Does an atheist go to heaven?

[Hoosier-Daddy]

So I’m going to generalize a lot here. I’ve found most of the atheists I know are what they consider intellectual. They pride themselves in their own knowledge. And I think a big obstacle is just that. Pride in their own intellect. Or percieved intellect, where agnostics I think have an advantage. Most seem to have a more humble and less combative attitude. I think the latter is more easily reconciled to the Creator given an opportunity. But a true (there is no God) atheist is stating a positive position contrary to faith. That would be hard to argue at the end of ones life. Especially in a world of free access to information. Its hard to claim you had no opportunity to read study or learn about faith. You have full knowledge in rejection of God.

 

[vz71]

I don’t think you’ve grasped how long infinity actually is.

Weird.
You are attempting to reference a length of time to something entirely outside of time.

I do not think you have a clear understanding either.

 

[QwertyGirl]

Sure. As an agnostic I choose to believe in my own concept of God. It involves an afterlife that is good.

As an agnostic, I don’t subscribe to a particular God or a particular afterlife. I am quite content believing nobody really knows.

 

[ChristMyLife]

Sure. As an agnostic I choose to believe in my own concept of God. It involves an afterlife that is good.

As an agnostic, I don’t subscribe to a particular God or a particular afterlife. I am quite content believing nobody really knows.

Well, if you’re open and receptive to God’s Love, desire eternal life, and live a decent life, I’d say your chances of salvation are high.

If you wilfully and with full knowledge reject Jesus and his Church however, I’d argue that your openness to God’s Love may be questionable and chances of salvation reduced…

So the next question becomes, do you accept Jesus and His Church? If one rejects Jesus willfully, with full knowledge and consent, their chance at salvation is slim.

If a person knows about Jesus however, and because of the sins and unChristian attitudes of Christians they encounter deny him, I think that would reduce their culpability for not accepting him as Lord…

I dunno. I’m confident that God is very merciful, and only those who really deserve hell by their evil life and pride end up there.

 

[ChristMyLife]

Apart from the fact that you just made all that up, I don’t think you’ve grasped how long infinity actually is.

I could explain why what I wrote can reasonably be inferred from Catholic theology, but I won’t waste my time.

Judging simply by the few interactions I’ve seen with you on this thread alone, you seem like you’re probably the type who wouldn’t want eternity with God anyways.

So don’t worry - you’ll get exactly what you want for eternity.

Me and God would both prefer if you repented and embraced Life, but you have free will. If you think sin and death are better than Life, so be it.

Don’t be bitter with God at the prospect of hell though. Remember, it’s your free choice.

I’ve seen some atheists who get angry at the idea they’re heading for eternal destruction, yet simultaneously admit they are freely choosing that path. A sad effect of our fallen nature…

 

[steve-b]

Fr. Mike Schmitz actually did a video yesterday talking about who will go to Heaven and how can someone go to Heaven. You will like the video and it should answer your question. Here is the link:

I Like Fr Mike.
In this video, he raises a popular belief, and advances the thought from that, Is it okay to pray for all souls that everyone might be saved in our prayers?

The answer is Sure. Pray away. That’s a good thing

I would have a follow up question for Fr Mike. Is it reasonable to project hope that ALL will be saved? I ask that because when Jesus was asked that question He gave a different answer,. When Jesus was asked will only a few be saved, Jesus in that scripture, didn’t contradict the questioner. Jesus didn’t say to the questioner, of course not, many will be saved … Jesus didn’t say that. He validated the question. Jesus said that many will try but won’t enter. As in Only a few are saved

AND,

As an aside, “all are saved or all will be saved” (apokatastasis, apocatastasis universalism) as it is called, while a nice thought is condemned, as heresy. Fr Longnecker explains Fr. Dwight Longenecker Addresses the Danger of Universalism - Living Faith - Home & Family - News - Catholic Online

 

[poche]

If his ignorance of God’s existence is invincible then there exists a possibility for him to get to Heaven. He could even get there before many of us who like to think of ourselves as good Catholics.

 

[Sophie111]

It would obviously be harder. A life of sin that was unrepented and no sacraments of Grace from the Church

To be honest I have never seen any clear evidence that for all the fine sentiments we are constantly fed re the Sacraments and grace that it has helped Catholics behave significantly more morally than our secular counterparts with the same ethnic, social, educational and economic advantages as us. Seems to be much the same divorce rates, same abuse rates, same alcoholism, same abortion rates. And our holy men and leaders who should, by reason of even closer adherence to the sacraments and teaching and education and brotherhood be even more credible…similar rates of serious abuse and failure in accountability?

So no, personally I dont think that pious hope re the Sacraments and less grave sin flies too well. Hopefully we are more repentant though…but given almost zero percent of Catholics go regularly to that Sacrament since the 1980s who would actually know?

 

[steve-b]

Hoosier-Daddy:

It would obviously be harder. A life of sin that was unrepented and no sacraments of Grace from the Church

To be honest I have never seen any clear evidence that for all the fine sentiments we are constantly fed re the Sacraments and grace that it has helped Catholics behave significantly more morally than our secular counterparts with the same ethnic, social, educational and economic advantages as us. Seems to be much the same divorce rates, same abuse rates, same alcoholism, same abortion rates. And our holy men and leaders who should, by reason of even closer adherence to the sacraments and teaching and education and brotherhood be even more credible…similar rates of serious abuse and failure in accountability?

So no, personally I dont think that pious hope re the Sacraments and less grave sin flies too well. Hopefully we are more repentant though…but given almost zero percent of Catholics go regularly to that Sacrament since the 1980s who would actually know?

All valid points. People not living the faith.

AND

All that said, it makes Jesus point. few are saved as a result. A permanent separation occurs

I personally find that the scariest passage in scripture.

Peter adds obedience to the gospel as a follow up 1 Peter 4:17-18

 

[Sophie111]

Perhaps you are right. Though it is sad to think that the giving of the Sacraments has not served to better the lives of the baptised but only to cause a mofe severe judgement!

I prefer an alternative hypothesis as hinted above. Interiorly more people throw themselves on Gods mercy even though their outward lives are little better despite the lifetime association with the Sacraments.

 

[otjm]

You are assuming all atheists deny and hate God.

How about an atheist who never was introduced to the concept of God? They have nothing to hate or deny.

 

[Bradskii]

Bradskii:

I don’t think you’ve grasped how long infinity actually is.

Weird.
You are attempting to reference a length of time to something entirely outside of time.

I do not think you have a clear understanding either.

This is something you need to bring up with Christmylife. He’s the one watching endless reruns of creation.

 

[Bradskii]

But a true (there is no God) atheist…

Could you point to any in this forum?

 

[Bradskii]

I could explain why what I wrote can reasonably be inferred from Catholic theology, but I won’t waste my time.

Is this reasonably inferred?

We’ll be able to go back to the 16th century or the first day the Earth formed and watch and view and understand everything going on.

I think you’re mixing up Catholic theology with Dr. Who.

Judging simply by the few interactions I’ve seen with you on this thread alone, you seem like you’re probably the type who wouldn’t want eternity with God anyways.

So don’t worry - you’ll get exactly what you want for eternity.

Me and God would both prefer if you repented and embraced Life, but you have free will. If you think sin and death are better than Life, so be it.

Don’t be bitter with God at the prospect of hell though. Remember, it’s your free choice.

I’ve seen some atheists who get angry at the idea they’re heading for eternal destruction, yet simultaneously admit they are freely choosing that path. A sad effect of our fallen nature…

This is just me, but I don’t think you’ve actually spoken to any atheists.

You are assuming all atheists deny and hate God.

How about an atheist who never was introduced to the concept of God? They have nothing to hate or deny.

You can’t not believe in something about which you have no knowledge. A person needs someone’s personal concept of God explained to them before they can make a decision whether to believe it or not.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It is possible for anyone to attain Heaven through God’s infinite mercy, including atheists.
We do not know for sure if any particular atheist is in heaven or not, but the possibility exists, and has been recognized by Pope Francis.

 

[ChristMyLife]

This is just me, but I don’t think you’ve actually spoken to any atheists.

You seem blinded by pride or arrogance.

I was an atheist for 20 years. And I’ve spoken to dozens of atheists.

 

[Bradskii]

Bradskii:

This is just me, but I don’t think you’ve actually spoken to any atheists.

You seem blinded by pride or arrogance.

I was an atheist for 20 years. And I’ve spoken to dozens of atheists.

I’m just trying to imagine the converations you’ve had with them. From your earlier post:

I’ve seen some atheists who get angry at the idea they’re heading for eternal destruction, yet simultaneously admit they are freely choosing that path.

C: What do you think of hell?
A: It doesn’t exist. It’s a Christian myth.
C: What do you think about the fact that you are going there?
A: I’m really angry!
C: Why do you think you are going there?
A: Well, I am freely choosing to go.
C: To somewhere you don’t think exists.
A: Ummm. Yeah.

Does that make the slightest sense to anyone?

 

[ChristMyLife]

Does that make the slightest sense to anyone

That’s not the conversation I’ve seen.

The conversation I’ve seen is:

Christian (C): “you will end up in hell for rejecting Jesus.”
Atheist (A): “well God is an unjust monster for sending me to hell since I see no evidence for his existence.”
C: “but would you even want to go heaven?”
A: “no, God is a tyrant and I want nothing to do with him.”
C: “so how is God unjust for giving you what you desire?”
A: “he can’t be unjust since he doesn’t exist.”
C: “okay so you deny him… So if it turns out he does exist, and you stand before him and he tells you to depart to eternal torment…”
A: “monster! He’s an unjust monster! He should have shown me he exists if that were the case!”
C: “but if Jesus himself had appeared to you, would you have believed?”
A: “probably not… I would have convinced myself it was a hallucination or delusion or dream or some sort of hoax.”
C: “so then your heart doesn’t want God?”
A: “I don’t believe he exists.”
C: “but you reject everything which shows he exists, including even if he appeared to you. So it’s not that you don’t believe he exists so much as you reject him and what he stands for.”
A: “he’s just a petty tyrant.”
C: “okay.”

 

[Bradskii]

Bradskii:

Does that make the slightest sense to anyone

That’s not the conversation I’ve seen.

The conversation I’ve seen is:

Christian (C): “you will end up in hell for rejecting Jesus.”
Atheist (A): “well God is an unjust monster for sending me to hell since I see no evidence for his existence.”
C: “but would you even want to go heaven?”
A: “no, God is a tyrant and I want nothing to do with him.”

You could have saved all the typing and stopped there. It matched what I wrote pretty well. Only an idiot could possibly state in the same breath that he doesn’t believe that God exists and then say that He is a tyrant.

You should look up the definition of cognitive dissonance. Second thoughts, I’ll do it for you:

'Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort (psychological stress) experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.

If you actually had a conversation with a person who made comments such as you suggested then that person has a mental problem and I wouldn’t suggest bringing him or her up as a reasonable example of an atheist’s mind set.

But then again, I don’t think for one minute that you have had such conversations. They are just a just a reprsentation of what you think atheists might believe.

If you actually do want to know what an atheist thinks, you can ask one. Gotta be one around here somewhere…

 

[ChristMyLife]

Only an idiot could possibly state in the same breath that he doesn’t believe that God exists and then say that He is a tyrant.

So Richard Dawkins is an idiot?

I thought he was the brightest of the “brights?”