[revots33]

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Are the moderates simply picking and choosing certain things from the Koran [Bible] to coincide with common sense and a desire to be nice?

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Yes, and this goes for both Christians and Muslims.

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The Catholic analogy relates to whether it is possible to not believe Jesus is the son of God, (even though he is known to you) and still have a chance at heaven. Apparently the Catholic answer is yes.

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Being raised a Catholic I respectfully disagree. Belief in Jesus as god is the central tenet of the Catholic faith, just as it is with any other Christian church. Some liberal Catholics try to get around this by citing the Catholic Church's position on "baptism of desire". But here is the relevant quote from the Cathechism of the Catholic Church:

"Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized"

So we are talking about an exception for:
-unbaptized martyrs
-people studying to be Catholics but who die before baptism
-good people who have never heard of the Church

It certainly does not mean that Catholics think good Jews, Muslims, etc. are going to heaven. They don't. Or, if they do it is their own morality saying it, not any teaching of the church.