Will God forgive an athiest?

1. 59

   IDONOposted 10 years ago

   Will God forgive an athiest?
   
   Growing up as a Christian, I was taught that faith and repenting sins were the keys to heaven. Since an athiest can't have faith or repent to something they don't believe in, are they damned? Remember, someone being an Athiest doesn't mean they are evil. I know a number of Athiests that do much more for fellow man than many of the self-proclaimed Christians. Please,no bible quotes without context.

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2. 0

   Brenda Durhamposted 10 years ago

   You were taught right;  faith and repentance are the keys to heaven.

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3. 83

   karthikkashposted 10 years ago

   I am born Hindu, but I don't believe in religion. I believe in god, but my version of god is different. Traditionally, I am a non-believer. I simply believe that god is non-physical and it is a pure source of universal energy. 
   
   I think no god can be looked upon a slave master. If he considers himself a slave master, then probably he is not god, but devil. I think most organized religions try to keep humans suppressed, to treat us as slaves to some unknown god. Repenting for sins is treated as if we need to beg for mercy from our slave masters. To beg for the mistakes we do, else be burned in hell. Seriously? Is god such an egomaniac? I somehow personally believe in a benevolent god. Not a slave master, but a friend (If you want to call Jesus, maybe). I haven't really seen any religion teach that. Everyone teaches, repent or pay for your sins.
   
   There is one question I always ask any religious person, especially a Christian (people who believe that Bible is the universal truth). This is not arrogance, but I consider that it is a food for thought. Before religions were even born, human civilization existed. Who was god then? The nature? Did people really beg the nature for forgiving their sins? And did the nature really care whether people begged for mercy or not? Did people not go to heaven then? Or did all people go to hell till Jesus the savior or the all righteous Church came in?
   
   Secondly, people are so immersed in " bow down to god or else.." that we have even forgotten to ask, "who the hell were these gods"? Were they just a figment of imagination or were they extraterrestrials? Or, were they normal people like Jesus, Buddha or Krishna who attained godhood? Why should we bow down to them? If these were mere mortal entities, why bow down to them? Because they are more powerful than us, and they will destroy us if we don't? Are those the kinds of gods we should really ask for forgiveness? Are we so incapable of accepting our mistakes and learn from that? If we have sinned, let us ask the god within us for forgiveness. Why ask someone else? Can't we mend our ways? Can't we make sure that we haven't destroyed someone else's life for our sake? Isn't that sufficient to go to heaven, if there is one?
   
   I believe that faith is a different matter altogether and has nothing to do with god. I can keep a rock, have full faith in it and call it god, if that serves the purpose like most primitive people do.
   
   Just my 2 cents.

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4. 61

   Disappearingheadposted 10 years ago

   They have already been forgiven at Calvary. It's a done deal.

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5. 79

   jlparkposted 10 years ago

   I'm not sure that an atheist would care if a being that they do not believe in would forgive them or not. As an agnostic, I certainly don't let it worry me - but I am not everyone.

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6. 86

   M. T. Dremerposted 10 years ago

   If god really was loving/forgiving, then he would forgive an atheist. If he is really as wrathful and judgmental as holy books suggest, then even the believers won't be forgiven for the smallest of sins.

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   1. 59

      IDONOposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You'll love this comment. I'm not sold that being an athiest is actually a sin. Athiests still have morals and live trying to do the next right thing. I'm not sure I agree with you, but you sure got me thinking. That's why I do this! Thanks.

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   cjcs138posted 10 years ago

   it takes 2 things for forgiveness to occur. someone willing to forgive and someone willing to be forgiven. God is always willing to forgive. atheist just are unwilling to be forgiven seeing as they dont thing there is anything to be forgiven for.

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