Hey atheists, what if you're wrong?

Question

I mean, if you're right and all the Christians are wrong nothing happens to us. But if we are right and you are wrong.... man, will it suck for you.

I know I'm going to get a bunch of smart aleck responses, but I figure at least one of you guys has put some serious thought into this question and I'd like to hear your answer.

Answer 1

Of course, we aren't wrong. But, just to play with an idea... If atheism is wrong..athiests have no fear. We live moral, good lives without the mask of self-rightousness. If there were a god, most could stand before that entity and stand unashamed of their lives. Just as many athieists live good decent lives as the believers in a god. Only those who fear they will be punished for things they are ashamed of subscribe, in fear, to religion.

Answer 2

This has been thought and rethought and rethought and it is *not* an original thought in case you thought it was.

It's called Pascal's wager and it's older than the hills.

I would rather live a life true to my beliefs and values than live a lie. Besides, would god want me if the *only* reason I believed was because it was the better alternative? Wouldn't my insincerity count against me?

This is probably the most polite response you'll get -- we've seen this Q too many times to be very patient with it any more.

psssst -- what if *you're* wrong and the Buddhists are right? Have *you* put any thought into *that*?

.

Answer 3

That's actually a pretty good question.

And I wish I knew the answer.

But atheists deny the existence of any "god" or higher power.
So none of them are really thinking that way.

To an atheist, they aren't wrong, so it wouldn't matter.
And to a christian, they're religion is not wrong either.

If you really believe in your religion, shouldn't you not even think about what would happen in the event that it was all false?

Then again, I'm neither atheist nor Christian so I could be wrong on all that.

Answer 4

ok i am going to play. So i'm status on the pearly gate and God is ideal there. First question: Is it Saint Peters day without work or are you between the few thousand different gods? God is status next to the lever for the seize door, second question: How nicely does ACME pay you? heavily, you're like a sketch personality. What am I going to assert? nicely, I see i replaced into incorrect about not believing in you. clarify to me instantly what the purpose of that perpetual tragedy replaced into? honestly, you're type of a dick in case you probably did that so that you'll play choose, jury, and executioner. by what good do you presume to face in judgement of me you genocidal psycho? i assume presently there after, ACME God might want to pull the lever, and that i might want to get to flow decrease back to being stuck with people like you....for eternity....(because that is torture.)

Answer 5

Sir, any religion that claims to be the only way to God is a lie. Just think about it with common sense and forget the bible. Doesn't the very existence of a hell go against everything that God and Jesus supposedly stand for? God does not care which road you take, or if you take no road at all.

I will not live my life in fear of an imaginary place that a spoiled childlike being would be capable of sending my soul to. It makes no sense.

Answer 6

I will feel the same way as if Zeus were real and spited me for not believing in him. This can be applied to anything really. What IF there is an atheist god that nobody knows about and when we die we answer to him. Won't you be sorry that you weren't an atheist. What if questions can be asked all day long.

Answer 7

Why will it suck for me, Andy? I can't *make* myself believe. Faith is a gift; some have it, but those who don't can't just run out and pick up a pound of it at the 7-11. I lost the ability to believe in all the trappings of religion at the age of 8 or 10. Fifty years later I have never got it back.

But if you are right, your Jesus is gentle, kind, loving, forgiving. Why would he punish me for something that is out of my control? Wouldn't he be more likely to open his arms to me and say with a smile, "You see? Andy was right and you were wrong...but you have lived a good life and you deserve your reward. Welcome home."

Answer 8

Blah blah blah Pascal's Wager. Flawed and old.

The basic premise of Pascal's Wager is even if you DON'T believe you are better off pretending that you DO just to cover your ***. This is a sad and pathetic idea and Pascal himself might not have even been serious when he came up with it.
Besides which, what 'god' would respect someone who believed in It (god) just to cover their bet? Wouldn't a god who has given you a brain and the ability to debate and contemplate respect someone who was using their brain rather than just hoping for the best outcome?

By the way, in case you thought you were a genius and thought you came up with this 'brilliant' idea:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager

Answer 9

If this is the reason you are a Christian, it's a damned poor one. I'm not a Christian, but having studied religion, I suspect that most Christians would say you'll miss heaven, too, if that's the reason you believe in Christianity.

Answer 10

You have just stated Pascal's Wager somewhat. Essentially, it states that if the Christians are wrong, then we are going to where the atheists are going. But if the atheists are wrong, and there is a God, then the Christians are going to Heaven, and the atheists are still going to where they are going, in this case, to Hell! Tsk. Tsk.