Pope Francis recognizes good atheists.

[takoma]

The Pope has declared (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/23/pope-francis-atheists/2355935/) that a good person is redeemed by the blood of Christ even if that person is an atheist. I guess that I'll see you all in heaven, if I'm wrong and such a place really exists.

[Anonymous]

Mother Theresa is a good example. I think she was more of an agnostic, though.

[Anonymous]

I am a very liberal Catholic and I am often around very conservative Catholics. So this subject has come up with my children when they were little. "Are my Jewish friends going to heaven." I would say "Of course", but there was always that - but I don't think the church teaches that and really I was not sure where they stood on the subject (nor did I really care).

But I was really happy that the Pope said that this week. It give me hope a little for Catholics in general.

[Anonymous]

Inclusive and arrogant at the same time. Ironic.

[Anonymous]

Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

[Anonymous]

Yay ... it feels like I can have my cake and eat it too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

Religion offers a lot of opportunities for spiritual and social growth and support. It's one-stop shopping for those. So many people find comfort, protection, and kinship when practicing religion.

The actual beliefs are secondary, IMO. But I come from a Muslim/Christian family and personally identify as pantheist.

[Anonymous]

takoma wrote:The Pope has declared (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/23/pope-francis-atheists/2355935/) that a good person is redeemed by the blood of Christ even if that person is an atheist. I guess that I'll see you all in heaven, if I'm wrong and such a place really exists.

The point is that atheists aren't evil people and can meet Christians in the middle if they are doing good deeds.

Christ died for everyone but that doesn't mean an atheist is going to be going to heaven if they don't believe in Jesus as their savior.

I don't give a rat's ass either way but that's the message through all the new fluff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

I guess a lot of people CAN'T be good without the threat of hell. They need the rules and the structure and the possibility negative consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

Theoretically practicing your religion should make you feel happier and more content and make your life better, not worse.

[Anonymous]

If there is an afterlife, everyone will be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

I'll bite.

We are Catholic because it is part of family tradition and throwing all that away did not really feel right when I started my family. I could have created a whole bunch of new traditions for my family but I don't believe in recreating the wheel so I will stick with Christmas and Easter.

Also, religion for me is a community. This is a big world out there and I think community is nice. This is not the only community we are a part of but it is one of them. We are part of a neighborhood, we are part of sports teams, we are part of a group that does volunteer work, etc.

I think every religion basically has the same "stuff"... traditions, worship, sacrifice, morals, etc. I knew Catholicism best so I stuck with it.

I also think that if you look at the Bible from a pure liturature standpoint it is very interesting, just like Greek Mythology. I like that my kids know Bible stories.

All religions are run by humans and are imperfect so I don't think the Catholic religion is perfect but if I choose a different one it would not be perfect either.

I don't need religion to be good.

I do find religion fasinating I love going to other religious ceremonies and finding the similarities between religions. I really like Budhist teachings, they are much different than the other teachings but I like their approach. For example, Budhist (and I am not an expert) say everybody suffers so learning to deal with that is good because it is going to happen eventually. I don't know why I take comfort in that but I do. It make hard times easier like, okay this is my time to suffer, it's part of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

takoma wrote:The Pope has declared (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/05/23/pope-francis-atheists/2355935/) that a good person is redeemed by the blood of Christ even if that person is an atheist. I guess that I'll see you all in heaven, if I'm wrong and such a place really exists.

The point is that atheists aren't evil people and can meet Christians in the middle if they are doing good deeds.

Christ died for everyone but that doesn't mean an atheist is going to be going to heaven if they don't believe in Jesus as their savior.

I don't give a rat's ass either way but that's the message through all the new fluff.

You may need to go back and read the Pope's message, because that's exactly what he said. Whether atheists "believe" or not, they're going to heaven. Christ redeemed us all. Your belief in Christ is irrelevant. Go Pope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

I'll take a stab at this too. Full disclosure, I am a Catholic and pretty conservative religiously and otherwise.

The purpose in believing in a religion is because of truth (I will wait for the laughter to stop, but I am serious). For me I completely and totally believe Jesus was the divine son of God. I believe that Jesus came to earth and founded a Church. I believe the Catholic Church is the truest represntation of the Church founded by Jesus (I will again wait for some of you to stop laughing at me, but again, I am being serious). I believe that this Church has the authority to teach on matters of faith and morals. That Church, who's authority I recognize, teaches me to worship God. I worship God because, not because it pleases me to do so (though it does), but because it is the right thing to do according to countless verses of new and old testament scripture, not the least of which is the first of the Ten Commandments.

So I believe in my religion because I believe it is what I ought to do. If I thought that Hinduism was the path, I would be a Hindu, or a Protestant, or a Buddhist or whatever.

The fact that I get personal spiritual fulfillment from my religious beliefs is an ancillary (and wonderful) benefit. It is not the purpose for me to have those beliefs.

That is just me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question - so what's the purpose of believing in religion then, if it's plainly evident that people can be good and decent without it?

I'll bite.

We are Catholic because it is part of family tradition and throwing all that away did not really feel right when I started my family. I could have created a whole bunch of new traditions for my family but I don't believe in recreating the wheel so I will stick with Christmas and Easter.

Also, religion for me is a community. This is a big world out there and I think community is nice. This is not the only community we are a part of but it is one of them. We are part of a neighborhood, we are part of sports teams, we are part of a group that does volunteer work, etc.

I think every religion basically has the same "stuff"... traditions, worship, sacrifice, morals, etc. I knew Catholicism best so I stuck with it.

I also think that if you look at the Bible from a pure liturature standpoint it is very interesting, just like Greek Mythology. I like that my kids know Bible stories.

All religions are run by humans and are imperfect so I don't think the Catholic religion is perfect but if I choose a different one it would not be perfect either.

I don't need religion to be good.

I do find religion fasinating I love going to other religious ceremonies and finding the similarities between religions. I really like Budhist teachings, they are much different than the other teachings but I like their approach. For example, Budhist (and I am not an expert) say everybody suffers so learning to deal with that is good because it is going to happen eventually. I don't know why I take comfort in that but I do. It make hard times easier like, okay this is my time to suffer, it's part of life.

I find your response interesting, pp, because you don't mention Jesus at all. Is he just not part of Catholicism to you? I find this interesting because I find I don't think I could stick with any religion if I didn't actually believe in it. Church and tradition are nice, but I don't feel they're THAT great. Sleeping in on Sunday would be a lot more appealing if I didn't believe in it...