To Heaven or to hell?

[USMC_Convert]

So I came across this question in my discussions with my father (a Protestant) and so I pose it to you guys…

Do most people go to Heaven or do most people go to hell?

Please cite references as to whichever side you choose or just give a good reason!

Lol, btw, he says the vast majority would be going to hell, I said I have no idea, I have to leave it up to God and hope that He saves as many as possible.

 

[adamhovey1988]

So I came across this question in my discussions with my father (a Protestant) and so I pose it to you guys…

Do most people go to Heaven or do most people go to hell?

Please cite references as to whichever side you choose or just give a good reason!

Lol, btw, he says the vast majority would be going to hell, I said I have no idea, I have to leave it up to God and hope that He saves as many as possible.

I have no idea or any way to know

 

[Qoeleth]

Well- the line about “the road to perdition is broad and easy, and many take it”- has always worried me.

But seriously, my instinct is: most people go to Purgatory.

 

[Son_of_Niall]

Well- the line about “the road to perdition is broad and easy, and many take it”- has always worried me.

But seriously, my instinct is: most people go to Purgatory.

Perhaps the operative word there is “road” to perdition.

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

Well- the line about “the road to perdition is broad and easy, and many take it”- has always worried me.

But seriously, my instinct is: most people go to Purgatory.

I have the same instinct. God does not enjoy sending people to Hell, and unless someone utterly rejects Him I imagine that He would try to extend His mercy as far as He reasonably can. If that means sending someone to Purgatory for a billion years, then that’s what He’ll do to get them into Heaven.

 

[pianistclare]

Pointless to speculate.

 

[arthra]

So I came across this question in my discussions with my father (a Protestant) and so I pose it to you guys…
Do most people go to Heaven or do most people go to hell? Please cite references as to whichever side you choose or just give a good reason!
Lol, btw, he says the vast majority would be going to hell, I said I have no idea, I have to leave it up to God and hope that He saves as many as possible.

Semper Fidelis!

For Baha’is the terms heaven and hell are spiritual conditions rather than say supernatural locations where people spend eternity. We believe heaven is nearness of God while being alienated from God is hell. Are many alienated? Yes indeed…

 

[Reuben_J]

So I came across this question in my discussions with my father (a Protestant) and so I pose it to you guys…

Do most people go to Heaven or do most people go to hell?

Please cite references as to whichever side you choose or just give a good reason!

Lol, btw, he says the vast majority would be going to hell, I said I have no idea, I have to leave it up to God and hope that He saves as many as possible.

In Catholicism, the basic guideline is we go to heaven if we die in a state of grace, to purgatory and later heaven, if we still have venial sins unconfessed or mortal sins not fully repented of, and to hell if in a state of mortal sin.

However, we do not know for sure what will really happen because it it between God and the person concerned; and besides in God’s love, mercy and forgiveness, it is God’s and God alone to decide where we would go.

 

[GEddie]

Hell, Michigan, is a rather small place…

 

[drac16]

Most go to Hell, but I don’t get any enjoyment out of saying that or believing that. The Qur’an says, in surah 12:103 “And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers”. It also goes on to say, in surah 103 “By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience”.

The Qur’an is very graphic when it describes Hell. It says that the people if Hell will have boiling water poured on their faces, will drink a liquid that tastes like molten brass and will have their skins roasted and recreated. The worst punishment, in my opinion, will be an emotional punishment. One will sigh and weep because Paradise was offered right to them and they rejected it. Most of the world hates God and His laws; just watch the news once in a while and it will become clear.

 

[Qoeleth]

Most go to Hell, but I don’t get any enjoyment out of saying that or believing that. The Qur’an says, in surah 12:103 “And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers”. It also goes on to say, in surah 103 “By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience”.

The Qur’an is very graphic when it describes Hell. It says that the people if Hell will have boiling water poured on their faces, will drink a liquid that tastes like molten brass and will have their skins roasted and recreated. The worst punishment, in my opinion, will be an emotional punishment. One will sigh and weep because Paradise was offered right to them and they rejected it. Most of the world hates God and His laws; just watch the news once in a while and it will become clear.

Well- a lot of Christians believe in the One God, and fear the Day of Judgment, and keep (or try to keep!) the Laws of God.

From your point of view, do Christians have a good chance?

In Matthew’s Gospel, the day of judgment involves separating the sheep from the goat- “I was hungry and you gave me to drink,” etc.

Also, in Matthew’s Gospel, the dragnet, where many fish are caught, and the bad ones thrown away.

We do really need to fear Hell…It’s something modern Christians don’t like to talk about, or to reduce it to some kind of vague existential state- but no, Christ is clear, the fires do not go out, nor will the worm die.

 

[drac16]

Well- a lot of Christians believe in the One God, and fear the Day of Judgment, and keep (or try to keep!) the Laws of God.

From your point of view, do Christians have a good chance?

In Matthew’s Gospel, the day of judgment involves separating the sheep from the goat- “I was hungry and you gave me to drink,” etc.

Also, in Matthew’s Gospel, the dragnet, where many fish are caught, and the bad ones thrown away.

We do really need to fear Hell…It’s something modern Christians don’t like to talk about, or to reduce it to some kind of vague existential state- but no, Christ is clear, the fires do not go out, nor will the worm die.

It hurts me to say this, but I believe that most Christians are going to Hell because of what the Qur’an says in surah 5:17: “They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary….” As I said before, I don’t want Christians to go to Hell, but I do believe that most of them will.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

It hurts me to say this, but I believe that most Christians are going to Hell because of what the Qur’an says in surah 5:17: “They have certainly disbelieved who say that Allah is Christ, the son of Mary….” As I said before, I don’t want Christians to go to Hell, but I do believe that most of them will.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think about the eternal fate of liberal Christians who believe Christ is only God/Son of God in a metaphorical sense?

 

[rweidn]

Certainly not all Muslims believe Christians are going to hell. I was listening to Joseph Lombard (Muslim who was involved in the Study Quran) addressing a small Muslim audience and saying that Muslims who believe that God sends people to Hell for having adopted the wrong religion do not worship the same God as he does. I have always held the position that it is abhorrent to believe that God condemns based on your religion. Jesus may have described himself as the door and the only way to the Father, but that does not have to be read literally, I believe you can be saved by Jesus without knowing it. So who goes to Hell, God alone is wise and just and he alone decides. Sometimes I think we are doing the Devil’s work by even discussing it.

 

[drac16]

Just out of curiosity, what do you think about the eternal fate of liberal Christians who believe Christ is only God/Son of God in a metaphorical sense?

Like Unitarians? I think it depends on how they responded to the message of Islam. If they are Unitarians who believe Jesus was just a man and they don’t associate partners with God, I believe they might be saved. It’s better to be sure about the fate of your soul, though, and Unitarian Christianity is not a correct path according to Islam. It has guidance and wisdom, but it’s an incomplete path. If I met a unitarian, I would invite him/her to Islam because that is the true path, as far as I am concerned.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

Like Unitarians? I think it depends on how they responded to the message of Islam. If they are Unitarians who believe Jesus was just a man and they don’t associate partners with God, I believe they might be saved. It’s better to be sure about the fate of your soul, though, and Unitarian Christianity is not a correct path according to Islam. It has guidance and wisdom, but it’s an incomplete path. If I met a unitarian, I would invite him/her to Islam because that is the true path, as far as I am concerned.

I don’t have just Unitarians in mind. I was also thinking of liberals like the late Drs. Marcus Borg and John Hick and living liberals like Bishop John Shelby Spong. As far as I know, these men were not Unitarians. Anyways, just what does constitute associating partners with God? Is calling someone the Son of God, even if only metaphorically, associating partners with God? To be honest, every self-professed Christian I’ve ever met has believed Christ to be Son of God, in a metaphorical or literal sense. No Christian I’ve met believes Jesus was just a man. He is the Messiah, Lord, Savior, etc., again in either a metaphorical or literal sense to all Christians at all times. Yet you say some Christians might be saved and the Quran at least hints at this as well. I find it a bit confusing, to be honest.

 

[drac16]

I don’t have just Unitarians in mind. I was also thinking of liberals like the late Drs. Marcus Borg and John Hick and living liberals like Bishop John Shelby Spong. As far as I know, these men were not Unitarians. Anyways, just what does constitute associating partners with God? Is calling someone the Son of God, even if only metaphorically, associating partners with God? To be honest, every self-professed Christian I’ve ever met has believed Christ to be Son of God, in a metaphorical or literal sense. No Christian I’ve met believes Jesus was just a man. He is the Messiah, Lord, Savior, etc., again in either a metaphorical or literal sense to all Christians at all times. Yet you say some Christians might be saved and the Quran at least hints at this as well. I find it a bit confusing, to be honest.

Associating partners with God, also known as Shirk, is when you worship something other than Allah or when you associate a Divine Attribute to something other than Allah. Worshiping a tree, or example, is Shirk. Another example is praying to something other than Allah; to do that, a person has to believe that that person they’re praying to is All-Hearing. Believing that a human is All-Hearing is Shirk, because Allah alone is As-Sami, the All-Hearing. There are 99 names of Allah and associating any of those names with a created being is Shirk.

That’s the main reason I reject the Shi’i faith – because it takes the attribute that God alone has [As-Sami] and applies it to their twelve imams.

Those who believe that Christ is God will not be saved, as it says in the passage I quoted earlier. I’ll quote the whole thing this time: “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary’ while the Messiah has said, ‘O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers” (surah 5:72)

If someone understands Islam and exits this life having rejected it, that person will fail to be saved; the Qur’an is full of examples of that. Pharaoh did that and not only was his plea rejected, he was also drowned.

My first post of 2017! happy new year, everyone!

 

[Reuben_J]

Associating partners with God, also known as Shirk, is when you worship something other than Allah or when you associate a Divine Attribute to something other than Allah. Worshiping a tree, or example, is Shirk. Another example is praying to something other than Allah; to do that, a person has to believe that that person they’re praying to is All-Hearing. Believing that a human is All-Hearing is Shirk, because Allah alone is As-Sami, the All-Hearing. There are 99 names of Allah and associating any of those names with a created being is Shirk.

…

My first post of 2017! happy new year, everyone!

According to Christianity belief and as applies to the above, Christians are not committing Shirk (associating partner with God) since according to her doctrine, the Christian Jesus is God (and man) and is not created. Islam views Jesus in the Quran differently, which is as a prophet.

Have a blessed New Year too.

 

[signit]

I have the same instinct. God does not enjoy sending people to Hell, and unless someone utterly rejects Him I imagine that He would try to extend His mercy as far as He reasonably can. If that means sending someone to Purgatory for a billion years, then that’s what He’ll do to get them into Heaven.

This is somewhat in line with what I’d say.

I can’t speak for God but I’d predict that hell would be for the person who willingly and knowingly did wrong, not the person who misinterpreted Church teaching or the person who wasn’t appropriately taught it.

Also, plenty of people aren’t raised as Catholics. I’ve known non-Catholics who are some of the most honest and right-living people there are. I can’t see them going to hell.

But seriously, my instinct is: most people go to Purgatory.

I’d tend to agree with that, too.

Most of us aren’t murderers or bank robbers; but most of us could do better.

 

[Reepicheep]

I recall reading that several visionaries have said they were told that about a third of souls go to Hell. That the largest number go first to Purgatory, then to Heaven.

I can’t promise that my memory is accurate on this point, but I think we can say with confidence that the Saved outnumber the Lost.