I mean even if there turns out to be no God ... then what's the harm? But if there is, the non-believers will face the negative consequences.
2007-01-01 16:42:09 · 41 answers · asked by GlitznGlamour 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This has come up in many arguments, it's loosely called Pascal's Wager. Where the assumption is made that if you believe in god and you're right you're rewarded while if you don't believe and you're wrong then you get punished.
There are a few...err..many flaws in this argument. You make the assumption that you think god cares if you believe in him or not. What if God does care about the belief in him or any sort of savior but to live a full life? Second assumption is that you make is you pick between the 'right' god and no god. What if you worship the Christian God but the real god is actually Zeus and you still get punished anyways. So whats the point? Also under this assumption you believe that belief in god out of fear is a true belief. What if god wants to believed if he was real but not just because you fear his wrath? Then what?
2007-01-01 16:48:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If there is no God, and I have yet to speak with a burning bush, or been given any EVIDENCE to the contrary (other then my own natuarl curiosity toward death) then live is too short to to spend time worshipping him.
I live my life making very informed and humanitarian decisions. I try to be the most productive and compassionate person reason will allow. I give respect when it is warranted and the opposite when deserved. I believe that immortality can only come from being remembered once you are gone. In short I live a good life, no god needed.
So why would I waste my precious few years on this planet scrutinizing every little move I make when I can have as much fun as I want and still be a good person.
Besides, with a God that either sends suicide bombers to paradise and his victims to hell, or damns homosexuals while forgiving murders, I have only one thing to say...
"Better to reign in Hell then serve in Heaven"
John Milton
Paradise Lost
2007-01-01 16:52:23 · answer #2 · answered by gatewlkr 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What's the harm?
Well....
Ask the several million souls that have been slaughtered by the followers of a "loving god", ie. the Crusades, Inquisition, the Burning Times in Europe, the Witch Hunts in the New World, the annihilation of many indigenous cultures throughout the world, the wars fought over ignorant savages not knowing enough to know what they should be believing, .....shall I go on?
2007-01-01 17:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by yomama 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I won't say atheists are extra helpful than Christians, or vice versa. some all human beings is happier while they have policies needless to say laid out for them, and others don't experience the will for such issues. that is all stable. I in undemanding terms have a situation while Christians initiate claiming that atheists can not probable be ethical if we don't proportion their concept in God. because of the fact that is only not real, and a Christian who surely knew an common atheist could understand that is not real.
2016-12-15 06:41:14 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ugh... can't you guys see that this Pascal's Wager argument is tiresome and applies to EVERYONE so it's pointless?
Christians, what if YOU'RE wrong and some other religion and their god is right and you'll go to THEIR Hell?
Same exact thing.
And anyway... atheists can't MAKE themselves believe in your god or any god any more than we can make ourselves believe in unicorns and dragons.
What's the harm in believing? Time wasted going to church, worshipping to a non-existent being, being moral so you won't be punished (shame on you), preaching to others, living in a delusion, etc.
Why believe in something that has ZERO evidence of being real?! The probability of your god, ANY god existing is SO low that it's ridiculous to even debate whether there is a god or not. We might as well debate if there's an invisible 60 ft. tall man whispering into my ear right now.
2007-01-01 16:51:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you were God, would you let people pass into paradise when the only believed in you just to save their own skins? God requires love and from that comes obedience. I'm not Christian, but even I would have to say that your logic is flawed because more than just belief is required.
The most important commandment was "To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might."
Does it sound like people follow that when they say "Might as well believe because I don't want to go to hell?"
2007-01-01 16:49:58 · answer #6 · answered by Gothic Shadow 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
See Pascal's Wager for the answer to this.
In the mean time - why don't you become a Hari Krishna? After all there is a possibility that they are right and if they are then any sane person would want to be with them. Right?
I said that just to make a point. Which of the 10,000 religions or 30,000 Christian denominations should we pick?
2007-01-01 16:46:04 · answer #7 · answered by Alan 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No. I will be proud of functioning morally and ethically out of strength of character rather than a fear of punishment. If there were a god that didn't respect that I wouldn't want to spend eternity with that type of evil being. If, however, there is a truly loving god I will be rewarded for who and what I am. If there is no god, I die with pride and dignity. Not believing is the best choice for me. The most logical as well.
2007-01-01 16:55:18 · answer #8 · answered by Sketch 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I BELIEVE in being honest about my thoughts and beliefs. I BELIEVE in living my life in a way that respects life and the world that I live in. I BELIEVE that it is most important to be a good person, love my family and friends, and not do bad things, but do good things. If I am to be judged badly (your just in case theory) because I chose not to live my life in fear of what may happen when I am dead......then so be it.
2007-01-01 16:56:41 · answer #9 · answered by catywhumpass 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For thousands of years humanity has been dominated by believers, as it is now. And for the majority of that time we have suffered from the restrictions of a faith in an all powerful God. It wasn't until we stopped assuming God was responsible for everything that we found cures for diseases, understood physics, and engineered the world around us. No medical cure or technical advancement came from prayer.
2007-01-01 16:47:22 · answer #10 · answered by One & only bob 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋