Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: lang@rex.cs.tulane.edu (Raymond Lang) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Non-Christians in Heaven (was: Original sin of infants) Message-ID: Date: 5 May 91 01:36:12 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: C.S. Dept, Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA Lines: 28 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: > I'm constantly >trying to get Ghandi into heaven on a technicality. > Tom Blake > SUNY-Binghamton Do you really think a "technicality" is necessary? I went to Catholic schools through my undergraduate degree, and was always taught that a person had only to follow the lights that were available to him (or her) in order to find salvation. Frankly, I expect to meet up with more than a few surprised atheists in heaven (assuming I get there myself). It's hard for me to fault people who reject organized religion when I look at some of the atrocities organized religion has perpetrated and still perpetrates. If a person cannot bring himself to accept organized religion but nonetheless tries to lead the best life he can according to his conscience, I cannot picture God condemning the man to hell for eternity. God works in many ways; and if the bad behavior of the church leads a person to seek alternatives, it is certainly within God's power to provide this person with the graces necessary to find salvation. In general, I'm extremely hesitant to rule out anyone's chances of salvation. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." Ray lang@rex.cs.tulane.edu