I am someone raised in a Christian household struggling to make sense of my religion. Christians believe that those who believe in Jesus Christ and his death will receive eternal life in heaven while those who do not will be tormented in hell for eternity. Now, most people who believe this were born and brought up as Christians. They were not one religion and persuaded to convert to Christianity. Would you have the courage to leave every belief you ever knew because someone said your beliefs were wrong and his or hers is right? Who are we to tell some Hindu or Athiest or Muslim or Jew that they are going to hell if they don't convert. Most of us were never asked to make the same difficult decision. What about all the people who lived and died throughout history who never heard of Jesus? Are we to believe that a loving and just God would send them to eternal torment in Hell?
2007-11-09 02:26:32 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"I am Love and mercy itself. My heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especally for poor sinners....My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or angel, will ever be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come from the debths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity."
-- Divine Mercy.
2007-11-09 02:39:39 · answer #1 · answered by the good guy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow, for the first time in my life I see a Cristian person questioning such issues. I am very glad. And yes we truly have no right to JUDGE anyone just because they do not share the beliefs that we were brought up with-that would be unCristianlike! So there it is. Live and let live, let others believe what they feel fits their perception without judging them, after all you really don't have a proof that Jesus even existed.
2007-11-09 12:48:05 · answer #2 · answered by Decoder333 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that many of us HAVE experienced, in some way, having to face family that doesn't believe. When I went to Korea, I didn't participate in activities that I thought were un-Christlike - and I was looked down upon because of it. But I refused to compromise my beliefs. I've had friends who had been further persecuted by their parents because of similar issues.
We are to tell Jews, Muslisms, atheists and others that they are wrong out of love. Because we don't want to see them end up in hell, we witness and evangelize. We want to see people saved.
As for those who have never heard of Jesus, I do not know. I do know that we should all know that there is a God. How God will judge those who have never heard of Jesus Christ, I do not know - but I do know that God is just and full of mercy. I know that in my own life and in scripture, and can bank of it. I trust Him more than I trust myself, and know that His mercies far outweigh my own.
2007-11-09 10:37:19 · answer #3 · answered by TWWK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as those who may have died having never heard of Jesus; that question is answered in clear, easy-to-understand language by the apostle Paul in Romans 2:11-16.
No sense in me repeating it here. Just take a moment to read it.
2007-11-09 11:04:54 · answer #4 · answered by Wilson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can I know if someone is going to Hell?
I can't! Only God can tell. It's not for me to judge anyone, not the Atheists, Protestants, Muslims, Jews or fellow Catholics.
I can tell you what I believe. Do you share my belief or not? It's up to you. I'm not going to tell you that you will be in Heaven or Hell. As I said, that's not for me to decide.
2007-11-09 10:38:00 · answer #5 · answered by Papucho 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to accept sometimes, but the truth is that those people who do not accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as attoning for their sins, then they will go to Hell. If they have never heard of Christ before, then that is a failing of ours, not theirs. However, this does not change the fact that they will still go to Hell. God can not allow sin into Heaven, and mans nature is sinful. Man is only cleansed by accepting the sacrifice that Christ made for us. Those who do not accept will go to Hell, whether they know of Jesus or not.
Therefore it is our responsibility, as believing Christians, to make sure that everyone we know has the opportunity to come to Christ.
2007-11-09 10:32:09 · answer #6 · answered by James W 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To find out how merciful God is, we have to probe how much great things He has been doing throughout the universe. Nature to speak with is awesome. According to the Bible, He built it within 7 days. 'Let there be light and there is light.'.
Just think of the sins and evilness of mankind will make Him truly a merciful God.
2007-11-09 10:35:26 · answer #7 · answered by DivCW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone were to ask, ‘Who is your God?’ A Muslim response would be, ‘The Most-Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy.’ According to Islamic sources, the prophets, while emphasizing God’s judgment, also proclaimed His mercy. In Muslim scripture, God introduces Himself as:
“He is God, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Most-Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy.” (Quran 59:22)
In Islamic vocabulary ar-Rahman and al-Raheem are the personal names of the Living God. Both are derived from the noun rahmah, which signifies “mercy”, “compassion”, and “loving tenderness”. Ar-Rahman describes God’s nature of being All-Merciful, while ar-Raheem describes His acts of mercy dispensed to His creation, a subtle difference, but one which shows His all encompassing mercy.
“Say, ‘Call upon God or call upon the Most-Merciful (ar-Rahman), whichever name you call – to Him belong the most Beautiful Names….’” (Quran 17:110)
These two Names are some of the most frequently used Names of God in the Quran: ar-Rahman is used fifty seven times, while al-Raheem is used twice as much (a hundred and fourteen).[1] One conveys a greater sense of loving-kindness, the Prophet said:
“Indeed, God is Kind, and loves kindness. He grants with kindness what He does not grant with harshness.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Both are also divine attributes signifying God’s relationship with creation.
“Praise be to God, the Lord of All the Worlds; the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy.” (Quran 1:2-3)
In a prayer which Muslims recite at least seventeen times a day, they start with saying:
“In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy. Praise be to God, the Lord of All the Worlds; the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy.” (Quran 1:1-3)
These powerful words evoke a divine response:
“When the servant says: ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of All the Worlds,’ I (God) say: ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When he says: ‘the Most Merciful, the Dispenser of Mercy,’ I (God) say: ‘My servant has extolled Me.’” (Saheeh Muslim)
2007-11-09 10:29:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How merciful is god? Not very, from the "evidence" we've got. God's allegedly everywhere, except where there are wildfires, or people flying planes into buildings, or a child being beaten to death. Then, apparently, god's on vacation on Jupiter or something. He didn't even show mercy to his own son, right?
2007-11-09 10:31:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
God is just......and all people are born into sin.
We ALL need Christ for salvation. You are either in or out.......there is no gray area.
The world either serves God or satan.
It's one or the other............and Hindus, atheists & muslims got it all wrong
2007-11-09 10:28:50 · answer #10 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋