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My understanding is I just have to declare out loud that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and get my head wet, right?

I've been an atheist all my life, so of course I don't actually believe that there is a god, or that jesus' death had anything to do with me, if he was even a real person. The whole concept is so silly that the only way I could actually think it was factual is if I suffered brain damage from a massive head injury, or possibly a 2-year bender.

But as many Christians have pointed out on this site, there's no way to know for sure until you die, and then it might be too late. So I'm going to "play it safe", just like they suggested. I just want to make sure I'm doing it correctly. Is there anything else I need to do in order to hedge my bet about the afterlife?

2006-09-04 03:56:57 · 32 answers · asked by abram.kelly 4 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Hey, I'm just trying to follow Christians' advice. They keep using the argument that we have nothing to lose by being Christian, and so we "might as well," just to be safe. So that's what I'm trying to do. How come now I'm getting all this hostility, when I'm only trying to do what you told me to do?

2006-09-04 04:11:01 · update #1

32 answers

what's funny here is that this Q&A really proves how ridiculous Pascal's Wager truly is. Here you have someone willing to act on such a wager and of course they are uniformly told that it doesn't make a bit of difference.

I hope anyone who answers here never uses that absurd Pascal Wager's betting argument in defense of Christianity, since as you have stated yourself, it doesn't matter what you actually do or say, since God would know your reasoning (in this case, hedging a bet), such a gamble couldn't possibly get you into heaven.

This leaves all you prosthelizing Christians with the reality that you actually have to prove your religion if your going to save someone and get them to believe (something that nobody has been able to prove to me in all my years on this planet despite countless attempts from numerous people I've known).

2006-09-04 04:17:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

What you see is not as real as God. What you see should prove to you there is a God. If you try and tell me we just became without a Creator then you need to go rethink some things. Ask any athiest how the whole universe came about to exist and I mean every galaxy, planet and star, also the ones still being created. Ask how the earth has one set speed it is to turn and one set speed to rotate around the sun. Also the sun is just at the right distance for life to be sustained here on earth which includes billions of diverse lifeforms (That according to athiests just popped out of nowhere or crawled out of the Ocean). Is it all just coincedence? Also ask them to get an empty mason jar and set it in their house somewhere and go back to the jar 20 or 30 years later or more if needed and see whats in it..........you know what would be in it? Still nothing. You have to have a Creator and it upsets the athiests. Also, it's easy for anyone to call themselves an athiest when life is good and you have your health but there is coming a day when death will be knocking at your door and that's when you see just how much of an athiest you really are.
Also for the big bang theory supporters........where did the material that went bang come from and the energy to make it go BANG? I'll tell you, God created it and he may have made a "BIG BANG" out of it to put it where he wanted it I won't dispute that because the Universe is still expanding. For evolution supporters, your still missing the "link" and you'll never find it. If you come up with a fossil of a man with gills and webbed feet, then we will discuss some issues but I'm sure your "missing link" will always be missing. All in all the athiests have too many questians to answer themselves that the Bible already explains. I'd rather believe there is a God and die and if there isn't I will then lose nothing but if there is a God and Creator and I've argued to people he isn't then I lose alot. Think it over friend. Are you really sure about denying God? The evidence is against you. The Bible, the only Holy written word of God explains all things past, present and future. There is no excuse for not having the knowledge, it's there.

2006-09-04 04:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by Eugene 2 · 0 1

No can do babe
but my compliments for the head start
its good to get saved-that's what concerns those who believe in someone great out there

but the problem is, no one out there really knows exactly what's life after death and even if one were dead, the strange thing is there's no answer or any clues about the promised land from them-maybe it's forbidden unless permitted so-this is possible

What i would say is,
read your bible, the koran and other scriptures cos you just would'nt know what that little spark can do.
utmost importance is to do real analytical thinking of what you read or received

be aware that what's in the holy books are mostly stories, statements that are blurish or partial transparent, directives which are mostly allegories to the real things but little concrete answers

observe and study what you see with your sincere heart
have faith and keep on believing & keep on praying in whatever you're believing real hard that you hopefully wish for an answer

and the other thing-do not judge without a concrete foundation-you'll never get a take-off

god bless if you're really sincere.
ET phone home

2006-09-04 04:52:08 · answer #3 · answered by St.Jon A 3 · 0 1

Now what if Christianity isn't the true faith, you might have put your bets on losing horse.
I suggest you convert or be saved, whatever is the term, to as many religions as you can find, who'll accept you. I'm sure the conflict of interests at the gates of heaven could be resolved. You might also have your soul reincarnated in a cat (who has 9 souls).
I vote for the great spirit of the north American plains, at least he is native, and that could be helpful with the locals.

2006-09-04 04:05:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

Being a Christian is not about "playing it safe," it's about true faith. Look around, there is no way the complexity and beauty of this world just "happened." You believe in Jesus with your "heart" as others have said, not with your head. God IS Love and so it is that your heart is where you will find Him. Jesus is knocking at your door, open the door to him and receive true life as his free gift. He does this because Jesus already died for you sins, you just need to believe it! Pretty much it's as simple as that. Others try to make it more complicated but it's not. Have failth and find a good church that preaches the WHOLE Bible and ONLY the Bible.

2006-09-04 04:40:21 · answer #5 · answered by Dave and Shirley 1 · 0 1

You have to feel that Jesus is your Saviour in your heart and soul. Just giving it lip service is not going to do it. You need to find a church that you like and schedule some study time with a preacher. Once you hear the true Word of God, I pray you will start feeling it in your heart. Then and only then will you be saved by the Grace of God. I do not believe there is such a thing as "playing it safe". God can see through the nonsense.

2006-09-04 04:03:32 · answer #6 · answered by peach 4 · 1 1

first of all you need to get yourself some knowledge. try reading a book or two. after all it's only your soul you are talking about,and wheather you will go to heaven or hell for eternity.you may not believe in God or the devil or heaven or hell, but you sound like a person that's based all your facts on what you know, but at times you will be surprised at what you think to be true vs. what really is true. even if you don't believe or read the bible, the facts have been established through history books and even encyclopedias that Jesus really did exist. that is a fact, look it up. what He did on behafe of humanity, you will have to come to that conclusion yourself, if it's true or not, but read about it. you would investigate your insurance policy or what college you wanted your child to attend or what house you might want to purchase, etc. get some knowledge on wheather you really have all your facts straight on being an atheist. why are you an atheist? have you studied the other side of the story. it might not be important to you now, but when you're on your death bed, you want to be sure you made the best decision you could make, with the information that was available to you. and answering your question, yes you can get into heaven by getting saved. but being saved only means that you have been rescued from going to hell, to pay for your sins. getting saved also means that you believe what Jesus did for you on the cross at calvary was true, that He died for you because He loves you and wants you to be with Him in heaven. so that your soul won't have to face a tortured eternity. but if you don't believe that ( like you said ) then how can you be saved, for your sake i would suggest you don't play with this subject but get some knowledge for yourself, because,clearly, your understanding is wrong.

2006-09-04 04:46:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

That won't work. It also requires you confronting the fact that you've violated God's law if you've ever lied, stolen, lusted, not put Him first, hated anyone, fornicated, or been a hypocrite (that list is not exhaustive).

If you've done those things, and God judges you by that standard on judgment day, you won't make it to heaven. He made a way for you to get to heaven, but that requires genuine repentance and trusting in Jesus as your savior.

In your question, you mentioned verbal declaration and baptism.

True salvation comes through genuine repentance and trusting Jesus.

I'm sorry, but there's still a big difference. Good luck with your atheism.

2006-09-04 04:04:21 · answer #8 · answered by ©2007 answers by missy 4 · 0 1

You might wanna actually check out the Bible...God not only sees actions but also knows the condition of the heart. You getting saved, JUST IN CASE, is of no value to you if you don't honestly have faith in God and in the importance of the ransom sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ. These are not things to toy around with. If you are seriously interested in being saved then actually seek to understand God, the Bible, and how you fit into His will. For example, check out Acts, chapter 5. Ananias and Sapphira actually outwardly DID what they should have but their hearts and motives were impure and God recognized that and struck them dead.

2006-09-04 04:08:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

You don't believe in God there for cannot believe in an after life.....so declaring that Jesus is your lord and savior and getting your head wet will, in you beliefs, do nothing but waste your time.

2006-09-04 04:04:49 · answer #10 · answered by num1accent01 4 · 0 1

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