I was having a conversation today. My friend said that no matter how good the Atheist was, they would not go to heaven (she is Christian). So my question is, if one of the following were to go to hell, which would it be...
1. A nun who has devoted her entire life to the worship of God. A life spent in prayer and near solitude in a convent somewhere removed from society in general.
2. A Christian, who attended church weekly, and bible study, married a fellow Christian, raised 4 Christian children. Protested on weekends about the evils of homosexuality and petitioned for the removal of the theory of evolution from the school syllabus.
3. An Atheist who spent their entire adult life volunteering in Africa, helping save lives. Not getting paid, living in near squalor. Gunned down by the rebels.
So to the point of this question - Do people go to hell based on their beliefs or their actions (assuming of course that God and hell etc actually existed)?
2007-05-24 21:37:01 · 28 answers · asked by Sarcasma 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, since I just asked a question with narrow choices, I have to go along and pick one of your options. I pick #2, only because I believe that a true Christian should spend their time helping people who really need it. Wasting your time on what consenting adults do in their bedrooms or preventing the spread of knowledge about how God created the world is sinful in my eyes, because that time could have been better spent on some other cause that has real merit.
And yes, I believe your actions and what you do in your lifetime and how you affect the people around you are what determine where you go when you die. I think to believe that God would send an athiest to hell even though they did nothing but good things with their life is an insult to God.
2007-05-24 21:42:57 · answer #1 · answered by Reject187 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
if people went to hell according to their beliefs...then half of them would be in hell. options 1 and 2 are sheer stupidity, if everything could be achieved by prayers, then let us all pray when some kinda calamity occurs and wait for something to happen instead of showing some action...
a religion must be a guiding force....i believe at any given day that it does not matter if one has a staunch belief in god, all that matters is how far u have touched people's lives.....then, the entire purpose of whatever religion one belongs to is fulfilled.
y even discuss such topics...? each religion has something of it's own...this is a never ending discussion..
2007-05-25 04:54:47 · answer #2 · answered by nikita 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(assuming of course that God and hell etc actually existed)
That would have to be the one(s) that hadn't accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
1. Spending your life in worship and prayer does not mean you have accepted that Christ died for your sins.
2. A Christian in mind/deed is not necessarily a Christian in heart.
3. The Atheist is obvious.
To the point of your question, I would have to say their beliefs.
Remember: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
2007-05-25 04:50:13 · answer #3 · answered by OC 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As God, heaven and hell are all mythical constructs the question is pointless. However, who would I feel is worthy:
The Nun at least is not imposing her beliefs on others, the atheist is such a good person - let them enter.
The 'A Christian', no way, straight to hell - how dare they impose their myths on others.
2007-05-25 05:40:10 · answer #4 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They all would go to hell according to the Bible. John 3:3 says that you must be born again to see the kingdom of God.
Your church cannot save you and you cannot get salvation through good works either. Only Jesus can save you.
1)The nun is not born again because the catholics do not teach this. I use to be a catholic and know this to be true.
2)A Christian can attend as much church as they want, and go to as many organizations as they want but unless they are born again and have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, they will not see the kingdom of God.
3)The atheist may be sincere and doing good works, but they are non believers and are not born again. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Please don't think I am judging, because I am not, but only telling the truth according to what the Bible says.
2007-05-25 05:10:22 · answer #5 · answered by Dakota Lynn Takes Gun 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sorry, but only Christ will know this answer. He is the only one who is really able to look with in each of our hearts to know what each of us believe or do not believe.
Human beings do not have the ability to do that.
There are people who go to church every Sunday, but they may be just going through the motions. We as people might think wow, what a good christian when we see him there with out fail every Sunday. But, the Lord can see what is really within the heart to know if what is going on is real or not.
So then as I said, I can not answer this for you.
2007-05-25 04:48:33 · answer #6 · answered by Cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is right of course. No matter how good Atheists are they will not go to Heaven. That is one truth undeniable of Christians. So why not just leave it at that. Why postulate about who is going to Heaven or Hell. Isn't it just an oxymoron. BB
2007-05-25 04:56:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question relies on something like archetypes, as found in mythology.
The Bible disagrees with mythology. (1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 4:3, 4) It advocates for using one's time for God's glory as one moves through life. This is a personal life course, not something measured by what looks "successful" or "holy" from the outside.
Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
2007-05-25 04:43:11 · answer #8 · answered by MiD 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You go to Heaven by excepting Jesus as your personal savior,All have sinned and are short of the glory of God but Jesus died for our sins all you have to do is except him in your heart. Doing good deeds won't get you there.
God created man in his image, That means he feels many of the same things we do in our hearts. So with that in mind let me ask you this! If your neighbors house caught fire and you had one son and he went in the house to save everyone in there but then he died doing it, your neighbors were very giving people they help the poor and feed the hungry but they disrespected your son after he saved their lives, they Dennie that you son did anything for them, How would you feel about them? This is what God did, he sent his son that did nothing wrong to die for what we do wrong and all he ask is you to except him and honer him. What a great price he paid for us because he loves us that much and you think just being a good neighbor will get you in his kingdom when you Dennie him!
I think you better do a heart check, no matter how good you think you are, you are still a sinner. All God really wants is your love he will forgive you of everything, Do you really think he is asking too much? i don't understand how you can call yourself good and Dennie that kind of unconditional love.
2007-05-25 05:12:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I am a christian:
1. Most likely go to Hell - what a waste. No contribution to society. And God probably smack her head for not using her brain in helping humankind and just wait for miracles to happen.
2. Most likely go to Heaven
3. Straight to Hell - well, you know the reason.
2007-05-25 05:28:58 · answer #10 · answered by Slug 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋