Do you have an idea how good Atheist will be saved?

[alitaptap]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

 

[Jehoshua]

I think a strong atheist, as in a person who out of his way denies the existance and will of God, as opposed to a general irreligious person or an agnostic will not be saved. I think this because by directly denying God in general they are in effect denying and blaspheming against the Holy Spirit the vehicle of salvation, which as Christ said himself is an unforgivable sin that results in damnation.

Of course God is omnibenevolent so a righteous atheist of the sort i described may be saved by the divine mercy and grace of God, however i think on the whole, a strong atheist condemns themselves to oblivion.

---

As to agnosics and weak atheists, I think there may be a possibility of salvation, of course depending on each individual and God’s grace.

 

[Rascalking]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

I agree with you my friend.

I think that God lectures them strongly when they die. Sort of like a “Hey now—I was right here. What more do you need to see? What’s it gonna take?”

 

[lozeerose]

The answer you seek can be found in applying Catholic salvation theology, namely the principle of Invincible Ignorance. From the CCC (all emphasis is mine):

1790 A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience. If he were deliberately to act against it, he would condemn himself. Yet it can happen that moral conscience remains in ignorance and makes erroneous judgments about acts to be performed or already committed.

1791 This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.” In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits.

1792 Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity: these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

1793 If - on the contrary - the ignorance is invincible, or the moral subject is not responsible for his erroneous judgment, the evil committed by the person cannot be imputed to him. It remains no less an evil, a privation, a disorder. One must therefore work to correct the errors of moral conscience.

1794 A good and pure conscience is enlightened by true faith, for charity proceeds at the same time “from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith.”

What the Church is saying is that there are times when we are not truly culpable for our ignorance of the truth. A crime remains a crime but the True Judge, who reads the hearts of men, is the only one who certainly knows the truth cocnerning your ignorance.

Keeping this in mind, the Church is saying that there is a possibility for the salvation for those who are Protestans and/or are non-belvievers because God desires that all men be saved (Ez 33:20, 1 Tim 2:4). This, however, is no gurantee of salvation because that can only occur, in my opinion, during the time between baptism and the age of reason. After that, it is up to you.

So the real question here for the athiest is whether or not they are truly not responsible for their error in judgment? Most of the time I would say yes. But as St. Paul said in 1 Cor 4:3-5,

[3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. [4] I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.

 

[Zundrah]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

The father once told me this; “we will have a communication with God (after death) that is exactly the same level as how our communication was with him during our mortal life. Because that is what we wanted, it was the choice we made. He will not force himself onto us here now or later on.”

P.S. When I said the father, I meant my priest, not God.

 

[Teneas]

I don’t mean any disrespect when I say this, but they will be saved through ignorance. The ones that will be saved will only be saved because they were not subjected to the truth, taught the truth, and embraced it. If they are truly ignorant of God…he will be merciful.

 

[Zundrah]

I don’t mean any disrespect when I say this, but they will be saved through ignorance. The ones that will be saved will only be saved because they were not subjected to the truth, taught the truth, and embraced it. If they are truly ignorant of God…he will be merciful.

It is true.

 

[cheese_sdc]

do you have an idea how they will be saved?

The same way we all are. By the mercy of God.

 

[JRKH]

I think a strong atheist, as in a person who out of his way denies the existance and will of God, as opposed to a general irreligious person or an agnostic will not be saved. I think this because by directly denying God in general they are in effect denying and blaspheming against the Holy Spirit the vehicle of salvation, which as Christ said himself is an unforgivable sin that results in damnation.

Of course God is omnibenevolent so a righteous atheist of the sort i described may be saved by the divine mercy and grace of God, however i think on the whole, a strong atheist condemns themselves to oblivion.

---

As to agnosics and weak atheists, I think there may be a possibility of salvation, of course depending on each individual and God’s grace.

I think you have properly stated the case.
If one defiently denies the existance of God and refuses God’s offer of salvation, then God will, in His infinite Love and Mercy, give that person exactly what they ask for.
As Jesus said, “If you deny me, I will deny you before My Father…”

Of course there are many permutations in all of this that you and others are adequatelyaddressing so I will not repeat what others have already said about “Ignorance” etc.

Peace
James

 

[Carlan]

I agree with you my friend.

I think that God lectures them strongly when they die. Sort of like a “Hey now—I was right here. What more do you need to see? What’s it gonna take?”

Well, for sure we are not the Judge, only God, We don’t know how he will handle them, We will know one day though and in between time we pray for each other and trust God’s mercy.
BTW, if your theory is right, the hard core Atheist, as I see it, will be in Purgatory until the 2nd coming happens getting it right.God bless us all with the light of your Truth, Carlan

 

[Rascalking]

Well, for sure we are not the Judge, only God, We don’t know how he will handle them, We will know one day though and in between time we pray for each other and trust God’s mercy.
BTW, if your theory is right, the hard core Atheist, as I see it, will be in Purgatory until the 2nd coming happens getting it right.God bless us all with the light of your Truth, Carlan

Your excalty right-I DO think they’ll be in purgatory (as will alot of us) being forced to take notes and listen to angels lecture them!

 

[NDfan]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

The first fallacy of this argument is defining “good”. Define what you mean by saying there are atheists who are good people??

 

[JRKH]

The first fallacy of this argument is defining “good”. Define what you mean by saying there are atheists who are good people??

This thought came to me too.

If we base an answer on the title of the thread, “Do you have an idea how good Atheist will be saved”, the answer is they won’t be.
A “Good Athiest” denies the existance of God and will do so till death. Without the belief in God, the acceptance of God and God’s offer of salvation, the "Good Athiest’ cannot be saved.

Peace
james

 

[Lethe]

The first fallacy of this argument is defining “good”. Define what you mean by saying there are atheists who are good people??

I believe alitaptap means there are atheists who are morally good e.g. live by the golden rule

I am agnostic/atheist, but try to live with good morals, because I care about people. I don’t know if there’s a God, I think it’s unlikely there’s a personal God, but I would be glad if there were.

 

[AntiTheist]

I believe alitaptap means there are atheists who are morally good e.g. live by the golden rule

I am agnostic/atheist, but try to live with good morals, because I care about people. I don’t know if there’s a God, I think it’s unlikely there’s a personal God, but I would be glad if there were.

Similarly, I’m the kind of person you’d probably call a “good person” if you hung out with me, but I don’t see any evidence or reason to think that there are any gods of any kind.

If it’s true that “good atheists” are saved even without having to believe in a god, then I’m set either way. There would be no point to me believing claims for which there is no evidence.

 

[Kaninchen]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

Saved from what?

You asked what those of us from different faiths think, after all.

 

[lozeerose]

If it’s true that “good atheists” are saved even without having to believe in a god, then I’m set either way. There would be no point to me believing claims for which there is no evidence.

Actually, what the Church teaches is that if you, through no fault of your own, fail to accept the Fullness of Truth then there may be a possibility for salvation by the Grace of God’s Mercy. There is no guarantee of salvation. That’s why we believe that we must “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling (Pp 2:12).”

And as others have said before me, can you be sure that your rejection of God is no fault of your own? Like Saint Paul, “I do not even judge myself (1 Cor 4:3).”

 

[Palaeologos]

For us Catholics and other Christians, we need Jesus Christ to be saved. However for those who are of different faith, do you have an idea how they will be saved? I believe that even though they do not have the fullness of truth, there are atheists who are good people.

If only good people will be saved, then we are all going to Hell.

 

[lozeerose]

Saved from what?

The penalty of sin which is death.

 

[Kaninchen]

The penalty of sin which is death.

Which means what, exactly?