I'm beginning to wonder if all these people really believe at all, or if they are simply following (because it's safer?). Do you believe, or do you follow?
Other thoughts?
2006-12-28 04:59:13 · 23 answers · asked by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was specifically referring to God and Pascal's Wager, but I don't see how it would matter what, exactly, the belief is in.
2006-12-28 05:02:46 · update #1
if you only believe because it's safer, i don't think that's really believing. if that's how you feel, you shouldn't call yourself a christian. the meaning of being christian has definitely been lost. very few people believe the way they should. I believe in the depths of my heart that god is real and sent his son to die for us, not because i don't want to go to hell, but because i feel it in my heart.
2006-12-28 05:03:19 · answer #1 · answered by krazy_chic6944 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sums it up. People who ask that question suggest that the reason they believe is because they're afraid of the baseball bat God has resting on his shoulder.
What they just don't get is that according to their own beliefs, not only does one have to believe in God, they have to be part of the ONE denomination that is "right". That makes the probability of "safety" so small that the odds are no different from not believing at all. Like a universe-sized raffle and picking the winning atomic particle.
2006-12-28 05:04:58 · answer #2 · answered by Scott M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, that's what we non-believers hear all the time. You better hurry up and accept Jesus because you're going to bust hell wide open otherwise! Or, a twist on Pascal's Wager, " What if you're wrong?"
If they didn't want to sell fire insurance, you'd think they wouldn't use it as an argument. It is more than likely how they came into the faith.
2006-12-28 05:10:15 · answer #3 · answered by Kallan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think people often question their faith. If people are raised in a church from an early age, they are often getting the message that becoming a non-believer or doubting can lead to trouble after death. I think people want to explore other options, but are afraid to completely leave their faith behind. Personally, I was went to church for many years as a young child. Now however, I like to believe that the earth and human existence didn't begin quite as the Bible says it did. There is something unconcious in the back of my head telling me not to completely disregard what I learned in church.
2006-12-28 05:09:09 · answer #4 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at the argument from a different standpoint for your answer. since you didnt mention "what" to believe in, lets interject a subject to believe in....Someone believe smoking is a bad thing, maybe they were a smoker before and quit, or never smoked. The believe smoking causes cancer or other health issues, suggests to a smoker to quit. The smoker says "It's not gonna happen to me" the non smoker says "Well it very well could so isnt it just safer to believe it will and stop?" That doesnt mean the non smoker really doesnt believe its a bad thing, so why would it be different if it has to do with God?
2006-12-28 05:04:26 · answer #5 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ugh, Pascal's Wager. Hate, hate, hate. It's cowardly, and it's not rigorous. How come Judeo-Christian religions are the most likely to be correct? What if the ancient Egyptians had it right? Belief isn't about playing the odds, it's about faith and conviction.
2006-12-28 05:04:09 · answer #6 · answered by random6x7 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course, the proper answer to anyone posing such a question is "No: it is not!" Unwarranted belief in anything can lead to inconvenience and possibly disaster: consider Jim Jones' followers. The question is reminiscent of Pascal's wager, which is easily refuted.
2006-12-28 05:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can "make" yourself believe.
If you're AFRAID of going to hell for nonbelief, that means that you fear hell. Hell has to exist for you to fear it. If hell exists, then heaven must as well, which means you fear God.
If you don't believe, there's no "risk" to take, because you don't believe in a God to smite you.
If God is real, paying him lipservice won't fool him.
Pascal's Wager is ridiculous. I don't think people have that much power over what they actually believe. Maybe somebody got them to say a few Hail Marys, but true belief? I don't think you can choose that.
2006-12-28 05:37:16 · answer #8 · answered by Elizabeth L J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot "Just Believe" because it is safe. An individuals' evolution shows their true intent and understanding. A person who says they believe in a religion that teaches love, and continues to be an jackass to everyone, obviously isn't a person of faith or understanding.
A person who doesn't per say had a "Faith", but is warm, caring and tolerant, shows their evolutional state of higher understanding.
Faith and the title of religion, gives no benefit to an individual, unless they understand it, and utilize its teachings to better themselves and the environment around them. Just because someone claims a specific religious faith, and attends whatever meeting requirements that faith has, but refuses to become a better person and evolve, doesn't make them any better off when the end of their corporeal life occurs. They still will be of the same evolutional state, with no significant progress being accomplished, from when they arrived to this corporeal existence.
2006-12-28 05:29:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a lot of people do believe out of fear, but we are supposed to fear God in all his love and all his glory, he is above all things. I personally try to follow but all fall short of the glory of God! I think it is safer to follow, but your heart must believe these things or it won't work. Safety isn't going to get you into Heaven!
2006-12-28 05:04:02 · answer #10 · answered by justagirl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋