Can People who aren't christian go to heaven?

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I know God says there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. Does that mean non-Catholics can’t go to heaven? I’m not talking about protestants. I mean non-Christians like Atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc… If they try to do the right thing, can they still be saved? I mean, they don’t know their religion is false. They genuinely think that what they believe is true because their parents taught them that. Could those people still go to heaven even if their beliefs ignore God or worship false gods?
 
The difference being between the ways of God and the ways of men. The ways of men tend to be very bad.
 
As a Catholic, you should realize that the Magisterium does not “push the idea to maintain control” that non-Christians go to hell. Neither does the Church give a pass to Catholics. The Church does not condemn anyone to hell, but instead relies on the mercy of G-d for all.
 
I agree but I’ve heard a few priests who have stated from the Altar and with the implied approval of church leaders that anyone who is not Christian or even Catholic will NOT go to Heaven. Guys name is Fr. Michael White. He also preaches the prosperity gospel. I mention his name bc he did say it. I stopped attending this parish immediately.
 
He made this statement as Church Authority if I recall correctly.
 
From what I know about Christianity, the prosperity gospel is not Catholic, but Protestant-oriented, and only a particular kind of Protestantism at that. And, while I am in no position to criticize a priest, it seems to me that this specific one, by saying so categorically that no one who is non-Catholic will go to heaven, is speaking according to his own opinion rather than orthodox Church teaching.
 
Yes. But this is why a Jesuit Priest whom I knew was very very careful about giving personal opinions from the Altar , as in, never. We would discuss real world issues like this. Very well grounded. And a Jesuit even. 😀
 
LovelyLadybug said:
I know God says there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. Does that mean non-Catholics can’t go to heaven? I’m not talking about protestants. I mean non-Christians like Atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc… If they try to do the right thing, can they still be saved? I mean, they don’t know their religion is false. They genuinely think that what they believe is true because their parents taught them that. Could those people still go to heaven even if their beliefs ignore God or worship false gods?
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All of the faithfully departed are members of the Church of Christ which subsists in the Catholic Church. The Catechism affirms that others can be saved.
848 “Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men.”

2123 "Many . . . of our contemporaries either do not at all perceive, or explicitly reject, this intimate and vital bond of man to God. Atheism must therefore be regarded as one of the most serious problems of our time.

2128 Agnosticism can sometimes include a certain search for God, but it can equally express indifferentism, a flight from the ultimate question of existence, and a sluggish moral conscience. Agnosticism is all too often equivalent to practical atheism.
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If someone exits this life having followed a path other than a christian one, there is no hope for them. John 3:36 says “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him”. Moreover, Romans 1:19-20 says that men are without excuse. It doesn’t matter if they were raised in an Islamic household, a Jewish household or whatever; God has given them enough evidence to show His existence and His creative power.

I know that this is a subject that is uncomfortable for many, but I submit to you that the very nature of the Gospel is at stake. If we water down our message, it ceases to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Just read the Catechism for what the Church really teaches on this question.

If you do, there should be no further need for the worthless opinions on this thread. Because outside of the Catechism’s teachings, that’s all this thread is: worthless.
 
And what does " obey the Son" mean. I think this refers to how you live your life and not rules.
 
And, not to be flip, the message of Jesus was rather simple as in the Beatitudes. Sometimes we hide behind the Catechism so we don’t have to interact with one another in a Christian manner. Therein is the sin.
 
Maelstrom1 said:
And what does " obey the Son" mean. I think this refers to how you live your life and not rules.
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I think it means to accept Him into your life as your King. He calls the shots and we have to obey whatever He says to us.
 
Final judgement always belongs to God alone, period.

That being said, I believe it is possible for non-christians to go to heaven, too. That is because God is merciful and desires all to be saved. These people who die in honest ignorance of the law and of Christ will be judged by their self-conscience. It is a very narrow chance but a chance nevertheless. Besides, we don’t know if at the hour of their death they had a personal supernatural revelation of Christ and got a baptism by desire. This way, someone who appears to have died a non-christian may very well be one and we just don’t know it.
 
Well, yes, but he never wanted to be King. He escaped through the crowd so as not to be made King. Recall the no longer a slave but friend quote. He doesn’t want to be adored, He wants obedience to the Father. Who here praises everywhere and always his father while not obeying his wishes? Accepting Jesus in your heart means doing what He desires and not praise as an exclusive concept. It’s why I’ve always had issues with born againers- they can do the most dastardly things but they praise Jesus so are forgiven so case closed. Like having a get out of jail card. Far too simple and convenient.
 
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drac16 said:
It doesn’t matter if they were raised in an Islamic household, a Jewish household or whatever; God has given them enough evidence to show His existence and His creative power.
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Cosmological evidence of God doesn’t lead one to Christ, though. By observing the universe we can only conclude that God exists and maybe some other things about Him but it is virtually impossible to arrive at the revelation of Jesus Christ without someone first preaching to us. There is true and honest ignorance, although most people have heard of Christ by now. We should leave it up to God to judge the individuals and the state of their heart.
 
porthos11 said:
Just read the Catechism for what the Church really teaches on this question.
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Yes, it specifically states that it is possible for Jewish people and Muslims to go to Heaven, and leaves the possibility open for other non-Christians as well.
 
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