If I die and find out there is no Vishnu, Shiva, Shakti or any of the other forms of god, then I lose nothing. If you die and find out that Vishnu is real, then you lose everything. Wouldn't it be better to just believe and not risk it? Why don't you?
2006-09-30 08:19:16 · 14 answers · asked by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm getting the distinct impression you aren't reading the question...
2006-09-30 08:26:24 · update #1
Ah, Mira and Stephen got the point.
Heron - I was thinking more that you would have some bad Karma and end up in a lesser situation next time around. You could lose all that good Karma you racked up.
THIS IS HINDUISM, PEOPLE!!!!
2006-09-30 08:36:12 · update #2
In case you're curious, I believe in no god.
2006-09-30 08:39:13 · update #3
Hehe, yes, I decided to do that the other day. I'm going to pray to ALL the gods (in alphabetical order)....just incase =)
It's taking a REALLY long time, but hey, better safe than sorry, right?
2006-09-30 08:25:40 · answer #1 · answered by ♥Mira♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Statistically it is not worth the risk.
Most people claim that it is a 1-2 chance of 50% of being right. This is incorrect. It is actually by far statistically greater that you are wrong. Here is an analogy.
Say each religion is represented by a side on a die, for this example we will use a six sided die and say six options. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism. Now, in the flawed analogy 50- 50 that would be like saying the odds of rolling a 3 on a six sided die is 50%, you either roll the 3 or don't. This is incorrect. The actual odds are 1-6. If you applied this to all religions world wide you would end up with something like a 100 sided die. So odds of you being right are 1 in 100 or 1%. But odds are you are wrong 99% no matter what you choose.
Plus there is further risk of believing in false dichotomy. By your belief you spread misinformation and lies, this leads to the further spread of misinformation and lies. Which in my opinion makes you an jerk if you go around holding back progress.
2006-09-30 08:50:26 · answer #2 · answered by zatcsu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Hindu, and I believe in all of the above. However, I want to point out that we as Hindus do not believe that you will "lose everything" by dying in disbelief of God or His/Her many Forms. We believe in reincarnation, so if nothing else, you will get more chances. Furthermore, I personally do not think that belief alone is what is ultimately important to God. I think God cares more about your actions. Be a good person, don't cause harm to anyone. Steadily improve. These are the things that devotion to God should lead to. If they do not lead to that, then what good are they?
2006-09-30 08:30:23 · answer #3 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with Pascal's Wager (The offer you are making) is that it is not possible to start with. You are saying, why don't you just believe, just in case?
But, a person can not simply choose to believe. You have to seek out the answers to the questions you have, and then find what you feel is right. So you either do or do NOT believe in god. You can't simply choose to believe in him.
If a person could just choose, and therefore really be 'just going through the motions' thne if your god is weak enough to believe someone is really worshipping him, then he is a bigger doofus than most people think.
2006-09-30 08:31:35 · answer #4 · answered by TonerLow69 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shouldn't you then also believe in Muhammad and Jesus as well? How about Zeus, what if he is real? Maybe you should also believe in Santa Claus too, just in case your family forgets to buy you presents for christmas...?
You should also believe in the god I believe in, his name is Todd...you know, just in case I am right and you are wrong.
How about this...how about you just simply trust that God will put me on the path which God wants me to be on...that way you only have to worry about yourself and you can just let God worry about everyone else...? You do trust God to make the right decision for me don't you?
Good luck with Vishnu...I hope you are not wrong. :-)
2006-09-30 08:27:55 · answer #5 · answered by stephenjames001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is asked at least once a day and the answer remains the same. Can you just believe the Easter Bunny is real? Try real hard. The Easter Bunny can read minds though, and she can tell if you're just faking your belief for the sake of her chocolate eggs.
2006-09-30 08:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shouldn't you do what you believe is true. Whatever that may be. If you die and are faced with any God and that God is not the "one" that you were worshiping. Do you not think that God would understand your reasoning. It would be God who gave you the reasoning in the first place. I think God would understand and be fine with it.
2006-09-30 08:31:27 · answer #7 · answered by AmandaLynn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with your theory is that there are religions and beliefs that are not compatible with each other. You can't believe as a Christian and as a Jew because one believes the Messiah has come and the other does not. You can't truly believe in them all, unless you have split personalities that don't know about each other.
2006-09-30 08:28:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not a very good reason to believe. I'm a Christian, and don't believe in God "just in case", I know He exists because He has helped me and loved me my entire life. I don't just believe, I know!
2006-09-30 08:23:46 · answer #9 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same goes for the God of Christianity or any other God for that matter.
2006-09-30 08:23:59 · answer #10 · answered by Stiletto ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋