What is so fair about this?

Question

As an atheist, I have nothing to prove to a higher power. I want to live a good life, help others live good lives as well. I think I can call myself a decent human being for doing that. I don't hurt people. I don't act immorally (sin, as religion would call it). Yet, according to Christianity, people can sin, kill people, rape people, steal, commit adultery, then accept Jesus, and be rewarded in heaven, while I, the atheist, will burn in hell forever and ever by an all-loving being. How is this fair?

I understand the Christian belief that "all have sinned". I don't see why the unintentional sins I commit should keep me from being rewarded in the (unlikely) afterlife?

Answer 1

"All theistic religion devalues human compassion and morality. For a principled atheist these are the foremost concern. For a religious person, obedience of a deity/scripture is morality and conscience takes second place."

What can I add to this? Religion is a contrived way of thinking and living; it eliminates the necessity of making your own decisions, it provides you with all the answers you would ever need, and if gives you a community of people who feel the exact same way you do. It's convenient, but convenience comes at a price. Religion is a conformist concept, therefore part of its system of ethics is that one must adhere to the religion. In religious terms, this means professing that everybody who is heathen will be punished in some manner.

Not all religions are like this, and not even all Christians think like this, but it is a trend worth being wary of. This principle is also used to establish fear among non-believers; it actually worked quite well on me as a child, all the way through to me "accepting Jesus into my heart" because my Sunday school teacher told me it was a surefire way to avoid hell (apparently, malsvb6 below and I have something in common). It's a dirty, manipulative tactic.

The other aspect is that the concept of forgiving murderers and rapists and allowing them to go to Heaven is a demonstration of the vast power of forgiveness that Christianity offers, making it attractive to anybody who feels like they have done something bad. It is not directed at converting you so much as it is directed to converting anybody who has ever done anything they feel guilty about. It is yet another recruitment tactic.

I applaud your choice to live as a principled atheist! The good you do is far more true and worthy than any Good Samaritan's. This is because you, having the freedom to do anything you like, without limitations of doctrine, chose to be a kind person in society.

When forced to choose, Christian doctrine rewards obedience, not good works or compassion.

The answers below amuse me and sadden me: these peoples' belief that you will burn in hell unless you are "saved" simply has nothing to do with you. It is their own personal delusion, combined with a tidy little superiority complex.

Answer 2

Understanding about Good and Evil and Judgment is usually made on a human level. God is Spirit and the afterlife is a Spiritual life in a Spiritual realm. Being an Atheist you have nothing to worry about, unless you are wrong in your decision making process and choice. Even Christians should be ever challenging of their Faith for with challenge comes learning and appreciation. Forget for a moment about burning as no one knows for sure what awaits each person specifically except Judgment one day (if you Believe). From a Christian perspective ... Everyone is born in sin it's a human inheritance and part of being human in a physical world. Before Christ people would have the priest make blood sacrifices for their sins or use a scapegoat or some other method to appease God for their short comings. Christians, and I, believe that Christ came and died as a "blood" sacrifice to substitute himself for our sins whatever they may be. Just as the Children of Israel's firstborn were protected from the death angel in Egypt because of the blood on the door post so Christ blood has the saving ability to hide our sins from judgment if we believe and accept that sacrifice. I believe those decisions about forgiveness, judgment, and man (human's) state were made long ago and that God cannot be understood in Human, physical, terms nor can the afterlife be understood in Human, physical, terms. As for punishment or salvation even if you don't believe death is eternal and forever. If you are right, being an Atheist, then death is still eternal. If God exist then certainly decisions made while we can make an intelligent decision bear a very important part for our future. Regardless of who you are everyone fears that which they don't know but each will face that transition from the physical world to the spiritual world or that transition from death to after death. In human terms it may not be fair or in most understanding it might not be fair but man doesn't think in God's terms or thoughts. If a person is truly converted and knows Christ they can do all you said but I can't believe that they will or continue to do so. The reason is simply that God gives His Holy Spirit to dwell inside of the believer as a proof that the person is saved. It is proof because the person (believer) experiences this in their life and knows at that point there is something greater than they are and that something miraculous has happened. Their outlook, love, appreciation for others and their lifestyle changes because of that conversion and knowledge so I can't accept that they will continue to live in Sin or there was no real conversion in the first place. The only way a person believes is to see and realize a real difference and that becomes proof for that person. That's my opinion.

Answer 3

The reason for eternal damnation would be because you are a non-believer. You are correct about being forgiven for our sins, that was Jesus' whole purpose for being here. But what you must understand is once you accept Christ as your savior, all the mis-behavior should change, if you have faith and follow the path that God has given you. Unfortunately, even Christians back slide, and re-commit sins of their past, God is an understanding God, but ya know, so much is all he will put up with. When a Christian goes to Heaven he/she will have to answer to God. So the point here is, once you accept Jesus Christ, you should follow him and change your lifestyle. (I my case, he changed my lifestyle for me).. Hope this helped a bit.

Answer 4

Because above all, God says to believe in him.
Now, don't get that wrong. It's not like you accept Jesus, and then continue to kill, rape and steal. Obviously you haven't truly accepted Jesus.
If you actually accept Jesus into your life, he will forgive you of those sorts of things.
He would even forgive you for not believing, if only you would.
He will no more allow a murder/rapist/thief into heaven who hasn't repented, than he would allow an atheist (who has done nothing wrong like that) who still doesn't believe.
Belief and faith is the basis on getting into Heaven, not how much you sin or don't sin. We all sin, but if we ask, we are forgiven...you too.

And in response to your additional details: Again, it's not the lack of sin that gets you into Heaven. It's belief and faith. If you believe and have faith, then no matter what you might have done in the past is forgiven.
Yet, no matter how "good" you were on Earth, if you don't believe in God...why should he let you in. Isn't that a little bit crazy?

Answer 5

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Answer 6

First off, God does not send people to hell. Hell is the abscence of God, the absence of life, eternal separation from God. If you don't want God, don't believe in God, then you won't be with God. Bible says there will be anguish and gnashing (sp? sorry) of teeth, which is how it really would be knowing you've separated yourself from God and heaven. I've never proven anything to God by the way, don't feel any need to, amazingly He proves Himself to me, not the other way around. I also had doubts, but He's proven his love, mercy & forgiveness, also He's taught me through suffering and I'm actually glad for my suffering, it's made me stronger in my beliefs. I believe God's knocking on the door of your heart, you sound very conscious of your actions, you would make a wonderful Christian I think. Take care!

Answer 7

Not all Christians believe this. I personally (As a Christian) believe there will be people of all religions in heaven. I believe God will judge us on how we lived out lives by our own personal moral beliefs. I honestly believe God does not like people telling others what He thinks and is going to do etc, but that's just what I think;) I believe it's more important to know what you believe and stick by it than to conform to something someone tells you to just cause it's conveniant or because it's just what's expected of you. I believe God is a fair God, and that his nature conforms to that, not neccisarily to what people think of Him.

Answer 8

It may sound unfair but:
A murder, rapists, child molester, can not receive redemption in the flesh, and the longer they live the worse it becomes for them!
other than that one must accept Christ (not just mouth the words).

I don't think many at the end of life will have the opportunity to, or understand how, to ask for forgiveness and accept Christ.

In real life it works out

Answer 9

It's not, haven't seen what they are trying to do and what they have always tried to do with rhetoric like this. It is an attempt to justify their beliefs by trying to get other to believe through fear of the unknown. This is one of the most appalling miss-use of faith that I have ever seen, and is the reason it cause so much hostility between human kind. If all they did was preach love and peace I would have way more respect for it.

Answer 10

uncertain what you recommend "honest". honest relies upon on what her husband's income became, I recommend he's a wealthy guy, possibly does not omit $50M yet regularly in a divorce the money is going for the new child. a woman gets alimony provided that she had no income or activity of her own and Heather does have a profession of her own. yet possibly their tax equipment might take a million/2 of that, and that i do no longer understand if $25M might save that new child interior the form she is familiar with (possibly had a extensive residing house, nanny, outfits, toys, training, transportation) and that i'm particular McCartney might choose his new child to maintain residing in luxury. i'm uncertain if the courts might enable Heather to revisit the court docket if her new child necessary extra or no longer. i might think of definite. i understand Heather asked for extra funds, and have been given much less. She wanted extra protection for her and her daughter.