christ-on-a-stick

Well, I've got a case of Newcastle - do ya think that'll do the trick???

Hehe... sorry Kevin I know that's not what you meant but I couldn't resist.

the_cave

Ummm...I don't mean to get the thread back to the original topic or anything like that, but integral domain was right. In fact, mostly you just need to understand that a) there is a moral code, and b) you follow it as best you can. At least, that's my understanding of, for example, current Catholic teaching. Or maybe there has to be some kind of religious path that the believer is following as well. But the point is, the requirements are rather discretionary, depending upon the situation.

In fact, I think that some provision is made for the individual who thinks that there are good reasons for not believing in God! I think it might have to be the case that they would believe if they were proved wrong, but I'm not even sure about that. The point is not to consciously reject the free gift of salvation on the face of it. If you don't think it exists, you can't reject it. Or something like that...I'm pretty sure I'm not making any of this up. I'd be happy to go to the sources & get the real scoop with quotes & everything, but I have a feeling no one here would really be very interested in knowing...despite the question having been asked.

The upshot of it is, at least in my tradition (Catholic), that yes, it could in fact be the case that Ghandi will go to heaven. Can't tell for sure, but could be. Of course, it could also be the case that everyone will go to heaven! It's just that it's not the believer's place to make that claim, though of course they can note that it's possible.

spurly

Lauri,

Thanks for helping me out. I corrected my error!

Kevin

christ-on-a-stick

Kevin, it makes me very sad that someone like you who *seems* to be a gentle and kind person at heart, goes through life believing that such barbarism and savagery is not only "truth" but good and worthy of worship. Seems that (some) humans are better than the gods of their invention after all... I would never torture someone for eternity for any reason.

I have another question for you but I will start my own thread to address it.

I am sincere in my sadness that you are so certain of your dogma that you can live every day really believing that people like Ghandi deserve to suffer at all for eternity.

As Charles Templeton put it, he knew that there was something "mighty wrong in Christendom" when he found himself praying for a better God.

Philosoft

It seems to me that God realizes people need motivations that involve some personal consequence. I suspect heaven would be a lonely place, indeed, if God was to reject all those who had their own interests in mind.

Invader Tak

Hey, just like you delibertately ignore some very unpleasant facts about Christianity!

Debbie T

Ghandi did not do good works to bribe a christian mythical god. He did good works to help his fellow human beings.

Godbert

I think it's quite obvious that according to the Bible Ghandi is burning in hell as we speak.
But another question to the christians: If Hitler regretted in his dying moments and asked Jesus for forgiveness would he be in heaven?

the_cave

Yes, but if you're Catholic, only after spending a rather long time in Purgatory.

meritocrat

Most Christians may believe that a faith in Jesus is essential in getting to heaven. Nonetheless, liberal Christians feel that how one has lived their life is of greater consequence.