Isn't it better to believe in God or at least a god than to be an athiest?

Question

Reasoning - If an athiest is right.... both he and I will experience nothingness for eternity. If I am right, and the Bible is correct, and there is a God and salvation is real, he is going to have a very hot eternity.

Then again I guess the evolutionist and the athiest already knows everything, so what do they even defend their belief system (or lack thereof) for? I wish I knew it all too.

Answer 1

Atheists don't think that God "Might Exist." Atheists have actively and explicitly denied the existence of God. So no problem with them. Agnostics, on the other hand could consider your question more seriously. And I'm not sure exactly what "experiencing" nothingness is, it seems like sort of a contradiction in terms.

Answer 2

Okay, just to point out a few things.

You can't put everything into "Atheism" and "Every other belief system on the face of the planet." Not every religion believes that non-believers as sent to a burning inferno where they're broken on the wheel for all eternity. You say that Atheists and evolutionists are arrogant because they claim to know everything, but isn't claiming to know what happens after death equally arrogant?

And no, I'm not criticizing your faith, so please don't assume that. It just seems to be that anyone who implies that they know what the afterlife is like is pretty arrogant.

Oh, and evolutionist =/= Atheist. The theory of evolution can be reconciled with that of religion if (and only if) the Bible isn't taken literally. There are Christian evolutionists. And, also, evolutionists aren't arrogant. They're scientists, and being a (good) scientists requires a certain amount of humility.

On one level the point is conceded: a couple years back I did some research for my psychology class and I found some statistics where it stated that people who believe in one sort of deity or another are generally happier and more emotionally stable. That isn't what you're asking, I know, but it is an interesting little thing, though.

Answer 3

Pascal's wager - as many people have explained above.
The real problem with this, as far as I'm concerned, is that it can only apply to a kind of plastic faith - it does not address the real emotional reasons people hold religious beliefs. Religion is a deeper personal commitment than simply saying x or not x.

But also, think that there is nothing that says it can only be applied to the kind of God that offers salvation (Such as the Christian God, which you probably have in mind). Pascal's wager can equally be applied to the religion of the Aztecs. As you know, the Aztecs sacrificed a great number of people to Huitzilopitchli. In their belief system, this made perfect sense. Mankind only existed to provide blood to keep the sun, source of all life going. They believed if the sacrifices stopped, the sun would cease as well. So according to your logic, shouldn't we take up these sacrifices again? Just in case they were right? What's a few thousand lives a year compared to he risk the sun will cease to exist? Obviously not a lot.
Of course, you may counter the sacrifices haven't been done in many years, but again, what if this is the last year we can afford not to make them? Maybe the sun was fine for a while, but next year is the last? Then it would be only "logical" to begin capturing people and sacrificing them to Huitzilopitchli again - just in case.

Answer 4

It's not about fear, it's about understanding that for every thing we know there is so much that we don't know. I don't know if "God" is a guy with a white beard siting on clouds or if "God" is just the force that holds the universe together. But even if you believe in science more than religion, even under the theory of the "Big Bang," there was a time when there was nothingness and then suddenly the universe began. I refuse to believe that "just happened" as a random occurrence, some force lead to that, some call it "God."

But even if I am wrong, even if when I die I return to nothingness, so what, while I am alive I feel like am part of something bigger than myself, I feel like am part of the same energy that created the earth, the moon, the sun and all the stars I see at night, and even the ones I don't. If I am wrong, where is the harm in me thinking for the short time I am on earth am part of something bigger than myself.

Bottom line if there is a God those who believe in him and do good will go to haven when they die, those who don't will go to hell. And if there is no God those who did believe in God will go to nothingness and those who did not will also go to nothingness.

Answer 5

Define 'God'(?)

Is he the Christian belief of an omnipotent being, that created man? Sees all, knows all, past, present and future?

If this is true, when God created man - he already knew our future, destiny and the choices we would make. Therefore, man never had a choice at all. Our choices are only consequences of previous events, ultimately leading back to our creation - of which was God's action and he knew all along.

However, if God could not see the future: why would our creator punish us for wanting to explore a fascinating world of cultural beliefs, religions and differences; ultimately defining our unique existence in this universe?

Answer 6

I think that is a good question. I think its better to believe in something then to have nothing to believe in. Why have no feeling of happiness,joy,and personal fullfillment out of self-realisation,and maybe a better meaning.I personally am not a person of extraordinary faith,if anything I believe in a higher source,but I'm clearly not organized. I don't think either,Religion,evolutionists,or atheist have the right answers to everything,its all about personal experiences and what people want out of life.Who are we to judge what others choose to defend?

Answer 7

Considering that hell in the bible is a burning israeli trash pit used metaphorically by Jesus, the hot place you mention is an invention of later Christians who used the Jewish concept of a dark place called Sheol and added fire to scare people from worshipping with Pagan Gods who consecrated with flame (much as Jesus compares the holy spirit being a baptism of fire like John the Baptist's baptism of water). There are a lot of concepts in modern Christianity that have little or no basis in Christ or the bible, and I suggest learning the truth of Christianity. For me it strengthened my beliefs by removing the fearful bedtime stories that churches and preachers added over the years.

Answer 8

On one hand if there is a God then of course you want to believe in Him. The risk you have if there is no God, is believing a lie. But what would be worse, believing a lie or going to Hell for eternity? That is why it's better to believe in God than atheism. Here is a website with proof against evolution.http://www.rae.org/revev5.html

Answer 9

I like to believe that IF there is a(any) god(s) that they would be manevolent and understanding enough to know that we were given free will and that atheism, agnosicism, etc are just a few results of being given that intelligence and free will and that they'd be understanding enough to forgive us for not believing in them as it is a result of what the(they) gave us in the first place.

Otherwise, if there is a god(s) and they're selfish and arrogant enough to punish those who do not believe in them because they are using the free will and intelligence given to them in the first place and use it to sumise that under logic that there must not be a god(s), then that "god(s)" ceases to be righteous, manevolent, or worth worshipping anymore than Hitler.

Answer 10

You sound like you're taking Pascal's Wager, placing your bet on the come line... If there is a Heaven, you're covered, if there is no Heaven, no harm no foul....it doesn't matter anyway. Many people have chosen your route.

Myself, i'll stick with Objective Reality and will believe in Heaven and Hell when there's proof.