Christians fear Hell. Atheist's don't consider hell a possibility at all. Is Heaven debatable?

Answer 1

I think I should just point out that there is nothing inherent in atheism that is against an afterlife. Atheism is strictly a position about the existence of God or gods. Perhaps there is no God, but nonetheless, everyone has some kind of consciousness that can exist without a body. There could be a nonsupernatural basis for this, because not all atheists are pure materialists. Some believe that there is a real difference between mind and matter, so it is theoretically possible that minds live on after death. Perhaps minds don't even live forever after death, but only live on for several years afterwards.

So, an afterlife is possible for atheists. But what about a heaven and hell? Why would we be rewarded or punished according to deeds if there is no deity watching our every move? Well, again, perhaps there are natural laws governing this behavior. Think of it like this: if you throw a ball up into the air, it will inevitably fall back down. It will reach a height proprortional to the force you put into the throw, and will fall at a rate proprotional to its height and the force of gravity. All of this happens naturally, because of the laws of gravity. So perhaps there are natural forces that we are not able to detect ordinarily that work so that whenever you do something immoral, like kill someone, it naturally inclines your soul, or mind, towards an unpleasant afterlife. And perhaps it's the opposite with good deeds, so that, like the inexorable forces of gravity, they propel you towards a pleasant afterlife.

A lot of this may seem like wild speculation on my part, but the ideas have been explored long before. What I described above should sound similar to the idea of karma in many Eastern religions. But not all forms of Eastern religions involve belief in a deity, and are thus atheistic. One of the major forms of Buddhism, for example, Theravada Buddhism, believes in the laws of karma without belief in a deity. This was also true for one of the ancient schools of Hinduism, the Samkhya school, although I'm not sure if that's true for the school today. Finally, there is Jainism, a little-known ancient religion dating back thousands of years that is still practiced by a small number today. Many Jains do not believe in any gods, but they still provide an explanation for why some experience a pleasant or unpleasant afterlife in terms of weight. Whenever we do any kind of harm to any being, even the tiniest insect, it makes our soul heavier. If our souls are too heavy, they sink down into something like hell. If they are completely free of impurities, they will rise like a balloon into something like heaven. The only way to redeem past injustices is to burn away the impurities through extreme fasting and complete abstinence from sex.

Now, it is true that what I have described is not entirely accurate. Many Eastern religions, though not all, have a belief in reincarnation rather than an afterlife like that of Christianity. But it is a small step from karma causing a pleasant reincarnation to karma causing a pleasant afterlife. Atheism in the West has been strongly associated with opposition to Christianity, so many people do not believe that atheism is compatible with an afterlife. However, western atheism is not the only variety out there.

Answer 2

easily in the course of the crusades they were slaughtering different Theists besides the actual shown reality that some Atheist might want to have fallen the following and there. Theists are quite apt at killing different theists because they don't look to be the right variety of theist. Atheists basically variety of keep to themselves drawing a low profile as they stay their existence. If one kills they don't look to be christian. If on judges they don't look to be christian. in the adventure that they coach hate in course of their fellow guy they don't look to be christian. Hell will be crowded with those who call themselves christians. Atheists have more effective powerful events than sit down for an eternity in this frail and incorrect for in both hell or heaven. imagine about it!

Answer 3

Pointless to fear hell when we are already in it. We might do better just seeking out the stairway to Heaven rather debate upon it. If heaven is a state of mind then search the mind. If it's dimensional seek the spiritual ruler to pinpoint its precise location. If it doesn't exist then we are in hell forever.

Answer 4

Christians generally don't fear hell unless they've committed a mortal sin (hell being an absence of God, heaven being in the presence of God). You've answered your own question by highlighting the groups that take up opposing sides in the argument of 'is there a God'. If there is, heaven is likely, if there isn't, then our cognitive funtions cease for all eternity, i.e. no heaven.

Answer 5

Atheists encourage scientists to do what they want.

Hell is just a state of world death. Like the flu pandemic of 1917. Like AIDs, which some think was a CIA weapon gone bad.

I'm all for science poking around. But I'd like them to do it on the Moon or Mars. Not on the Earth. Not without HUGE oversight.

Can you imagine science splicing GENES and something going wrong and some Sci Fi movie like Resident Evil becoming REALITY.

Wouldn't that qualify as HELL.

Answer 6

Christians fear hell because they are taught what it is all about. Heaven is for real. It is easy to get there if one wants to accept Jesus and follow the ways of God, although temptation and sin is always a problem for some.

Answer 7

this atheist believes that both heaven, hell, and indeed the very concept of a human soul are nonsense. But of course, everything is up for debate: as soon as your theories leave no room to be falsified (i.e. they become dogmatic truth) you have left the path of science.

Answer 8

ALL facts are debateable, but is there a point to debating the truth?
Other than to kill time?

And Christians don't fear Hell. Jesus has taken us out of Hell, which was once our destination. We fear Hell for others. Thats why the "shoving it down the throat thing" We love and want best for others. Most dont know how to do it properly. Most CHristians should take a course on how to deal and talk with non CHristians. I was blessed by being an atheist for 28 years, I know how they talk. Alot of Christians have been brought up in church and have no idea. They make good worshippers, but horrible evangelists.

Bless you
David T

Answer 9

Everyone wants to go to Heaven but No one wants to die. I am a master debater so I say yes.

Answer 10

Heaven isn't so much debatable as it is ridiculous-able. What would that debate be like, "there is no Heaven" (yes there is, and I'm going there) "your mom goes to heaven"...