Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics

[Open_Minded]

Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics

Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists.

During his homily at Wednesday Mass in Rome, Francis emphasized the importance of "doing good" as a principle that unites all humanity, and a "culture of encounter" to support peace.

Using scripture from the Gospel of Mark, Francis explained how upset Jesus' disciples were that someone outside their group was doing good, according to a report from Vatican Radio.

“They complain,” the Pope said in his homily, because they say, “If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good.” And Jesus corrects them: “Do not hinder him, he says, let him do good.” The disciples, Pope Francis explains, “were a little intolerant,” closed off by the idea of ​​possessing the truth, convinced that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good.” “This was wrong . . . Jesus broadens the horizon.” Pope Francis said, “The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation”

Pope Francis went further in his sermon to say:

"The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can... "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!".. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.”

Responding to the leader of the Roman Catholic church's homily, Father James Martin, S.J. wrote in an email to The Huffington Post:

"Pope Francis is saying, more clearly than ever before, that Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for everyone. That's always been a Christian belief. You can find St. Paul saying in the First Letter to Timothy that Jesus gave himself as a "ransom for all." But rarely do you hear it said by Catholics so forcefully, and with such evident joy. And in this era of religious controversies, it's a timely reminder that God cannot be confined to our narrow categories."

Of course, not all Christians believe that those who don't believe will be redeemed, and the Pope's words may spark memories of the deep divisions from the Protestant reformation over the belief in redemption through grace versus redemption through works.

For years, I participated in inter-faith dialog. Although there were individual Catholics participating as well... I NEVER thought I'd live to see the day when the POPE would utter such words.

This is wonderful news for all of humanity. Religious warfare and violence will only end if religious leaders challenge their followers to live in harmony with others.

 

[Revoltingest]

Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics
For years, I participated in inter-faith dialog. Although there were individual Catholics participating as well... I NEVER thought I'd live to see the day when the POPE would utter such words.

An earlier pope also said we heathens could get into Heaven.
It was the one before Ratzy.
I don't his exact words, but it was striking in its generosity.

 

[ruffen]

Oh, now I'm relieved! I was worried that not believing in Heaven and Hell would send me to Hell.

 

[Open_Minded]

An earlie pope also said we heathens could get into Heaven.
It was the one before Ratzy.
I don't his exact words, but it was striking in its generosity.

How right you are. I just found this site

Pope John Paul II Legacy

The most famous alumnus of the Angelicum is Pope John Paul II, who as Karol Wojtyla earned a doctorate of philosophy there in the late 1940s. Pope John Paul II was a tireless proponent of the need for interfaith dialogue throughout his entire life, even before he became Pope. As a child, Karol Wojtyla forged close relationships with Jewish families in his Polish hometown, which led to building significant bridges with the Jewish community during his Papacy. Interfaith outreach was one of his major mandates as Pope. He traveled to many countries, meeting the leaders of various religious communities, and extended his respect for them, preaching religious tolerance and open dialogue. He was the first prominent religious figure to convene world religious leaders to Assisi, Italy to come together and pray for peace.

To honor his legacy and all of the positive and courageous advancements he made to promote interreligious dialogue and peace in the world, the Center is humbly and respectfully named after him.

Oh, now I'm relieved! I was worried that not believing in Heaven and Hell would send me to Hell.

 

[Vouthon]

An earlie pope also said we heathens could get into Heaven.
It was the one before Ratzy.
I don't his exact words, but it was striking in its generosity.

Very true!

Pope John Paul II said this, one example out of many different occasions:

"...The universality of salvation means that it is granted not only to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the Church. Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all...For such people salvation in Christ is accessible by virtue of a grace which, while having a mysterious relationship to the Church, does not make them formally part of the Church but enlightens them in a way which is accommodated to their spiritual and material situation. This grace comes from Christ; it is the result of his Sacrifice and is communicated by the Holy Spirit. It enables each person to attain salvation through his or her free cooperation..."

- Blessed Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio (1990)

That was an official, doctrinally binding church encyclical actually. I wasn't even born in 1990, so its not entirely new

However it was stated much earlier by Vatican II:

"...Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life..."

- Vatican II [Lumen Gentium 16]

 

[Secret Chief]

Oh, now I'm relieved! I was worried that not believing in Heaven and Hell would send me to Hell.

You'd end up somewhere that you do not think exists?! That's a very flexible mind you have there! Look out for the cognitive dissonance!

 

[LuisDantas]

I'm pretty sure Ruffen was jesting.

 

[Jayell]

Pope Francis Says Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics

Pope likes M &Ms (More Members & More Money)

 

[LuisDantas]

Shame on him for being sensible and earning good will and support that way, eh?

Sometimes you just can't win, it appears.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Interesting...
he seems a rather "Special" Pope.
But it will not ring well with Calvanists, to whome Belief is paramount.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

You'd end up somewhere that you do not think exists?! That's a very flexible mind you have there! Look out for the cognitive dissonance!

I decided that whilst I was unbelieving God, I could unbelieve cognitive dissonance as well. Still, this announcement is all good. We could use it as a recruitment message to Christians, I reckon.

'Tithe-free ticket to Paradise'

Or something. Messaging isn't my strong-suit, but it might work better than those 'You know it's a myth' billboards.

 

[LuisDantas]

I suppose not. But then again, it is not like Calvinists often make a point of trying and settling their differences with the Pope, now is it?

I'm fairly certain that one can be disapproved by Calvinists all the while being a decent person anyway.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Shame on him for being sensible and earning good will and support that way, eh?

Sometimes you just can't win, it appears.

Meh...in seriousness, I'll welcome anything from any side that smells less like fundamentalism, and more like actual human respect and interaction.
It's just a weird contradiction to discuss atheists getting to heaven. Any time your communicating, you have to aim it at your audience.

The Christians are listening to it and wondering why they have to go to church when a bunch of devil-spawn are going to invade Heaven and the atheists are wondering why they should care if the dude in the funny clothes says they can go to a place that doesn't exist after they become worm food.

 

[Jayell]

But it will not ring well with Calvanists, to whome Belief is paramount.

Now dont forget to include God in the discussion. I also BELIEVE the pope forget to get Gods opinion on this one. (Heb 11:6 )

 

[Revoltingest]

I also BELIEVE the pope forget to get Gods opinion on this one. (Heb 11:6 )

He's been quite silent on this & other issues lately.

 

[LuisDantas]

It's just a weird contradiction to discuss atheists getting to heaven. Any time your communicating, you have to aim it at your audience.

I don't think it is a contradiction, unless one takes as a premise that belief in God is necessary to attain heaven.

As it turns out, such a premise is weird and unlikely at best, even taking for granted that the Christian God is literally true.

Perhaps most significant of all, though, is that even if such a teaching that "heaven is only for believers of the True Faith" were true, it would still be very poor religious teaching to actually propose it as a given. For starters, that would be teaching that God is poor in judgement and easily fooled or bribed.

Whether there is a god or else, that is simply not worth teaching.

The Christians are listening to it and wondering why they have to go to church when a bunch of devil-spawn are going to invade Heaven

As I understand it, the message from Pope Francis is basically that Christians shouldn't feel duty-bound to go to church, at least not as a goal; and that we unfaithful kaffirs are just people and should be judged on our own merits, not those of our lack of belief (whatever those may happen to be, if anything). More specifically, that we are not more of "devil-spawn" than anyone else, Christian or not. And, quite explicitly, that Heaven is not earned by belief alone (and perhaps not even mainly by it).

Imagine that. A Christian leader that hopes to reach his flock by means other than scaring them into obedience.

What is next? Reminding people that Muslims are not to be treated as savage beasts either? Next you know there will be world peace or something.

and the atheists are wondering why they should care if the dude in the funny clothes says they can go to a place that doesn't exist after they become worm food.

I don't know about you, but I do care a great lot if anyone decides that they would rather see me as an actual human being as opposed to a convenient boogeyman and scapegoat. The very least I want to offer in return is reciprocity. I like to actually deserve that what is given me.

 

[LuisDantas]

Now dont forget to include God in the discussion. I also BELIEVE the pope forget to get Gods opinion on this one. (Heb 11:6 )

I'll call your Hebrews 11:6 and raise it into John 13:34. And throw in a little Luke for good measure.

Anyone can interpret the content of the Bible as they see fit, you know. Which is why we should all take responsibility for how we use it.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I don't think it is a contradiction, unless one takes as a premise that belief in God is necessary to attain heaven.

As it turns out, such a premise is weird and unlikely at best, even taking for granted that the Christian God is literally true.

Perhaps most significant of all, though, is that even if such a teaching that "heaven is only for believers of the True Faith" were true, it would still be very poor religious teaching to actually propose it as a given. For starters, that would be teaching that God is poor in judgement and easily fooled or bribed.

Whether there is a god or else, that is simply not worth teaching.

As I understand it, the message from Pope Francis is basically that Christians shouldn't feel duty-bound to go to church, at least not as a goal; and that we unfaithful kaffirs are just people and should be judged on our own merits, not those of our lack of belief (whatever those may happen to be, if anything). More specifically, that we are not more of "devil-spawn" than anyone else, Christian or not. And, quite explicitly, that Heaven is not earned by belief alone (and perhaps not even mainly by it).

Imagine that. A Christian leader that hopes to reach his flock by means other than scaring them into obedience.

What is next? Reminding people that Muslims are not to be treated as savage beasts either? Next you know there will be world peace or something.

I don't know about you, but I do care a great lot if anyone decides that they would rather see me as an actual human being as opposed to a convenient boogeyman and scapegoat. The very least I want to offer in return is reciprocity. I like to actually deserve that what is given me.

Meh...it strikes me that I started my last post with 'in seriousness' and then proceeded to only make a passing reference to what I was serious about (mutual respect is good), before making more (probably poor) jests.

In truth, what you say here makes a lot of sense, and I agree with it. You almost have much more patience than I in posting it...lol

Just to explain my (admittedly warped) sense of humour though;

The 'contradiction' I was joking about only works if you look from an atheist or Christian viewpoint. It doesn't work if you apply empathy. Applying empathy is good, but my weak humour fails because of it...

The bit I had under that, about atheists being devilspawn and whatever, was very much tongue-in-cheek. I need a 'Caution - Stupid humour ahead' sign or something...

 

[Secret Chief]

I've got a spare you can have.

 

[Jayell]

I'll call your Hebrews 11:6 and raise it into John 13:34. And throw in a little Luke for good measure.

John 13:34? what are you saying?