Pope: "Atheists can go to heaven"- intellectual dishonesty?

[ideologue08]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ds-newsxml
Who does this new Pope think he's kidding? Everybody knows that in Christianity, only accepting Christ would lead to salvation, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of accepting Christ and being a Christian, what is the point? I've never heard so much bullshit and flip-flopping from the Vatican in my life. At least be consistent about your core beliefs if nothing else.

[pocaracas]

If we go by some christians around these forums.... being good equals accepting christ...
So, what he says is accurate, just in a very twisted way.

[ideologue08]

But that doesn't make any sense. Because it would undermine the reason for being a Christian in the first place doesn't it? I have a hard time believing that a person who might not even believe in the existence of Christ originally, would be saved in a so-called Christian salvation.

[Sal]

Only thing I agree with is that this is the pope shooting himself in his foot, but the Bible has the "saved through works" bit that a lot ignore and just go on about faith is enough or some stupid shit when even apologetics have some wishy-washy idea that it's a combination of the two.

[ideologue08]

Why doesn't he just admit that Atheists would have no Christian salvation, it wouldn't make him any less popular than he already is. And if he really believes what he said, then perhaps he should pull back all those Catholic missionaries proselytizing Catholicism.

[Angrboda]

Why doesn't he just admit that Atheists would have no Christian salvation, it wouldn't make him any less popular than he already is. And if he really believes what he said, then perhaps he should pull back all those Catholic missionaries proselytizing Catholicism.

I think, perhaps, what we are hearing is a thirsty man asking for a drink of water.

[Whateverist]

But that doesn't make any sense. Because it would undermine the reason for being a Christian in the first place doesn't it? I have a hard time believing that a person who might not even believe in the existence of Christ originally, would be saved in a so-called Christian salvation.

Why not? People are capable of altruism, why not your god? If the main character in your allegedly greatest story ever told really came to redeem all mankind, why should it be so hard to imagine this protagonist wouldn't be aiming higher than just his inner circle of sycophants? It would be pretty hilarious if it turned out some core bit of the story was true but all the bullshit the fundamentalists preach was just beside the point.

Any how, it really is just a story. Enjoy it.

[catfish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ds-newsxml
Who does this new Pope think he's kidding? Everybody knows that in Christianity, only accepting Christ would lead to salvation, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of accepting Christ and being a Christian, what is the point? I've never heard so much bullshit and flip-flopping from the Vatican in my life. At least be consistent about your core beliefs if nothing else.

Be honest, how much do you really know about Christianity?

[ideologue08]

Why not?

You haven't answered my question though; what is the point of being Christian or proselytizing Catholicism if what he is saying is true? The Vatican flip flops worse than Mitt Romney.

[A Theist]

Only thing I agree with is that this is the pope shooting himself in his foot, but the Bible has the "saved through works" bit that a lot ignore and just go on about faith is enough or some stupid shit when even apologetics have some wishy-washy idea that it's a combination of the two.

...but the Bible has the "saved through works" bit that a lot ignore and just go on about faith is enough...

No...that's not entirely it...faith and works do go together. It's not one or the other...

Ephesians 2: 8-9:

8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

James 2: 14-26

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works....

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.