I think there are a lot of different views of Heaven, some more corporeal than others. Look at the way the Rapture's viewed.

I always felt that a god would give people second chances if they're willing to learn and are good people, rather than worrying about if they're Lutheran, Catholic, or Jewish.

Wow, and she's Catholic? Sounds like you live in a very tolerant area. Where I was from, we still have the Klan, and Matt Hale's church started there.