Can Atheists go to Heaven? Are they sinners?

[Bear_Claw]

Try these to begin with…

www.catholic.com/thisrock/2006/0605uan.asp

peterkreeft.com/home.htm

Even if I was to suppose that philosophical answers are acceptable where scientific, hard evidence was required and asked for, the reasoning quoted on the catholic website is based in logical fallacy and on an assumption.

To move from agreeing that “I exist as an entity”, to the conclusion that “because I exists as an entity, there must be someone greater than me” is illogical.
He also jumps from labeling existence (esse) to characterizing it into god. It’s like calling “time” god. It’s illogical to jump to that conclusion.

Same with Peter Kreet’s website…he begins to ask if something can exist without us knowing it…and concludes (eventually) that that something is god. He speaks about the argument for intelligent design, but really what’s been proven? Nothing…
That’s why your philosophical sites will never convince anyone of god’s existence…because it’s all about assumptions and logic leaps.

Show me a hand that grows back and we can start to have a discussion on which god actually did that.

As far as asking for proof that god doesn’t exist, that’s also an incorrect question. it’s like me asking you to show me that a unicorn is not real…the burden of proof is on the person making the claim.

 

[AntiTheist]

If So the whole idea of converting as “fire insurance” is silly.

I agree. My point was that the OP’s thought of converting back to Catholicism in an act of “fire insurance” is silly. There’s no reason to believe that picking one religion over another will in any way benefit you in some afterlife.

You should take the trouble to study the religions in question before making claims about what they believe.

sigh You have missed the point, which has nothing to do with the specific religions I picked. What if the one true god is some obscure god worshipped by a tribe somewhere and he wants to condemn everyone who didn’t believe in him to eternal torment because he’s cruel and petty?

My point is that it makes no sense to say, “Atheism might be wrong, so maybe I should go back to being Catholic” – because being Catholic won’t necessarily save you from the hell of some other superbeing.

That’s the only point I was making.

You should follow the truth, period.

Agreed. And from what we can tell about the universe, there are no signs of anything supernatural or any non-physical intelligence.

 

[JRKH]

Yeah, but if you pick Jehovah and Allah is the real god, then you will fry in hell for all eternity. If you pick Jehovah and Wotan is the real god, then you will go to the Norse Hel instead of Valhalla. If you pick Jehovah and the Great and Terrible Cthulhu is the one true god, then you will be eaten.

I’m pointing out that there’s no evidence that any of those things is true. There’s no basis for choosing among the possible choices.

All that you have pointed out is that, in being unable to make ANY Choice, you consign yourself to whichever “Hell” the “Real God” has designated for those who do not believe.

In other words, by rejecting God in ANY sense or name, you embrace death for yourself on the assumption that an athiest cannot be sent to hell if he does not believe in it.

If you take the time to reread my posts number 11 and 24 you might find that God is more generous than you judge Him to be. God is truly a loving and forgiving father if you only give Him a chance.

Peace
James

 

[yankee_doodle]

The god delusion is one of the most striking examples of the human propencity for irrational thought I can think of. Reading just a few posts of this thread readily confirms that for me.

 

[AntiTheist]

All that you have pointed out is that, in being unable to make ANY Choice, you consign yourself to whichever “Hell” the “Real God” has designated for those who do not believe.

I was commenting on another poster’s false dichotomy by pointing out that it’s not a dichotomy.

In other words, by rejecting God in ANY sense or name, you embrace death for yourself on the assumption that an athiest cannot be sent to hell if he does not believe in it.

No, I’m not assuming that. If any god exists and if that god (or gods) is as mean and cruel as some religions make him (or them) out to be, I will be sent to whatever punishment that that god has in store. And if it’s not the Catholic god, you’ll be right there with me.

I fully accept that if I’m wrong, I could go to Hell or Hel or Hades or one of the many Buddhist hells, etc.

But I see no reason to think that any of those things are real.

 

[JRKH]

No, I’m not assuming that. If any god exists and if that god (or gods) is as mean and cruel as some religions make him (or them) out to be, I will be sent to whatever punishment that that god has in store. And if it’s not the Catholic god, you’ll be right there with me.

I fully accept that if I’m wrong, I could go to Hell or Hel or Hades or one of the many Buddhist hells, etc.

But I see no reason to think that any of those things are real.

One thing you have fully excepted though is that you will NOT be in heaven.
Seems like such a sad state to me.
To not even be able to say, "Dear Lord, forgive my unbelief.

Peace
james

 

[Kamalayka]

I ask this genuinely and with no intention of arguing.

I was reading this topic: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=371081 interested to see what the fate of Atheists is, but nothing specific was brought up.
Is there anything official that explains what happens to someone who has actively and willingly denied the existence of god?
Is it a Sin?

I find that when I compare my life to a Catholic one, I do follow all of the Commandments (to the best of my ability), and I am generally a good person. I cannot think of a single immoral thing I’ve ever done. Do I NEED a Religion? I find that on occasion some Religious people “commit me to hell” for being a bad person (as they noticed I’m an Atheist), but is fair? Just because I don’t believe in God, it doesn’t make me a bad person.

Paul said: “For by the grace of God you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

We are made for God. We are made to serve and to love Him.

It is possible for you to be saved. Every soul has a unique relationship with God. Christ died for all people.

However, there is a difference between someone who doesn’t know about the Gospel (through no fault of their own), and someone who rejects the Gospel and the many times that God speaks to their soul.

Ultimately, their is no way to truly know until you die and meet your Maker. God knows the situation down to the most minute detail.

I suppose that it is better to be a virtuous unbeliever, rather than a guilty believer.

But Jesus also said to Thomas, “Because you have seen, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

[rcscwc]

If Hinduism is true, then the worst that is likely to happen is that you get some good karma by living as a devout Catholic, and then get reborn as a Hindu Brahmin in another life where you will have a fuller knowledge of the truth.

Edwin

In fact that is the best part. You get another chance to improve yourself.

One version of Hinduism does have a doctrine of eternal damnation, but as far as I know they don’t think that being a non-Hindu damns you.

There is no version of Hinduism providing for eternal hell.