Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

Question

Ok, I am a Christian. But here is something I have been thinking about. Non-christians, isnt it better to be safe than sorry? Say, if you are wrong about their being no God, and he really exists, and you relaly go to hell, wouldnt that suck for you? But if you accept God is real and his gift of eternity, and it turns out to be false, oh well. You die, but at least you lived a good life. Nothing lost. It just seems like its just a better idea to accept God. If you think about it logically. Its like wearing a seat belt. You dont know for sure if you are going to need it, but dont you want to have it on just in case? For my fellow christians, I'm not condoning becoming a christian just to save one's butt. I think the desire should be genuine, I just think its an interesting idea, that some people would risk going to hell, when believing in God doesnt have bad consequences.

OK, I AM NOT saying that its ok to say you believe in God just to save your butt. He would know better anyway. I do NOT belive that God is a hateful vengeful God, I just think that hes ging us a chance. We can live one life on earth, or a life on earth AND an eternal life after. I do NOT think that just being a good person is enough. And I dont care what other people believe, I wont hate them for it, whatever, thats their choice, just like i made mine. I was just doing a little thinking, and trying to understand the athiest perception of WHY believing in a higher power is such an out-there idea. personally, I think that all of this just being the result of randomness is even more far-fetched

Answer 1

What a sorry way to live life. If god is so forgiving, he would applaud my free thinking attitude. My actions in life define myself more than believing is something as ridiculous as a god that kills his own people and then says "thou shall not kill". There's no reason not to have good morals, regardless of religious faith. In fact, it seems that religion is inspiring more and more hatred and greed every day! Those aren't Atheists strapping bombs around their waists and running into a crowd of people.

Answer 2

Good point.
But what makes you think that believing in God is the ticket to heaven?
If you put on you seat belt but don't start your car and drive you may be safe but you will not go anywhere.
If you believe in God and do no charity or never help a friend, is that something you believe god will reward?
Action counts not belief.
The road to hell is paved in good intentions.
Follow you logic and be a good person full of positive action and then I will agree you have nothing to lose.

Answer 3

How do you know that Islam isn't the true religion? Maybe to play it safe you should read the Quran and go to the mosque on Friday.

Or, aren't you afraid that when you die you'll find out that there are consequences to impeding the evolution of consciousness by clinging to a 2000 year old book, and you'll have to reincarnate as a monkey?

Pascal's wager doesn't work because yours isn't the only One True Religion™. We all believe what seems right to us. Try to understand that your beliefs make perfect sense only from the inside.

Answer 4

Nice idea but then how does one acquire faith? Is it enough to simply say "I believe in God"? Any true deity worth his salt would see past such a charade if the sentiment was not genuine. What if we live a good life without faith? Is the faithful person who is wicked simply forgiven and allowed into Heaven while the unfaithful person who has lived a good life damned for eternity?

Answer 5

What if Christianity is wrong though? What if your going to hell because you don't worship Allah? What if you should be praying to the Flying Spaghetti Monster? If you're correct, you would have to wear millions and millions of seat-belts to make sure you don't go to hell.

If you live your life worrying about the afterlife, you ARE losing a lot. Your losing time and money by going to church. All that money could be used to help feed the hungry, instead it's making the pope richer. Christianity is based on fear, I would never want to be a part of it.

Answer 6

concern is a great tactic between many Christians to learn greater believers which ability greater $ and better #'s for their church homes. I hate the bumper stickers which say, "in case you do not have self assurance in a hell, you greater be suited" or "The Afterlife: do you go with for smoking or non-smoking". i'm no longer a Christian. i do no longer think in a devil who is going to torment me as quickly as I die. I all at once met a girl i comprehend as an acquaintance at present attempting to work out if i became going to 3 revival the place unfastened Bibles are given out. I inform you...those particularly everyone seems to be many times worse than motor vehicle salesmen...

Answer 7

I think God will be able to tell why someone "believes" what they believe. And just because someone says they believe it doesn't make it true. Its people like you that are pushing others away. How dare you tell people to better be safe than sorry. No it doesn't make sense to do that because than you are asking people to sacrifice themselves and what they TRULY believe just because some @sshole made some kind of seatbelt analogy. Do you honestly think that all the Athiests are thinking to themselves "wow. I never thought of that before." Safe than sorry? Oh please. Way to use fear to convert people.

Now THATS what I call Christian *sarcasm.*

Answer 8

Ok, YES! God does exist. Known commonly as the Great Spirit (neither male or female). The Great Spirit is one with our Mother Earth and Father Sky. And yes we do need to accept this fact. If we continue to distroy our Mother Earth, she will distroy us. (your "Hell" will be here on Earth). So get over your fantacies that we humans are superior to nature, and realize we are all one, before it's too late. Love your creator, Mother Earth!!! Blessed Be...

Answer 9

U shouldn't try to force people to believe by trying scare people. Any way isn't that marrying a rich bloke for his money not for love. Like ur using God. I don't wanna become religious out of fear I'd wanna do it coz I have faith a believe in God.

Answer 10

You should really stop trying to scare people into believe in what you believe. You should really live and let live. Some people just don't believe the same as you. I would seriously suggest you going to www.religioustolerance.org and read up on some stuff.