I'm aware of the line of thought in Christianity that goes toward exclusivity, and says it doesn't matter how good a non-believer is. However, I'm also familiar with more progressive views, that tend toward the Abrahamic God looking at intention and actions.
Yes, this tends to be the Catholic view nowadays. We Orthodox are also fond of saying "We know where the Holy Spirit is, but we don't know where He isn't". That is, we know that God is with His Church and with the faithful who dwell within it, but we cannot say that God has forsaken everyone else. We speak of God as being the merciful and the lover of mankind (
Philanthropos in Greek).
It is true that good works are only called "good" in God's eyes if they are done in faith, and it is true that those who reject the faith have some bad chances. But when it comes to those who reject Christianity when they hear about it, who is really responsible? I think it's often the Christian(s) who did a bad job of evangelizing and gave a bad witness to the Faith through their hypocritical action, and in so doing turned people away from Christ. So in that sense I'm not sure many non-believers can always be held accountable for a lack of faith--that penalty will be on those who disgraced Christianity before others. Scripture says over and over that we will be judged by our works (I think I just made every Calvinist and Reformed Christian cringe).
The question is this, and maybe some explanation with your answer would be nice too. I'd appreciate it: Do Christians think it matters that non-Christians aspire to good?
Absolutely it matters. If people who don't believe in Christianity still try their best to live lives of righteousness, then the world will be far better off for it. If you asked Christ or any of the Apostles whether they would rather see non-believers engage in cannibalism, murder, thievery, revenge-killings, incest and whatever other depravities you can imagine on the one hand, or whether they would rather see non-believers taking care of the poor and the sick, keeping it in their pants, having healthy relationships that lead to stable and happy marriages, forgiving grudges against one another and being reasonable human beings, they would undoubtedly prefer the latter.
That some of us (like Buddhists) even aspire to non-violence and high compassion.
Which is very highly commendable.
Do Christians think we're still absolutely condemned? I guess I thought this would make a good religious forums question.
Christians don't know who will be saved, and any who claim to be able to tell you anything to the contrary with 100% certitude (including me) are full of it. But, one part of Scripture I've found interesting...
Romans 2:14-16
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
