Atheists Too?

When Jesus says "No one comes to the Father except by me" and "I am the way, the truth, and the life," and when it is claimed that through Jesus, all are saved, does one have to believe in Jesus for these statements to be true?

While a lot of moderate and Liberal Christians, as well as atheists and people from other religions are happy to hear that the current Pope is not so negative and narrow-minded as some previous Popes, many Conservative Christians and Evangelicals seem to be upset by this Pope's tolerance and potential inclusivity.

All things fall because of gravity. If I don't believe in gravity, does gravity stop being true? If I don't believe in viruses or bacteria, will I then be free from illness?

Can't Jesus present an atheist to the Father quite as easily as He can an Evangelical, or a Catholic, or any other flavor of Christian? Does coming to the Father by way of Jesus become any less true because someone does not believe in Jesus. Wouldn't that make grace even more... graceful... by Jesus welcoming even those who never believed in Him, or even campaigned actively against Him, and presenting those people to His Father, who is also the Father of us all, believers and non-believers alike?

I think it's time for Christians to stop pretending as if they are in some exclusive club, and it is certainly time for Christians to stop pretending as if they are on the Membership Committee of that club.

Whether or not God does in fact welcome all is irrelevant, because God has made it clear to me that I am to welcome all -- and I have a hard time accepting that God would ask something from me that He would not do Himself.

Reviews

[Emily B]

some churchy friends told me a while back that God wouldn't hear my prayers because I am, of course, a sinner. I was shocked at first. I have regular talks with God and I never felt like I was being ignored.

It was something about Jesus having to deliver the messages on my behalf. It takes all kinds, right?

I'm glad you posted this.

[Robert Lindsay]

Thoughtful words Father Joseph. It seems you have a ministry here spreading a sincere message of inclusion. I also include you in the human race as a distant family member - though not a father figure.
Some atheists too believe in a brotherhood of man, though not based on religion. The common ancestry of all humans and all of life within a natural universe may one day replace the need for inclusion into a powerful myth which was formerly the only paradigm in town.

[Bishop R. Joseph Owles]

There's nothing more important than mythology. Human beings must have meaning or we cease to exist. Mythology is the narrative structure that provides meaning. Without it, we would be emotional and psychological (and often physical) victims of chaos. So human beings look at a world that is plagued by randomness and chaos and we impose patterns and meaning -- whether those patters are actually there or not -- and we evaluate ourselves with the mythology we have constructed. Religion until recently has been a social construction of meaning. We also have personal narratives we tell ourselves, such as "my professor hates me" to justify failing a class, or "nothing ever works out for me" to justify failure. So, as long as your use of "myth" does not mean "lie," we're cool. We now live in a context in which we can choose our own meaning structures (i.e. mythology) whether it be a particular religion, a philosophy, psychology, or science (yes science -- it uses empirical data to construct a narrative, even about things it cannot observe or recreate, which places it in the realm of mythology).

[Robert Lindsay]

I wrote a large and friendly reply but the PC lost it. Never mind. The essence of it is that I liked your spirit of inclusiveness which is commendable. Atheists do not need 'saved'. Many including me are actually ex-christians. I also was a missionary and I have degrees in Theology and Anthropology to evidence my own investigations. Yes humans may have always needed myths as Joseph Campbell taught. Humanists may need myths of their own. However it could be argued that a worldview based on evidence is more interesting than one based on faith. As far as I can see the natural Universe is fascinating (and entirely natural) and our ethics are evolved. Enough said. I'm mainly here for the poetry. Peace and goodwill.

[Bishop R. Joseph Owles]

All mythology is based on "evidence"; the myths that endure are the ones built upon the best evidence and remain plausible. peace out.