If God DOES exist, would good atheists be allowed in heaven?

[SteveS]

Apropos commentary, paperino.

[Churchworker]

Of course as Jesus told me so and she never lies.

[Allhailtuna]

'she'?
That reminds me of some Sage Francis lyrics...

[Merc]

you must remember do that the judicial/christian god can NEVER give proofe of his/her/its existence, proofe denies faith, without faith he is nothing

to anser your question, no, i dont think atheists would be welcome in heaven, the bible says were wicked creatures and should be stoned (with stones, not drugs, )

[EbzDirtyHeathen]

Ok, obviously this is a complete hypothetical so I ask that you simply play along.

Let's pretend for just a moment that God exists and there is, indeed, a heaven and a hell (or something of that sort).  If an atheist lives his whole life by a relatively strict moral code, generally treating others as he would wish to be treated, would God care if that person believed in him or not?  

As a fairly new atheist, this is something I've contemplated while going through the "what if I'm wrong" phase.  I find it to be somewhat unreasonable that God would punish people for doubting his existence based on the (lack of) evidence HE gave us using the critical, inquisitive minds HE gave us.  Why would God punish people for using the same logical thinking processes which have enabled the human race to survive.   In fact, I think God would prefer to have people who used their minds in a rational manner during their time on earth in his presence rather than people who simply followed the flock and never bothered to challenge themselves and the belief system they happen to have been born into.

I suppose it doesn't matter since I have absolutely no earthly reason to believe any such place exists...but it's something I would imagine most of us have at least considered.  Thoughts?

Well if God is all-loving like many claim then he/she'd have no problem in forgiving. I've went about the what if I'm wrong thing too....If I am....I am...... but if I felt the God of the bible did/does exist I probably wouldn't follow along anyways.

[SteveS]

DirtyHeathen raises a point that always bothers me about god being "infinite", as most theologians assert.  If god is infinite, then he would be infinitely forgiving, right?  So - there could be no transgression for which he (or she, or it, or whatever pronoun you use for god) would not eventually forgive you - making an eternal stay in hell a blatant contradiction to the definition of god.  Internal inconsistencies like this seem to absolutely plague the theologians.

Of course, if god is infinite "in all aspects", then wouldn't god also be infinitely vengeful?  Of course - you can't really be both infinitely vengeful and infinitely forgiving, can you?  So - god can't really be infinite without qualification - he can't be infinite in all regards in all ways.  This is total nonsense.

To User192021's point: if god is real and cares about people being "good", then I don't see why he would punish you whether or not you believe in him.  If, however, god is real but god is the egomaniac described in the bible and only cares about sycophantic worshippers - then we're screwed.  Of course, its hard to imagine a personality with unlimited power who created all things having this sort of emotional disorder.....

Imagine a pop psychology analysis of god - "all those years, damning people to eternal hell; it was really a cry for help!  He just wanted to be loved!"

 :wink:

[stephy]

my ex friend.... told me that he always tried to be a good person because he worries about what happens when he dies. my reply was always that i will cross that bridge when i come to it. but really, like if what we are told when we start school about this wonderful god thats all loving etc etc etc then who gives one if you're a good person or not? he's all loving, so we'll all be fine yeah?! its all one big contradiction