ANSWERS: 33
  • You don't go to heaven, assuming you're old enough to have made that choice (babies get instant heaven). Which is why Christians are tasked with going into all the world sharing the Gospel with others, and why missionaries exist.
    • mushroom
      "Babies get instant heaven" Obviously, babies can't make the choice to "repent" (from spitting out the bottle?), but how is the line drawn by age, when some children take longer to mature mentally than others?
  • its a valid question if very poorly phrased im annoyed people deducted you points for it. im not sure about the bit where you asked "the point of jesus" you should read your bible before asking such questions.....
  • that is one of the major flaws of all religion. Indeed the tribesman would goto hell, even if he didnt worship another god. Simply by being unaware of the correct god, you lose. Now ask yourself this. Do you want to spend the rest of eternity in Heaven knowing that people who never had a chance are in hell? seems a little unfair..
  • The problem with this question is there are misconceptions about what really happens to people when they die, where they go, and how encompassing was Jesus sacrifice. There should be one answer for all those questions within Christianity, but there definately isn't. If you really want to know specifically then ask within the denomination categories. If you're curious about my faith: There is no eternal place of fiery torment (that would not be just in the eyes of a Loving Just God) There are no souls that seperate from your body after you die. You are a soul. Animals are souls. When you die, you cease to exist. One of the many things that Jesus' sacrifice does for people is give them the opportunity to live forever. If you've died, you may be ressurrected in the future. Lazarus was ressurrected. Anyone could be. God has the power to do anything. For those who have never heard about Jesus or even anything close to it will not just be cast aside. They will be ressurrected as well to be given a chance to serve the Almighty. It wouldn't be fair if they didn't get the chance, right?
    • mushroom
      What about all the people from before Jesus was sent to Earth? DId Adam and Eve know they were supposed to repent? Cain? Abel?
  • In the book of Romans, Paul speaks about God's revelation of himself to humanity: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ========= Thus, the Bible teaches that no person, even the one in the tribe most isolated from civilisation, has an excuse not to believe in God, for God has revealed basic truths about himself in nature: his power, his care, his strength etc. The person who responds to that (and there have been many who have) will be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus. ======== But, to much of the world, God has revealed more of himself than just this basic revelation. In the Olt Testament, God revealed a lot more to Israel, and by extension, to those nations who came into contact with Israel (Egypt, Canaan, Babylonia, Assyria). Faced with this new and extended revelation, people were challenged, once again, to respond. And once again, they did. We have expamples in the OT of people who did, and were accepted into the nation of Israel or as believers eg the many Egyptians who accompanied the Hebrews as they left in the Exodus, Moses' wife's family (they were Midianites), the wives of the patriarchs, Rahab the harlot of Jericho and her family, Tamar, daughter in law of Judah, Ruth the Moabitess, great-grandmother of King David and so on. These are just a few of the many who turned to the God of Israel when they heard his revelation. They, too, were covered, in retrospect, by the sacrifice of Jesus. ===== In Hebrews 1, (NT) , we read 1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. This is the final revelation of God to humanity- Jesus. The writer continues: The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. IOW, Jesus is the summit of God's teaching about himself, and so, those of us who hear, which is most of the world's population, is now accountable to this revelation. If they respond, they will be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus, which is now in the past, as opposed to the future for those who lived before his coming. ======== Jesus was, and is, always necessary for salvation. Many are those in tribes who have listened to the first sermon in their language and said "I knew he existed. I just didn't know his name." The great Helen Keller, who was trapped from childhood in deafness and blindness, after having the word "God" tapped into her hands, and an explanation as to who he was, said "I always wondered who that was with me in the darkness. Now I know." God is just. He judges all humans by the same standard- Jesus. Jesus died for all humanity, to pay the price for their sin/rebellion/disobedience, and his death has covered all those who, from the beginning, have turned to him under the three levels of revelation. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no-one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
  • Along with singwell's answer, it is the reason that there are so many Missionaries all over the world. Plus why so many Christians 'force' the Gospel down non-believers throats. God wants all of His children to join Him in Heaven so we were told through scriptures to go out and spread His word and love. In His service, <:))))<>< "My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge." Psalm 62:7
  • It is said... That if one dies and doesnt know much about God or Jesus they are sent to an area to be educated... Those souls who accept Christ go to heaven those who reject him go to hell.... You only go to hell if you reject God & choose to live your life against your creator...
  • I could say something really nasty right now, explaining the roots of Christianity, but I won't, I'm so tired of people whining at me because I say things they don't like hearing... But the short answer, as far as I am aware, is yes, because -everyone- has original sin, anyone who is not forgiven / cleaned of this sin, and the subsequent ones no doubt committed by people who've never heard of the Bible will go to Hell. That's divine justice for you eh?
  • This depends upon the theology of the denomination/believer. The most common belief is that, yes, they are condemned to hell. Thus, we have all the missions and missionaries to spread the word and save the souls of the unbelievers. Some believe, however, that there are separate arrangements, and other chances, for those who had no chance to hear the "Good News". My opinion on whether or not Yahweh is "all-loving", and what Yahweh values, gets me downrated all the time. I'll sum it up with: Good point.
  • Of course not. Babies who die haven't 'heard of' Jesus, they wouldn't go to Hell!
    • mushroom
      So the isolated native babies get a pass, but until what age?
  • This is very troublesome question not only for Protestant Christians, but for all that believe in the “benevolent” God. Problem responding to this question is that there is overwhelming scripture in the Bible that confirms, that the only way to Haven is thru salvation, and that in the name of Jesus Christ. Original sin, (disobedience of one Man Adam) did commit an entire race of Mankind to perdition. Sacrifice of one “Man” Jesus, restored us to good standing with proviso. And this, all that “believe” in the name of Jesus will be saved; Romans 10:13 “For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” In reality, the expression of that “belief” (Faith), seem to come in many different flavors, as there are different people, hence different denominations etc… We have designed religion out of our need to worship, and so it should be. True in Old Testament – it was prescribed an exact procedure how to worship God, sacrifices and all. But with an event of the atonement for our sins by Jesus Christ, (New Testament) these rules “should have” died. But we are keeping them alive. Jesus has set us free from ordinances, rules and protocols and said “True worshipers worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” Since time began, mankind instinctively is seeking the fellowship with its creator, like a child longing for its mother. It is that “longing” that speaks of God and His desire to make the fellowship with Him a reality, like it was in the beginning. It’s good to remember that God can not be mocked (or fooled). Not one earthly religion holds God in its offerings entirely. But entire body of believers that are sanctified through Faith in Jesus Christ are the ONLY Church, regardless of domination, they are the one that serve and represent God here on earth. Not in judging the fellow man, but in serving. Mark 9:35 (NKJV) “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” So in all this to try to answer your question, nobody after the death of Christ is automatically condemned because of the “original” sin. Jesus’ blood has paid for this. He/She however IS condemned by own choosing. And before you say, who in the normal mind would choose Hell? It is the constant life choices of good and evil that we do every day in our daily life that “confirms” what we allow our self to engage in according to our conscience, and until Christ forms in us that is what we go by. Everything we do is either life giving (sacrificial) or life taking (murder). When we do kind things, we rejoice, when we do bad things, we bite our nails, can’t sleep, get an ulcers etc… Doing good for prolonged time – will open door to grater revelation of God, increasing the Faith in Him, end growing in responsiveness to His Holy Spirit, until we finally experience an epiphany, call it born again, begotten of God or whatever – See Gospel of John 3:3. “…In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” Doing badly for prolonged time, turns in doing evil, which causes’ ones conscience to be “seared”. 1 Timothy 4:2 “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” This particular scripture states that “lies and hypocrisy” can sear our conscience, imagine then doing worst things, and what those can do to our conscience. Anyway, I am still talking about those that did not hear the Gospel preached, once they conscience is to the point of no return, (seared) they no longer instinctively will respond to guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is why, Jesus has ordained for Gospel to be preached through the entire world, to every creature (includes bad, evil, unredeemed people etc…) so that world through hearing it “may be” saved. Those that did not do evil, and even though they did not know Christ, through their good deeds they bear witness that the promise of God to “write” the “laws” unto their minds and hearts took, and they are operational within those rules. What rules ? 1 – Thou shall love your God with all your heart and all your mind. 2 - Thou shall love your neighbor as your self. In those – all other commands from the Old Testament are fulfilled. Here is the good part, some of those (conscience seared, unbelieving people) upon hearing of the good news (Gospel), will spiritually come to life and repent of "thier" sin. Reading the book of Romans in The New Testament of the Bible explains it pretty well. Keep in mind that the worst thing could not be done to the person then to put an evil unredeemed individual in Heaven. The ultimate torture for eternity would be just that. God in His mercy has prepared the place for evil where they are in the environment of their choice,thir live proved it... Having said that, It would fare much worst for those that heard the name of Jesus, embarked on the journey of Faith, then abandoned, then those that never heard the Gospel.
  • The way I see it Javert, we have to have been given the opportunity to accept or reject Jesus as savior. I don't think anyone can accurately that one for you. Good qustion.
  • Dante reserved the very outermost, and least unpleasant, circle of Hell for the great philosophers of the time before Jesus. By his account, it was actually quite pleasant, and all the lost was the Presence of God. But by the theology of his time, they had to go to Hell for not accepting Jesus, so he made it as pleasant as possible for them.
  • No one is without excuse, no not one. Romans chapter 1 We are all given a conscience. We know right from wrong. People go to hell because they have sinned or broken the ten commandments. If they ignore that voice which tells them they are sinning, then they ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit which is our conscience given from God. HE has written the law (ten commandments) in every one's heart. If someone cares to listen to that inner voice and fix or turn from the sin in his or her life (repentance) God will find a way for that individual to hear about the one and only savior Jesus Christ even if it is through a dream or a personal apperance from Jesus himself. I have heard story of a shepard girl who was really searching for the true god and she listened to the voice of her conscience that alerted her to her own sin. She found the true answer in a dream that pointed to Jesus as the only way. I have heard stories of muslims who have asked for the true prophet Jesus or Muhammad and they asked with sincerety in their hearts, as God cannot be mocked and He can see in all of our hearts. He seeing a true heart appeared to them in a dream telling them that He,Jesus was the truth and the only way to salvation. People do not go to Hell by accident.They choose to be willing ignorant and/or they ignore their conscience by choosing to live the life they want to live. Also, the bible talks about age of accountability. If someone is too younge(dies in infancy) or mentally incapable of making a decision for Christ, I believe God extends mercy on that person. there are indications in the bible suggesting that but I am to tired to find a scripture reference at this time. SO you know that you have lied, stolen, thought wicked things, had innappropriate sexual desire or even have had sex outside of marriage, coveted someone elses goods, have had hatred in your heart towards another, dishonored your parents as have I. God is watching us and we will not escape His wrath. Just one sin keeps us from heaven. Thereby repent (turn from your sin) and Trust in Jesus alone or there is Hell to pay, eternily. You need Jesus' blood to cover your sins on the day of judgement. YOu have heard it so now you can not claim you did not know.
  • No. The Catholic Church believes that those who die never hearing of Christ but have sought the truth and does the will of God as they understand it can be saved. This is based on Romans chapter 3: For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified. For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people's hidden works through Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:13-16) For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1257-1261: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.shtml#art1 With love in Christ.
  • As said before, the answer is a profound "No". Nature speaks of an intelligent design, much like how a clock needs a clockmaker to design it. Nature's reflection of the Creator gives everyone enough theological ammo to learn more, and as hard as it may be for some to believe, salvation is simple. You trade your sin for His salvation. God is holy, and holiness demands that all sin is either covered or judged, and once all those that are covered are with Him, the grace period is over, and judgment begins via tribulation.
  • If you were stopped by a policeman for speeding in a school zone and your excuse was, "I am sorry, I didn't know I had to slow down..." Do you think that your ignorance of the speed zone that was clearly marked will get you out of a ticket? ignorance of the law is no excuse.
  • Good question. Any one who believes they are condemned to hell for never having heard of Jesus is taking scripture a little too far. I am sure that the writers of the Bible didn't even know what was on the other side of the world at that time and they certainly didn't even know that the world was round. The level of ignorance that existed then was enormous. To them, when God created the world, the world would have been part of the Middle East. I am sure that when Jesus died for our sins, he died for all humans on this earth. I know this is a round about way of looking at it but I find it totally ridiculous that a Christian can be so sure that God would condemn non-Christians to hell. It is a gross assumption, a kind of discrimination -'I am the chosen one and not you'. Utterly preposterous.
  • This is one reason why I believe Jesus when He tells us that reincarnation is real. [John the baptist = Elijah] If you don't hear about Him in one life, you keep coming back until you make a definite decision about Him. But deliberate ignorance, an unwillingness to look honestly at the evidence, is a very dangerous game to play. The time of salvation is not unending, and time appears to be running out.
  • Jesus does NOT exist.. in that case you you will not go to hell.. or heaven what so ever.. and honestly, ppl who belive in Jesus, (a man 2000 years ago who said to son of god) REALLY ARE STUPID! there most have been something wrong with this guys head..
  • It don't matter. Ignorance of the G-man is no excuse for going to hell
  • two things needed to be taken into account before answering this question. 1) that there is a God, that is a fact that can be derived from thought, from creation, etc. (different discussion entirely, this is a presupposition). If it is a fact that anyone can discover anywhere (which is true.) An attribute of God is that He is "willing that none should perish." However they must come to Him on His terms. (makes sense because He is all-powerful, it's like trying to tell the government to shuv it when you are being tried for crimes.) His terms are, Jer 29:11-13 [NKJV For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. People who have seeked him (the african tribesman) have received a witness of Jesus Christ. I encourage you to read the book "eternity in their hearts." kind of a weird writing style but it shows God is faithful to show Himself to those who seek Him. However that also means He needs witnesses to declare His message of salvation. Why are you so concerned about the tribesman when you yourself are no better off than Him?
  • The bible says that there NO ONE is without excuse. I do believe that many people will never hear of Jesus' name in their lifetime, but God can reveal himself in other ways (i.e. through nature). The Lord is mysterious and we may never know EXACTLY how everyone has an opportunity to acknowledge the Lord, but we do know that the Lord is just and that all have the opportunity to accept him.
  • Yes. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; Also, God will save His children. John 17:8 Jesus speaking: I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine. Not one of Christ's will be lost. John 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, .......
  • Every Tongue shall confess and every knee shall bow...
  • The person who knew better but sinned anyway is going to hell... the person who did not know in the beginning has nothing to worry about.
  • Scripture is very clear on this but it is also very unpopular answer. All people are accountable to God whether or not they have “heard about Him.” The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans 1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him (Romans 1:21-23). If it were not for God's grace, we would be given over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. He does this for those who continually reject Him (Romans 1:24-32). In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.” This verse teaches an important principle—everyone who truly seeks after God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself known. The problem is “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their own hearts, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell.
  • No. There is no heaven and there ain't no hell either
  • no. if you have heard of Jesus , and then deny him , that is sin.
  • ? if your dad or mom never tell you that if you touch a hot stove you can get burned and when you are 18 you touch a hot stove? do you get burned? same with GOD.
  • No. They do not automatically go to hell. That is what the millinium is for. They will be taught and given a chance to decide if the wish to worship Jesus.
  • 2 Peter 3:9
  • No you havnt heard so NO you don't go to hell. We all do have the inside knowledge though that God does exist.You just need to open your eyes and you can see his creation everywhere. .. unless youve heard about the "theory" of evolution.. well then in that case.. we came from nothing and that nothing came from nothing and so on! to anyone with a brain... that WUD sound absurd! and not even possible! Where the is creation... there has to be a creator! nothing makes itself! Also God says that he will send his messengers to those who have not heard after the tribulation and those alive on earth are already gathered up and taken to heaven. ( rapture)
    • mushroom
      Evolution most certainly does not posit that anything comes from nothing. It examines several factors that influence how things develop from earlier forms.
    • jkat7900
      and where did that" form" come from?! my point exactly... ur still gonna say something was there!
    • mushroom
      The Bible says God created Earth, then created things from the Earth. Science says simpler things combine to form more complex things. Look at how life, even human life, begins as a single cell, then multiplies over and over as it develops. At multiple points in time, single cell organisms began to multiply their cells until they reached a stable form that was able to reproduce itself. Science is still studying exactly how this happens, but the evidence is there showing that it did happen. Perhaps science will never be able to explain the "how," but that is how science works: keep collecting evidence of "what" and "when", keep testing "how" until the jigsaw puzzle is pieced back together.
    • jkat7900
      and I prove my point!... it not able to tell me how there was a cell lying around .. meaning even that cell had to come from something! simple logic!. " the fool hath said in his heart... there is no God" .. have a good day! not arguing with anyone who would be willingly ignorant to God's creation!

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