Given how judgmental and unforgiving we can be as a societal collective, there’s a funny thing that happens when a famous person dies.

Whether joking or in all seriousness, it seems the consensus — at least among believers — is that everyone goes to heaven.

Think about what you hear following the death of an athlete: “Bill Russell is playing 1-on-1 with Wilt Chamberlain now,” or “Heaven got a right fielder when Hank Aaron passed.” Sure, they are warm and harmless tributes to our late sports heroes. Or, perhaps, they’re a source of comfort to ourselves that there is something better for each of us after this life; a wish that true paradise is forever being able to do that thing at which you were at your best.

Notice that when we reminisce over someone we knew who has died, we almost always instinctively look toward the sky, where we believe heaven physically exists. You rarely see someone cast their gaze downward in that scenario, suggesting the deceased has gone to hell.

After music legend Tina Turner died on May 24, social media was littered with memes joking that her infamous ex-husband Ike Turner would be waiting for her … in heaven. A man who is probably known more for being abusive than talented, whose name is synonymous with domestic violence, and people still stuck him in heaven without a second thought.

It could be meaningless that we do this, or highly meaningful. It could be evidence that each of us knows deep down that, while we may be harshly judgmental and less than forgiving, our God is the most forgiving and is the best judge.

But it does bring up the question: What do we think it takes for someone to go to heaven?

This came up in the immediate aftermath of the death of legendary athlete Jim Brown, who passed away at 87 years old on May 18. Not only is Brown arguably the greatest football player who ever lived, but he’s also an all-time great in lacrosse. After starring in both sports in college at Syracuse, he graduated to the NFL and dominated there for nine years. When he retired in 1966, still in his prime, he was the league’s all-time leading rusher and a three-time MVP.

Brown left football to become an actor, which — in addition to paying well and putting less strain on his body than getting dog-piled by linebackers every week — kept him in the public eye and provided a platform for his voice to be heard. Politically outspoken even during his playing days, which was not as easy or common for pro athletes back then (especially Black pro athletes), Brown spent the rest of his post-football life building a legacy as a community activist and advocate, tackling issues such as racism, discrimination, and gang violence.

In the obituaries and tributes that followed Brown’s death, those good deeds off the field were consistently mentioned alongside his athletic greatness. Similar to the late Muslim boxing legend Muhammad Ali, Brown’s impact outside of sports was as much a part of his story as his athletic legacy.

Brown launched the Black Economic Union the same year he retired from football, aimed at promoting greater financial opportunities for Black-owned businesses. In 1988, he founded the Amer-I-Can Foundation, designed to help gang members and ex-convicts learn life skills and job skills. (Of course, agencies like the FBI and local police feared Brown’s desire to uplift the Black community meant he was a radical Muslim extremist, so they attempted to thwart his efforts.)

But there was another side to Jim Brown, another chapter of his story, that alongside his good deeds was highlighted during many post-mortem reflections and think pieces.

Brown was arrested several times over the years, mostly for assault and violent crimes against women. Allegations against him included assault and battery against an 18-year-old woman when Brown was 29, assault with intent to commit murder against another woman, and rape of another woman. Brown was not convicted in those three cases. He was convicted of misdemeanor battery against a male associate in 1975, and convicted of vandalism in 1999 when he used a shovel to bust up his wife’s car. His sentence for the latter crime included mandatory domestic violence counseling, and eventually he served six months in jail after ignoring the terms of his initial sentence.

It’s a complicated dichotomy to navigate, especially if one is trying to answer questions that may have no middle-ground answers: Was Jim Brown wholly good or wholly bad? Would his good deeds send him to heaven (Jannah), or would his bad deeds send him to hell (Jahannam)?

Islam teaches that there is no easy, one-size-fits-all formula to guarantee paradise in the afterlife. In the most general sense, there is a simplicity to the application process, as it were: Adhere to the five pillars of Islam (believe in the one and only God, pray, give to charity, observe Ramadan, make a pilgrimage to Mecca); do a lot of good things; don’t do too many bad things. That’s a good start.

But ultimately, Allah will decide. And as it’s stated in the Quran (2:284), his criteria is entirely his own.

At the same time, we are reminded through the words of the Prophet Muhammad that no matter someone’s history or track record, one single act can make all the difference.

Sports and entertainment are such a staple in our society that, at some point, each of us may face the dilemma of whether or not to “separate the art from the artist” when someone has committed an egregious act. Consider the cases of R. Kelly and Chris Benoit: Ask a sampling of R&B fans, and you’ll find some who continue to listen to Kelly’s music with no problem — even if they believe he committed the heinous crimes for which he’s been jailed — and some who have erased the Grammy winner from their playlists permanently. Similarly, poll a group of pro wrestling fans, and you’ll find some who refuse to even speak Benoit’s name after the ex-WWE champion committed murder-suicide, and some who still enjoy classic Benoit matches and hold him in high esteem for his work.

I find myself in such a position with Jim Brown. I grew up obsessed with football, a kid who dreamed of playing running back for the Cleveland Browns, just like Jim Brown. So while the Hall of Famer played well before my time, he was always a presence in my fandom. He was someone I looked up to, both as a player and later when I was old enough to understand the value of his community work. But as I got older still and learned about Brown’s transgressions, that couldn’t be overlooked.

How much bad can be outweighed by good? How much good can be outweighed by bad?

Jim Brown did a lot of great things in his life to help a lot of people in need. For that, he may very well be rewarded. Jim Brown also did some indefensible things in his life that hurt people. For that, he may very well be punished. We won’t know the result or the reasoning.

Whether you personally fall on the side of respect and admiration for the man, or if you view him with disdain, the ultimate judgment is not yours to make.