George Cowley wrote in The Journal (April 17) that ''good-living atheists end up in heaven, where as bad-living Christians do not''.
I'm a Christian because I know I live badly and I need God's help to live better. Every Christian I know struggles to live up to God's perfectly loving standard, even though they know this World would be a better place if they did. Church for me is a little bit like a drug rehabilitation centre. If you go along you don't expect everybody to be good-living, but you do expect everybody to be wanting to live better. I agree with George that ''good-living atheists'' would end up in heaven, but then, Jesus said, ''Only God is good.'' (Matthew 19:17)
James Nicol, Station Road, Harvington, Worcs.
Having read the recent letters concerning Theists and Atheists, and as the whether or not
either would end up in 'Heaven'. I wonder why so many people still bother to follow a religion
if there is no gaurentee of an afterlife, and 'deserving Atheists' may be able to acheive this
holy goal themselves.
It is also a little presumptuous for people to claim they know how Atheists fit into 'gods big plan'
What is so special about believing anyway, isn't it just as likely that a god would reward kindness, generosity
humility or sincerity, rather than a blind, unquestioning faith in a contentious book written during the iron age.
' A mans ethical behaviour should be based on sympathy, education and social ties/needs, no religious basis
is necessary. If people are good only beacause they fear punishment and hope for reward, then we are a
sorry lot indeed' 'Albert Einstein'
Having read the recent letters concerning Theists and Atheists, and as the whether or not
either would end up in 'Heaven'. I wonder why so many people still bother to follow a religion
if there is no gaurentee of an afterlife, and 'deserving Atheists' may be able to acheive this
holy goal themselves.
It is also a little presumptuous for people to claim they know how Atheists fit into 'gods big plan'
What is so special about believing anyway, isn't it just as likely that a god would reward kindness, generosity
humility or sincerity, rather than a blind, unquestioning faith in a contentious book written during the iron age.
' A mans ethical behaviour should be based on sympathy, education and social ties/needs, no religious basis
is necessary. If people are good only beacause they fear punishment and hope for reward, then we are a
sorry lot indeed' 'Albert Einstein'
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