Why do so many people fall for the old "if God exists and I don't believe in him, I go to hell, but if God doesn't exist and I believe in him I lose nothing" line?
Didn't it ever occur to anyone that if you are making your choices in this life based on imaginary demands and threats of God, and there is no God, you just messed up your one and only life? I'd say that's losing something!
2007-02-01 13:59:00 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How could it mess up your life?
I know people who stay in loveless or abusive marrages, are afraid to listen to any music or read books that their pastor doesn't OK, can't have a conversation that isn't evangelization; break up with people they love, are afraid to use their imagination, think about some ideas, enjoy sex, even people who are afraid to enjoy anything in this world because they are afraid God doesn't want them too.
Now imagine, for a moment, that this life is all you have. If it's everything you have, it IS your eternity; don't you want to make the most of it?
2007-02-01 14:24:03 · update #1
I don't worry about what may or may not please god. I don't believe in that.
2007-02-01 14:02:18 · answer #1 · answered by **brainy licious**J;-D 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Pascal's wager:
"If god exists, it's infinitely better to believe, since you get heaven instead of hell for eternity. If he doesn't, it doesn't matter since you're dead anyway. So overall it's better to believe"
This is, of course, false.
Some of the problems with the argument:
* The implied assumption that god may exist (with a 50% probability, no less!)
* The assumption that there is an afterlife with a heaven and hell
* The assumption that the god cares about belief in him/her above all else
* The assumption that if you believe in a god, it will definitely be the same god that actually exists.
* The assumption that you lose nothing if it's false. You have lost a great deal, from time praying to a nonexistent entity (somebody mentioned just today praying several hours a day!!!) to morality (your god may ask you to hurt other people) and much more besides.
* The assumption that people can believe in something simply because it benefits them. Would you believe goblins exist for twenty bucks? Why not?
* The assumption that any god won't see through the "believing just to get into heaven" ploy.
For more:
http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/wager.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theism/wager.html
2007-02-01 14:17:42 · answer #2 · answered by eldad9 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Those people you listed don't know who God is. They listen to their pastor!! Which means they don't have a one-on-one relationship with God. God gave humans free will. Which means they think and choose on their own not what some pastor tells them is right. People should research many religions, many beliefs and than decide on what they want, the way they want to continue to live their life. God is good. Everything God wants is peaceful. The ten commandments are not bad things..
Premarital sex is wrong because people lose respect for you.
This doesn't mean you can't enjoy sex with your husband or wife. It means you should not have sex before marriage because it doesn't do you any good. That's why we have more sexually transmitted diseases out there because people have more sexual partners. Unwanted underage pregnancies, women being called sluts and whores..for this very reason. It's also self-respect. Having sex with anyone and everyone you want means gaining unwanted reputation. Losing guys's respect.
Other things God doesn't want you to do like stealing (which is because you didn't earn it. someone else worked for it..) hate, wrath, jealousy, greed, etc...are all bad for the heart. It closes the heart and you become more distant to life..you don't enjoy it.
Murder is bad for obvious reasons. What could someone do that you can't overcome and start over that you may want to kill them? Murder is just horrible. I don't think I need to explain further why God doesn't want you to do this.
As you can see nothing God commands you to do is to your disadvantage. So if you lived like this to come to find out there is no God, what would you be missing out on that's worthy?
God doesn't tell you to stay with someone who is abusive or who you are unhappy with!
God wants you to be happy.
Everything other than these are people forcing their opinions, traditions and beliefs on you.
May you be at peace my friend.
By the way, this is the very reason I find religions shady. I think the best thing is to have one on one relationship with God and Jesus because that is from the heart. Keep the ten commandments for they are God's word..the rest is up to you.
2007-02-01 15:00:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dear Isweeden, You attack the statemnt but give a very false premise in support of your view. number one, are you 110% sure there is no God? Science has shown we know less than 1 millionth of all the knowledge in the universe, there is no pssible way that we can know for sure that there is no evidence for God.
Since you and I cannot know all the evidence in the universe, it is very possible that evidence exists that proves God's existence, or at least supports his existence. therefore it is posible God exist, therefore faith has a place, and that ideals such has heaven and hell, should be considered. therefore, until you find 100% proof, there is no God, we can reason about God from probabillity, hence, pascals wager is very rational, and I should mention, that since you cannot prove 100% that there is no God, you would be an atheist but an agnostic. But God has not left us to guess if he exist, or guess about what he expects from us. God is revealed thru creation, conscinece the Bible an the testimony of jesus christ life death and ressurection.
God Bless
Apostle
2007-02-01 14:20:19 · answer #4 · answered by Rated J for Jesus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible has something to say about these people! It states that "only the fool has said in his heart that there is no God" The Lord holds all men accountable and there is no escape from the Judgment of the Lord. Its like death, we cant evade it as it claims everyone some day. The Lord has declared man to be without excuse as the very creation every where testifies of his existance.
2007-02-01 14:09:58 · answer #5 · answered by mandbturner3699 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Bias number one...
Mine = There is a God
Yours = there is no God (imaginary).
Bias number two.
Mine=there is no way any human being can NOT mess up many times. No perfect person ever born except Jesus Christ.
Yours = Gotta be good...gotta be good or God'll GET me!
Bias number 3.
Mine=Christ knows we will not be sinless and that we are born in need of being saved from ourselves and took care of it for anyone who wants to be saved.
Yours=The threat on your eternal exhistence comes from God and not us.
You won't understand why christians say these things until you resolve the different biases that both of us come from. I don't see it any way close to what your describing so there is no common ground for discussion. God bless.
2007-02-01 14:06:17 · answer #6 · answered by sheepinarowboat 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
If there is a god like this, then it is stuiped. A god should let a human enjoy their only chance in life. If someone is in any religion like this, then they are waisting their time. Come and join the dark side, I have cookies.
2007-02-01 14:55:27 · answer #7 · answered by Obnoxious Vampire 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Did it ever occur to you that if you are making your choice against God and He does exist that you are losing badly and your life is worth nothing? I'd rather take my chances for believing in God than not to.
2007-02-01 14:03:03 · answer #8 · answered by free 1 indeed 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Does it really matter what we think? We need to be in tune with what God thinks.
I am happy serving God he has changed my life. I would rather devote my life and find he doesn't exist than not and end up in an eternity of hell. Wouldn't you?
God is God don't be fooled.
2007-02-01 14:04:58 · answer #9 · answered by Harley Moma 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If I am wrong about salvation through Jesus Christ, I die, and it was not the truth; then the worst that happens to me is that people might remember me as a pretty good guy. Nothing lost or gained.
But, if I'm right, I live eternally in bliss. The unbeliever will regret their choice for eternity, which is so terrible, I can't even begin to imagine.
Besides, I know Him, and know His voice.
2007-02-01 14:05:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Hum: I would just put it the opposite way you just did. Didn't it ever occur to you that if you don't believe in God you may have messed up your one and only chance to be returned to his glory and kingdom and you will have to live in a lesser kingdom?
2007-02-01 14:08:28 · answer #11 · answered by saintrose 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋