Christians, Do you believe that all of the Muslims who have heard of the Bible are going to Hell?

[HoldemDB9]

Even though if you (or anyone for that matter) were in their shoes, you would also be a Muslim. Are they simply doomed from birth?

 

[Masourga]

Are they simply doomed from birth?

This is an age-old question that has been brought up time and again to try and undermine the ideas Christianity has about the one, "true" path to salvation. I remember reading in "Dante's Inferno" about the "virtuous pagans". Who were people from cultures like the Greeks, who had their own religious beliefs and "false" deities. They had their own, toned-down level in hell... but they were still in hell, of course. Which was meant to raise the same question you have posed, and in the same light... that it is somewhat ridiculous, and would be completely out of character for a "forgiving" or "loving" God to be so unjust to people who never had a chance from the outset.

And I don't think anyone (in their right mind anyway) would disagree that this is a ridiculous idea. When you look at the numbers (those throughout time having actually accepted Christ as their savior and stayed the moral path long enough or sought forgiveness often enough going to heaven versus everyone else - all other religions, the original peoples of nearly EVERY culture, children still-born or dying at a very young age, the mentally handicapped who cannot possibly comprehend what the heck you are doing when you dunk them into the water, etc. etc. etc.) there would be SO many more people in hell than in heaven it would be almost worthless to even have heaven.

 

[ayani]

no, i don't.

Muslism are aware that there are Christians who believe in Isa al-Masih, not in Muhammad. they are aware that Christians have their own scriptures, beliefs, and traditions of worship.

many Muslims have read the Bible, yet were unimpressed or did not see the text as applicable to their own lives. they have the Quran, and tend to consider it a much more beautiful, true, and relevant text than the Bible.

there are quite a few Muslims who, for various reasons, become followers of Christ. in the end, we will be judged by our deeds, by how we used this gift of life. God is the God of all peoples- the One who holds our lives in His hand, who has made the heavens and the earth, in Whom we live and move and have our being.

yes, He would like us to hear of and follow His beloved Son. i have known many Muslims and Christians both who are kind, humble, giving, and thankful to be alive, with honest, good hearts and sincere respect for others. what drove me from Islam was a spiritual thirst that could not be satisfied by salah or by the Quran.

our eternal destiny is between us and God.

 

[HoldemDB9]

no, i don't.

Muslism are aware that there are Christians who believe in Isa al-Masih, not in Muhammad. they are aware that Christians have their own scriptures, beliefs, and traditions of worship.

many Muslims have read the Bible, yet were unimpressed or did not see the text as applicable to their own lives. they have the Quran, and tend to consider it a much more beautiful, true, and relevant text than the Bible.

there are quite a few Muslims who, for various reasons, become followers of Christ. in the end, we will be judged by our deeds, by how we used this gift of life. God is the God of all peoples- the One who holds our lives in His hand, who has made the heavens and the earth, in Whom we live and move and have our being.

yes, He would like us to hear of and follow His beloved Son. i have known many Muslims and Christians both who are kind, humble, giving, and thankful to be alive, with honest, good hearts and sincere respect for others. what drove me from Islam was a spiritual thirst that could not be satisfied by salah or by the Quran.

our eternal destiny is between us and God.

Wow, I wish all Christians were like you - unfortunately they are not. I've asked this question on Yahoo Answers and all of the Christians basically said they believe that all Muslims are going to Hell simply because they do not believe in the Bible. They say the Muslims have "chosen" to reject Christianity and so they will be punished. So sad that people actually believe that something as great as GOD would actually be like this. If a God does exist that cares so much about what we believe in or that cares so much about us being right, then I want absolutely nothing to do with that disgusting, vile, evil God.

 

[ayani]

what Muslims believe, in essence, is that Mohammad was sent by the same Creator who sent Jesus. they view Christianity and Islam as speaking about the same God, and some of the same core religious truths.

from the point of view of a devout Muslim, there is no reason to become a Christian, and not a lot of reason to seriously study the Bible, as they believe that the Bible has been "corrupted" and that Christian doctrine is heretical, and misinformed. they view their own faith as a clearer, inspired return to the "original messages" of both Christianity and Judaism.

however, there are numerous differences between the two faiths, if one looks back at the examples, teachings, and lives of the two men central to them- Jesus the Messiah, and Mohammad. these differences range from patterns of prayer, to views of God's relationship to man, to how peoples should interact with one another, to an understanding of the relationship between politics and one's faith life.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't think anyone following or trying to follow God will be sent to any kind of hell. Not that I believe hell is a place, anyway.
But...
What do I know? I am not God. I don't want to be God.

 

[ayani]

I don't think anyone following or trying to follow God will be sent to any kind of hell.

i hear what you're saying. a Muslim following the tennants of his faith withh do his best, faithfully, to live out his religion's commendments, in the sincere belief that they bring him closer to God, and are what God wants him to do with his life on this earth.

yet at the same time, the Allah of Islam permits, commands, and teaches things very much contrary to what God has taught us through His Son. many principals are similar (e.g. monotheism, an afterlife, prophet-hood, a semitic background), yet the differences are great.

it's a reassuring thought to believe that any kind of religious devotion, so long as it's sincere, will lead one to God, or will be rewarded on the basis of earnest faithfulness. you're right, we are not God, and can not know what He knows. at the same time, not all practices or devotions lead to the same conclusions about God, nor do they bear the same fruits.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

This is the very question that drove me away from the Baptist church and into UUism. I had spent several years in Mulim countries and had many friend who were Muslim. I was told repeatedly that they were all going to hell because they hadn't accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and that was the one and only way to get into Heaven. I actually prefer the Muslim belief that there are three ways to get into heaven; through observing Allah's works (nature), the Holy Scriptures and/or the Prophets.

 

[Mister Emu]

If you had the ability to ask them, the majority of Christians will answer no.

847
This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: "Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation"

from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

 

[ayani]

This is the very question that drove me away from the Baptist church and into UUism. I had spent several years in Mulim countries and had many friend who were Muslim. I was told repeatedly that they were all going to hell because they hadn't accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and that was the one and only way to get into Heaven. I actually prefer the Muslim belief that there are three ways to get into heaven; through observing Allah's works (nature), the Holy Scriptures and/or the Prophets.

in a sense,Trye, the Muslims are right. we can kow something of our Creator's existence through observing the natural world and its order, also through scripture. the first time i read Romans i was struck by the Apostle Paul's declaration of a similar truth- we've got His creation, and it clearly points to One Creator. diests, various philosphers through the ages, and transcendentalists came to similar conclusions.

on the other hand, one has to understand that Allah is not simply a general, abstract, univeralist understanding of diety, as might be found in Hindusim or Sikhism. he is described in the Quran as a very much transcendent yet willful being, whose commands, attributes, and allowances differ a great deal from the God of the Bible, and differ also a great deal from what Jesus of Nazareth has taught and revealed about God, through Himself and through His own words. the problem is, that Muslims understand Jesus' "Abba" (Father) and Allah to be the same God, and view Mohammad and Jesus both as valid messengers of Allah. as a Christian, i can not accept that.

i can appreciate the devotion, piety, and sincereity of Muslims. one of the dearest, kindest women i've ever met was Sister Safina- a Muslim woman from India of great patience, kindness, affection, and faithfulness, even in the face of a difficult marriage, and an uncertain future for herself. God, as the Bible says, looks at the inside of men and women. He knows our hearts, selves, and our motivtions. it is ultimately He who guides a person towards the truth, as He holds all things in His hands. not everyone is called / chosen to hear His voice and respond to it- God called Abram, not the entire population of Ur.

while all paths may not lead to the same place, i do believe that God's understanding, mercy, and power over-ride the correctiness of a doctrine a man may hold. in other worlds, while the Gospel is true, and news which our Lord wants us to hear and respond to, His power to save can not ultimately be limited to whether or not a person recieves that good news- that would be to limit His soveriegn will.

and i'm reminded now that countless Christians, while they attend church, in no way carry much Christ-patterned fear / love / awareness of God with them the rest of the week. i was like that for years, myself, and that realization that a liturgy / catechism was not anwering my questions put me on a search in the first place.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

on the other hand, one has to understand that Allah is not simply a general, abstract, univeralist understanding of diety, as might be found in Hindusim or Sikhism. he is described in the Quran as a very much transcendent yet willful being, whose commands, attributes, and allowances differ a great deal from the God of the Bible, and differ also a great deal from what Jesus of Nazareth has taught and revealed about God, through Himself and through His own words. the problem is, that Muslims understand Jesus' "Abba" (Father) and Allah to be the same God, and view Mohammad and Jesus both as valid messengers of Allah. as a Christian, i can not accept that.

Greetings, such a tolerant and understanding viewpoint you have, I'm very impressed. As to the above quote, I understand your position as a Christian, but I disagree with it. That's why I'm a Unitarian now instead of a mainstream Christian. Also, the view you have of Allah is focused on a subset of Islam rather than the whole. Kind of like if you know a lot about the Baptists and based your view of God on what you knew the Baptist believed rather than all Christian's in general. You should look into the Sufi sect before you make your conclusions.

 

[ayani]

Trey ~

i admire the Sufis a good deal, and used to read much of their writings. Ghazali especilly, and Hazrat Inyat Khan. i see in them men and women truly seking after the True God, truly seeking to "worship in spirit and in truth", and renouncing the world for their search and devotion. such pursuits of Godliness should be honoured for what they are, and learned from.

i've lived, prayed, and fasted as a Muslim. not a Sufi, but a Quran-alone Muslim, a tradition that has some similarities to Sufic Islam in its freedom of interpretation, and universalist approach.

ulimately, who fist revealed to the world this religon of Allah, and under what conditions, commandments, and pretexts? that needs to be examined, too. the truth of Mohammad's claim to a specific line of prophethood (he was not merely a poet-saint detached from any tradition, as Kabir Ji, for example) is also significant.

and while the similarities are there, the differnces are vast, as well. that said, the piety, sincerity, faithfulness, and devotion of Muslims in general is impressive, and humbling. if more Christians adored the name and example of Christ as piously and manifestly as Muslims follow Islam and the sunnah, our world would be much different.

 

[Father Heathen]

If not knowing Jesus or the bible exempts someone from damnation, shouldn't the whole faith be kept secret so no one gets sent to hell? Given that "spreading the word" usually results in most people rejecting it, thus making missionary work malicious.

 

[Dunemeister]

If not knowing Jesus or the bible exempts someone from damnation, shouldn't the whole faith be kept secret so no one gets sent to hell? Given that "spreading the word" usually results in most people rejecting it, thus making missionary work malicious.

Not knowing Jesus or the bible does not exempt someone from "damnation". Ignorance simply doesn't cause damnation. Damnation is caused by lack of gratitude toward God, idolatry, and wickedness. Failing to respond to a missionary's appeal again doesn't cause damnation necessarily, although it might, depending on circumstances. Fortunately, God's the judge of those and not we.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

ulimately, who fist revealed to the world this religon of Allah, and under what conditions, commandments, and pretexts? that needs to be examined, too. the truth of Mohammad's claim to a specific line of prophethood (he was not merely a poet-saint detached from any tradition, as Kabir Ji, for example) is also significant.

But isn't Allah the God of Abraham? If so then he is also the God of the Jews and Christians, how can he be something different? I can see that each of the faiths look at him differently but I believe it is the same God. Of course I also think this God is the same as Odin, Zeus and Ra so don't go quoting me.

Seriously though, you seem to be an amazing person and you speak with great wisdom, at least it sounds that way to me.

 

[ayani]

Trey, ask a Muslim and he will say yes. as many others, and they will say no.

Muslims believe, sincerely, that Allah and Yahweh are the same God, and that Mohammad spoke as a vlid messenger of the same Creator who sent Jesus of Nazareth into the world.

i used to believe this, deeply. and believed that so long as one said "God", it didn't matter what one called Him. not realizing or wanting to realize that the God Jesus talked about and taught about and served and loved, has said very different things through Jesus than what Allah has said through Mohammad.

in light of these manifold differences, logically and by faith and grace, i have come to conclude that they can not be the same god.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Holdem,

Christians, Do you believe that all of the Muslims who have heard of the Bible are going to Hell?

Since the topic is in the general section am responding.
Like to state that it is not a question of Muslims or Christians and also regarding heaven and hell it is nothing to do of something in the future after you die or something.
What is is HERE-NOW.
If you are living in the moment you are alive or else you are dead as Jesus had said: *Let the dead bury the dead*.
Normally just appearing alive is not being alive but only those who are PRESENT at the moment are alive and living in heaven rest are dead, living in hell.
LOve & rgds

 

[kai]

Trey, ask a Muslim and he will say yes. as many others, and they will say no.

Muslims believe, sincerely, that Allah and Yahweh are the same God, and that Mohammad spoke as a vlid messenger of the same Creator who sent Jesus of Nazareth into the world.

i used to believe this, deeply. and believed that so long as one said "God", it didn't matter what one called Him. not realizing or wanting to realize that the God Jesus talked about and taught about and served and loved, has said very different things through Jesus than what Allah has said through Mohammad.

in light of these manifold differences, logically and by faith and grace, i have come to conclude that they can not be the same god.

i concur, but tell me how does a Christian attain Salvation ? does it matter if i reject jesus Christ or not? the cucifiction was not a means to salvation in itself but an opening of a possible door to salvation through Jesus Christ, how can anyone attain salvation that refuses to beleive in a crucifiction at all?

 

[ayani]

kai ~

depends on which Christian you ask. some denominations will say that one is saved, primarily, by being born into or by joining their own denomination. others would understand salvation as a life-long process of faithfulness and good works.

i know that my own life turned around completely at a singular point- the change came about not because of anything kind or meritous i did, or because i joind a certain church, but by faith and by God's grace. i agree that "faith without works is dead". one can not live as a disciple of Jesus only by believing things about Him- one must put His commandments and example to work in one's own life. and if one is, as Jesus says "born in the Spirit", then one's actions and attitudes will begin to cange naturally, not just as a result of applied principals.

the crucifixion is unique and important for a number of reasons. Christ had to die before He could be raised to life- and His resurrection means that He is alive, today, right now, and that He has a unique and holy power (He has said that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him) to change lives in real and personal ways.

in attonement languge, His death paid the price for our sins. now, we may be generally good and kind people, and may sincerely seek the truth. but there is still that elusive veil between us and God. not an abstract, Brahaman-like God which simply "is" or exists as "pure consciousness", but the God who fashioned the universe with intelligence and purpose, whose hand is willful and almighty, and who loves and knows us more deeply than we can ever be aware of. for a Christian, to be reconciled to God is not a matter of merging with Him, or of waking up to a monistic understanding of the universe, but a matter of lovingly surrendering to and walking with Him (in imitation of the Son)- it's a relationship with someone to Someone. that which keeps us from realizng that we can walk with God, that we can live as His children in a fruitful and blessed relationship, is our sin nature. until that is removed by the blood of Christ, we'll still be in the dark.

we may be aware of God's presence or existence in a general or philisophic way, but we will not know Him as Abba, Father, in the complete and understanding joy that Christ talked about. His joy was not a joy of mystical untion with an ocean of divinity, but an intimate, personal walk with the God He knew, loved, and who walked with Him and talked with Him, and who in the end, called Him home by name.

without the cross, none of this is posible. it's true that Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion. by not doing so, it is ultimately not Christ that they believe in. it's an historical fact that a Jewish teacher named Jesus was crucified by the Romans some 2000 years ago- numerous extra-Biblial sources attest to this, and the rest is left up to faith. so to say "isa al-Masih was never crucified" is to compltely disassociate Isa al-Masih fom the Jesus of Nazareth of Christianity.

a Christian would say that if one rejects the Son, one does not truly, ultimately have the Father. for the Son came to open up withn Himself and through His atoning death a return to that "walk with God in the cool of the evening" that we lost at the fall. He came to show all peoples the Way of God, in Himself. Christ, risen, is the spiritual template, the image one is made new into. without Him, we can not come to the Father.

 

[kai]

kai ~

depends on which Christian you ask. some denominations will say that one is saved, primarily, by being born into or by joining their own denomination. others would understand salvation as a life-long process of faithfulness and good works.

i know that my own life turned around completely at a singular point- the change came about not because of anything kind or meritous i did, or because i joind a certain church, but by faith and by God's grace. i agree that "faith without works is dead". one can not live as a disciple of Jesus only by believing things about Him- one must put His commandments and example to work in one's own life. and if one is, as Jesus says "born in the Spirit", then one's actions and attitudes will begin to cange naturally, not just as a result of applied principals.

the crucifixion is unique and important for a number of reasons. Christ had to die before He could be raised to life- and His resurrection means that He is alive, today, right now, and that He has a unique and holy power (He has said that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him) to change lives in real and personal ways.

in attonement languge, His death paid the price for our sins. now, we may be generally good and kind people, and may sincerely seek the truth. but there is still that elusive veil between us and God. not an abstract, Brahaman-like God which simply "is" or exists as "pure consciousness", but the God who fashioned the universe with intelligence and purpose, whose hand is willful and almighty, and who loves and knows us more deeply than we can ever be aware of. for a Christian, to be reconciled to God is not a matter of merging with Him, or of waking up to a monistic understanding of the universe, but a matter of lovingly surrendering to and walking with Him (in imitation of the Son)- it's a relationship with someone to Someone. that which keeps us from realizng that we can walk with God, that we can live as His children in a fruitful and blessed relationship, is our sin nature. until that is removed by the blood of Christ, we'll still be in the dark.

we may be aware of God's presence or existence in a general or philisophic way, but we will not know Him as Abba, Father, in the complete and understanding joy that Christ talked about. His joy was not a joy of mystical untion with an ocean of divinity, but an intimate, personal walk with the God He knew, loved, and who walked with Him and talked with Him, and who in the end, called Him home by name.

without the cross, none of this is posible. it's true that Muslims do not believe in the crucifixion. by not doing so, it is ultimately not Christ that they believe in. it's an historical fact that a Jewish teacher named Jesus was crucified by the Romans some 2000 years ago- numerous extra-Biblial sources attest to this, and the rest is left up to faith. so to say "isa al-Masih was never crucified" is to compltely disassociate Isa al-Masih fom the Jesus of Nazareth of Christianity.

a Christian would say that if one rejects the Son, one does not truly, ultimately have the Father. for the Son came to open up withn Himself and through His atoning death a return to that "walk with God in the cool of the evening" that we lost at the fall. He came to show all peoples the Way of God, in Himself. Christ, risen, is the spiritual template, the image one is made new into. without Him, we can not come to the Father.

then by denying the son you are denied the father? so in answer to the OP muslims are denied salvation because they have not accepted Christ.