An interesting conversation we had in class...

So, a couple of my friends and I at school were talking today, and an interesting question came up:

Let's just assume that God exists, and he sends people to heaven based on if they were good people or not. If a person was doing something that was obviously wrong, but thought it was right, should they go to heaven? For example, if a terrorist truly beleived that bombing a certain building was the right thing to do, should they go to heaven?

My friends told me that they should be sent to hell for doing such a thing, but I think that if somebody does something that they think is right, they should not be punished for it. They should be disciplined and taught the wrongness of their ways, but they shouldn't be convicted for it. If I was God, and the bombers of 9/11 really thought that they were doing the right thing, then I would send them to heaven.

What do you think?

EDIT: Remember, this is ENTIRELY hypothetic. The Bible has NOTHING to do with this. We're talking about a heaven that you can only go to by doing good things. 

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

Really, Hell was only created to scare people into believing about Christianity

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

Really, Hell was only created to scare people into believing about Christianity

zepman71

but there has been "hell" for other beliefs before the birth of christianity, how can you justify hell being made up just for christianity when it predates the existance of christianity.

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

zepman71

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing. 

Okay, you need to at least know some of the Bible to understand this. You ae assuming that your level of goodness is what gets you into heaven, but it has little to do with that. You could be a terrorist and still go to heaven, but that would be very unlikely because you would have to be a Christian terrorist. Hitler could not have been a Christian and is now in hell. Oprah seems like a great person, and she is doing a lot of good for africa, but I'm pretty sure she does not know Jesus and have him in her heart, and therefore she is not a Christian, so she too will sadly end up in hell. Rukaru

And before anyone asks, the reason God allows "good" people to go to hell is that they have not made the choice to follow him and accept his free gift. In America at least, everyone has heard of God, and could choose to accept Jesus or not. What about people who have not had a chance to know him? Well in that case I believe that it will be based on their heart. It has to do with choice. God has given us all free will because he respects mankind. Would you want to be a robot controlled by a greater being? I wouldn't. I like having free will. Rukaru

South Park had an episode about this once... The boys were worried about Timmy, after all, he can only say his name, so they asked the priest if he would go to hell or not.

To do wrong is stupid. Doing incredibly stupid things that are wrong while there are right, more intelligent alternatives out there should send you to hell.

OMG... So pedobear is going to heaven... :|

ok, there's certain things that anyone with 2 ounces of brain could discern as wrong and right. But I guess that if a person truly believes that what he was doing was right I guess that God should teach him about the wrongness of his acts. And give him a second chance to right his wrongs.

I think that almost everyone has had a chance to learn about right and wrong things.

here is how i respond to questions like that, I honestly think that god looks into your heart and judges you on that more than your outwardly actions, but someone that goes around blowing up buildings to me instead of loving people and having understanding doesn't "truly" believe and love god.johnnyv2003

No, every1 knws u play 360,Games 4 Windows and PSP in heaven(with cross-platform play)

lol j/k

if ur not a christian u dont go 2 heaven simple as that!

No, every1 knws u play 360,Games 4 Windows and PSP in heaven(with cross-platform play)

lol j/k

if ur not a christian u dont go 2 heaven simple as that!

WeirdObelisk

But what if you been a great person your whole life? its pretty stupid that murderers and rapists can say 'Im sorry' and they are forgiven just like that.....

[QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

Squidward117

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

[QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

AbusementPark

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

[QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

zepman71

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

I disagree. If he thought that he was helping society, he should be rewarded. 

[QUOTE="zepman71"][QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

AbusementPark

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

I disagree. If he thought that he was helping society, he should be rewarded. 

Rewarded?? For senseless murder on a gigantic scale......it does not matter what he thinks...

Lets say someone murders your entire family (God forbid) and pleaded that he was 'doing the right thing'....would you forgive him?

[QUOTE="zepman71"][QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

AbusementPark

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

I disagree. If he thought that he was helping society, he should be rewarded.

That man straight up hated jews.

[QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="zepman71"][QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

zepman71

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

I disagree. If he thought that he was helping society, he should be rewarded.

Rewarded?? For senseless murder on a gigantic scale......it does not matter what he thinks...

Lets say someone murders your entire family (God forbid) and pleaded that he was 'doing the right thing'....would you forgive him?

I wouldn't know if he really thought that or not. 

Anyway, I probably would never forgive him for it, but that doesn't have anything to do with his intentions.

And about the Hitler thing, think of this: What if it turned out that the Christian God didn't exist, but a different God did? And what if the other god decided to send every good person to hell, because it turns out that the other god says that evil is good?  By your logic, then that means everybody that went to hell deserved it because they were doing the wrong thing. But I don't think that's fair, because the people were TRYING to do the right thing, which is all that matters.

If Hitler genuinely thought that he was doing the right thing, I would have sent him to heaven. 

They should go to hell, and God should print out a few posters with lists of things that arent acceptable. Get a bit of blu-tac, stick it on some walls, and hay presto no more bad things.Bourbons3

How would you feel if God sent you to hell for donating money to the poor? 

[QUOTE="zepman71"][QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="zepman71"][QUOTE="AbusementPark"][QUOTE="Squidward117"][QUOTE="zepman71"]

Well, in that case, Hitler would go to heaven, when he should burn in hell for eternity....

AbusementPark

Yeah. It really depends on the extremity of the wrong-doing.

I don't think the extremety has anything to do with it. If they think it's right, they should go to heaven.

And I don't think Hitler really thought that he was doing the right thing... But then again, I don't know anything about him.

He thought he was cleansing the Earth.....but anyone who puts 6 million Jews and millions of other minorities (black people, gypsies) to death deserves to suffer for all eternity

I disagree. If he thought that he was helping society, he should be rewarded.

Rewarded?? For senseless murder on a gigantic scale......it does not matter what he thinks...

Lets say someone murders your entire family (God forbid) and pleaded that he was 'doing the right thing'....would you forgive him?

I wouldn't know if he really thought that or not. 

Anyway, I probably would never forgive him for it, but that doesn't have anything to do with his intentions.

And about the Hitler thing, think of this: What if it turned out that the Christian God didn't exist, but a different God did? And what if the other god decided to send every good person to hell, because it turns out that the other god says that evil is good?  By your logic, then that means everybody that went to hell deserved it because they were doing the wrong thing. But I don't think that's fair, because the people were TRYING to do the right thing, which is all that matters.

If Hitler genuinely thought that he was doing the right thing, I would have sent him to heaven. 

There is a big difference between good and evil.....just because someone thinks they are doing right does not justify there actions.....I mean, if a criminal is tried in a court of law and says 'I was doing the right thing' they wouldn't take heed of it and he would have his ass thrown in jail....

Hey Zepman71, I don't know what happened, but I can't read you last post. It just shows the quote tower.

Or did you mean to do that?

EDIT: Nevermind. 

Hey Zepman71, I don't know what happened, but I can't read you last post. It just shows the quote tower.

Or did you mean to do that?

EDIT: Nevermind. 

AbusementPark

Sorry, I clicked submit straight away for some reason :oops:

In the first place, whatever intentions Htler had is irrelivant.  He hated Jews.  That isn't the point though.  All that means is that he wasn't a Christian (inveited Jesus into his heart), So he is definately in hell.  There is no God besides the "Christian" God.Rukaru

Just because your faith isnt in the right place doesn't justify eternal damnation.....I mean If you've been a kind and charitable person your whole life, why do you deserve to go to hell?

[QUOTE="Rukaru"]In the first place, whatever intentions Htler had is irrelivant.  He hated Jews.  That isn't the point though.  All that means is that he wasn't a Christian (inveited Jesus into his heart), So he is definately in hell.  There is no God besides the "Christian" God.zepman71

Just because your faith isnt in the right place doesn't justify eternal damnation.....I mean If you've been a kind and charitable person your whole life, why do you deserve to go to hell?

I already explained that.  It's because you didn't make the right choice to accept Jesus.  If you don't except the gift your heart really isn't in the right place, no matter how "good" you are.  Though going to heaven really has no connection with being good, the main connection with christianity is that it can potentially make you better. 

[QUOTE="zepman71"]

[QUOTE="Rukaru"]In the first place, whatever intentions Htler had is irrelivant.  He hated Jews.  That isn't the point though.  All that means is that he wasn't a Christian (inveited Jesus into his heart), So he is definately in hell.  There is no God besides the "Christian" God.Rukaru

Just because your faith isnt in the right place doesn't justify eternal damnation.....I mean If you've been a kind and charitable person your whole life, why do you deserve to go to hell?

I already explained that.  It's because you didn't make the right choice to accept Jesus.  If you don't except the gift your heart really isn't in the right place, no matter how "good" you are.  Though going to heaven really has no connection with being good, the main connection with christianity is that it can potentially make you better. 

So, I can be a mass murderer but because my 'heart is in the right place', I can still go to heaven?