It's for those who are morally good and pure in spirit. For instance, between a Christian who drinks and abuses ppl and a Hindu that has always been a positive influence and essentially good person chances are the Hindu would be accepted into "Heaven" or "Nirvana" over the Christian...
Thoughts?
2007-05-31 09:46:33 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm just wondering why you felt a need to single out Catholics. I'm a Catholic, and have never gone around saying that heaven is for Catholics only, nor have I ever once been instructed to do so my clergy.
2007-05-31 09:50:59 · answer #1 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, following historic Christian theology since the time of the early Church Fathers, refers to the Catholic Church as "the universal sacrament of salvation" (CCC 774–776), and states: "The Church in this world is the sacrament of salvation, the sign and the instrument of the communion of God and men" (CCC 780).
Many people misunderstand the nature of this teaching.
Indifferentists, going to one extreme, claim that it makes no difference what church one belongs to. Certain radical traditionalists, going to the other extreme, claim that unless one is a full-fledged, baptized member of the Catholic Church, one will be damned.
The following quotations from the Church Fathers give the straight story. They show that the early Church held the same position on this as the contemporary Church does—that is, while it is normatively necessary to be a Catholic to be saved (see CCC 846; Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 14), there are exceptions, and it is possible in some circumstances for people to be saved who have not been fully initiated into the Catholic Church (CCC 847).
Notice that the same Fathers who declare the normative necessity of being Catholic also declare the possibility of salvation for some who are not Catholics.
These can be saved by what later came to be known as "baptism of blood" or " baptism of desire" (for more on this subject, see the Fathers Know Best tract, The Necessity of Baptism).
The Fathers likewise affirm the possibility of salvation for those who lived before Christ and who were not part of Israel, the Old Testament People of God.
However, for those who knowingly and deliberately (that is, not out of innocent ignorance) commit the sins of heresy (rejecting divinely revealed doctrine) or schism (separating from the Catholic Church and/or joining a schismatic church), no salvation would be possible until they repented and returned to live in Catholic unity.
2007-05-31 16:53:18 · answer #2 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's good from a humans view but not God. First of all, no one is good except for the Father. Second, you can be good and still be wrong. Would you pass a math test with the wrong answer but you meant well? Also, a "Christian" who lives like the devil is most likely not a true Christian, but a social one, but not actually saved. Also, Hindus have heard of Christ, so therefore they would be rejecting Christ which is the ulitimate wrong.
P.S. Ya, RC, not good. It's close to the anit-christ as we've seen. Teaching a false gospel.
2007-05-31 16:53:05 · answer #3 · answered by yaabro 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's correct - and is exactly what the Catholic Church teaches. The graces of the blood of Jesus made salvation possible. But Jesus can dispense those graces as He sees fit. His love and mercy are not bound by the beliefs of any manmade denomination, especially considering that the very existence of denominations is a direct rejection of His stated will.
2007-05-31 16:50:11 · answer #4 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
All Christians can go to Heaven
2007-05-31 16:51:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are Catholic, that's what Pope John Paul II had stated in several speeches. I think Protestants would disagree though.
2007-05-31 17:06:44 · answer #6 · answered by TOM 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heaven is for those people that believe in Jesus, and have repented of their sin, and had their names written in the lambs book of life.And no body El's.
2007-05-31 16:53:28 · answer #7 · answered by thanks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
catholics believe good works are important, so i don't know what you're talking about singling out catholics
2007-05-31 16:52:46 · answer #8 · answered by (insert creative name here) 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. The only way to get to heaven is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Without Him, you will die in your sins.
2007-05-31 16:49:49 · answer #9 · answered by D. S 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Yes, and what do beer and orange juice have in common? Neither are just for breakfast any more.
2007-05-31 16:53:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋