12
votes
Does God ever answer prayers from non-believers?
First, you can rest assured God answers the prayer of an unbeliever or non-Christian when they call upon the name of the Lord in faith. I'm assuming of course that the Holy Spirit has brought the ...
- 9,703
9
votes
Accepted
Are there any Christian groups or denominations that believe that non-Christians have access to the power of the Holy Spirit?
Addressing some misunderstanding
Speaking from mainstream (Trinitarian) groups, your question contains several implicit misunderstandings leading to the framing of your question:
Holy Spirit is a ...
- 22.2k
7
votes
Accepted
They will see but will remain blind
Acts 28:27 (Matt 13:15 is almost identical)
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with
their ...
- 13.1k
6
votes
According to Catholicism, how should Christians react when an unbeliever dies?
According the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one
and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy
Spirit ...
6
votes
Accepted
What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the eternal destiny of individuals who die never hearing the Gospel?
What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the eternal destiny of individuals who die never hearing the Gospel?
Many peoples have as yet not been evangelized and are considered uncontacted people!
...
- 67.9k
6
votes
Are there any Christian groups or denominations that believe that non-Christians have access to the power of the Holy Spirit?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe anyone can feel the power of the Holy Ghost.
All honest seekers of the truth can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, leading them to Jesus ...
- 8,745
5
votes
Why aren't all unbelievers given a "Road to Damascus" moment, according to Catholicism?
TL;DR (1) Because He doesn't need to, and (2) it's not His style.
1 Samuel 3:18
What is pleasing in the LORD’s sight, the LORD will do.
If you look at how well the Apostle Paul spread the Faith, ...
- 6,707
5
votes
Accepted
How does the power of the Holy Spirit manifest in Christians, as opposed to non-Christians who don't have access to this power?
This seems to be a variety of a question often asked by atheists, "What is a good thing that only people who believe in God can do?"
Although not without its own legitimate purpose, I think ...
- 1,666
5
votes
Does God ever answer prayers from non-believers?
The issue sharpened
I'm answering from the perspective of mainstream Christian theology.
The main issue, I think, is how would God apply His own criteria in Prov 15:29 (wicked vs. righteous) and John ...
- 22.2k
4
votes
What are the most challenging objections to the divine inspiration of the Bible?
"What are the most challenging objections . . . ? "
After over half a century of reading and studying and meditating on the holy scriptures (Genesis to Revelation, 66 books, TR/KJV/YLT/EGNT)...
- 23.7k
4
votes
Do any Christians purport to make testable predictions that any unbeliever can verify in their lifetime?
I'm not sure of the angle you're coming from with this question but I'll answer it as I understand it.
Yes, some do purport to make 'predictions' in the name of Christianity. Most would be described ...
- 565
4
votes
Do any Christians purport to make testable predictions that any unbeliever can verify in their lifetime?
Yes, many times - and it's not worked out well for them
Any claim or prediction which could be proved true can equally well be proved false if it does not match the real world.
Over time, many ...
- 263
4
votes
Accepted
Is repentance of sins possible outside the Gospel?
Is repentance of sins possible outside the gospel?
Yes, since God plants conscience in every person's heart. But see next paragraph below.
What does repentance of sins look like for a non-Christian ...
- 22.2k
4
votes
What is the current stance of the Catholic Church regarding the legality of non-Catholic religions?
it would seem that Pius IX orders that all religions bar Catholicism are to be declared illegal by the State.
States are to prevent false religions from publicly spreading their errors, but the false ...
- 38.6k
4
votes
Accepted
According to LCMC Lutheranism, why is human imagination considered evil, when unsaved people do some amazingly good things?
This issue is addressed in the Augsburg Confession, which the LCMC accepts as "normative for our teaching and practice," like many other Lutheran groups. First we'll briefly look at the &...
- 42.3k
4
votes
When did the "upside down cross" become a symbol of anti-Christianity?
Eugène Vintras (1807–1875) may be the first to use the inverted cross in a distinctly anti-Christian way. He was a Gnostic revivalist operating in France during the middle of the 19th century. He ...
- 42.3k
4
votes
Accepted
What did the Early Church Fathers believe about the fate of the unreached?
As requested from above here are some quotes from the early church fathers concerning the salvation of all, including those who never had a chance to hear.
Clement Of Alexandria (150-215 AD)
“He says ...
- 270
4
votes
Accepted
According to Christianity, to what extent can non-Christians develop and manifest the fruit of the Spirit?
For the most part all Christianity hold to the doctrine of original sin. This means that human nature was cursed in Adam and subject to a total sinfulness under the law, separate from God, with no ...
- 31.7k
4
votes
Does God ever answer prayers from non-believers?
Yes.
God hears prayers of non-believers, because a Sovereign receives petitions. A subject has a right to petition, if they are brave enough. What the Sovereign does with a petition, is another issue.
...
4
votes
How can non-believers, who cannot perceive nor understand the things of the Spirit, overcome their spiritual blindness?
The first step in true religion is that required by John the Baptist - he that hath two coats, give to him that hath none and likewise with meat, Luke 3:11.
If one does not love one's neighbour whom ...
- 23.7k
3
votes
What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the eternal destiny of individuals who die never hearing the Gospel?
As per OP's invitation to post answers which complement answers already offered I would like to address a specific part of Ken Graham's very comprehensive post. There he lists Exclusivism as the ...
- 14.8k
3
votes
Accepted
5 meaningful contacts with Christians before considering the claims of the gospel
In marketing, this is referred to as the number of "touches" required to make a sale or convince someone. It is not unique to religion, nor does it guarantee success. In marketing, this is ...
- 1,389
3
votes
Accepted
From a Christian perspective, what are "nonresistant nonbelievers" most likely doing wrong that prevents them from finding and believing in God?
Nonresistance is more useful in a placid lake than in a rushing river.
I'll offer a response in 5 sections:
The Risks of inertia
The Devil really is that nasty
A Latter-day Saint discussion of ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
From a Christian perspective, what are "nonresistant nonbelievers" most likely doing wrong that prevents them from finding and believing in God?
The premise that non-resistant non-belief is a reality for some is, from a biblical standpoint, false. Every single person has enough evidence to render them without excuse as regarding the Godhead ...
- 14.8k
3
votes
Will unbelievers continue to be unbelievers at the end of the age?
As the author of the answer being quoted, I suppose it's only fair that I expand.
(Disclaimers: I am not a universalist. I am a fence-sitter on annihilationism.)
There's a difference between what ...
- 6,744
2
votes
What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on the eternal destiny of individuals who die never hearing the Gospel?
The major denominations of Christ's body are shown as to what they believe happens to those who never hear the Good News. In general, the sources do portray that this is their belief within that ...
- 13.1k
2
votes
What is the current stance of the Catholic Church regarding the legality of non-Catholic religions?
Although, of course, the Catholic Church regards itself as the one true Church, the Second Vatican Council has fully reversed policies put in place by Pope Pius X, when he attempted to stamp out all ...
- 14.4k
2
votes
Do non-Christians go to hell?
Do people practicing religions other than Christianity go to Hell?
The first part of the answer begins by addressing whether God is fair. Abraham challenged God on this.
“Far be it from you to do ...
- 11.4k
2
votes
Do non-Christians go to hell?
The official Catholic position should be clear from paragraph 16 of the document Lumen Gentium issued by the Vatican II council. I found a good commentary on the document here, especially chapter 2.3....
- 22.2k
2
votes
Accepted
Do non-Christians go to hell?
The Apostles Creed was written at least 150 years after the apostles had all died. It is called the Apostles’ Creed because it is supposed to be a record of what the apostles taught. It makes this ...
- 29.7k
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