I’ve made this case to Christians before. If people who don’t hear about it get a free pass into heaven, after Jesus died, if they just didn’t say anything, everyone on earth would go to heaven.
Any time they go somewhere new and preach, they have to get 100% to believe just to keep the number of people going to heaven the same. Anything less and hell has gained some new souls.
Christianity is a recruitment tool for hell.
Christianity is an infohazard
lmao
all the abrahamic religions are cognitohazard. maybe, the reason why they’re so engrained is cuz one said “shit, now that i’ve learned it, imma burn, why not spread this to others?”
Da fuq? When I went to Christian school, they told me everyone who died without knowing Jesus go to hell. And I asked “how about babies?”, and they firmly told me “yes, they go to hell”
Ah the loving and compassionate God, who sends you to hell if you haven’t even heard of them.
I made a creature and then killed it before it had an opportunity to comprehend me and I’m offended by that so I’m going to torture it for eternity.
- the good guy, supposedly
Good and merciful god that one.
The actual answer is “I don’t know, the Bible doesn’t say.”
The contradictions between doctrine and the Bible make so much more sense when you view it in the historical context of a tribal religion, as it was written, not as some kind of universal truth. The Bible doesn’t say what happens to people who never hear about it because the writers weren’t thinking about that.
no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined
I’m not a fan of this no-freewill interpretation, but it’s a hell of lot clearer than Christian doctrine.
It really is a good question. This situation is referenced to in Romans 2.
Romans 2:12-16 ESV [12] For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. [13] For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. [14] For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15] They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them [16] on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
So, the answer is still “I don’t know if you are. I don’t know if you’re doing the right thing by your law or conscience.”
As for “Why tell me?” The theory is still that it is better for your life to know and that God’s law is better and more generous than man’s law.
As for “Why tell me?” The theory is still that it is better for your life to know and that God’s law is better and more generous than man’s law.
The Golden Rule has popped up independently in cultures across the globe (including the Abrahamic religions), and I’d argue it’s a much better foundation for morality than anything that assumes/requires supernatural backing.
great answer, thanks for that. i wonder if apostates/non-believers are included in “Gentiles who do not have the law”
or is it only the people that never heard the gospel?
I can’t say for sure. Nobody really can but there is a divide in some protestant faiths that someone “once saved is always saved.”. Meaning that if you ever believed then you’re good to go. I think this idea is rooted in John 10:28-29 ESV [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
A lot of Christian faiths don’t agree with that logic though.
I think largely though people believe Romans 2 only applies to people who have never heard.
