Even among the religions that propose that Hell exists, there is a huge divergence of opinion on who goes there. I am most familiar with some of the Christian requirements. Jews don’t really focus on this and I am ignorant of what Islam says. Other religions have other afterlife ideas such as reincarnation.
Some Christian sects believe that it’s all predetermined and that nothing we do or don’t do can affect it. If they are right, there is no way to know.
The next division is whether it is deeds or beliefs that get you sent to Hell. Some sects believe that anyone not of their sect is doomed. If they are right, then only the presidents who are of that sect are not doomed. Others believe it is your faith that does it, regardless of acts. If they are right, then it is impossible to know, because it is impossible for us to know what a person’s actual faith is.
Finally, we are left with the groups that think what we do in life is what determines our final destination. Even there, though, the list of things that will send us to hell varies.
(It’s really amazing that God can’t make himself - or herself or itself - clear on this point).
So …. maybe we can use the 10 commandments? Those are supposed to be really important! Alas, even those are subject to debate, but let’s make an effort:
- No other Gods before me - I think most of the POTUS are safe on this one
- No graven image - Probably most are OK here
- No taking name of lord in vain - this will knock out a lot of POTUS. Of recent ones, maybe not Jimmy Carter. But … I can see most POTUS uttering an “Oh God” in the sorts of situations that tend to engender this reaction.
- Keep the Sabbath day holy - exactly how this has to be done is subject to debate. If it means no working on the Sabbath, then nearly all (if not all) the POTUS are doomed.
- Honor thy parents - probably most are OK with this one
- Thou shalt not kill - this one seems clear, but … does it mean only direct killing? I don’t think any of the POTUS were guilty of murder. But if it includes indirect killing (e.g. by ordering wars and so on) then many of them are doomed.
- No adultery - this dooms a lot.
- No coveting - Frankly I think this dooms pretty much every human on the planet.
But maybe God just lets in people he/she/it/they regard as decent. Then I think a few POTUS will make it to heaven.
Read other answers by Peter Flom on Quora:
- Who was the most important US president?
- Were all prior Presidents of the United States born in America?
- Why is Jimmy Carter so not-famous?
from Quora http://ift.tt/28SXMAL
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