Atheists Can Join Club.

[chrisgel]

It seems the pope has decided that even atheists can go to heaven as long as they do "good"
It seems like a radical departure from their usual dogma to me.
Do you think they're trying to claim all the atheists for themselves perhaps?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330135/Pope-Francis-says-atheists-good-SAVED.html

[sara3]

lol.. excellent. I wonder what the pope would class as "good".

[jim360]

Well that's a relief. I can go on being atheist and not have to worry about going to heaven. Presumably always rubbishing God all the while as long as I am charitable and kind to others etc.

What does Good mean in this sense? I thought the message was relatively clear, that one of the conditions for making it into Heaven was believing in God. Which makes you wonder, if you can get into Heaven and not believe why bother with a Church?

All that cynicism aside, I think it's a positive step -- one fewer dividing line for people to worry about.

[jomifl]

Don't worry jim, god has such a mischievous sense of humour that he probably only lets atheist in anyway.

[chrisgel]

I wonder if it's a divide and conquer ploy. In the future will we have catholic atheists and muslim atheists etc.
Or am I just being cynical?

[beso]

The church is struggling to get enough new members so they have opened up the criteria a bit.

[bazwillrun]

I'd rather go to hell...its nice and warm there and I'd know a lot of the others there

[modeller]

baz I think you may have missed a couple of points . The Popes version of Heaven would be Hell !
And your version of Hell would be filled with RC Clerics explaining their inappropiate behaviour.

I'm afraid you will just have to stay in Limbo until your status is sorted out.

[Khandro]

It is part of a homily urging that people of differing beliefs work together.
Isn't that a rather good idea? I can't think of a better objective for someone representing over a billion of the world's population.

[sandyRoe]

Have I not been preaching here in AB for longer than I care to remember that the goodly unGodly will also find a place in Heaven when their time comes.
It seems common sense, really.

[chrisgel]

Sort of missing the point though isn't he. Atheists don't believe in heaven.

[sandyRoe]

Then they're in for a wonderful surprise.

[doctordb]

Sandy, is it better to be goodly ungodly or godly ungoodly? :)

[chrisgel]

Sandy - Lol. Can't wait.

[ChillDoubt]

I'd rather go to the hot place anyway, sounds like they have more fun.

Plus I'd look silly playing a harp whilst wearing a toga.

[RATTER15]

Fantastic news, so now when I die, I will be assured to go to a place that doesn't exist! that's a relief!

[sandyRoe]

Without a shadow of a doubt it is better to be goodly unGodly than Godly ungoodly.
The caverns of Hell must be echoing with the anguished cries of the hypocritical sinners who have used religion as a cover for their sins.

[doctordb]

I might just scrape in then. :)

[naomi24]

Perhaps he doesn’t realise how patronising and unwanted that is – but no doubt it was meant kindly.

//He sometimes left non-Catholics feeling that he saw them as second-class believers. //

Oops! What a cheek! And them being right too!

[sandyRoe]

Maybe something has been lost in translation?

[mikey4444]

Not sure how an atheist can go to heaven, when they know it doesn't exist ?