Crosswords1 min ago
Am I going to hell?
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I don't believe in god but I have morals and I've always tried to live a good life. If god exists will he send me to hell? It seems a bit harsh.
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I rather like the Native North American Indian belief on this one. They believe in a pugatory-like state called the Painful Journey. Everybody goes on to a happy afterlife when they die, but bad people have to go through the Painful Journey first. How long they spend there depends on how evil they have been. The journey gradually gets easier as they get closer to the Great Spirit. In the end everyone passes into the joyful light.
No, I don't believe God will send you to Hell for doubting his existence. But if you really don't believe in God, why should you worry? It seems you think he just might exist after all. Did you have a religious upbringing? Anyway, don't worry about it.
By the way, Buddhists don't believe in God as such, but they do believe in an afterlife (Nirvana). People have to find enlightenment during their lifetime because if they don't, they cannot pass on to Nirvana after death. Instead they will be reincarnated (the form of reincarnation depends on how evil they have been). This is nothing to do with reward and punishment, but a natural law of cause and effect.
It's interesting to look at all these different belief systems. Keep an open mind, check them out, and they might help you form your own stable beliefs.
Keep living a good life. Peace.
By the way, Buddhists don't believe in God as such, but they do believe in an afterlife (Nirvana). People have to find enlightenment during their lifetime because if they don't, they cannot pass on to Nirvana after death. Instead they will be reincarnated (the form of reincarnation depends on how evil they have been). This is nothing to do with reward and punishment, but a natural law of cause and effect.
It's interesting to look at all these different belief systems. Keep an open mind, check them out, and they might help you form your own stable beliefs.
Keep living a good life. Peace.
Hells great. I've been living there for years. It's always hot, you get a great tan, that's if you have any skin left to tan after the flaying.
The marshmallows are done to perfection and Satan is a wonderfully warm host.
The Parking Lot is nearly always full but hey! You can't have everything.
:0)
Down To DevilGate Drive..........La Di Da.....
The marshmallows are done to perfection and Satan is a wonderfully warm host.
The Parking Lot is nearly always full but hey! You can't have everything.
:0)
Down To DevilGate Drive..........La Di Da.....
Yes, Denying god would send you to hell in both christian and muslim faiths. According to both faiths it is immoral and sinful to deny god. If you are all powerful then I don't suppose it matters if you are a bit harsh. If you believe in ghosts (spirits) Then I assume you believe in life after death so why don't you believe in gods?
Thing is Ludwig there are so many religions they can't all be right and most of them will condem you to some sort of hell for believing in one of the others just as quickly as they will for not believing in God at all.
Sounds as if your best bet is to assume they're all wrong or at least misguided and face any "final judgement" on the basis of living a good life.
But I say this with my tongue slightly in cheek - Heaven and Hell are tales for children. What is this "you" that will be saved or damned? - for your soul to survive death it must first survive life. Look at people who have had serious brain injuries - their memories gone, their personalities altered. Where are their souls?
Heaven and hell are just stories designed for powerful to manipulate those foolish enough to believe in them
Sounds as if your best bet is to assume they're all wrong or at least misguided and face any "final judgement" on the basis of living a good life.
But I say this with my tongue slightly in cheek - Heaven and Hell are tales for children. What is this "you" that will be saved or damned? - for your soul to survive death it must first survive life. Look at people who have had serious brain injuries - their memories gone, their personalities altered. Where are their souls?
Heaven and hell are just stories designed for powerful to manipulate those foolish enough to believe in them
You appear to be seeking some spiritual enlightenment and guidance ludwig. If you don�t believe in God, then it is very likely that you won�t believe in the devil nor in the existence of heaven and hell. In which case you should have no worries as when you die you will just �be� nothing and �be� nowhere.
If you seek comfort in believing that good deeds and morals will enter you into God�s kingdom, would that make you become evil and do bad things as the thought of going to place you don�t believe in would disconcert you? If it reassures you to believe that being an all round good egg will enable you to have an afterlife in a place called heaven, as opposed to a place called hell whether you believe in God or not, what does it matter? You'll be dead.
Whether you end up in your final hours taking the elevator of death to the penthouse or the basement, I would wish you a happy journey, God-believer or not.
If you seek comfort in believing that good deeds and morals will enter you into God�s kingdom, would that make you become evil and do bad things as the thought of going to place you don�t believe in would disconcert you? If it reassures you to believe that being an all round good egg will enable you to have an afterlife in a place called heaven, as opposed to a place called hell whether you believe in God or not, what does it matter? You'll be dead.
Whether you end up in your final hours taking the elevator of death to the penthouse or the basement, I would wish you a happy journey, God-believer or not.
I disagree strongly with Octavius, only because his beliefs allow him to consider 2 options - that the Christian belief is the one and only, or there's nothing.
Have you ever considered that there are more non-christians than christians in this world? Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, the Hindus have it right? Or the Buddhists? Or us Pagans? Or even David Icke? (Ok, even I admit that last one is iffy).
Have you ever considered that there are more non-christians than christians in this world? Have you ever considered that maybe, just maybe, the Hindus have it right? Or the Buddhists? Or us Pagans? Or even David Icke? (Ok, even I admit that last one is iffy).
Quite right Whickerman, being a Christian I made the presumption that Ludwig was referring to the Christian view of God, and the Christian view of hell.
I also acknowledge that there wasn�t enough information in the Q to assume that Ludwig believed there was no afterlife and that once past the expiry date, you merely just were no longer. Although, in mentioning �going to hell� one could assume that Ludwig could perhaps take the view that there may well be an afterlife. Of course I will find out who is right (Hindue, Buddhists, atheists etc) at the �.wrong time probably.
But mentioning David Icke is just embarrassing for everyone! Did you have to?!
I also acknowledge that there wasn�t enough information in the Q to assume that Ludwig believed there was no afterlife and that once past the expiry date, you merely just were no longer. Although, in mentioning �going to hell� one could assume that Ludwig could perhaps take the view that there may well be an afterlife. Of course I will find out who is right (Hindue, Buddhists, atheists etc) at the �.wrong time probably.
But mentioning David Icke is just embarrassing for everyone! Did you have to?!
I probably confused people by personalising it. I was trying to find out what the official answer was to the question - do good people go to heaven if they don't believe in god ?
My beliefs don't really come into it.
For example, say there's an atheist person who lives his life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus - not because he believes in him obviously, but just because his personal moral beliefs happen to coincide exactly with those teachings.
Does the church say that this man will get to heaven or not.
so far tompaine and brionon have given me unequivocal No's.
My beliefs don't really come into it.
For example, say there's an atheist person who lives his life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus - not because he believes in him obviously, but just because his personal moral beliefs happen to coincide exactly with those teachings.
Does the church say that this man will get to heaven or not.
so far tompaine and brionon have given me unequivocal No's.
Interesting question Ludwig - I consider myself to be Agnostic but border more towards Atheism.
I live my life in a 'good' way but certainly not a Christian way - I couldn't obviously pass the first commandment (and lets not even go down the Leviticus route).
But if I am wrong, and there is a Christian God, does it mean that even if I have lived a 'good' life, i wouldn't be accepted in to Heaven?
I live my life in a 'good' way but certainly not a Christian way - I couldn't obviously pass the first commandment (and lets not even go down the Leviticus route).
But if I am wrong, and there is a Christian God, does it mean that even if I have lived a 'good' life, i wouldn't be accepted in to Heaven?
Are you hedging your bets ludwig, and trusting that your �good� life will earn you the brownie points for the heavenly trip? If so, then you are trusting in the wrong person, yourself.
You say you don�t believe in God. Well, He believes in you and every day holds out his hand for you to take it and trust Him. He shows you His very existence in the sheer beauty of nature, loved ones faces or the vast expanse of stars in the sky. Even when things go horribly wrong, and they do, there will be something, perhaps only a glint, but it will be there, to show His love.
The Gospel of Jesus is available to everyone in this country and we have heard it over and over again. Now, we can choose to believe it and accept Him, or say �No Thank you, I don�t want to know you� and reject Him.
This then is the crunch. God doesn�t choose who goes to heaven at the end of their lives � we make that choice here on earth. He�s given us that freedom to live how we choose and ultimately the choice is ours where we live in eternity.
Finally ludwig, don�t take any notice of the scoffers and anti�s on this site � they won�t be there at the end � only God will be there. So again the choice is yours, accept or reject?
You say you don�t believe in God. Well, He believes in you and every day holds out his hand for you to take it and trust Him. He shows you His very existence in the sheer beauty of nature, loved ones faces or the vast expanse of stars in the sky. Even when things go horribly wrong, and they do, there will be something, perhaps only a glint, but it will be there, to show His love.
The Gospel of Jesus is available to everyone in this country and we have heard it over and over again. Now, we can choose to believe it and accept Him, or say �No Thank you, I don�t want to know you� and reject Him.
This then is the crunch. God doesn�t choose who goes to heaven at the end of their lives � we make that choice here on earth. He�s given us that freedom to live how we choose and ultimately the choice is ours where we live in eternity.
Finally ludwig, don�t take any notice of the scoffers and anti�s on this site � they won�t be there at the end � only God will be there. So again the choice is yours, accept or reject?
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The mere thought that you might be condemned to hell suggests you have been influenced, and obviously feel threatened in some way, by organised religion. Some people here suggest that they 'know' the truth - but they don't. The reality is that no one 'knows' any more than anyone else, and therefore those opinions are based purely on the faith of the individual. There are many religions in the world, and each one professes to be the true religion, but personally I don't believe any of them have the answer because they are all man-made. I don't believe in the god of the bible, who incidentally was an evil creature - and neither do I believe in the devil or hell. Those things were invented by men to frighten the natives and keep them in their place - and they continue to frighten the gullible thousands of years later. Believers seem to me to be too afraid not to believe! I wonder if they'd be quite as faithful to their religion if the threat of eternal hell wasn't the ultimate punishment for dissent?
In my opinion true spirituality is within us and all around us in the natural world, and I do believe the soul survives death because we are a part of nature. If I had to specify one religion that I feel most closely touches upon the truth, it would be Buddhism.
If you want a good example of who will, according to the church, enter heaven, take a look at Jack's excellent observation when he said that Martin McGuinness will be welcomed, whilst Ghandi will be barred, or words to that effect. Thinking about it, who'd want to spend eternity with the likes of George Bush? He'd be one of the in-crowd too! Does it make sense to you? It makes none at all to me - but then that's organised religion for you.
In my opinion true spirituality is within us and all around us in the natural world, and I do believe the soul survives death because we are a part of nature. If I had to specify one religion that I feel most closely touches upon the truth, it would be Buddhism.
If you want a good example of who will, according to the church, enter heaven, take a look at Jack's excellent observation when he said that Martin McGuinness will be welcomed, whilst Ghandi will be barred, or words to that effect. Thinking about it, who'd want to spend eternity with the likes of George Bush? He'd be one of the in-crowd too! Does it make sense to you? It makes none at all to me - but then that's organised religion for you.
