If I'm an Atheist and I am not a bad person, will I go to hell?

[Skavau]

So no theories about how the universe came out, why we are here, that kind of thing?

Individual Atheists may have their own ideas on how we are here, why and what our purpose is and indeed there is in the Western World great cohesion amongst Atheists over what that is but that is only because that in the Western World Atheists tend to have specific beliefs and values as a product of their environment.

 

[Kirsten]

Being a Christian for 40 years, no, you don't just wake up one morning and not believe (speaking for myself). It was a process, of accumulating new knowledge, that caused me to evaluate my beliefs and over a period of time, recognize that I was wrong.

Have you ever changed your mind about something, after you acquired new knowledge, that changed your position?

Being a Christian is not a "thought process" it is a state of being. People who are Christians have passed from death to life. They are born again by the Spirit of God. You can't undo that. If you have chosen to reject Jesus, you clearly were never made alive to God in Christ.

 

[Skavau]

The only options are heaven - eternity worshipping and fellowshipping with God - or hell - eternal separation from God. If you don't believe in God, don't think He loves His creation, etc. would you want to go to heaven and spend eternity worshipping Him?

God does not "send" people to hell. He gives them free will. So since you have no interest in worshipping the Creator or fellowshipping with Him in this life, He is respecting your free will and not forcing you to do something against your will for all eternity. Think about it...if He FORCED you to go to heaven...wouldn't that be like "hell"?

That rather depends on what heaven involves. If Heaven is not unpleasant then I daresay it would not be any less pleasant than Hell.

In either case no-one here is insisting upon heaven only declaring that we do not deserve to be tortured for not believing in God.

 

[GillDouglas]

Why would being honest with your own convictions (ie: I don't believe in God) a *thought*, not even expressed be evil?

Do you support the idea of thought-crime?

Oh definitely. Evil in thought is a definite issue. God knows whats in our hearts and minds.

 

[Skavau]

Oh definitely. Evil in thought is a definite issue. God knows whats in our hearts and minds.

So how is being honest about what you believe?

I genuinely believe that there's no reason to believe in God. I genuinely believe that your representation of Christianity is unethical.

Merely having those thoughts, those ideas is evil? I deserve to be punished simply for coming to a specific conclusion?

 

[Skavau]

One would not concern themselves with something they cannot perceive or do not believe.

This is untrue. For example I am opposed to Scientology despite believing that nothing contained within Scientology is true.

 

[Skavau]

Who decides what is moral and/or corrupt? As I said before, you needn't concern yourself with the opinions of others.

What an absurd comment.

The world would be a better place if people took into account and consideration the opinions of others.

 

[GillDouglas]

So how is being honest about what you believe?

I genuinely believe that there's no reason to believe in God. I genuinely believe that your representation of Christianity is unethical.

Merely having those thoughts, those ideas is evil? I deserve to be punished simply for coming to a specific conclusion?

I never said that, you must have misunderstood the discussion or I type something up wrong. I could care less what anyone else believes about my beliefs and I could care less about yours. What you believe is your choice, and it's not my place to decide your fate.

 

[Kirsten]

There are no "generally good-hearted" people. We are all decedents of Adam, a sinner. It is not even possible for anyone to not be imperfect. None of us is without sin. It doesn't matter how "severe" it appears to you. Nobody is good, according to God. We all fall short. The only way God can allow us in his presence is if we are perfect. Since nobody is, Jesus paid the penalty that we all owe for our sin, that is death. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it, but there is no other way.

 

[Skavau]

I never said that, you must have misunderstood the discussion or I type something up wrong. I could care less what anyone else believes about my beliefs and I could care less about yours. What you believe is your choice, and it's not my place to decide your fate.

No, it isn't but it appears that the God you believe in is in favour of thought-crime. The idea that it is just to punish someone for what they think. You indirectly support that as the perfect representation of justice.

 

[Skavau]

There are no "generally good-hearted" people. We are all decedents of Adam, a sinner. It is not even possible for anyone to not be imperfect. None of us is without sin. It doesn't matter how "severe" it appears to you. Nobody is good, according to God. We all fall short. The only way God can allow us in his presence is if we are perfect. Since nobody is, Jesus paid the penalty that we all owe for our sin, that is death. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it, but there is no other way.

How was it ethical for God to corrupt an entire species or allow the corruption of an entire species for the actions of two individuals?

 

[Kirsten]

What an absurd comment.

The world would be a better place if people took into account and consideration the opinions of others.

Really? I should care that people call me a bigot and a hater because I am a Christian? I think not. I am extremely selective about whose opinions I consider, as should you be.

 

[Skavau]

We don't do the works of Jesus, He works through His people as He wills.

This sounds even less ethical. If Jesus is directly responsible for evangelism then he is directly responsible for those that fail and thus bares the responsibility for their eternal torture.

 

[Brother Chris]

I deny Jesus as a savior of mankind, but I do think historically speaking, he was a real person. I find it extremely unlikely there is a God of any kind, even more unlikely a god that actually "loves" his creation and for some reason cares so much if people love him back. And to make it clear too, I don't believe in the devil either. I'm an honest and caring person, I've never done an "evil" thing my entire life. With that all said, would I go to hell?

Yes, you will end up in Hell, because you are not as good as you think you are. God is good and Holy, and we are not. That's the problem.

 

[Kirsten]

No, it isn't but it appears that the God you believe in is in favour of thought-crime. The idea that it is just to punish someone for what they think. You indirectly support that as the perfect representation of justice.

It's a matter of the heart. For instance, lusting after a woman is the same as committing adultery because it is the heart that matters, not the action that follows the thought. God is concerned with your heart, for it is your heart and what proceeds from your heart that makes you who you are.

 

[Skavau]

Really? I should care that people call me a bigot and a hater because I am a Christian? I think not. I am extremely selective about whose opinions I consider, as should you be.

Yes, you should. You should ask yourself why people might think your values are hateful. By not engaging in common ground, by ignoring certain opinions because of who said them or the content of what was said you open yourself up to your own prejudice, you shelter yourself from what might actually be going on and you make yourself a prisoner of your own ivory tower.

 

[Skavau]

It's a matter of the heart. For instance, lusting after a woman is the same as committing adultery because it is the heart that matters, not the action that follows the thought. God is concerned with your heart, for it is your heart and what proceeds from your heart that makes you who you are.

Lusting after someone is not the same as actually committing adultery, for a number of reasons. Your conflation of thought and action is not shared by me.

 

[GillDouglas]

What an absurd comment.

The world would be a better place if people took into account and consideration the opinions of others.

Now that's an absurd comment. My opinion is that you should love God. My opinion is that you should dye your hair blue.

No, it isn't but it appears that the God you believe in is in favour of thought-crime. The idea that it is just to punish someone for what they think. You indirectly support that as the perfect representation of justice.

You're right that this is a part of our belief system. Your actions should be in line with your thoughts.

 

[GillDouglas]

Lusting after someone is not the same as actually committing adultery, for a number of reasons. Your conflation of thought and action is not shared by me.

Lusting after another woman is the first step in adultery. You don't just stumble into another women's bed before thinking about it.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

God is not willing that any should perish. The question is, why do you reject Him? The answer is, because you love your sin.

Don't answer for others. It's presumptuous and rude.

The answer to why I reject Christ is because I am not convinced of his divinity because I don't believe gods exist like I don't believe Bigfoot and leprechauns exist.