How can people believe something that is too good to be true?

Question

In my opinion, belief in an afterlife and loving God is far too much wishful-thinking to be true.

For instance, who wouldn't want to believe in a heaven, someone who always loves them, a purpose in life?
How can you believe something that is so much what you want to believe?

Yes, there are sins and hell mentioned, but it seems a pretty sweet deal to just do as God says then you get heaven, an eternity of bliss. And even hell... well, when you think about not existing at all, REALLY think about it, eternal pain doesn't seem SO bad. And most Christians I know (whether they voice it or not,) think theyre going to heaven. Least not hell.

'Angry Gay Man,' you have some very good points, and I do feel that some people really need their religion. For example, the terminally ill or the elderly (or children I suppose!) I don't knowingly (I'm unsure of people's ages, health etc here) attack anyone who would find it tough to cope without God. But for me, it is similar to a relationship with another person - if you need them to cope with life, you shouldn;t be in that relationship. People need to know how to cope alone.

Thanks for your input :)

x

Answer 1

Unfortunately people are naturally gullible.

Answer 2

Yes, the christian life is really really really easy, I mean you get to have people call your addle minded, stupid, gullible, and hateful. Boy didn't those early Christians have it easy as well? I mean getting fed to lions, beaten, and publicly executed? Man I wish I could live that life. Muslims, Jews and every other faith has suffered for their beliefs. All faiths have been persecuted. So no its not really easy to believe in God, be it the Jewish Muslim or a Christian God. As to hell, well instead of you being unknown to the rest of the world wouldn't you rather everyday everyone was told what a horrible rotten person you were and how you should be despised and hated? I mean c'mon really think about, you would be internationally known instead of just anonymous. Isn't being hated everyday of your life better then not being known at all?

Answer 3

Hebrews 11; 1 gives the def of faith as the expectation of things hoped for , the evident demonstration of ralities though not beheld. So there has to be some prior evidence for one to beleive in this. The resurections recorded in the bible are a good start.
I also agree with another answerer, it's not exactly the easiest thing in the world to follow God's commandments all the time, although if u do, your life is much better cause you reap what u sow.

Answer 4

You know the old saying: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

On the other hand, belief in an afterlife gives people something to hope for, when faced with things like:
--- Loss of loved ones.
--- All of the injustice in the world - poverty, cruelty, suffering.

It's definitely easier for people to accept death of their loved ones if they believe in an afterlife. For some, the loss would otherwise be unbearable.

I do not know that there is an afterlife, but I do have hope that it exists. If I understand your point of view, though, it seems to me that you believe in putting an emphasis on the here and now instead of hoping for something you find improbable. And I have no problems with that. In fact, I think it can be a healthy way to view life in as much as it reminds you to live your life with purpose, and to the fullest. After all, if we only get one shot at this, let's make the very best of it.

Answer 5

Would you rather believe we are evolved from millions of years of retardation of species?
It just goes with the package, if you believe in God, then you take the whole God package. Why would you believe one part of the Bible and not another. If you haven't experienced God then I can't really explain it to you, your Christian friends think they are going to heaven because they have the blessed assurance that Jesus died for them and they've been forgiven for their sins. If there is no such thing as God, then there isn't anything that is a sin because that again is a concept in the whole package of God.

Answer 6

If it seems like a pretty sweet deal, why don't you just do it? Don't you see how you've answered your own question. God gave us these blessings and the choice for an afterlife, and you are not willing to sacrifice to receive it. It's not just wishful thinking, it's work and faith and believing in things that others put you down for. If it was so easy, everyone would do it.

Answer 7

Well as a christian my self, id say that your question/statement is preety demanding. Im sorry you cant see the glorious things that god has to offer you. Jesus really does love you wether you believe it or not. Any time you have been through something and it didnt end up being so bad, that was god that stepped in. Foreal! That was actually him! Even if you dont believe anything im saying. Just know that he is reall.

Answer 8

Infomercials and those ads in the back of magazines promising weight loss without diet or exercise thrive on it.

The church just discovered this human failing first. Religion is the ultimate Multi Level Marketing scam.

Answer 9

yes, we are suppose to follow God's commandments & yes we fail that's why Jesus died on the cross so that
if we believe in him as our savior & repent to him of our sins then our sins are forgiven & we can start a new.
He paid the price , nothing we can do can repay him for what he did for us, his gift is for free all we have to do
is repent & take him as our savior.
It's up to us if we have the faith or not & that's all there
is to it.

Answer 10

I agree that it is a ridiculous thing to believe in. I was raised Catholic and from a very young age I can remember thinking that the whole thing was preposterous, and thinking that anyone that could believe in it was lacking any kind of rationale. I think people mostly believe becuase it IS scary to think that when you die it's all over and they just want something else to cling to.

Answer 11

God offers us eternal life it is entirely up to us whether we accept His gift.