I am always amazed that some people believe they know the mind and will of the Eternal. Unless your friend has insight into such matters the rest of us do not…how can they say with any certainty?
we cannot determine who is saved or not. its not up to us to judge or decide who is saved by God or not. God decides, and He is the judge and He decides who is saved or not saved. Jesus Himself says, judge not lest ye be judged.
I think it is good for people to ask questions like this, because it challenges our opinions of who we should hold up as examples in our society. Ghandi is looked upon as a man of peace, but if he rejected Christ, then he certainly is in jeopary of going to hell. I of course would never pronounce that I knew without a doubt if anyone were in hell, and I have to say that the statement “I have no problem with your Christ” is a little troublesome…he is everyone’s Christ!
None of us can say for sure–perhaps he had a last second death bed conversion that only God has knowledge of. Or maybe he there was some excusable reason he was not a Catholic, but he was united to the Church by an implicit desire. On the other hand, maybe he obstinately remained separated from Christ. God only knows
In many cases, we are given ways to recognize who are in Heavens - eg: all the cannonized saints.
He may be everyone’s “Christ”, but some of us sure act like “we” own him…perhaps you made a “point” without intending to
Please ask your traditionalist friend to get formation classes at once.
Great soul, good? ah NO.
kaganof.com/kagablog/2007/03/11/gandhi-the-anti-black-racist/
Want to know why he said that? Because he was asked why he constantly quoted from the words of Christ and used the sermon on the mount as an example. He had said before that he loved Jesus Christ and considered him a perfect example of a life to live by.
Well there ya have it…sounds like a good reason to me to not want to be numbered among the people who used the slur.
Kaffir…that is the racial slur he was called by the deacons who barred him from entering the church. He told them all he wanted to do was worship there and learn more about Christ. His quote does not seem so racist does it when you put it into its proper context. He was making a statement.
It is very presumptious of your friend to make that statement. Just as it is presumptuous of you to feel that he was a “great soul” and by inference that he is in heaven. It is hippocracy to assume he is NOT in hell. only God knows and God lays out his plan of salvation clearly through scripture and the Church. Our Church gives us an approved list of souls in heavn, theyu are called saints. Ghandi will NEVER be a saint because the Church cannot ever say he would go to heaven. You may have your beliefs or ideas about who is what but don’t ever pray to ghandi for intercession, that would be heresey and to me that is the true test of who ghandi was… a good person who is often used for certain peoples arguments in meaningless debates.
You speak my mind.
I’m sure Gandhi would gladly go to hell. That’s what bodhisattvas do.
- in which case, he might not be able to