Must one have believed in God to enter the afterlife?

[styley]

I was just wondering that if, hypothetically speaking, an athiest dies and it turns out there was a God and they come before him is there any chance of that person being allowed into heaven. I must emphasise that the athiest actually lived a very fulfilling life. He got married at 28 and had 3 children thereafter. He was also heavily invoved in community and charity work and regularly took sick children on fun days out. But as I say he at no time had any belief in God and thought when he died that would be it. So as I say I'm just wondering would there be any chance of him getting into heaven and if not what would most likely become of him. By the way I would like the answer to come from religious texts if possible and not so much your personal theory. Of course if you want to give a theory that's grand. I apologise for my longwindedness. Thanks.

[Theland]

Matthew 25:37.
This describes how God accepts people who are full of love and compassion for others.

The chapter goes on to explain how God rejects those who believe in Him, but give priority to keeping his laws above tending to the needs of the sick, the hungry, the destitute etc, God loves mercy and compassion above legalism.

[Lonnie]

Thelands answer is the one to take notice of,

But adherents of different sects will probably give different answers, eg, I was told by a workmate who belongs to an offshoot of C of E, that only those who recognise Jesus can go to heaven,

His reply to a question was that all the Patriarchs, Abraham, Moses etc, because they were before Jesus, they wouldn't have gone to heaven.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Matthew 25:37 seems very odd considerog the Christ fiddlers on here keep insisting that it's impossible to have morality without religion.

Will they now be dropping that argument since even God recognises it is possible?

[ELVIS68]

Ezekiel 25:17

� The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and goodwill shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. �

[Doc Spock]

what a load of old ********.

[Doc Spock]

that was bo11ocks.

[styley]

So, saying he isn't allowed into heaven, having not believed in Jesus, where does he end up? Would it be purgatory or hell perhaps? If so that would seem a bit harsh on him and would make one think.

[Dassie]

Why do you want the answer to come from religious texts? God didn't write them, they have been written many years after the event and distorted by man to suit their particular views. Look at it this way, assuming you are of a suitable age, If I was to ask you to put into writing today what happened to you say in 1983 could you be 100% accurate in detail? Could you remember ALL that happened? I know I couldn't. So how many years AFTER the events was the Bible or any other religious text written????? Get the point.?

[jake-the-peg]

I seem to recall a similar question that was generally answered with John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

In the light of these other answers, a wonderful illustration of Dassie's answer about religious texts being used by people to suit their own views.

[styley]

The only reason I mention texts is cos I'm looking for what it says about this in the bible etc. I was looking for quotes about it and not just people saying I think this happens and I think that happens. Get the point?

[Cetti]

These texts should give you a very clear answer styley, and leave you under no illusion about who and who does not enter heaven. It's too serious a subject for sitting on the fence, trying to be all things to all men when your eternal life is at stake.

John's Gospel, if you can get hold of a modern version is the one to read.

John 3.16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

John 3.17.�For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him�.

John 3.18. " Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son".

John 3. 36. " Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him".

It cannot be any plainer, can it? If you reject God or are anti Jesus, or worse - pour scorn and abuse on his name or his followers in this life, then you obviously will not want him when you are dead and all the good deeds in the world will not get you there.

God in his love and mercy wants everyone to be in heaven, but it�s plain that not everyone will accept this wonderful free gift.

[naomi24]

Theland, that really is the pits. How can you believe that this entity who has caused untold suffering to thousands of people believes in mercy and compassion? By his well documented standards, mercy and compassion appear to account for nothing to him.

I can't answer the question since my thoughts can only come from personal theory - and that's not what you've requested.

Cetti, what love? What mercy? Give us examples.

[styley]

Thanks Cetti, that seems pretty conclusive in terms of the guy not entering heaven. Now I'd really like to know what becomes of him. Is it purgatory, hell, or shock of shocks does he simply cease in all aspects of future existence, mind, body and soul. I'm still looking for an answer to the original question actually.

[nellypope]

HI styley just read your request in Body and soul, will try to answer.

According to Christian beliefs, It makes no difference how "good" you have been, basically we all have lied, (even small white ones) maybe stolen, in God's eyes all sin is sin, so unless we follow the Lord, Christ (who's crucifiction represents the cleansing of all the sins of those who believe) we won't go to heaven.

Basically when we die if we are atheists, God judges us as an omnipotent powerful being, If we are Christian He judges us as a merciful Father (as our own parents would)

Hope this helps ;-)

[jno]

if you're talking about Christianity, the answer is as given by Jake and others: through Jesus. This has raised all sorts of knotty problems among theologians through the years: what happened to those who died before Jesus' time? What happens to babies? And even what happens to pets? (The righteous don't want to be separated from their ponies.) God is, in theory, almighty and can move the goalposts when he wants; but the message of the new testament is pretty clear: he doesn't; you have to surrender to Jesus. Good works aren't enough. Going to church isn't enough.

There's no special reason to suppose the Bible has got Christ's teachings wrong. The Gospels were written after his time, but apparently by believers who heard them either first-hand or second-hand. Dassie might not be able to remember everything that happened 20 years ago; but he might have done so if he heard something that struck him so hard that it really changed his life. People didn't write things down a lot then, so they were much more accustomed to working within an oral tradition - and remembering what they heard. So the fact that Jesus didn't have a secretary taking down all he said, for him to date and sign, isn't in the least proof that it didn't happen much as the Bible says.

[Gromit]

So, if I have got this right, you may have all the albums books, DVDs, but if you do not belong to the fan club you do not get into the gig? - Seems a bit harsh.

Sorry styley, there were no aauthoritative texts there, was there.

[jno]

afraid so, gromit. But that's what faith is all about. The whole point is that it isn't a commercial deal, where you pay your money and get something in return (which was the point of earlier religions - notions of offering up sacrifices in order to win divine favour, for instance). All you have to do is believe in and love God, though Jesus. But that is the irreducible minimum.

[jake-the-peg]

Don't forget you're not allowed to be rich either:

http://www.debunker.com/texts/needleye.html

[The Sherman]

i'd like to add who defines what is rich?
who defines what is a good deed?
animals stay in herds and societies and have no definition of religion yet still lead full meaningful lives and do good deeds for each other with no pre concieved notion that is to get them into heaven!
why oy why are people so worried about what will happen after they die? -YOU'LL BE DEAD! you won't have any feelings or emotions to worry about! i dont lose a single seconds thought wondering about what will happen when i die, I'm to busy living and enjoying myself!!!!!!