the Romneys Converted Mitt’s Dead Atheist Father-in-Law to Mormonism

Let's sit around and guess at how a Christian would answer the question. Meanwhile, Christians are on their threads guessing how an atheist would answer theirs.

Quote: Wizard

In that case missionaries may actually be doing a disservice if attempted to convert those who have never heard, especially if they were already generally good people. Suppose 90% would have made to to heaven by the "good person" test. However, once you tell them about Jesus that test no longer is applicable, if I understand it right. What if the conversion rate were less than 90%. Then the missionaries would have caused more people to go to hell.

I think Christains would agrue that telling people about Jesus could only improve their chances of avoiding hell.

Quote: victorimmature

Christains

This sums up the majority of your posts.

Quote: ikilledjerrylogan

This sums up the majority of your posts.

Sorry if I misled you.
My real motivation is this -

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/13/gop-poised-to-make-history-with-a-non-protestant-nominee/

Anyone ever read the excellent book by Jon Krakauer ?
And no, I don't mean the one about Everest or Alaska...

Quote: victorimmature

Sorry if I misled you.
My real motivation is this -

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/13/gop-poised-to-make-history-with-a-non-protestant-nominee/

No worries. I too would be interested to see how a CHRISTIAN would answer the Wizard's question.

Quote: ikilledjerrylogan

No worries. I too would be interested to see how a CHRISTIAN would answer the Wizard's question.

I don't know. But I like having, even momentarily, the most recent 5
posts on this site. OK, just call me Nareed jr.

I'd like to tell a quick story about my Mormon roomate in college. First of all you could not find a better guy, doesn't drink or smoke, happy and fun to be around, loves his family - he was great to have as a roomate. He was also african-american and was also on the football team. He would often ask me if he could baptise me and it would get annoyning. Well one day I kind of snapped and after asking me one to many times to baptize me I blurted out, "Look do you realize a couple of decades ago you and your family couldn't even be Mormon and the only reason you are allowed to now was so that BYU could play better teams in football!" It wasn't a good moment but he stopped asking to baptize me.

Anyway, about how can people be saved who have never heard of Christ. This is summed up in the idea of 'Baptism by Desire'. What this roughly means is that if through no fault of your own you do not know Jesus or cannot believe in Him but you live your life according to the natural and innate drive to serve and care for others according to your conscience the mercy and love of God will gather you to Himself in the joys of Heaven. Evangelization is always a good thing because truly knowing Christ is a help to serving and loving others and God. However, we must keep in mind that no missionary is perfect and just because someone is introduced to Christ does not mean he or she must convert or be damned. I think it is always wise when trying to figure out who is going to hell or heaven to leave that question to the Big Guy. We think we have a corner of God's mercy and love and the fact is we cannot even imagine how wide is God's embrace. We also have no idea if someone is resisting the message of the Gospel because of experiences they had no control over, things that have been ingrained in them, the often bad example of Christians, etc. God alone knows the heart and he knows that if things were different who would have accepted the message of Jesus and to those salvation is offered. Jesus reminds the religious leaders of his day a couple of times that they would be surprised about who is entering the Kingdom of God. Instead of worrying about who is going where I do my best to preach the Gospel at all times and to everyone and I can't wait for the surprise of who benefits from the amazing and unimaginable merciful love of God, I know I have benefited from it already.

A couple of things that I have heard that have stuck with me
over the years:

If Christianity was against the Law, would there be enough
evidence to convict you ?

Q: What is the most important symbol / sign in a church ?

A: The exit sign. IE, is ANYTHING that was said today going
to stick with you when you pass the exit sign above the pews ?

Quote: FrGamble

He would often ask me if he could baptise me and it would get annoyning.

Oh, then you know how I feel every time someone approaches me with a religion pitch.