From: XOPR131@maccvm.corp.mot.com (Gerald McPherson) Subject: Re: Am I going to Hell? Lines: 42 In Tim asks: >I have stated before that I do not consider myself an atheist, but >definitely do not believe in the christian god. The recent discussion >about atheists and hell, combined with a post to another group (to the >effect of 'you will all go to hell') has me interested in the consensus >as to how a god might judge men. As a catholic, I was told that a jew, >buddhist, etc. might go to heaven, but obviously some people do not >believe this. Even more see atheists and pagans (I assume I would be >lumped into this category) to be hellbound. I know you believe only >god can judge, and I do not ask you to, just for your opinions. > This is probably too simplistic for some, but John 3:16 saus, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". Genesis 15:6, "And he (Abram) believed the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness". I don't find anywhere that God restricts heaven to particular ethnic groups or religious denominations or any other category that we humans like to drop people into. But He does REQUIRE that we believe and trust Him. In Hebrews it says that God spoke of old by the prophets (the old testament), but in these last days he has spoken to us by His son Jesus Christ. And we learn of Him through the pages of the New Testament. The Bible tells us what we need to believe. For those who have never heard, I leave them in God's capable care, He will make himself known as he desires. It behooves each one of us to act upon the knowledge we have. If you reject the claims of Jesus, and still go to heaven, then the joke's on me. If you reject him and go to hell, that's no joke, but it will be final. Gerry ============================ The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of my employer. ============================