Can atheists be saved?

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DaddyGirl said:
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If he’s the god we meet in the bible, I agree with you that Hitch would not want to spend eternity with that god.
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Holy Scriptures are the bullet points, the aides memoire.

True teachings are meant to go with Scriptures.

When untrue teachings are taught, then people like DaddyGirl - and me - can say this about the God they meet in the teachings that have been given out in their/our vicinity.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
The question I want to raise does not concern whether atheists who convert and repent before they die can be saved. Rather, the question I invite for discussion is whether the atheist who dies an atheist can be saved.

Your thoughts?
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Can be? Yes, God is omnipotent.

Will be? God alone decides.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
I’m glad you can read the mind of God so well.

Yes, it would seem mercy is possible. But still, hell exists, and it was made for those who reject God, which includes the friendship he wants to have with us.

Lucifer was the first occupant of hell. We are all vulnerable as his possible accomplices.

I don’t get the notion that you get to heaven by rejecting God.

Hell would seem to be the place you prefer to be. 🤷
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You have an incorrect understanding of what an atheist means, it’s someone who doesn’t believe in any gods, it’s not necessary a rejection because it’s a disbelief, those who reject god are those who believe that this god exists and reject him, and it is definitely not prefering to go to Hell because none prefers to suffer and we don’t believe in that place, if anything I would prefer to cease to exist after I die, and it happens to be a reality that I accept,
and if I were wrong and there is a God, your god and he is good, which is unlikely true and almost impossible, but let’s say it is, why would I or anyone reject a loving God?
 
ANV said:
You have an incorrect understanding of what an atheist means, it’s someone who doesn’t believe in any gods, it’s not necessary a rejection because it’s a disbelief, those who reject god are those who believe that this god exists and reject him, and it is definitely not prefering to go to Hell because none prefers to suffer and we don’t believe in that place, if anything I would prefer to cease to exist after I die, and it happens to be a reality that I accept,
and if I were wrong and there is a God, your god and he is good, which is unlikely true and almost impossible, but let’s say it is, why would I or anyone reject a loving God?
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Do you reject our loving God?
 
ANV said:
You have an incorrect understanding of what an atheist means, it’s someone who doesn’t believe in any gods, it’s not necessary a rejection because it’s a disbelief, those who reject god are those who believe that this god exists and reject him, and it is definitely not prefering to go to Hell because none prefers to suffer and we don’t believe in that place, if anything I would prefer to cease to exist after I die, and it happens to be a reality that I accept,
and if I were wrong and there is a God, your god and he is good, which is unlikely true and almost impossible, but let’s say it is, why would I or anyone reject a loving God?
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That’s one long sentence there… 😉

But, to answer your question: you or anyone else would reject a loving God because you misunderstand who He is. In your case, to the point of doubting He exists. 🤷
 
The OP’s question is like asking if a person can be saved from drowning if he doesn’t enter into the boat that will secure his life, or if a person can be satisfied if he refuses food offered to him when he is starving. We will know the answer to those questions.

Jesus already answered that question.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

God desires all to be saved, but He won’t save anyone who doesn’t submit to his terms.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
The question I want to raise does not concern whether atheists who convert and repent before they die can be saved. Rather, the question I invite for discussion is whether the atheist who dies an atheist can be saved.

Your thoughts?
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Of course not.
 
Bradski said:
In exactly the same way as you reject Shiva.
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I don’t think that’s quite right, as the standards obviously differ. They’ve made the basic “theistic assent” while you have not. In fairness.
 
Bradski said:
So you believe he exists but reject him because he isn’t loving?
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Absolutely. Actually I believe he is part of the devil’s array of so called “Gods”. They are definitely not on our side.
 
Charlemagne_III said:
In the link you cited is this paragraph concerning Gaudiam spes.

"This section implies that the culpability for atheism is not necessarily entirely the individual atheist’s. To the extent that belief in God has been made impossible for him by others, there may be some mitigation for his culpability for unbelief…
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Some proselytizing atheists may wonder why Catholics persist in dialogue with them. The reason is simple: enlightened self-interest.
You, son of man—I have appointed you as a sentinel for the house of Israel; when you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them for me.
When I say to the wicked, “You wicked, you must die,” and you do not speak up to warn the wicked about their ways, they shall die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their blood.
If, however, you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, but they do not, then they shall die in their sins, but you shall save your life (Ezekiel 33:7-9).
 
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