So would you say that you believe an atheist who is a kind and moral person who simply cannot convince himself that the claims of Christianity are true would go to Heaven? BTW, if this is your view, it's a minority view among Christians.
I believe all people have the capacity to love. We are only labeled with a title, because people see the need to categorize.
However, atheist or not, I believe we are shaped by our experiences in life.
I have met people who practice Hinduism, and there were very hospitable. The same with people with other religious beliefs.
Even a criminal - one who robs people of their money, and might be even violent, might rush to the aid of a child in danger, or help an old lady cross the street, or give up his seat for a pregnant lady.
Why?
I believe because the quality of love is build into every human born from Adam's seed, since as the Bible says, Adam was made in the image of God, whose dominant quality is love.
Even though we show a measure of love though, we don't show it to the degree that God intended it to be shown. In short, the reason being sin, the influence of this wicked world, and its ruler - that figure that works behind the scene - Whom the Bible identifies as Satan the Devil.
In order to acquire that love - not perfectly - but to a greater degree that would allow us to truly display love, I believe we have to get to know the source of love, and live by his standards.
The Bible says:
1 John 4:7, 8
7 Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because
love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love.
However, it is easy for us to say we have love, but really have no idea what it mean to have love.
I don't believe in the heaven or hell belief taught in Christendom.
The Bible says that God created the earth to be inhabited by righteous mankind forever.
So I believe what is said here:
Psalm 37:9-11
9 For evil men will be done away with, But
those hoping in Jehovah will possess the earth.
10 Just a little while longer, and
the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there.
11 But
the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.
Obviously, this means that for one (all people - atheist or not) to live forever in God's "plan", they must be
humble, and
trust in the true God.