Christians, ever consider this?

Question

There seem to be a lot of you here, so here's something to ponder, while you're chattering about Pascal's Wager today...

Do you realize that there are millions of people in this world that believe just as strongly, and probably MORE strongly than you do... that YOU are going to hell because you don't believe as they do?

Consider that for a moment. Many of these people, if put to the test, will fight and die for their religion, and will never waver in their conviction. Does that not strike you as odd? Does it not make you wonder HOW they could believe in something so strongly, when you are so convinced that they are wrong?

Just rattling your heads a bit. I hope it makes you think some.

Well, I see the smarter Christians are staying away from this one. The "others" are doing the usual bit. Jesus would be so proud...

Answer 1

It’s interesting that you would note the use of Pascal's Wager. Christianity is not fire insurance, and has never worked in that way. In fact, I believe that many who apply that principle to their view of faith will be sorely disappointed when they are among the masses that Jesus says He never knew. But that did not answer your question - just personal side note.

How they believe so strongly is not hard to understand for me. It is because of the culture they have been brought up in. In the US and other developed countries it is much easier to take a blasé or disaffected attitude about the worship of God since few of us are truly poor and destitute like the people you refer to. Very few people in the US, no matter their background or beliefs, would be appalled at the idea of fighting to the death for an ideal. Many would be appalled at the very thought of an ideal other than the one they believe is correct.

So to take some of the poorest people on earth and stir up their sense of entitlement and anger and not having what others do is a very easy emotion to prompt. What is unclear is how anyone from the US would fight back - or if they would fight back. America has grown to such an overweight, over-medicated and over-pampered culture that our hedonism has dulled our senses and we are not longer able to clearly perceive right & wrong. And that is the danger. Not that others agree and are willing to take whatever means necessary to destroy us, but that we have become so complacent that we are willing to allow it.

I live in the full reality that human nature is flawed and that it has no innate ability to determine right from wrong other than self-image. I admit that there are those with a healthy self-image will be able to adapt to the culture without going into a rage or falling into resentful silence. But I also believe that the number of these is grossly over-estimated by most. For proof, look no further than the violent crime that is rampant in the US today. Crime and violence have always existed, since the dawn of humanity. But the proof is in the pudding, so look at how much violent crime has increased ever since morality became relative. When I was a child in the mid-60’s, a child was abducted and killed in my hometown of 300,000. I still recall the shock, horror and outrage that something so heinous would occur. Today similar stories happen so frequently that they rarely are reported in the news.

You can blame all evil on religion and I will even admit that you could be right to some extent. The reason is because religion seeks to destroy offenders. But that’s what separates Christianity from religion. Christ and His true followers seek to revive and reanimate offenders. True Christianity has the power to overcome the small selfish human and empower it with the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately an overabundance of “Christians” practice religion & not Christianity. I still maintain that the lack of morals is much worse than the alternative, simply based on the facts that I’ve presented.

Answer 2

I've never argued "Pascal's Wager."

I've never considered it as a very sharp point. Sure, Pascal's Wager is an interesting concept. But who lives their life according to consequences? Even Christians regularly break consequential laws without fear. They aren't impressed by consequences. Why should an atheist be?

So, no, I've never considered that.

Are you suggesting that it makes any difference?

I believe many people have STD's. The odds may not look bad, but I'd rather live my whole life without sex rather than risk having an STD.

How many people did I convince not to have sex? It's probably better that you don't reproduce.

And furthermore, I believe that the gospel should be preached with authority. If you can't preach it with authority, just leave it up to someone else. No one is persuaded with weak doctrine or weak reasoning.

It actually does the gospel more harm than good to present weak testimony and flimsy arguments. Because now everyone thinks that they've heard it and know it all, when in reality, perhaps they haven't really heard it and don't really know it.

Answer 3

Well believe me every Christian has thought of this before, your not the first person with this thought. Yes I know that there are many religions out there that believe strongly. There are differences though. A lot of religions worship statues while my God is alive. Also many just believe, while I have a relationship with God (that must sound weird to you but I dont know how to explain it). The Bible was written over 100's of years by different people and lang. yet all fits together and is perfect proving its God breathed. Also most people know there is a divine maker. Such as some Indians. I will give you an example. There was this tribe totally separated from other people. A missionary came and wanted to hear about their God. The talked about their great God and pointed up. They believed there was a powerful God that was in control of everything. They may have called Him a different name but they knew it was Him and I believe that is my God as well. Just because you dont know the name doesnt mean you dont know Him. I dont think God is going to see all His followers and say, well I dont know, you didnt do everything these people did or call me this. I think if you love God with your heart that He loves you back. Only God knows what He is going to do in the end.

Answer 4

i scrolled down on answers, did a refresh, ok 12 answers so far,

the one about the jews is interesting, i didnt know that, dont know how true that is,

um, great points all you make, ive asked this in a bunch of different forms but never as you did, that they would die for their faith,

i said the branch dividians but as pointed out, that was a guy not "god"

it really does seem like this is a losing battle against a cult doesn't it, that anyone would die for anything is absurd

this illustrates the history of religion on earth, that there was a need for government in places that because of farming had high population density, they collected taxes,

some governments were good and used the revenue for public works projects,

others were bad and kept the food or tribute for themselves,
and to keep the people down they invented religion,

the priests had temples,

god commands a tithe,

i asked today about exodus 20:20-21 which says you dont have to punish the master if the slave is beaten and lives,

not one christian said god is wrong

they all said well there was slavery back then so,

absurd isnt it

the reality is moses did not talk to god

moses was hired by the king of israel to write a science book and a book of law

he never talked to god we know this,

they saw people dieing after they ate pork and shrimp

so they wrote dont eat pork

dont murder

evidence of this theory is valid because we look at the tribes of people with small population density dont have organized religion

the people they meet and discuss common relatives to not have a reason to kill one another

with high population density they did

Answer 5

That's an old question.

That is why we have the bill of rights that includes the free expression of religion that was inserted by "Christian" men and women, because we seemed to used to understand that different people, based on their upbringing, had different beliefs.

As far as Pascal's Wager, it is really about whether or not a Creator exists, again, inclusive of all religions.

Answer 6

Wow excellent question. Some religious people do lose sight of the fact that in other religions they would be going to Hell. But religions today have gotten so ridiculously over-complicated. It is more likely that one religion alone isn't completely correct, but it is a combination of many. Most stories of the Bible can be found in previous religions. But you can still can be a monotheist without having to say my religion is definitely correct, everyone else is an idiot. Hell is such a dumb concept anyway. And furthermore, God is most certainly going to forgive atheists and Jews (etc) as long as they live good moral lives. People need to stop using religion for power and hatred. Everyone needs to tolerate everyone and mind their own business.

Answer 7

Ask yourself that same question. There are millions of people that believe just as strongly as you do about Atheism that there is a God. Just as you are probably thinking how could we believe in something so strongly when you are convinced we are wrong. Don't you realize that yourself? If so, what is your point? I guess we'll all find out in the end who is right, huh?

Answer 8

I don't know what your point is with this one. There are lots of people who believe that we are just a s wrong as we think that they are. So? Most, though certainly not all, religions tend to think that they have the one and only truth, it seems almost inherent to many of them. Thats what makes converting those who are not of your faith especially hard. After all, they have a deity of their own who they believe in just as strongly as you believe in yours. By some faiths we Christians are the ones who are damned, or heretics, by our faith the other religions are. It would be almost impossible for any Christian to live in the world and not know these things unless they're a complete idiot or totally sheltered.

Answer 9

I was looking through the answers and I read 'Living, Loving...' (Hee-hee)
I don't think she thinks...a lot...Point one and two contradict each other-she says you should go to Hell but she's fine with the fact that other people have different beliefs...? Point three says OTHERS have died for the Christian religion (I believe she's referring to reports of fanaticists when Christianity was still considered a cult only)-I think she missed the point of whether SHE would...
Point four she says you should know what you're talking about (yet she doesn't give the impression she does) and point five says you should get a job...that's irrelevant. Who knows if you do or she does and, anyway, who cares?
Even though you spelled it out for them, I don't think it's going to open their eyes, in order to 'see the light'

Answer 10

Sounds like someone trying to rationalize their existance by questioning the belief's of others when he has none himself. There has always been non-believers in the world. What makes today any different than the past? You have a choice. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior or suffer for eternity. To me it's a no brainer.