Do you believe that only Catholic Christians will go to heaven and other Christians will go to hell? Sorry if i offend anyone but i genuinely want to know..
2007-09-01 07:07:27 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
The Catholic Church teaches:
Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.
Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church.
All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him.
For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 819: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm#819
With love in Christ.
2007-09-02 09:30:28 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No offense at all.
Personally I don't think non-Catholics are destined to hell. I say this very confidently, based on the Catholic Cathecism, which defines three different forms of baptism into the Church:
1. Baptism through the sacrament
2. Baptism throguh blood- concerning those people who died as martyrs before having the chance to be baptised
3. Baptism through wish - concerning those people who live ignorant of the Catholic faith, even opposed to it, but would immedately choose to be baptised if they realised how good it really is.
This last form includes people of other faiths and denominations, and I think even atheists, because it is another Catholic teaching that every human being is in a search for God - wether conscious or supressed, the ultimate wish of every human is to "know and serve God". So the way I understand it, the Catholic Church is truly Universal, including these people also.
Another point, let's not forget that Pope Pius XII entrusted all of humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - not just Catholics but the entire world.
The third reason I can give you, why I think non-Catholics in the strict sense of the word can be saved, is from the visions of a Polish Nunn, who was cannonised as the first Saint of the 21st Century by John Paul II, "spreading a message of Mercy to a sinful world." In these visions Jesus is noted as saying:
"My soul is poured out as a fountain of Mercy, especially for poor sinners...The greater the sinner, the more right he has to my mercy."
So it looks like the Christians who oppose the Church have this same right to Mercy that we Catholics do, if not more. But the source of this Mercy is found within the Catholic Church.
... a confused ramble, but I hope it helped.
2007-09-02 20:59:57 · answer #2 · answered by the good guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I do not believe that, and I am a Catholic, and a fairly well-educated one. Catholics have never really held that belief, though there is some argument about whether one is a full member of "the Church" if one is not a Catholic. I think God is too large-hearted for such nonsense, and that there will be room for everyone who honestly tries to live a good life and help one's neighbour, even if one does not :know "God" in any personal sense.
I think we will have some huge surprises in heaven.
And did you know that the Catholic Church does not actually teach that there is anyone in hell?
2007-09-01 14:17:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No way. Catholics believe that other Christians do have alot of the truth and can get to heaven, but they have to follow the commandments of God; they do have truth, but the fullness of the faith is in the Catholic Church.
2007-09-01 14:52:00 · answer #4 · answered by Terial 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
thanks for not making it a mean question, no not only catholics will go to heaven I no I don't believe that, but honestly i'm not sure what I believe becasue I don't follow the bible and stuff like that so I'm not really catholic because I don't believe all that they say but everyone has a different opion then everyone else unless you strictly folow the bible
But I believe that if there is a heaven then most good people will go
2007-09-01 14:13:10 · answer #5 · answered by me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised Catholic, even thought of becoming a nun...
Now, I don't believe in any of this. So I believe nobody is going to heaven or hell...
If God is all compassionate, how can he send other christians to hell? Or Muslims? or Buddhists? Or Jewish?
This was just a story to keep us scared or hopeful.
Remember how a few years ago there was still a purgatory? And now there's none!
2007-09-01 14:53:01 · answer #6 · answered by Someone S 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I am not a Catholic, but my mothers side of the family is & I am familiar with the religion, but my answer is absolutely not & I would bet my bottom dollar that my mom & grandma, etc.. would say the same. I sure do hope no one would hold themselves or their choice of religion up so high as to believe rubbish like that. When it all comes down to it, until judgement day we do not know who is right or wrong, we just only know that the Catholic church is the most "powerful" organized religion, not the most "right". (That may not be worded to good, but I think you can get my point :)
2007-09-01 14:17:53 · answer #7 · answered by ♥RickySrsWife♥ 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Of course not. All baptized Christians in the state of grace may go to Heaven. That's Jesus' call. The Catholic Church teaches that there are three different forms of Baptism too---Baptism of desire, Baptism of blood, Baptism with water. This is the betrothal to Jesus that is binding and is the entrance into the marriage contract that makes us a member of the Body of Christ. Jesus is all merciful and so he may save whomever he wants to save as he knows their heart but, we must be careful though because Scripture tells us there are people who will feel they are very confident they will be saved because of their supposed relationship to God but, he will say "Away from me you evil doers, for I do not know you". We need to ask ourselves if we are one of them and desire to enter by the narrow gate.
I see Witness above is the epitome of the term "identity theft"
2007-09-01 14:24:03 · answer #8 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Catholic doctrine teaches that Muslims will go to heaven....but I'm not sure if it considers Protestants saved...
Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium 16, November 21, 1964: “…The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day…”
Kind of weird huh?
2007-09-01 14:11:18 · answer #9 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Former Catholic who is now Lutheran. No I think all people who believe in God go to heaven and I don't think we can judge other religions either. One of the reasons I left the Catholic faith is because I got really irritated at their our way or the highway mentality. The Bible ultimately says it's not our place to judge (without quoting specifics and exact wording) and I don't think any religion has the power/right/authority/final say in who will or will not go to heaven.
2007-09-01 14:12:50 · answer #10 · answered by Cash 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋