Are Athiests right or are they going to burn in hell with the rest of the sinner

[countrygirl12]

I believe in God, but I rarely go to church.  I don't  think you have to go to worship him.  I know there are many religions, and many people believe differently that I do, some people do not believe at all.  I think this is a personal choice and no one should ever try to push their beliefs on another person.

I agree in not pushing your beliefs on people but people take that statement too far.  People want to say you are pushing your beliefs on them if you just mention God.  As a Christian I am suppose to witness to others.  I guess I don't do that as much as I should.  As far as verbally doing so.  I hope that my life is a witness.  You are right in that you do not have to go to church to worship God.  Although the Bible does tell us to assemble ourselves together.  I don't judge people for not going to church because I don't go either but I am a Christian.  There are so many reasons people don't go to church or quit going.  Mostly because of the way people in church have treated them or act.  And I am not talking about people who want to judge and say others are hypocrites.  I don't care what other people do.  That is their business.  I am talking about how people treat other people.  People are mean.  And people in churches are no exception.

[hitch0403]

I put this scripture and explanation up only for those that support the bible.....

Who Are Preaching the Good News?

“ . . . will be preached in all the inhabited earth.”—MATTHEW 24:14.

THE good news is being preached worldwide by Jehovah’s Witnesses. They do this in a variety of ways. One way is by . . .

The Spoken Word. Like Jesus and his disciples, Jehovah’s Witnesses go to people with the good news. (Luke 8:1; 10:1) They do not simply expect people to come to them. Witnessing to people about God’s Kingdom is something all Witnesses—numbering over seven million—engage in. They preach from house to house, on the street, by telephone, and by other means. Last year, the Witnesses spent more than one and a half billion hours in this activity.

They teach others not only about God’s Kingdom but also about “all the things [Jesus] commanded.” (Matthew 28:20) They regularly conduct over eight million free home Bible studies.

The Witnesses are preaching worldwide—in 236 lands. They preach to people of all walks of life. They preach in the country and the city, in Amazon jungles and the Siberian taiga, in African deserts and the Himalaya Mountains. They are not paid for this work; they do it at their own expense and using their own time, motivated by their love of God and of neighbor. They also make known the good news through . . .

If discernment doesnt tell you they have the TRUE Gods backing and you wanna call this work "pushing your beliefs"on others please remember this also,that satan has blinded the minds of many.....they have also been told cos the hour is growing short NOT to waste time or debate the issue with others.Seek honest hearted individuals that wanna learn the truth about Jehovah God and his kingdom thru his son Jesus Christ!

[Screwedupclick4life337]

I love god an Jesus an I hope everyone can get along an be happy

[BK_Adores_Chase]

First of all, what elirat49 describes in the OP is not atheism but rather agnosticism... The difference being that atheists (a- = not; theist = belief in a god) don't believe in a god whatsoever whereas agnosticism (ag- = not; nost = knowledge) believes that we as humans cannot know god fully although they might believe in the existence of a god or other higher power.

As for your question, the answer will also depend on the answerer's own religious beliefs. Some belief systems condemn anyone that doesn't have the exact same belief structure as themselves; even if both were Christians, some Christian doctrines would condemn their fellow Christian as being a heretic and therefore bound for hell.

As a Catholic, I believe that atheism and agnosticism are sins, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are mortal sins (sins so horrible that it keeps a person's soul out of heaven). As countrygirl12 said "... every one sins.  No one is perfect." Just because a person sins doesn't mean that they are therefore bound to hell. When Jesus said that the only way to God is through him, Catholics believe this more in the abstract sense than a concrete expression of belief: to go to God / heaven through Jesus means more that a person lives their life according to Jesus' teachings rather than actually believing in Jesus' divinity. So a person living in the rural farmlands of China that may have never read the Bible nor heard any of its teachings may still be able to go to heaven if they still live their lives by loving their fellow man, forgiving those that hurt them, etc. (ie by living a life exemplified by Jesus even if the person knows not of what that means). Similarly atheists / agnostics that don't believe in God may still be able to enter into heaven if they too live a "Christian" lifestyle.

Oftentimes (esp. nowadays, after the Enlightenment Period) people are atheists or agnostics because they only believe in what they can see or what can be described by science. They want to reserve their judgement until that proof is produced, either when they die and are standing before the gates of heaven, or at the end of time. These people can enter heaven since their sin isn't so terrible; after all, even one of Jesus' apostles is known as "Doubting" Thomas because he didn't believe in Jesus' resurrection until he could examine the nail-holes in Jesus' hands from His crucifixion.

Where being an atheist / agnostic may be bound for hell is if they truly reject God and His teachings. If a person believed completely in the "survival of the fittest" even to the point as accepting murder, theft, etc. as justified in that the perpetrator must have some strength over the victim and therefore is the fittest person and thus should survive and thrive, they are then fully rejecting God and therefore cannot enter into heaven.

Isaiah 64:6 ..all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.

[Liquidfire_43]

Why would they be burned in Hell for not believing? So if a person who does good in his/her dies but doesn't believe in God, they automatically will be put in eternal damnation? That's not the being I would respect or believe in, because that makes it a pride issue... If you don't believe in me then F you basically... If I were to believe there was a afterlife, the logic that everyone (everything) will go through hell first, then at a certain time (depends on you crimes, sins, treason, w/e) will determine the amount of time they will be there... And after that time has pass, they will be admitted to heaven

I don't think much of the afterlife... I think that it will be the same thing as sleeping

[mill8277]

We will know when we die, you said a mouth full then, and that's what I will have to do, wait and see......If I'm wrong for how I believe then oh well.....

[reiddb]

If you search the Bible and really study it, you will find that there were so many prophesies regarding a "savior" of the world and the perfect plan God established was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  When you search the scriptures you find that because of what Jesus did for us, and what he said is why there are all the differences in the different religions. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me" and he meant it.  You are right, there really is a supreme being...a God, and you will find that "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" is true, whether you believe or not.  We share this truth because we wish ALL to come to the knowledge and love and serve God, Jesus Christ~hallelujah!

[hitch0403]

Its good to see some here agree with Eccl 9:5....The living know they will die...the dead are not aware of anything.Non existence.

Backs up what God told Adam......back to dust you go at death

Satan has blinded the minds of many in christendom.

Those that think they will die and go to heaven now kinda baffles me why they wanna hold onto life in this world?LOL!!

But lets face it.Many knew Jesus was Gods son and he proved it but they still always asked him for proof!!So its the same here...christendom lies in deciding whats good and  bad  and her ignorance and will get punished for it eventually for it by the TRUE God.

[linderlizzie]

I think atheism is very hard to understand. Why would you rather believe in nothing than something? 

All beliefs should be honored, but as a Christian I believe that Jesus died for my sins and that I'll be in eternity with him.

We should all have respect and love for one another. Personally, my faith gives me comfort and hope in many situations. I can't imagine not having nothing at all to believe in. How sad. 

[hitch0403]

Linderlizzie.....all beliefs SHOULDNT BE HONORED!!!!

Did Jesus honor what the Pharisseess believed in?NOOO...he condemned them

The apostle Paul acted in ignorance.Jesus taught him a valuable lesson cos he saw his heart was in the right place.Judas will NOT be forgiven.He sinned against the holy spirit.He knew the truth about Jesus.

Was Noah wrong pushing the truth onto an ungodly world????NO......they all died cos they didnt accept divine intervention given to him by the TRUE God.

It will be the same today as it was then.Just as in the days of Noah.....so it is quite wise to examine your religeon and this freedom of it is BS in Gods eyes!!

[hitch0403]

So many more exmples in bible.Nimrod wanted to build a tower to the sky and worship false gods in Babylon.Jehovah stoppped him by confusing everyones language.

God saved the Israelites from the Egyptians....then some of them worshiped golden calfs.

So again it is wise to examine what and how God wants to be served,obeyed and loved.

[genaadele]

i believe in Jesus all the way. I don't believe I have a right to judge...that's God's place

[lvstephanie]

Linderlizzie.....all beliefs SHOULDNT BE HONORED!!!!

Did Jesus honor what the Pharisseess believed in?NOOO...he condemned them

Umm... Wrong... Although Jesus didn't honor some of the practices of the Pharisees, he still held to the Jewish beliefs and customs throughout his life. There is a big difference between honoring a belief structure and honoring people that are supposed to lead others in that belief... Even though I am disgusted by the child molestation done by some Catholic priests, it doesn't mean that I therefore also reject the beliefs of Catholicism.

Also there is a difference between believing something, honoring something, and condemning something. I can honor and treat anyone with dignity even if I don't completely believe in what they believe in. Jesus was known for for honoring those that others had called sinners... The story of the Good Samaritan is important in that by definition a Samaritan held beliefs that were different than a Judean's and yet it was the Samaritan that acted in the most God-like manner.

Finally, all of the stories that you presented as arguments against not honoring others beliefs are judgements that God made, not condemnations made by us against another, fellow human. Since none of us are God nor do we know what God's will is, how can we make judgements against someone else for not adhering to God's will, esp. as it pertains to a person's beliefs. Neither God nor Jesus said that the only "true" religion is Catholic, or Lutheran, or Jehovah's Witness and so we as fallible humans shouldn't attempt to make such concrete statements as to what is the "true" faith, and to dishonor and condemn all others as pagan.

[mardukblood2009]

I guess we will find out when we die. I really think it is all made up because someone had to tell you about God and Jesus. It is not like you came into this world knowing about these things.

[sherryinutah]

It's important to get past the concept of right, wrong black or white.  When you step outside the "religion box" you'll see that there are many other options. 

Hell is a frame of mind and God is NOT judgemental.  He'll allow us to experience our own life review after we "check out" and each of us will decide where our spirit will exist.  If we hurt others we might "condemn" ourselves.  If we made an effort to make the world a better place we'll feel comfortable in a "heavenly" place.