"Atheists are more likely to go to Hell than religious people"

[Rete]

Actually being separated from God means no love. It’s agony. The atheist still enjoys abundant graces poured on them by God, but they refuse to accept Him (usually because they wish to legitimize some kind of sin). In death, they will get their wish, but it will be Hell. And I doubt it will be their atheism that specifically lands them there, but the sins which drove them to atheism.

For instance, how many times have you heard somebody come out as gay, and then later “discovered” they must be an atheist? How many people decide they want to cohabitate, engage in promiscuous sex, and then later decide God doesn’t exist, or they refashion God into their own image in order to justify their sin (idolatry).

Most of the time, I think a person’s professing atheism is only a symptom of deeper sins which, in the end, separate one from God. Obviously it’s between them and Christ, but if you are to take His words seriously, then a lot of people don’t make it to the finish line in His grace.

So a more accurate way to look at it, I think, is to focus on all of the acts this person does which separate them from God, and then point out that it could be their attachment to those sins that drives their attachment to atheism in the first place.

 

[triumphguy]

Actually being separated from God means no love. It’s agony. The atheist still enjoys abundant graces poured on them by God, but they refuse to accept Him (usually because they wish to legitimize some kind of sin). In death, they will get their wish, but it will be Hell. And I doubt it will be their atheism that specifically lands them there, but the sins which drove them to atheism.

For instance, how many times have you heard somebody come out as gay, and then later “discovered” they must be an atheist? How many people decide they want to cohabitate, engage in promiscuous sex, and then later decide God doesn’t exist, or they refashion God into their own image in order to justify their sin (idolatry).

Most of the time, I think a person’s professing atheism is only a symptom of deeper sins which, in the end, separate one from God. Obviously it’s between them and Christ, but if you are to take His words seriously, then a lot of people don’t make it to the finish line in His grace.

So a more accurate way to look at it, I think, is to focus on all of the acts this person does which separate them from God, and then point out that it could be their attachment to those sins that drives their attachment to atheism in the first place.

The duty of a person is not to believe in God, but to follow their conscience.

A person might be closer to God, and more honest and full of integrity by becoming an atheist if they are true to their conscience.

People don’t choose atheism because they want to sin (maybe some do, but I’m not privy to their inner spiritual life), but because they don’t believe.

And I for one have never heard of anyone coming to as gay and then conveniently saying later that they don’t believe in God.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

The question posed for this thread cannot be answered yes or no.

Reason: Many atheists repent of their sins (including the sin of atheism) on their deathbeds (I believe this). Many Christians die unrepentant of their sins (Ibelieve this). So the question defies a viable answer.

Whether atheist or Christian, those who die unrepentant of their sins are doomed.

For all we know, in heaven everywhere you look you might find a repentant atheist.

 

[tonyrey]

The duty of a person is not to believe in God, but to follow their conscience.

The Church teaches that our ultimate authority is our conscience.

 

[davidv]

The Church teaches that our ultimate authority is our conscience.

It also teaches that without proper formation the authority of our consciense can be wrong.

1786 Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

 

[tonyrey]

It also teaches that without proper formation the authority of our conscience can be wrong.

That is inevitable. We are not expected to be infallible but impeccable!

 

[Aloysium]

There are very moral people who identify themselves as atheists because, seeing all the suffering in this world, cannot reconcile it with the idea of a loving god; better no god than one who is brutal and detached. I imagine that they will be joyously surprised when they finally meet Him.
The rich man in the parable of Lazarus ends up in a very, very bad place only indirectly because of his beliefs; rather it is a result of how he conducted his life.
But I don’t really know.

 

[Roscoe_Turner]

Hell, by the Catholic definition, is living apart from God forever with all those who rejected God. This would mean being in the company of satan and all the other demons and fouls spirits (rapists, child molesters, murderers, etc.). The only other place is Heaven, the place where God dwells with all his angels and saints. There is only being with God for eternity (Heaven) or being without him for eternity (Hell). So, the only chance an atheist would have of going to Heaven would be to, at some point before he dies, give up being an atheist and repent and accept God. Because how can someone be an atheist while in the presence of God in Heaven? Ultimately, it is our choice where we will go for eternity. And the fact is that some people, because of their attachment to sin, would rather choose Hell than Heaven.

You are forgetting about Purgatory.

 

[Roscoe_Turner]

No, because an atheist on Earth is not separated from God. In Hell they will be.

I have a hard time with this. If God is omnipresent how can you be separated from Him. There is no place He is Not.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

**Roscoe

I have a hard time with this. If God is omnipresent how can you be separated from Him. There is no place He is Not. **

God is not in hell. Don’t look for him there!

 

[Roscoe_Turner]

**Roscoe

I have a hard time with this. If God is omnipresent how can you be separated from Him. There is no place He is Not. **

God is not in hell. Don’t look for him there!

You’re saying He’s not Omnipresent.

Pslam 139: 7-8

7 Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee?

8 If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

**Aloysium

There are very moral people who identify themselves as atheists because, seeing all the suffering in this world, cannot reconcile it with the idea of a loving god; better no god than one who is brutal and detached.**

This is not a valid reason to be an atheist. It is a cop-out. An atheist who thinks like this is just looking for a reason to think he doesn’t need God. God in no way can ever create in us a conscience that allows us to honestly think that he is evil or doesn’t exist.

 

[Roscoe_Turner]

**Aloysium

There are very moral people who identify themselves as atheists because, seeing all the suffering in this world, cannot reconcile it with the idea of a loving god; better no god than one who is brutal and detached.**

This is not a valid reason to be an atheist. It is a cop-out. An atheist who thinks like this is just looking for a reason to think he doesn’t need God. God in no way can ever create in us a conscience that allows us to honestly think that he is evil or doesn’t exist.

What is a valid reason to be an atheist?

 

[triumphguy]

What is a valid reason to be an atheist?

Because you don’t believe in a god.

 

[Roscoe_Turner]

Because you don’t believe in a god.

One of the reasons people don’t believe in God is “The Problem of Evil” it was rendered by Epicurus the Greek Philosopher

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

Because of the Evil in the world they can’t believe in an all loving omnipresent and omnipotent God.

 

[triumphguy]

One of the reasons people don’t believe in God is “The Problem of Evil” it was rendered by Epicurus the Greek Philosopher

Because of the Evil in the world they can’t believe in an all loving omnipresent and omnipotent God.

That’s right…

and when the Church is seen to be culpable in maintaining or hiding systemic sins then it is a barrier to belief.

That’s why even 1 abused child or pedophile priest or Bishop who hides the truth is too many.

OTOH we are a church of sinners.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

**roscoe

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.**

No. He allows evil, but urges good, not evil.

Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.

He is not malevolent because he wills our triumph of good over evil. If he were malevolent, life would be unbearably suffering for us all. Clearly not so.

Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?

Free will.

Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

Because there is no one else to call God. Again, Epicurus avoids the existence of good and joy in the world. Where do these come from if not from God? God wills our existence and our joy. How does Epicurus explain a God who wills our existence and our joy? Hardly a case for a malevolent God. More likely a case for a cynical Epicurus.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

**Roscoe

What is a valid reason to be an atheist? **

There is no valid reason to tell others or ourselves that God does not exist. “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” (Psalms)

 

[LibralAteoJesus]

**Roscoe

What is a valid reason to be an atheist? **

There is no valid reason to tell others or ourselves that God does not exist. “The fool says in his heart there is no God.” (Psalms)

True. If an atheist says there is no God then he is a fool, most of them don’t say it , just equally as they don’t say there is no huge invisible tea cup orbiting the universe, if anyone needs to give proof is the believer.

 

[VanSensei]

Honestly, it’s the other way around: Religious people are more likely to go to hell. There are very moral people who don’t believe in the idea of God who do good all their lives. What should bar them from Heaven while some of the world’s biggest malefactors believed in Christ as Lord but still killed or did other heinous acts?