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As an atheist, I hear all the time from some, not all, christians that "what harm would come if you believed, if you are wrong you get heaven if you are right nothing happens." Pascals Wager.

Pascal's Wager asks an atheist to compromise their belief.

How many people asking that of an atheist would be willing to put the shoe on the other foot and themselves give 'lip service' to a belief they didn't truly believe in?

And is it really ethical for any person to ask for such compromise?

2006-08-10 20:04:48 · 14 answers · asked by genaddt 7 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

14 answers

I don't know if you should be asking that question of Christians or of their God - after all, quite why a compassionate God would choose, as far as I can see as his _only_ criterion, belief as the deciding factor between heaven and hell is beyond me. If the vision of heaven that these people have is true, then heaven is completely amoral and we have no need to live a moral existence. Just believe and that's enough...

I don't think that a god so vain and needy is worthy of worship.,

billcompugeek, in his mission to misinterpret everything about atheists, seems to think that we have no beliefs to compromise. Accepting 'belief is all' would be a huge compromise of my beliefs and morals. I don't expect a person like him to ever understand that, though.

2006-08-10 20:24:03 · answer #1 · answered by XYZ 7 · 2 0

That is what is great about a belief system...it is important to the one believing it. Does the person who asked you care about you and wants the best for you, then it is ethical to ask...you can politely refuse. But if someone is imposing their will, well I don't want to go to the same place they do. A question I need to ask is do you throw your beliefs in the face of people who believe different from you? Truth is religion has been so corrupted by politics over the course of time it is hard to believe in it right now. Especially when some one tells me I'm going to hell because I don't share their beliefs. Personally I believe there is a greater power because commonality in the vast majority of societies say there is. But, that is my faith and I refuse to force it on anyone else.

2006-08-10 20:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by Alex B 3 · 0 1

I refuse to compromise my non secular ideals, and in case you have been to ask maximum of my close pals and kin (aside from my husband of direction) in Morocco, i'm being defiant by utilising refusing to transform to Islam. That mentioned, no, i do no longer think of you're being defiant. i'm able to think of that the folk who do think of you're in all probability see hijab as a political fact (which you will desire to agree it has develop into) fairly than a non secular requirement. in line with possibility greater advantageous clarification to those human beings could help (and that i advise, coach them the place it says that's a call for! too many westerners have faith that it somewhat is non-obligatory for muslims, and in spite of the undeniable fact that it somewhat is genuine that many muslim women folk decide directly to no longer positioned on it, that doesn't help your reason any!)

2016-09-29 03:52:32 · answer #3 · answered by marceau 4 · 0 0

If anyone gives me pascal's wager, I tell them it wouldn't make a difference since I'd just be faking belief anyway. But, you are right, it isn't ethical for them to ask us to lie to their God, humanity, or ourselves.

2006-08-10 20:10:47 · answer #4 · answered by laetusatheos 6 · 1 0

It is not ethical. Please consult the book of James Chapter 2, Verse 26. Pascal's Wager is a joke.

2006-08-10 20:12:19 · answer #5 · answered by Whetherman 2 · 1 0

Well I don't think this is ethical at all. This would make you a hypocrite. And besides, God knows what is in your heart, so even if you gave into lip service, it wouldn't do you any good....

2006-08-10 20:11:25 · answer #6 · answered by Sabrine * 2 · 1 0

no it is absolutely unethical to ask a person to compromise with their beliefs. it is always a person's decision and should abide by his conscience what he should follow, the moment he realises truly and able to distinguish good and bad, he himself will compromise for the better, no one need to advise as it is futile.

2006-08-10 20:13:02 · answer #7 · answered by shankari n 3 · 1 0

It is ethical for someone to suggest it if he considers you to be wrong. It is equally ethical for you to suggest that your interlocutor change his beliefs if you believe him to be wrong. It is unlikely that either of you will do so, of course. And as for Pascal's wager, it is exactly as plausible for you to suggest that God will be p.o.'ed at anyone who is silly enough to believe in Christianity, and will consign them to the pit.

2006-08-10 20:14:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Atheists technically don't have any beliefs to compromise. They don't have to follow any law except to stay out of jail.

2006-08-10 20:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

No it is not. One of the great things about our country is that each person can believe what their head, heart or conscious tells them is true.

2006-08-10 20:26:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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