Pre-Christian/Not aware of Christianity Souls

[txchristian04]

I am curious to know what happens the souls of people before Christ, or those that have not really had any contact with Christianity(maybe living somewhere in remote location in the far east, etc.) Do they go to heaven, or hell or what?

It doesn't seem all that fair for say a celt from 200AD to be condemned. What exactly qualifies as a level for unwareness?

[chilehed]

Follow this link to the Chatechism, and read paragraphs 846 through 848.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p3.htm

The short answer is that it's possible for them to attain heavan.

[ShetlandRose]

Wow. Toughest question on the planet. Bet you will get great controversy over this one...whole books have been written.

I can only tell you what I believe. God does not condemn people for failure to believe in Jesus, although salvation is through Jesus Christ and in Him only. God judges people because they are sinners, of course we "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." For those who have received Jesus Christ as their savior, they will have forgiveness and mercy and eternal life.

I believe (gulp...here goes) that judgment for sin will be in relationship to how much people knew and the choices they made. People have much opportunity today to hear the Gospel, and some have little opportunity. God gave all of us a conscience and I believe the Holy Spirit works through that conscience...not just of wrong or right, although that is essential to our conscience, but also a knowledge that there is a God and a desire to find Him. The Bible says that a person's conscience will either accuse him or excuse him on the day of Jesus Christ (Romans 2:14-16).

All things said and unsaid, we are saved by God's mercy. All I can do is to work to serve the Lord, help spread the good news of the Gospel, and leave the rest up to Him.

ShetlandRose :angel: