LINK Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven | The Independent
As an atheist... why would he think I (or we) would even care?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Well, that's not exactly what he actually said. This is:
Responding to a list of questions published in the paper by Mr Scalfari, who is not a Roman Catholic, Francis wrote: “You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying – and this is the fundamental thing – that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.
“Sin, even for those who have no faith, exists when people disobey their conscience.”
I remember when this was published. This pope seems to be working hard to reform the Catholic Church in a way that is kind & tolerant. It's an answer that does not completely offend all camps of belief. (And non-belief is a belief system too.) For me, it's a welcome step in the right direction. The direction being the promotion of tolerance, kindness, & charity so that all human beings recognize that all living things are worthy of respect & love. Peace out my angry friends.
Nunya
Level 6
Jan 21, 2020
2
ty 
Little message to Pope Francis:
We atheists don't believe in god. We don't believe in hell. We don't believe in heaven either.
What you're saying is, 'Don't worry about not believing in the non-existent thing, because not believing in the non-existent thing won't stop you going to the non-existent place.'
You might as well say, 'Don't worry about not believing Homer Simpson is real, because Homer and Marge will still invite you over to their place for cocktails.'
ToakReon
Level 8
Jan 16, 2020
7
Very well stated! I wonder if he thought that would tempt freethinkers to attend church and help line the coffers?
They're losing so many members, they'll even take atheists? Has he mentioned this plan to god?!
MsDemeanour
Level 8
Jan 16, 2020
6
Don't think he has to. Haven't you watched Dogma? Lol It's called Papal Infallibility. The Pope says it, therefore it is law.
This will surely piss off the religious nuts who love to say you are going to hell if you do not believe in that revengeful guy in the sky.
godlessguy
Level 7
Jan 15, 2020
7
Shit! I don't want to be around a bunch of asshole Christians when I die.
joeymf86
Level 8
Jan 15, 2020
6
I second this comment!!
@Tmoney2478 Third it, here!
Think of the fun we could have there....plucking wing feathers, hiding halos, burning hymn books....swinging on the golden gates...do we get to leave when we've had all the fun there is to have? (Probably take a week to be blindingly bored...)
LucyLoohoo
Level 9
Jan 16, 2020
6
Well, that’s lovely. But does it mean I don’t have to if I don’t want to?
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Jan 16, 2020
6
Whoa! That's not going to be good for the church's revenue stream, which is dependent on people buying their way into heaven.
BitFlipper
Level 8
Jan 15, 2020
2
Awww... how sweet of him!
I can equally assure mr. pope that he's not going to hell, that is for certain....
LatentumCattus
Level 6
Jan 15, 2020
1
That is a fairly insulting and idiotic thing to say. "Assures" us? Huh? Well, I assure Christians they don't have to believe in Santa Claus to avoid being attacked by midgets in a hot air balloon.
Observer-Effect
Level 7
Jan 17, 2020
3
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