Believing for the wrong reason?

Question

I once read a story on an atheism website that got me thinking. It was pretty lengthy so I'll give a short summary:

This atheist was in heaven, waiting in line to meet God to be questioned. When the person in front of her reached God, the person explained that they had been a Christian all of their life and they just knew that someday they would stand before Him. God then asked "But why do you believe in me?" and they said "I go to church every week and have read the bible!" God asked again "Why do you believe in me?" but they could not answer and they were denied entry.

The atheist was in line next and they gave a spiel about how she was angry that God sat back and did nothing while people suffered. She was alowed entry to heaven, but refused it.

Why do you believe in God? What do you think of people who believe in God just because they are told that they should? Is there a wrong reason to believe? What is the right reason?

Answer 1

That's one of the dumbest things i've ever read.

Answer 2

Hmmmmm. I think it's possible to "believe" in God and not change because of it. A lot of people say that they believe in God but it doesn't make them better people and they don't do good things and help other people and all that, so I would doubt whether they really believe in God at all. It's one thing to profess belief, but if it doesn't make you a better person to supposedly be in the presence of God, then what's the point? I don't care what people think they believe--I care how they act. If they act like they love God and humanity and work hard to make the world a better place, then I don't care what they believe or not. They're good people. If you truly believe in God or a benevolent spirit in the world or however you want to frame it, then it will change you and nobody will doubt your intentions.

The anecdote shows the difference between "the letter of the law and the spirit of the law" (a good Christian concept.) Basically, you don't get any credit if you just do what's expected--you have to truly believe in what's behind the law to follow it in its spirit. And the atheist was technically an agnostic, because a true atheist would be standing in front of God and would say, you're not real. Which is ludicrous, but whatever--it's all hypothetical since it's a story. Or is it? Bwaa-haa-haa!

I wouldn't believe in God without a good reason. I grew up in a weird cult that expected me to believe a lot of stupid s**t, but I never did and I never had to renounce all my faith when I left it. Religion is basically a way to keep people in line until they find true spirituality. If they never find that, then at least they stayed out of trouble for an hour or two every week while they were in church.

Whoa--heaven is like a concentration camp? You need to read some history, you f**king moron--concentration camps are a lot different. Ugh, another Holocaust denier. Go play with Mel Gibson.

Answer 3

I have a good site for that if you're interested, besides reasons.org and answersingenesis.org, I found doesgodexist.org and it is written from an atheist's p.o.v. after he was trying to disprove the existance of God.

I accepted Jesus because there are so many reasons why I kept doubting myself when I turned my own way. Why do we have a conscience for example, why do we have good and evil? What's the big deal anyway, right? We could be just like the animals but what sets us apart is self-awareness of our thought process . Animals can be intelligent and learn new things but when a dog hides after he did something wrong, he doesn't feel guilt but fear of being punished (7 Habits of Highly Effective People). Sometimes people will feel guilt and do something anyway.

Why is this? Are they living according to what the self wants or are they looking in the long-run at consequences? Do they regard the well-being of others or are they ruled by something else? The proof of God is when someone changes internally because of the Spirit of God (also called the Holy Spirit).

I see what a difference life is without Jesus. It's up to you how you feel about God now, after hearing this. It really changed me and my life even if I can't see Jesus in person, I can see His work.

Answer 4

Why do I believe?
Because.
I think that the person who said that it matters not what you believe, but rather what you do with that belief.
There are plenty of hyppocrites.
Also are there people who go to church and pray in the churches and synogogs who are doing it so others will see.
The Bible is a really good book.
In it you might find an interpretation that says in the gospels which are the first four books of the new testament that God does not need you to worship in public. Not to be like the hyppocrites.

You will be judged by your actions, that's what I think.

I will not say wether there is a right or wrong reason to believe.

I judge not, for in the same manner I judge, I too will be judged.

It also says in the Bible that if you claim to know Jesus and you partake in the communioni and your heart is not right with Him, you eat and drink judgement upon yourself.

Why are you tring to judge?
Look at yourself.
Why do you try to take a speck out of your brother's eye when there is an entire wood plank in your own eye?

Let us not judge or ask others to make judgement calls.
Rather, let us live together with one another and love our neighbors as ourselves.

Teach me how to spell this four letter word called
love.

Now teach my neighbor!!

God is love.

Answer 5

Why do I believe?

Well I've seen the work of his hands and despite having heard all the arguments I find it inconceivable that all of this is just a mathematical longshot. I believe because I've seen what he's done in my own life. I know what I was like prior to accepting him. Its easy to say that the changes in my life were things I could have accomplished without his help, but the joy and contentment that I feel were never there when he wasn't.

There was a time when I took pride in bulldozing my way through every obstacle that came my way. I took pride in the fact that no matter how bad things got I didn't bend my knee and bow my head and cry out for help. I always figured that if I wouldn't thank him when things went right I certainly wouldn't ask for help when they went wrong.

He patiently waited, and I eventually turned to him, and my life has never been the same. I believe in God because, to me at least, He is very real.

Answer 6

First of all an atheist does not belive IN God and does not believe In the Lord Jesus Christ and If the atheist does not believe In Jesus he would not be IN heaven and this person has heaven made up to be a concentration camp not like heaven at all .
Read the bible and your answer will be waiting for you

Answer 7

She was alowed entry to heaven, but refused it.This is a lie. Both parts are a lie.

"damned" was found 3 times in 3 verses in the New Testament.

Mark 16:16 - He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Romans 14:23 - And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

2 Thessalonians 2:12 - That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Answer 8

well, the Bible says that even the demons believe and tremble. God does not merely want us to believe in Him but to BELIEVE HIM- there is a big difference. Whether you live a good life, go to church, give to the poor, all that does not make a difference. It is believing Him and His word that is important. Belief comes from trust and trust from a relationship. That is what God wants from us is a relationship. I believe His promises, I believe that though there is suffering in the world, there is a purpose and a plan for everything. I believe that all things work together for good for those that love Him, I believe that He is my redeemer and my saviour. I believe that His thoughts and ways are higher than mine and that His plans for me are good and right.
Beliving in God and believing god are two different things. Believing in God is a good start but I choose to believe Him and serve Him because I believe Him.

Answer 9

There really is no "right" reason to believe. As long as you believe in Jesus Christ and God, you are fine. The reason that the "chrisian" earlier was denied entrance was that that person had never truly accepted God for what he was. He/She accepted him based on what others said. She didn't look for him in his/her life, only at church or in the Bible.

Answer 10

i believe in god because i was presented him as a child and knew that it was true in my little heart , then when i got older i learned through god himself that he does exist , how you ask well because Ive prayed to god and talked to god and even though he doesn't answer back like me he still does something about the things i pray about. anyway i just know hes there , i cant explain it . the right reason to believe in god is because ur heart tells u hes there , he even says his spirit converses with our spirit and any love we have for him was put there by him

Answer 11

the only reason one should believe is for personal preference. if one feels that they need to believe to live a fulfilling life, or to give them hope for what comes after life, then that is a good enough reason. some do not need to believe in order to be satisfied, and others do. it just depends on what kind of person you are.