What is the Catholic belief on Hinduism?

[pcordero]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven. I tell him yes because I’ve read the catechism and it teaches that Muslims and even atheists are able to go to heaven, so I supposed that as long as you are a moral person, you can go to heaven no matter what religion you are. I’m not sure about it now anymore because my priest would talk about Muslims, but never talk about Hindus being able to go to heaven in his sermons, and the catechism doesn’t talk about it either. I think I’ve also read that St. Francis Xavier, while preaching in India, described Hindus as being “devil worshippers” in a way.

 

[Whadyamean]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven. I tell him yes because I’ve read the catechism and it teaches that Muslims and even atheists are able to go to heaven, so I supposed that as long as you are a moral person, you can go to heaven no matter what religion you are. I’m not sure about it now anymore because my priest would talk about Muslims, but never talk about Hindus being able to go to heaven in his sermons, and the catechism doesn’t talk about it either. I think I’ve also read that St. Francis Xavier, while preaching in India, described Hindus as being “devil worshippers” in a way.

Wouldn’t you think that if Catholics can “go” to “heaven” or “hell” that others would be in the same boat, given all the circumstances? And that, of course, brings up a very fascinating question, as formulated by the Eskimo who met the missionary. The Eskimo was explained the dynamics and consequences of belief/disbelief, and understood that he now had a chance of going to hell. So he asked, “Had I not heard any of this that you preach, where would I have gone?” The missionary said “Well, I know you to be good, so despite your ignorance you would have gone to Heaven.” The Eskimo was appalled, and exclaimed “Then why did you tell me any of this???!!!”

 

[bmullins]

The catechism does address Muslims first, but it addresses all people of all religions afterwards.

842 The Church’s bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race:

All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered together in the holy city. . .331
843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life."332

844 In their religious behavior, however, men also display the limits and errors that disfigure the image of God in them:

Very often, deceived by the Evil One, men have become vain in their reasonings, and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and served the creature rather than the Creator. Or else, living and dying in this world without God, they are exposed to ultimate despair.333
845 To reunite all his children, scattered and led astray by sin, the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church. The Church is the place where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation. The Church is “the world reconciled.” She is that bark which “in the full sail of the Lord’s cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world.” According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah’s ark, which alone saves from the flood.334

 

[Heuchler]

I would say it is a lot harder and since your friend does know about Christ he might not fall under invincible ignorance. But none of us know how Christ will judge and he probably will take into account every factor and judge us accordingly. But your best chance to get into heaven is to be a saintly person who is Catholic.

 

[Pitcharan]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven. I tell him yes because I’ve read the catechism and it teaches that Muslims and even atheists are able to go to heaven, so I supposed that as long as you are a moral person, you can go to heaven no matter what religion you are. I’m not sure about it now anymore because my priest would talk about Muslims, but never talk about Hindus being able to go to heaven in his sermons, and the catechism doesn’t talk about it either. I think I’ve also read that St. Francis Xavier, while preaching in India, described Hindus as being “devil worshippers” in a way.

Check this out: cfnews.org/HindMay5.htm

 

[jmcrae]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven. I tell him yes because I’ve read the catechism and it teaches that Muslims and even atheists are able to go to heaven, so I supposed that as long as you are a moral person, you can go to heaven no matter what religion you are. I’m not sure about it now anymore because my priest would talk about Muslims, but never talk about Hindus being able to go to heaven in his sermons, and the catechism doesn’t talk about it either. I think I’ve also read that St. Francis Xavier, while preaching in India, described Hindus as being “devil worshippers” in a way.

In theory, anybody can go to Heaven. We have no idea whether there are any human inhabitants in Hell (the vision at Fatima notwithstanding) at the present time - although surely we suspect that a few may be there.

To have the very best chance at Heaven, one should be in good standing with the Catholic Church and make frequent use of the Sacraments.

Anything less seems a bit risky to me, since although it is certainly possible for non-Catholics and those who don’t practice their faith to get to Heaven, there is not the same sort of assurance that one receives from the Church through the Sacraments - “possible” is not at all the same thing as “guaranteed.”

 

[followingtheway]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven.

Same as other Non-Catholic going to Heaven, Only God knows and only He can judge.

 

[Not_Sure_1]

I have a friend who is Hindu who keeps on asking me if Catholics believe he would go to heaven. I tell him yes because I’ve read the catechism and it teaches that Muslims and even atheists are able to go to heaven, so I supposed that as long as you are a moral person, you can go to heaven no matter what religion you are. I’m not sure about it now anymore because my priest would talk about Muslims, but never talk about Hindus being able to go to heaven in his sermons, and the catechism doesn’t talk about it either. I think I’ve also read that St. Francis Xavier, while preaching in India, described Hindus as being “devil worshippers” in a way.

The only assured way (theoretically) of getting into heaven, is to die a baptized Catholic in the state of grace. Everything else, we can’t really know for sure. There is the Baptism of Desire and the Baptism of blood, but for a Hindu who knows about the Church and refuses to enter, the chances aren’t good for his soul.

Hindus worship gods of stone and wood, they are at least committing the sin of idolatry every time they worship.

Jesus said that the way is narrow, and few there be that will find it. The path to destruction is wide and many will find it. Jesus also said that “I am the way, the truth and the life, and NO MAN will come to the father but through me.”