I am a catholic and my father has always been an atheist, which I respect a lot. He has always been a real caring father, respectful and always wanting to help people. I am very happy he is my father and if I was to be born again, I wished he was my parent again.
What do you think is the purpose of people like him in this world? What do you think is going to happen with him after he dies?
Please..no atheists answering this question :)
Thanks for your opinion
2007-07-22 11:48:29 · 25 answers · asked by Yerba74, Free Hugs 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think he'll still go to heaven,god loves everyone!
2007-07-22 11:52:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 3⤋
My father was a atheist, and a nicer step father you would find.
My own father died when I was three months old, my step father married my mum when I was three.
He spent a lot of time in hospital before he died, and the Christian group from St Georges Tron Church in Glasgow used to visit him regular. Then one day when I went to visit he was no longer a atheist. My father was really a lovely, what I am telling you that it is never to late, so don't worry. Stranger things have happened your father is a good man, God will find a way. God Bless. Hope that helps
2007-07-22 20:46:09 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is his purpose? I have no idea, I'm afraid. But as for after he dies, I can offer some opinion and insight.
Official Catholic teaching states that we cannot know the mind of God and, therefore, we can't say for absolute certain that any person or group of people will not be granted salvation. I personally think that God is going to confront us not only with what we believed, but what we did with those beliefs. There is a passage in scripture where Jesus says that those who are not against us are for us... to me, that says that those who don't work against God are not somehow "the enemy" just because they are not Christian.
All this to say, my personal belief is that all of us, your father included, will be called to make an account of our lives, and our actions will be considered as well as our words and religion.
2007-07-22 19:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the wonderful things about God is that He always looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. He knows why your father is an atheist, and in the end He will save whom He chooses, because He sees what we cannot see in our hearts.
At the same time, since the only way of salvation is through Christ, and the only means revealed to us is the sacraments, you still have a responsibility to watch for the right opportunities to share with him the work God has done in your life.
Always pray for him, and always honor him. You are Christ's ambassador, and you may turn out to be God's instrument for bringing him to salvation.
2007-07-22 19:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous Lutheran 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul -- a destiny which can be different for some and for others.< Cf Lk 16:22; 23-43... Mt 16:26 ... 2 Cor 5-8 ... Phil 1:23 ... Heb 9-27; 12-23 >
1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately, -- or immediate and everlasting damnation.
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.
2125 Since it (atheism) rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion. The imputability of this offense can be significantly diminished in virtue of the intentions and the circumstances. "Believers can have more than a little to do with the rise of atheism. To the extent that they are careless about their instruction in the faith, or present its teaching falsely, or even fail in their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal rather than to reveal the true nature of God and of religion."
2007-07-22 19:11:50 · answer #5 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If he is a good man and led a good life, then he will go to heaven. If he truly believes what he believes, he will be saved. I am sure that your prayers somehow will help intercede. Maybe someday he will start to listen to your point of view. I think that a lot of proclaimed atheists just want to be convinced. Like my son said to me when he was 9 and asked to see Santa at the mall, "I don't want to take any chances, just in case there really is a Santa".
Maybe there are people in this world like him so that we can re-examine how we truly feel about our faith. I really haven't thought that much about my faith until recently when I stumbled on this Yahoo Answers place and started reading some of the posts. I felt compelled to write and find now that I have a renewed love for my religion. I am Catholic as well and have been defending my religion with great fervor. This is truly unlike me, but feel I have no choice. So, if it weren't for non-believers, we wouldn't have to defend our faith and try to help people we love to follow the right path. God bless you.
2007-07-22 18:59:00 · answer #6 · answered by The Watcher 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I just watched Father Antoine Thomas on EWTN yesterday answer a question from a little girl who asked "do unborn babies who die go to heaven or purgatory?" And Father answered "do we know? no. What we do is hope". I think this is the best answer for your question about your dad. God will decide. We can hope.
2007-07-22 20:16:13 · answer #7 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The first thing I would say is why do you respect your father's athiest belief knowing its wrong and antiGod. Not to say you should not respect your father as a person and respect his wisdom and knowledge he has gained over the years. You should kill him with kindness and show him how Christ is changing your life. The Bible is very clear what will happen to anyone who is an unbeliever. It does not exclude someone just because you have a close relationship with them. If someone asked you what would happen to their friend if they were an unbeliever, what would you tell them? The same things goes for your father. You just need to bath him in prayer.
2007-07-22 18:59:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
i cant say. think wise i wont say either. you would need to pray and ask God to answere this. however Biblical i would say that it says first you must confess Jesus is our savior to get to heaven. no questions asked. there are many good people out there but does not mean they will make it to heaven. the Bible also says we must be born or water and Spirit. and that we are saved by grace thru faith. and faith is dead without works.
you can only pray and hope he will change and turn to God. again i believe the Bible is clear that we must be born again to make it to heaven. there are many who believe in Jesus and also wont make it. the Bible says not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven. just like it says satan believes and trembles.
a lot of people want to say that yeah if you are a good person you will be saved. again i cant say yes or no because i am not the one to judge who makes it. but the Bible says unless you believe in Jesus you are none of his. there is more then just believing as i stated about baptized and keeping his commands. many will claim that we are not saved by works as well. and say the Bible says that. the Bible i have says we are not saved by works alone. nothing about we are not saved by works but works alone. this said i take it as just because you are a good person and do many nice things does not save you as well. you need faith in him as well. at the same time faith is dead without works. so we need both. faith and works. works are reading the Bible, going to church, witnessing, helping someone, etc. etc. anyways hope this helps
p.s. i am not catholic so they may say something else i am an apostolic pentecostal and love our Lord Jesus Christ and i use King James Bible
2007-07-22 18:58:25 · answer #9 · answered by dannamanna99 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can see by your question you love your father very much.My believe is that when your father passes the hurt will be almost unbearable.In time you reassess your live and the meaning off it.I have lost both my parents and they constantley remind me with the grace of god we will meet in perpetuaty.Love him you shall meet again call it what you will .you know what i'm saying
2007-07-22 19:26:39 · answer #10 · answered by mach 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's his belief, and for catholics, Atheist may be temptations to give up Faith. If he is good, and has a reason to believe such, i highly doubt that he will go to hell. But of course, many of the other faiths are believed to be sent to purgatory, then again, purgatory is Pre-heaven... a cleansing, if you will.
2007-07-22 18:54:00 · answer #11 · answered by hdemonking 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋