Originally Posted by pathardy
I believe if you are good, you'll go to heaven, and it doesn't matter what you believe.

.....no merciful God would condemn to you eternal hell for your beliefs, when the odds are so great that you'll get it wrong, anyway, no matter what.


I'm always genuinely intrigued by statements like the first sentence. What constitutes good? Does telling a lie disqualify you? Does cheating on a lover? Does cheating on a test in school? Does making fun of someone? Does making fun of someone so much it causes them to commit suicide? Does drinking too much too often? Does drinking once and killing someone in a crash? Does not helping a fellow who asks you for 25 cents? If you're good you can get in. How bad do you have to be to to suffer no admission?

Also, on the second statement, where does your idea of a merciful God and hell come from? Most people arguably get those ideas from biblical theology. Which creates a problem because if the idea comes from the Bible, what do you do with verses that deal with the wrath of God? If most won't be bad enough to go to hell, why is there a hell at all? Then if there is no hell, why mention it at all?

If it were up to me, I'd let everyone with a sad story into heaven. I have to find a standard outside myself.