What If It's The Other Way 'Round?

[mibn2cweus]

What if it's the atheists that go to heaven, for their integrity of conviction, for refusing to believe for the sake of convenience and for their unwillingness to accept sacrifice as a means by which justice can be achieved? What if the promise of salvation is actually a test to determine how far you're willing to go and what you're willing to accept in the hope of acquiring the unearned and undeserved? What if heaven is reserved for those willing to face whatever punishment they deserve preferring to pay whatever is necessary to satisfy whatever debts they have incurred? What if the God you believe in is able to distinguish between the hero and the coward and of treating each of them accordingly?

Just a few thoughts I've had. What do you think?

[JimF]

"What if it's the atheists
What if the God you believe in"

It's one or the other...

[TonyV]

Yes Jimf believe in whatever you want

[emmie]

i think its a total blackout when we die, no heaven, thats just a fairy tale to placate those who are afraid of dying -

[Deskdiary]

The very idea that there’s an heaven is laughable, and the people who believe there is, even though there’s not a single shred of proof, should be pitied.

[david small]

Graffiti on wall. God is dead, signed Fred. Underneath.
Fred is dead. Signed God.

[Hopkirk]

That would mean that everyone was wrong, but if anyone changed their view they would still be wrong.

My brain hurts.

[douglas9401]

In the end all sins are forgiven, innit, so right or wrong , good or bad you're getting in.

Heaven exists on a different plane so you have to change at Dubai.

[woofgang]

..... works without faith is a recognised religious dogma. CS Lewis alludes to it in his book "The Last Battle"

[iluvmargie]

What a nasty comment 'to placate those afraid of dying'!! Aren't we all a little afraid of dying? We don't know if it will be quick and easy or slow and painful. Or are you immune from such natural fears emmie??

[Hopkirk]

Emmie is spot on

[goodlife]

True understanding will not be given wicked people, God’s Word foretold for our day: “The wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10, AS)

So the wise ones who understand are not the worldly wise but those wise in the Scriptural sense—those who love righteousness and devote themselves to serving true God.( Ps 83:18)

[agchristie]

"Aren't we all a little afraid of dying?"

Not at all.Theres enuf to worry abt...

[agchristie]

"Heaven exists on a different plane so you have to change at Dubai."

The naughty Swiss folk depart from Berne airport.

[Samuraisan]

Well we all find out sooner or later.

[naomi24]

A truly just God? An interesting thought, mibs, and one that has gone completely over Goodlife's head.

[Old_Geezer]

A heaven and a selector of who goes in when being religious is wrong ? How do atheists opt to face punishment when they don't believe it ?

Anyway, free will is an illusion, no one can owt but what they inevitably will choose to do anyway, so why select a subgroup to enter heaven ?

[andy-hughes]

naomi - // A truly just God? An interesting thought, mibs, and one that has gone completely over Goodlife's head. //

Indeed, it is an interesting point, and as we would expect, goodlife has failed to engage with it for what it is - a philosophical question worthy of consideration - probably because it doesn't contain a quote from the bible, therefore it doesn't actually mean anything he can understand.

[naomi24]

OG, //How do atheists opt to face punishment//

They don't.

[andy-hughes]

Old_Geezer - // A heaven and a selector of who goes in when being religious is wrong ? How do atheists opt to face punishment when they don't believe it ? //

They don't, because they don't have to bother.

It's one of the wonderful life-affirming aspects of being an atheist - fretting about what is going to happen when I die is something I never think about.

Nothing is going to happen, nothing to think, or worse still, fret about.

[andy-hughes]

naomi and I cross-posted, and on this occasion, we align in our viewpoint.