Can atheists be saved by good works?

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troyjs

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In paragraph 16 of Lumen Gentium, we read:

Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life.*

Does this imply that atheists who do not strive to love a good life, or do not strive as much as they can, can not attain salvation?

Basically, are there 2 classes of atheists, those who strive to live a good life as it is known through the dictate of conscience, and those who do not strive to live a good life as it is known through the dictate of conscience?

If so, then is not the former class able to be saved due to their works (and Christ’s work), and the latter class not able to be saved due to lack of good works?

Kind Regards
 
The following links should assist you in better understanding the Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation for non-Catholics. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.

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