Canuckerbird Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Pope Francis has sparked a religious debate within the Church regarding whether or not Atheists can go to Heaven. Basically, he says that Atheists can go to heaven even if they don't believe in God as long as they "do good". http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/23/heaven-for-atheists-pope-sparks-debate/ (CNN) -– American atheists welcomed Pope Francis’ comments that God redeems nonbelievers, saying that the new pontiff's historic outreach is helping to topple longstanding barriers. “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone,” the pope told worshipers at morning Mass on Wednesday. “‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!” Francis continued, “We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.” Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said that although he has been skeptical of Francis' outreach to the nonreligious, he welcomed Wednesday’s comments. “I gather from this statement that his view of the world's religious and philosophical diversity is expanding,” Speckhardt said. “While humanists have been saying for years that one can be good without a god, hearing this from the leader of the Catholic Church is quite heartening." He continued, “If other religious leaders join him, it could do much to reduce the automatic distrust and discrimination that atheists, humanists, and other nontheists so regularly face. “ Francis’ comments received a great deal of attention on social media, with a number of people asking whether the Catholic leader believes that atheists and agnostics go to heaven, too. On Thursday, the Vatican issued an “explanatory note on the meaning to ‘salvation.'" The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Vatican spokesman, said that people who aware of the Catholic church “cannot be saved” if they “refuse to enter her or remain in her.” At the same time, Rosica writes, “every man or woman, whatever their situation, can be saved. Even non-Christians can respond to this saving action of the Spirit. No person is excluded from salvation simply because of so-called original sin.” Rosica also said that Francis had “no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation,” during his homily on Wednesday. Although the pope's comments about salvation surprised some, bishops and experts in Catholicism say Francis was expressing a core tenant of the faith. "Francis was clear that whatever graces are offered to atheists (such that they may be saved) are from Christ," the Rev. John Zuhlsdorf, a conservative Catholic priest, wrote on his blog. "He was clear that salvation is only through Christ’s Sacrifice. In other words, he is not suggesting – and I think some are taking it this way – that you can be saved, get to heaven, without Christ." Chad Pecknold, an assistant professor of theology at the Catholic University of America, agreed with Zuhlsdorf, pointing out that the pope’s comments came on the Feast of Saint Rita, the Catholic patron saint of impossible things. “The remarks about atheists show that there is even a saint for atheists,” Pecknold said. “Including all of humanity, on this day especially, remarks like that are almost called for.” “To stress that the gospel redeems all people, including atheists, is the teaching of the church,” he added. “This is an objective fact that the church believes.” Greg Epstein, the humanist chaplain at Harvard University, said Francis' comments reflect “the interfaith and inter-community work many of us nontheists are dedicated to.” That said, Epstein hopes that lay Catholics are listening. “I hope Catholics, and all people hearing the pope's statement, will recognize that his words about atheists need to symbolize much more than just a curiosity or an exception to the rule,” Epstein said. “If someone thinks there are only a few atheists out there doing good just like Catholics do, that's a major misunderstanding that can lead to prejudice and discrimination.” The pope’s comments come a few months after he told worshipers that Catholics should be close to all men and women, including those who don’t belong to any religious tradition. "In this we feel the closeness also of those men and women who, while not belonging to any religious tradition, feel, however the need to search for the truth, the goodness and the beauty of God, and who are our precious allies in efforts to defend the dignity of man, in the building of a peaceful coexistence between peoples and in the careful protection of creation,” Francis said shortly after his election as pope in March. Even atheists like David Silverman, president of American Atheists, who has had an antagonistic relationship with the Catholic church, welcomed the pope’s remarks. “While the concept of Jesus dying for atheists is wrong on many levels (especially given that Jesus himself promised hell for blasphemers), I can appreciate the pope's `good faith' effort to include atheists in the moral discussion,” Silverman said. “Atheists on the whole want no part in Catholicism, of course, but we are all interested in basic human rights.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 When does atheists care about getting into heaven? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logic Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 What is considered good is different to every person Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zejono Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 live life the best you can and be fair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 When does atheists care about getting into heaven? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks#01fan Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 So atheists can still get to heaven? In other news, atheists say that religious people can still make it into a void of nothingness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Aw, who cares what these people believe? And i mean everyone. The arrogance involved with creating a life's rulebook based on an unprovable story about a man in the sky vs. the hypocrisy of 'we don't believe in anything, but listen to us while we publicly preach and publish works about what we believe in, er, disbelieve in.' ??? Not a single one of these fools has a clue anyway, but i am growing more tired of the blabberings of 'humanists', 'atheists' and 'nontheists' than i am of religious folk. "Hey boys and girls, gather 'round while i tell you of the great nothingness beyond... ... That was it. Oh, and we're all actually shaved monkeys. G'night." At least religion has some good entertainment value in their stories. Just look at all that crazy crap. While all atheist entertainment value is based on religion. "Just look at that crazy crap." God, can't you be more creative, atheists? Oh snap, creationism, right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Is he the first pope to ever say that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICanucksfan5551 Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 When does atheists care about getting into heaven? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jai604 Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Go to heaven for the view. Go to hell for the company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hudson bay rules Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 why pay yer taxes when you get universal health care in any event? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChenWei91 Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 maybe we'll see a rise in mass murders from now on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 People who are religious have the love of god to fill up that emptiness that some people feel inside. Some people try to fill a void of love with passion, but it's not the same as when you are loved truly for who you are by God. If you do good things and you believe in Heaven, you can go to Heaven. If you agree that there's a Heaven then most would also believe in God. You don't have to practice religion to believe in heaven and God, you just won't feel the love of God inside you as much. If you feel compelled to go to heaven when the time comes then do it! If you feel compelled to slip into a void of nothingness then thats your choice, point is it's your choice! Don't know about you guys, but I want to go to Heaven, and I want my kids to go there too! My parents, grandparents, friends, etc. Science has brought us a great many thing, but it is the art of disproving things. Disproving does not prove anything. The article says people who do good can go to heaven not people who commit mass murder like in Newtown... Joking about mass murder is extremely immature and senseless. Have some common decency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 While I don't condone religion or agree with a lot of its messages, this is a nice statement and it may ease up some religious people's views on atheists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone,” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bob Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 So, does he think he makes the rules ? Or does he think God spoke to him and said "We found some room in the back, let them in" ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rounoush Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Woo! I don't even believe in God and I get to go to heaven. U mad Christians? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucks fan in chicago Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Thanks Pope. Too bad there is no heaven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lychees Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 He can believe what he wants, too bad the bible contradicts what he says While I don't condone religion or agree with a lot of its messages, this is a nice statement and it may ease up some religious people's views on atheists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master 112 Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Nice sentiment, he's certainly a more likeable character than the last Pope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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