LIFE AFTER DEATH WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST MYSTERY

Q: You've often written about seeing and knowing your loved ones in the afterlife. Recently, I read this comment by a Mormon clergyman: "Those who choose to follow his son, Jesus Christ, will have the opportunity to live as families throughout eternity." This seems to imply that all non-Christians won't have that opportunity. I consider this a form of bigotry or worse.

While I feel my personal beliefs are irrelevant to the question, I must tell you that I consider myself a devout atheist. Though my children were brought up Catholic, all four (now adults, ages 27-34) are atheists, as well.

My wife, a Catholic school student in Brooklyn in the 1950s, remembers feeling torn that a Jewish friend of hers could never go to heaven, because that was what she was taught as a child. Any thoughts? - J., via godsquadquestion@aol.com

A: The question of who's going to be admitted to heaven fixates many readers and I understand why. Life after death is the greatest mystery. Its existence, its population and its admission standards remain at the heart of faith and our human finitude.

Some people are intrigued because they believe that securing heavenly lodging for their souls is the only convincing reason to do the right thing. Others do the right thing for its own sake but also wonder what, if anything, awaits us after the grave. Still others, like you, are perturbed by those who believe that only Christians (and often only Christians of a certain stripe) will get into heaven.

I could repeat my oft-stated belief that there are many paths up the same mountain. This view is supported by Paul in Romans 9-11, by Judaism, by Islam, and by any person with a good heart who must agree that Gandhi is in heaven if anyone is there, even though he wasn't a Christian. I don't want to rehash old theological arguments today.

I do want to defend the right of people to be what you wrongly dub religious bigots. I don't agree with their beliefs, nor do I respect how those beliefs can be used to insult people of other faiths. However, I respect the belief that the only way into heaven is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is the essence of the Gospel, the Good News of the Christian Testament. This is a Christian's faith and hope.

Non-Christians have no right to demand that Christianity neuter itself. We have no right to demand that Christianity transform its passionate belief in the gifts of the dying and reborn God into something so vanilla and banal you could put it on any greeting card. Christianity is not just the religion of being nice; it is the religion of salvation secured only through belief in Jesus as the Christ. This is not bigotry unless you define bigotry as everything you don't believe right now. Christianity deserves respect and admiration, even if neither you nor I can also grant it acceptance.

Q: Proverbs 3:5 instructs us to, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Sounds like mindless faith is being called for in that verse. Am I right? - A., via godsquadquestion@aol.com

A: I once got a Teddy bear as a gift. The bear wore a striped tie, which I'm told by zoologists is the habit of the North American Preppie Grizzly. On the back of the tie was the text of Proverbs 3:5, which you quote with derision. That bear sits near my bathroom sink with its tie turned up. Every month when I brush my teeth (whether they need it or not), I read the verse and am comforted.

To me, that verse is about humility, not blind faith. It teaches us to trust in God. I need to trust in God. It teaches us not to exalt the power of human intellect so highly that we forget that being smart is not nearly as important as being good. I need to be reminded of that. The verse doesn't tell us not to pursue our own understandings, only to be humble about their scope and reliability.

Einstein reportedly said when asked about his work,, "I merely trace the lines that flow from God." I think about Einstein and God and the lines I draw whenever I see that little bear. If that's blind faith, well, then, that's just grrrrreat!

Q: I'm not a Christian, but something happened to me recently that seemed like a miracle. While I was driving, the gas pedal of the car got stuck after I accelerated. I tried to lift it up with my toe, but to no avail. I considered my options but resolved myself to certain death.

As soon as I knew in my heart I was going to crash and die, an image appeared on my windshield of a young man with longish hair and a cropped beard and mustache. When I looked at him, the gas pedal popped back up and the image vanished. The man never spoke but I knew He was Jesus. Shaking, I pulled off the parkway, got out and thanked God for saving my life.

I wasn't drinking, on drugs, or impaired in any other way. I don't know why God saved me that day but He did. Do you believe in miracles, even if they cross religious lines? - M. via godsquadquestion@aol.com)

A: I follow a faith that teaches me not to rely on miracles. This teaching is more nuanced than it seems. Miracles may be real or simply the enthusiastic remembrance of things past. Whatever the truth of what happened to you, I'm glad you're safe. My best advice is to always be open to miracles, and also to get that faulty gas pedal checked out!

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