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

[ChurchSoldier]

What about my philosophy professors who have discerned for many years and have intellectually concluded that God does not exist?

They may be actually good people and might not be acting out of any spite for faith (ie not like the Dawkins and Hitchens type). They just have spent years finding what they believe to be truth but reach the wrong conclusion. Are they doomed?

Yes. Pray for them.

 

[Vouthon]

Catolico, what do you think of this “Ask an Apologist” reply right here on CAF:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=795533

God does not send people to hell, He permits them to make that choice. Jesus did indeed love his enemies, he prayed for them (Luke 23:34)

That is answer by Fr. Charles Grondin.

Here is another answer by apologist Michelle Arnold:

Hell was not created by God. Hell was created when angels freely chose to eternally separate themselves from God. Because angels and human beings were given free will, God allowed for the possibility of hell, but he did not directly create it.

Hell is the eternal separation of creatures from their Creator. The angels who fell did this by one irrevocable choice. Humans’ choice for heaven or hell is settled irrevocably at their deaths. The punishments of hell are entirely self-inflicted, so we cannot say that hell is an “external motivation” created by God to inspire humans to be good. At most, God may allow human fear of hell to work as such an "external motivator

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=151384

 

[ChurchSoldier]

They may be actually good people

fwiw let’s look at that.

3 questions:

1. Have they ever lied?
2. Have they ever stolen something?
3. Have they ever looked at someone they are not married to lustfully?

All people can answer yes to these questions. The Bible says these people are lying, thieving, adulterers. Not anyone’s definition of “a good person”.

The question is not whether we have done these things, we all have. The question is: “How do we remove the stain of these sins from our soul?” Answer: We can’t.

That’s why we need Christ. He has the authority to forgive sins, and has made a way for us to access it through his church and it’s Priests.

Thanks for asking. It’s a good question.