Would I go to hell if I die as an atheist?

[Richard_White]

Can I still go to Heaven if I don’t love him back? ( If he happens to actually exist).

Hell would be a terrible place to spend your eternal life in, but heaven is a happy place.
Love is an honestt feeling that we can’t fake , if I couldn’t love him back, why we should then suffer in hell? Why we don’t just cease to exist. God is after all the most powerful, couldn’t he make this wish real?

If you believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell in this way, then you obviously believe in God in some way, which, at least, is something that I commend you for.

However, no, if you do not love God now or for the rest of your life, then you will not love Him any more after you die. Therefore, you will most likely not go to Heaven, which os the eternal love of and happiness with God.

But, at the same time, we cannot judge people. Only God can do this, so don’t even try…please!

 

[georget]

To know different opinions, perhaps like statistics.

I’m not sure about atheism, I think I’m sure about the non existence of a personal-religious God, but debating this would be out of the OP.

Thank you for the good and honest answer. I really liked “I think I’m sure”.

I was taught in Catholic school that unless you believe that Jesus Christ was who He said He was, you could not enter the gates of Heaven. As an adult I do my very best not to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, I leave it to God to determine that. I have atheists in my life who I respect and care for, so I pray for them, sometimes for a miracle, knowing that miracles do happen I have my hopes.
Peace be with you

 

[Simca]

Can I still go to Heaven if I don’t love him back? ( If he happens to actually exist).

Hell would be a terrible place to spend your eternal life in, but heaven is a happy place.
Love is an honestt feeling that we can’t fake , if I couldn’t love him back, why we should then suffer in hell? Why we don’t just cease to exist. God is after all the most powerful, couldn’t he make this wish real?

Yes, I believe we can go to heaven even if we don’t love him back.

I have found that whenever I am lacking something, the ONLY way to get it is to ask him. Because if I am lacking it, there is no way I can get it, or ‘feel it’ by trying on my own. He knows and understands where you are at. We cannot fake anything with god. He knows exactly how you’re feeling and he understands.

If you tell him your feelings, and everything you have against him, but tell him you want to be with him anyhow, then despite your feelings, or lack of feelings, he will work with you.

God NEVER cuts the cord. He is always waiting and hoping that we will turn to him. Even if you have nothing to offer or to give him, tell him that. He will accept it and still call you to come to him. He loves you beyond measure.

Simca

 

[LibralAteoJesus]

Maybe you can. Are you genuinely searching for the truth, or looking for excuses to avoid doing that? Are you genuinely open to accepting God’s love if you come to accept that He may, in fact, exist?

We can’t answer these questions for you. The answers are only known to you and God.

I don’t know what do you mean by “the truth” because we both have different consideration to what the truth is, and we could be both failing in looking at it. If a god exists ( your god), I would want rational answers to my questions, specially to the problem of suffering, I 'm not saying that suffering is the reason I don’t believe in a personal-religious god, no, there is many other scientific, historical and rational reasons to not accept religions, suffering doesn’t disprove god(s), but it disproves a loving god.

If somehow I was wrong and turned out that there is a loving caring god somehow ( which I doubt), who would reject a good god? On the contrary that would be something to be attached to.

If you believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell in this way, then you obviously believe in God in some way, which, at least, is something that I commend you for.

However, no, if you do not love God now or for the rest of your life, then you will not love Him any more after you die. Therefore, you will most likely not go to Heaven, which os the eternal love of and happiness with God.

But, at the same time, we cannot judge people. Only God can do this, so don’t even try…please!

No, I don’t believe in them. Just for the sake of argument I want to know how others believe and share thoughts.

 

[Vouthon]

Dear Libral

There is no automatic guarantee that your atheism, where you to die with such, would render you “hell-bound”. Call to mind firstly what hell is: it is not a place to which one is “sent”, it is a state in which one places oneself. Heaven is the liberation experienced as a foretaste in this life and in its fullness in the next, which comes from adhering to the will of God. Hell is pain and fruit of self-will. In this life these states are “within”, hidden in the soul. In the world to come they are manifested. God merely searches the heart on the day of judgement and reveals what is already within it, whether good or evil.

Hence why St. Catherine of Genoa said that, “…After life on earth the soul remains confirmed, either in good or in evil. Hence the souls in purgatory are confirmed in grace…The souls in purgatory have perfect conformity with the will of God…Hell and purgatory manifest the wonderful wisdom of God. The separated soul goes naturally to its own place. The soul in the state of sin, finding no place more suitable, throws itself of its own accord into hell. And the soul which is not yet ready for divine union, casts itself voluntarily into purgatory. Heaven has no gates. Whoever will can enter there, because God is all goodness. But the divine essence is so pure that the soul, finding in itself obstacles, prefers to enter purgatory, and there to find in mercy the removal of the impediment…” (The Doctrine of Catherine of Genoa).

The soul goes “naturally” to its “place” because that is the state of being it died in. Heaven has “no gates” because it is open to all if they simply will it.

Atheism, in objective terms, is an offense against the dignity of God. However it is one that can be significantly diminished and/or annulled based upon the reasons which lie beneath it. Subjectively speaking therefore, atheists can be “saved” in spite of their atheism and adhere to the will of God as communicated to them through the dictates of the natural law. This is present to the light of their conscience. Provided their “sin” (atheism) is not committed out of a hardened, stubborn heart closed to the truth, they can be saved.

 

[wcknight]

LOve is the measure by which ALL will be judged. Love God and love your neighbor. Nothing else matters. Even if you do not recognize God in all His creations, look for Him in everyone you meet, among the poor, the suffering and afflicted. Jesus tells us that however we treat the least of His brothers is how we treat Him. Most of all pray. Pray as IF you believe, even if you think you don’t.

St John Vianney says, folks who ALWAYS pray will most assuredly go to Heaven, folks who never pray will most assuredly go elsewhere. God gives His gift of faith and grace to whomever He chooses. It is by the grace of God that we are all saved. Ask for it, and be open to it. Look for it. Jesus tells us, ask and it will be given to you, knock and the doors will be open to you. IF you don’t look you will never find it. Look for God and you will most surely find HIm. Read about some of God’s saints.

Were they all delusional, were all their visions and experiences fake, were all the great miracle workers just like modern day magicians or were most or all of them real. Did St Anthony really make a dead murder victim sit up and testify at a trial in front of many people ? Jesus just did not die 2000 years ago and disappear forever, his followers still perform great miracles in His name throughout the centuries.

As recently as the 1960 s St PAdre Pio performed many miracles, his life is a study in the miraculous, right up until his death, carrying the stigmata for over 50 years (examined by doctors many times during his lifetime), and the wounds disappearing the day he died.

God is there IF you look for Him. It really is just a matter of opening up your eyes, heart and mind. There is no need to go through life in doubt, fear, or not knowing if Hell is out there. Hell exists AND Heaven exists and God exists. Denial of them does not make them go away.

 

[LibralAteoJesus]

Thank you for the good and honest answer. I really liked “I think I’m sure”.

I was taught in Catholic school that unless you believe that Jesus Christ was who He said He was, you could not enter the gates of Heaven. As an adult I do my very best not to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t, I leave it to God to determine that. I have atheists in my life who I respect and care for, so I pray for them, sometimes for a miracle, knowing that miracles do happen I have my hopes.
Peace be with you

Much appreciated

 

[Catolico65]

Call to mind firstly what hell is: it is not a place to which one is “sent”, it is a state in which one places oneself.

Not exactly my friend.

The Judgment of the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[a] you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

[Catolico65]

As I understand it if an Atheist never has received the Word, he has a chance. If an Atheist received the Word and never accepts it before he dies he has little hope, but lets pray for them nonetheless.

 

[LegoGE1947]

It depends.

If you were an atheist you wouldn’t WANT to go to heaven.

 

[revert_jen]

Can I still go to Heaven if I don’t love him back? ( If he happens to actually exist).

Hell would be a terrible place to spend your eternal life in, but heaven is a happy place.
Love is an honestt feeling that we can’t fake , if I couldn’t love him back, why we should then suffer in hell? Why we don’t just cease to exist. God is after all the most powerful, couldn’t he make this wish real?

Love of God is not a feeling. Love of anyone is not really a feeling. It is a set of actions that you undertake because (for a human) you wish the person to be truly happy, or (for God) because (among other things) you realize He wishes you to be truly happy (while respecting your free will if you refuse that happiness).

Affection is a feeling. Lust is a feeling. Romanticism is a feeling. None of these are Love.

If you find it difficult or impossible to feel affection for God, that’s not unusual. It does not mean you end up in Hell. It also doesn’t let you off doing what Jesus said you should do if you love Him–keep His commandments.

The idea that love is a feeling is behind the really high divorce rates. You can’t keep up any feeling constantly for 50 years.

–Jen

 

[tonyrey]

Scripture tells us the JUST man will barely be saved, to enter through the narrow door, to persist to the end, believe. If the saints are any indication, they tell us it’s very hard to get into heaven, even for those who DO believe! Christ said not everyone who said “Lord, Lord” would get into heaven.

romancatholicism.org/jansenism/fathers-fewness.htm

Jesus said all things are possible for God…

 

[Vouthon]

Not exactly my friend.

The Judgment of the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[a] you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

That is a symbolic narrative my friend. It is practically a parable (bot quite of course)

The fact is that hell and heaven are not places. Spirits do not reside in “place” in a manner cognizable to us. They are states and they rest upon the “will”. If the will be one with God’s, that is heaven. If the will be one with self, that is hell. God’s judgement simply reveals what one we have chosen for all eternity.

 

[pablope]

Ex- Catholic.

Do atheists believe in the existence of hell? (Just curious)

 

[jaimeleglise]

You have everything to gain by believing in Jesus Christ and following him as a Catholic in the True Church. You have everything to lose by rejecting Him. Ask God to help you to believe. This forum is destined to help those who seek the truth. Also, read the Bible, the Catechism, the Apologetic books offered here. I will pray for you. Remember our top priority is to be sure our souls and those of others are being saved so we may enjoy God in heaven eternally. God bless you.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

**I don’t know what do you mean by “the truth” **because we both have different consideration to what the truth is, and we could be both failing in looking at it.

True, most athiests and some Christians who hae been indoctrinated rather than educated about their faith won’t look at the truth.

If a god exists ( your god), I would want rational answers to my questions, specially to the problem of suffering,

Keep searching, the answers are there in abundance.

I 'm not saying that suffering is the reason I don’t believe in a personal-religious god, no, there is many other scientific, historical and rational reasons to not accept religions,

If you look at the scientific, historical and rational evidence you can’t come up with a solution other than a loving God as described in Scripture and affirmed by the Church.

suffering doesn’t disprove god(s), but it disproves a loving god.

Actually Jesus suffering even for those who hate Him moreso proves a loving God.

If somehow I was wrong and turned out that there is a loving caring god somehow ( which I doubt), who would reject a good god? On the contrary that would be something to be attached to.

You’re right. Someone would have to be not in their right mind to do so.

No, I don’t believe in them. Just for the sake of argument I want to know how others believe and share thoughts.

I think Jesus respects our decisions and those who chose to walk apart from Him on earth get to be apart from Him for eternity.

 

[Catolico65]

That is a symbolic narrative my friend. It is practically a parable (bot quite of course)

The fact is that hell and heaven are not places. Spirits do not reside in “place” in a manner cognizable to us. They are states and they rest upon the “will”. If the will be one with God’s, that is heaven. If the will be one with self, that is hell. God’s judgement simply reveals what one we have chosen for all eternity.

Just to make it clear to those partaking in this thread your alternative opinion conflicts with Catholic Church dogma. The catechism and Bible clearly states there is a judgment and a heaven and a hell.

 

[ready]

If you die without acknowledging God, you cannot be saved. That’s because without faith it is impossible to please God and in order to have faith, one must first acknowledge that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him. Since God can be known from the things that have been made, there is no exuse for not acknowledging Him (especially since He also gives the helps necessary to come to faith).

But just because you are an atheist now, does not mean you are therefore definitively condemned. You too have been redeemed and therefore salvation is possible for you. God gives His helps and graces at different times and if your ignorance is not a result of hard heartedness and sin, we acknowledge that He, in ways known to Himself, can lead those inculpably ignorant of the Gospel to find that faith without which it is impossible to please Him–even if at the last moments of life.

He says he was Catholic. How can he consider himself inculpably ignorant when he was given the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity at his baptism? Anyone who knows that the Catholic Church is the true Church established by Jesus Christ and leaves or refuses to enter in – can not be saved. This is the Church’s official teaching and has been for centuries. Our friend once possessed the faith and he lost it along with the other supernatural virtues, which all hinge on the supernatural virtue of faith. The Scriptures says that we can not be pleasing to God without faith. Our friend once had faith and lost it and needs it back – if he wants to please God and be saved. Let us pray for our friend and hope that he returns to a life of supernatural faith, hope and charity – the three things required in his soul in order for him to be saved, along with true sorrow for his sins. Apostasy from the faith is one of the worst sins that exists after hatred of God, according to the Catholic Church. God bless you.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

In case you were wondering.

John 3:17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.

2Corinthians5:6 So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

The concept you mentioned of “just stop existing” is known as annhilationism. It would be the most beneficial outcome for those who do not believe, but considering Jesus speaks of those who are apart from Him are in eternal torment I would think it is unlikely.

 

[ready]

Ex- Catholic.

Are you aware that the Catholic Church is the true Church established by Jesus Christ? If you are and refuse to re-enter into her bosom, then you can’t be saved, according to the Catholic Church. You should look into becoming a traditional Catholic … you will find the true Faith, whole and entire and uncompromised. Maybe you left “the Catholic Church” because you found the Faith to be compromised where you were. God bless you.