a question for Athiests?

Question

Ok, before I ask this question, I want to explain that I don't mean to offend anyone here, but here goes. Ok, so what if you are right about God not being real, ok than the point of life is just to get as much fun out of life as possible, and serve others, then there would be no point for religion. But think of the flip side, what if you're wrong? Jesus is the real messiah, and God is real also, and everything stated in the Bible is true, then you guys (I'm not truly the one to say this) will probably end up in heck, if you don't change, so think about that. Now, I want to ask, why don't you guys become Christian? If you believe in no afterlife, than how in any way would becoming a Christain hurt you?

Please, I don't mean to offend anyone, so don't give me rude answers.
God bless.

oops, I accidentally posted this twice

Answer 1

You are asking people with peace of mind to give that up, accept a bunch of dogma into their lives and live in fear of a big Daddy in the sky. Doesn't sound like a good move to me!

Answer 2

I understand your position... I am atheist and I have asked myself, why not attend church and all that, 'just in case' there is a God afterall.

But if there is a god then he would know that my heart is just not in it. I feel that if I am wrong, and there really is a god, he would understand why I'd be so confused... confused as in WHY does there have to be so many contradicting religions and why are so many 'religious' people so judgemental and war-spirited (at least in my experience), why are so many people and children suffering so much? And he would also HAVE to understand how someone like me, who needs answers, realistic answers, why I'd have trouble believing in something just on faith alone. Afterall, if he is the creator, he'd have created that personality trait, wouldn't he? So how can he not understand?

I hope, 'if I'm wrong', he won't send me straight to hell, he'd be at least show some compassion so that i would have the opportunity to worship him after i know for a fact that he's real.

I hope this helps you understand where some of us atheists come from a little bit. You are right we believe in living life to the fullest, not just to have fun, but to live morally also. And we do this not for goodness itself, not for the reason to get into heaven. Actually I hold that standard for believers too... I wish more of them would do good for the sake of just 'good' and not just to get into heaven.

Thanks for asking, hope it helps! :)

Answer 3

Because I'd waste my life living a lie.

What you've just stated is a rehash of Pascal's Wager. It's quite false.

Suppose three possibilites instead: No God, Christ, Bob (who hates christians but lets everyone else in heaven).

Beliefs: X = no god, Y = Bob, Z = Christ.
Truth: A = no god, B = Bob, C = Christ
Result: Hell = -1, No afterlife = 0, Heaven = 1.

X+A=0
X+B=1
X+C=-1
Y+A=0
Y+B=1
Y+C=-1
Z+A=0
Z+B=-1
Z+C=1

Notice that my beliefs are zero-sum -- I have an equal chance of any of them getting me heaven, hell, or nothing.

But the TRUTH, on the other hand, is NOT a zero sum. No God = 0, Bob = 1, Christ = -1.

So logically, my best choice is to believe in anything *BUT* Christ.

Care to join me in worshipping Bob? No? Then why should I buy the way you phrase Pascal's Wager?

Answer 4

I find it so amazing that Christians have not yet been able to pick up the fact that Pascal's Wager does not sway atheists nor agnostics such as myself. You see the question you have asked has been beaten to death.. not only on this board but in general. Atheists and Agnostics do not feel the need for a 'safety' net.. we are secure enough in our beliefs than to keep something handy 'just in case'.

Answer 5

Do you even know what you are saying?

You are saying that you should believe a certain way just because the opposing way may be wrong.

According to that logic, what would be the harm in you becoming an atheist? After all, Christianity may be wrong.

Answer 6

If there is a God, than God hates us. I'm taking the devils side....but anybody with an intelligence has probably realized by now, that ghosts and goblins, angels and devils, don't exist. Sorry to let you down.

Answer 7

There are two aspects of belief. That which we tell ourselves we believe and that which we actually believe. We can tell ourselves that God exists, but will that really be believing? Can you force yourself to believe there isn't a God? I've argued this point many times and it sometimes falls on deaf ears, but true belief is not a choice.

Answer 8

Buddhists are atheists yet their lives still have deep meaning and purpose-God and theology isn't necessary. Worrying about metaphysics, the supernatural and an afterlife are meaningless-we can each find enlightenment here in this life without concerning ourselves with what comes after.

Answer 9

Red, there's a couple of problems with your proposal. First, it's really hard to flip from "unbelief" to "belief" in any true way. Just think of the problem you'd have if I asked you to start believing in Zeus, "just in case" he really sends people to Hades.

Also, there isn't a god worth his weight in brimstone that could be fooled into thinking you believe in him if your really DON'T believe in him. So what are we left with?

Answer 10

Do you want me to believe "just in case your God do exist"? What if you are wrong and Allah of the Muslim is God and your Jesus is a street sweeper in heaven? Why don't you become a Muslim? Would you convert, just in case? Such is the essence of religion...just in case