I have a weekly bible study group. I've read several versions of the bible. Both Protestant and Catholic.

Answer 5

You don't just get a ticket to heaven. Anyone can go to heaven, not just certain people. You have to know God, talk to him. Have faith in Him. There is no criteria. According to Catholicism, when you die you meet God face to face and He gives you a choice. A choice to follow Him or not. He gives you free will. If you are not purified of all sin you enter a place called pergatory. This is a place where you pray to God and ask for his forgiveness until all of your sins are forgiven. It isn't a bad place, but not as great as heaven. Then eventually you get into heaven.

Answer 6

From jnsr...'

In the infinite Mercy of God,

you can still make amends.

*******



30 December 2006



MARY: There are those who pray for themselves, for the sins committed during their life, and those who, sometimes are the same people, also pay for others. I will spare them from having to do it if one of the people in debt repents and in turn pays for the sins left during his stay in Holy Purgatory.

But like all of those who reach a Sacred Land,

by the Holy Spirit I will force them to take off their shoes

because the ground having being declared Holy,

every one must show a deep Respect.



To enter Holy Paradise,

whether you are great or small,

this Holy Rule will apply.

Because nobody can allow himself to be insolent to the point of being disrespectful.

Your God is Love and Charity

but if you have rejected Him on this Earth

you should know that in Heaven you will not be able to enter

unless you take off your awful manners, your lack of gratitude and your odd habits.



When you go through the first door, know that you are here to be purified.

Neither water nor soap will be needed.

It will not be your face or your body that will need to be washed,

it is once again your soul that you still possess and that from God was born.





To understand what you have not done during your life and the evil you have done too much, it is time today, if you are alive, to make amends.



The Most Holy Virgin Mary

with a soul from Purgatory.



†

† †
'

Answer 7

First things first. The scenario you mention, what I would do is baptize you

The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.

Answer 8

There was a scholar of the law 11 who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live."


If you have a knife in your back with only five minutes to live, you should show love to the person who but the knife in your back by forgiving him or her.

Answer 9

I'm not going with scripture.. but from the old Catechism.

To enter heaven one must die in the state of grace.

If you have a mortal sin.. you're doomed to eternal fire...

Answer 10

1) You have to believe in God.
2) You must accept Jesus as His Son.
3) You must receive the Holy Sacrements.
4) Your good deeds must outweigh your bad, unless you have gone to confession before you die.