Does God Punish for Honest Mistakes

[kalt]

The thread on wrong religion vs no religion got me thinking. Does God punish people for following the “wrong” religion (whatever you think the wrong religions are) when the "right’ religion (whichever one you think that is) is known and available to the person? If the person is aware of the right religion, and knows what it stands for, but chooses another religion, will that person be punished by God?

For example, an American who has been exposed to Catholicism chooses instead to follow an Eastern religion. The person knows what Catholicism is, but he doens’t believe it is the truth. What do you think will happen with this person? Is Heaven a possibility? Likely? Not likely? Impossible?

 

[MH84]

If someone believes that he is following God by changing religions, I don’t think no one except God could critise him, as long as it is based on legitimate reasons of course, such as the person not believing that his previous religion is the true religion.

Personally, I think that if someone was legitimate in following a different path, God would be merciful to him. Im realising that without faith, the truth is often not 100% clear in this world for any individual.

The problem is deciding which other religion is the right one. If you previously thought one religion is right (but changed your mind), how do you know that you could be wrong again by choosing another religion?

Also, why would someone of their own free will change religions if they believed the former one was the true religion?