Yes. And a person can go to Heaven without being baptized. But it’s impossible to know if anyone has ever gone to Hell, and the Catholic Church doesn’t officially recognize that anyone is in Hell at all (except maybe Judas). |
It’s my understanding that everyone has eternal life. Whether or not that’s Heaven kind of depends on you. |
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It’s ridiculous to put the Creative Consciousness of all that is, in a box. God is bigger than any sacrament. Does that mean sacraments aren’t important? No. They are outward expressions of our faith. But they are for us. Not God. God doesn’t care whether or not another human dunked you in or sprinkled you with water.
Just my opinion as a minister who has done hundreds of baptisms. It can be beautiful demonstration of faith. But, it’s most certainly not necessary. |
DP here. So let's say you are correct, for the sake of discussion. Is that an illegitimate practice here? Is it possible OP feels religion is cruel, and wants to illustrate that in a religion forum? Is that not allowed? |
I think it’s hard to argue that the practice of infant baptism is cruel without out and out lying about Christian practices and beliefs. |
Catholics are pretty strict about baptism, and even Catholics teach that it’s not strictly necessary for salvation. https://www.catholic.com/qa/is-baptism-necessary-for-salvation-or-not |
? what is. The question was is heaven the same as eternal life? Whatever you're trying to say is totally non-responsive. |
John 3:16 says only those who believeth in him have eternal life. |
| Religious folks: is there a "heaven"? And do you get in only if you're saved? Yes or no? There's a lot of wiggling and waffling on this in the above posts. I'm just trying to understand. |
I'll elaborate. I believe that the phrase and concept of "eternal life" in Christianity is not really about heaven. It is about an approach to life while you live it- a sense of security and purpose in that life. So, no. Eternal life is not the same as heaven as a "place" you go to after you die. |
My answer from a background of protestantism that I have evolved for myself: No there is no heaven. So no, salvation has no meaning to something that does not exist. |
Fine, I'll buy that. But everyone dies. So then what? |
Cool. Thank-you. I wonder why the Lord's Prayer starts out "Our father who art in heaven... |
^ just to add: the next line is "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." So I guess some people would say there is a heaven |
PP here, and I was pretty careful to not presume to be giving any definitive answer for everyone. And I believe that a great deal of the bible is not literal, including the Lord's prayer |