As a former atheist, I found them on a whole to be more tolerant and kinder than nominal Christians. The question remains though, how can someone achieve an eternal destiny with God if they have denied Him? I want to believe though that an atheist, unless he is in a total state of rebellion, will be enlightened before death...albeit it be at the last minute. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Atheists should be seen as good people if they do good, Pope Francis said on Wednesday in his latest urging that people of all religions - or no religion - work together. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/at...-says.aspx?pageID=238&nID=47453&NewsCatID=393
Can I assume you mean god as viewed by the catholic church, since you are discussing the Pope's statement? I would have thought that the Pope, being the figurehead of the church and who is capable of speaking with so-called papal infallibility if he so chooses, can be trusted to deliver god's truth to the world. So if he says atheists can find their way to the catholic god then surely that's that, isn't it?
I'll bet I know one PF Catholic poster who'll be disagreeing with the Holy Father.....especially when it comes to his sister.
He can mind his own business...commenting about atheists when he has so much rotten stuff going on under him is ridiculous...I sure don't need his approval...he's never asked for mine and he wouldn't get it.
This is actually a ReallyBigDeal, the Pope saying that atheists can be among the redeemed. http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/201...counter_is_the_foundation_of_peace/en1-694445 --- "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! Father, the atheists? Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. But I dont believe, Father, I am an atheist! But do good: we will meet one another there. --- It's a reversal of Pope Benedict's position that the Catholic Church was the only possible path to redemption. It's also a challenge to the fundamentalist protestant "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" thing. The Pope is saying that belief is _not_ the key, that works are the key.
I doubt any of the nasty one's here fit into the Pope's category. I know some nice atheists and I know some disgusting believers. Lack of faith does not necessarily mean a bad person.
You seem to be talking of two different things... 1) being good... 2) going to heaven. Theist have no monopoly on morality though many religious types like to think they do. There are many good atheists out there, its just that many of the religious types refuse to believe this and use stereotypes to classify them all. As for going to heaven, atheists do not concern themselves with that which does not exist.
How quaint. To believe that people of all faiths or none can work together... what is the Pope thinking? Doesn't he know that the Internet has turned us all into tribes of competing beliefs where the there is no compromise, just screaming about how wrong the other side is wrong? Enough sarcasm... I actually believe we can all work together, whether we are Atheists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, New Age or something entirely different. And I don't stop at religion, but also believe that people of all races, genders, sexual orientation and political views can also work together. Yeah, this belief is a little naive, but I think it is a great goal to strive for.
The Pope said atheists CAN be good, but we already knew that. The Pope did NOT say good atheists go to heaven. When he says THAT, I will be impressed because it would be a major change in Catholic doctrine.
When did Pope Benedict say that the Catholic Church was the only possible path to redemption, unless he meant by 'Catholic', all of Christianity? I personally I have the greatest respect for Pope Benedict, but being the top theologian of the Vatican, he can be misunderstood by people with a limited spiritual level. Pope Francis never said that. The man is trying to reach out to people, it doesn't mean though that he is changing the doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith. If he said works and not faith is the key, he would be denying Christianity since it is built on faith. He merely said that everyone should do good. He also said that we were all redeemed by Christ. God sacrificed Himself for everyone. This doesn't mean everyone is willing to accept the gift (Grace) God offered them. Here are some words by our great Saint Nektarios: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Christian religion is not a certain philosophic system, about which learned men, trained in metaphysical studies, argue and then either espouse or reject, according to the opinion each one has formed. It is faith, established in the souls of men, which ought to be spread to the many and be maintained in their consciousnesses. There are truths in Christianity that are above our intellectual comprehension, incapable of being grasped by the finite mind of man. Our intellect takes cognizance of them, becomes convinced of their reality, and testifies about their supernatural existence.
Maybe no one is able to convince an atheist that he's in heaven if he is in heaven - but why should a good human being not go to heaven if Jesus decides it this way? Whatelse should happen with a good human being? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAFl1uPPqDo
