(January 10, 2013 at 4:49 pm)Mark 13:13 Wrote: well i don't believe the not believing will be the issue is where the non-believing lead, and I don't believe that just being an athiest on earth would preclude someone from heaven, as for hell and the finite infinite thing yes I see the issue on that but i haven't really explored deeply the upto date theological debate on that but yes that's definately something for looking at. Although as Catholics we have a concept of Purgatory which softens that a little but doesn't fully deal with it.
The Bible says that atheism is the one unforgivable sin.
Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
You, like the vast majority of Christians, love to cherry pick the Bible. You ignore the parts that conflict with your own sense of ethics, or the parts that sound silly.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
