Vatican: Atheists will still burn in eternal hellfire

Discussion in 'Religion' started by Magical Realist, Jun 16, 2013.

  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Vatican: Whatever Pope Francis meant, atheists still burn in hell

    By JohnThomas Didymus

    May 27, 2013 in Religion

    Rome - "After Pope Francis told the world that even atheists are redeemed, Vatican spokesman Thomas Rosica has issued a statement that the pope's words do not mean atheists are saved. They are still going to hell if they do not "enter" the Catholic Church.

    Pope Francis's comments received worldwide attention, with many hopefully interpreting his words to mean that atheists could go to heaven if they do not become Catholics but "do good."

    CNN reports that many American atheists welcomed the pope's comments, saying it signaled a new spirit of rapprochement between the Church and secular society. According to CNN, David Silverman, president of American Atheists, welcomed the pope's statement, saying: "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. Atheists on the whole want no part in Catholicism, of course, but we are all interested in basic human rights.”

    Digital Journal reported that in a homily he delivered on Wednesday, the pope said:

    "They (the Apostles) complain [saying]... If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good.” [But Jesus corrected them, saying] “Do not hinder him, he says, let him do good." [According to Francis, the Apostles were] "a little intolerant" [and thought that only those of their group could be good, believing that] "those who do not have the truth, cannot do good.” [The pope said:] “This was wrong... Jesus broadens the horizon... The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation."

    [Pope Francis continued:] "The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can... 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!... 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.”

    In a quick move to disabuse the minds of the ungodly majority who may have heaved a sigh of relief after learning that the pope has said the closed doors of heaven have at last been flung open to non-Catholics and atheists (!), Rosica implied that the pope did not mean to say that atheists could go to heaven if they do good but do not become Catholics. According to CNN, in an "explanatory note on the meaning of salvation" issued on Thursday, Rosica made it clear that people cannot be saved if they are aware of the Catholic Church but "refuse to enter her or remain in her." That is, atheists are going to hell if they do not become Catholics.

    Has Rosica corrected the infallible pontiff? Many would say yes, but Rosica appears to meander around this point by suggesting he was only clarifying the pope's words. He attempts to establish a distinction between the availability of salvation for all and people availing themselves of the opportunity.

    Rosica said in the statement: "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 stressed that Pope Francis had “no intention of provoking a theological debate on the nature of salvation."

    According to CNN, experts in the Catholic theology have embraced Rosica's exposition, saying that Francis had only expressed a tenet of the Catholic faith. Reverend John Zuhlsdorf, a conservative Catholic priest, wrote: "Francis was clear that whatever graces are offered to atheists (such that they may be saved) are from Christ. 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, said: "The remarks about atheists show that there is even a saint for atheists, Including all of humanity... To stress that the gospel redeems all people, including atheists, is the teaching of the church. This is an objective fact that the church believes.”

    What these words from Catholic experts mean is that in spite of what the pope's words may have suggested, moral good is not good enough for those who are keen about making it to heaven. You also need, as Rosica puts it a little awkwardly, to "enter her and remain in her."

    Rosica's clarification also alerts us to the need to consult a dictionary of Catholic theology when next the pope makes a concession that appears too good to be true, because some Catholic theologians are saying there is a distinction between "redemption" and "salvation." Remember that Francis hadn't said atheists are "saved" but that they are "redeemed."

    As the Irish Central points out, in Catholic theology, it appears that even Judas Iscariot was "redeemed" by the death of Christ on the cross but he was not "saved." Every good Catholic believes Iscariot is burning in hell right now.

    Patheos retorts in apparent frustration at the seeming theological double-talk that raised our hopes about heaven and dashed it while we were still rejoicing: "Okay, okay, so that’s what we were expecting all along. Atheists, according to Christians, are going to hell unless we accept Christ’s divinity. We already knew that. It was still an unusual and welcome gesture from the Pope to recognize that everyone, regardless of beliefs, can do good and 'be saved' — at least it was a step up from what we’re used to hearing."

    While the Catholic Church may have restated uncompromisingly its position on the ultimate fate of atheists, not many think that atheists are worrying about it."

    Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/350964#ixzz2WQGQ23J0
     
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  3. Balerion Banned Banned

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    One of the most evil notions of organized religion is that one must be a subscriber to a particular dogma in order to be of any value as a human being, let alone have their acts perceived as good. It implies that there are no good deeds except submission. I can appreciate the new pope trying to change this perception. But as we all know, politics exist in religion as anywhere else.
     
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  5. Buddha12 Valued Senior Member

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    There are good and bad people everywhere and some are religious and some are not. So it really doesn't matter to those who do not believe in religion that they are not part of religion but still strive to help others who are a part of the religions. Someone who does good and helps others and doesn't ask who those might be are not trying to get on anyones "good " side but just try to do the right thing in helping when and where they can. Those who do not follow religions also do not care about such nonsense as being allowed to enter into a "heaven" for they do not believe it exists at all so therefor they don't mind being excluded from something they do not believe even is there.
     
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  7. Balerion Banned Banned

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    It isn't about getting into heaven. Obviously, atheists don't believe in the concept. It's what the message signifies that's important. If Catholicism suddenly decided that salvation is not necessary, the entire moral landscape of the world's largest Christian denomination changes.
     
  8. Buddha12 Valued Senior Member

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    So then why become a member of something that anyone can have with or without believing in something? What then would the point of religion be if they change the rules so that everyone is allowed into their "club"?
     
  9. Balerion Banned Banned

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    Theoretically, they could still dictate what the rules are, so they could remain as a source of guidance and community. But it would be a lot more difficult without the indoctrination that comes with membership, which is why this other joker "clarified" the pope's words so as to make sure nobody took it as a cue to leave the church.
     
  10. Buddha12 Valued Senior Member

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    The main rule is to do as you are told and pay your dues.
     
  11. Baldeee Valued Senior Member

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    One thing this will almost certainly do:
    Cause more strife in catholic families where someone is/becomes atheist.

    When I became atheist, my grandmother was distraught.
    But she consoled herself in the understanding that if I did good then her God would forgive me and I'd go to heaven etc.
    Had this clarification been around before she died, she would have been mortified.
    It may even have killed her early through the stress and worry of my atheism.

    So what this does is put undue pressure on atheists to remain in the closet.
    As it can drive a vast wedge between them and their catholic family.

    I'm not sure the lack of heaven is of any concern to atheists.
    But to their catholic friends and family this could be a hammer-blow.

    I see it as the Catholic Church becoming more cult-like.
    Slightly more.
    But more nonetheless.
     
  12. elte Valued Senior Member

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    There may be a metaphorical way of looking at this notion. So the hell involved becomes hell on earth. It ties in with the idea of religion acting as an opiate and tending to instill a blissful ignorance. There's less need to worry if a deity will provide later salvation.
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2013
  13. Mr Hope Registered Member

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    I am also concerned about the Catholics ... they do not believe Jesus redeemed all their sins, so they have to contribute. See victim soul tradition, hair shirt mortification, penance and the like.
     
  14. Aqueous Id flat Earth skeptic Valued Senior Member

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    You have that backwards - they originated the tradition, and Protestants innovated on top of it. (Roman Catholicism that is -- who knows what the Protestants have absorbed out of the other Catholic churches). There's no comfort Protestantism should derive by disparaging the DNA from it was spawned.

    All matters of interpretation. First there was one ritual, then another, then another, and so on until present day. Still the interpretations persist, if only to completely virtualize all ritual into a grab bag of irrational beliefs.
     
  15. arauca Banned Banned

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