If you believe that a god might possibly exist then you ought to be wracked with fear that you chose the wrong one, or that you chose the right one but failed to worship him correctly, or that you thought a naughty thought, or committed some other error that you might not even know about, and are destined to spend eternity being tortured in whichever version of Hell turns out to be the right one.
If you don't live in terror of such an eventuality then it's reasonable for us atheists to conclude that you don't really believe that gods can be real, any more than we do... isn't it?
2007-03-07 10:30:00 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Miranda: How do you know that you picked the right god? There are hundreds to choose from. You think you just *happen* to have been born in a society that *happens* to have the One True Religion? What are the chances of that?
2007-03-07 10:35:19 · update #1
Sunshine: But you don't know anything of the sort. Maybe the real god is completely unlike anything that people have written about him. Maybe you chose the wrong god entirely.
2007-03-07 10:36:45 · update #2
Bob T: No, you don't know that. Maybe Islam is the right religion and you're going to be tormented in Allah's version of Hell for all eternity because you didn't become a Muslim.
2007-03-07 10:38:05 · update #3
Typical: Cheers.
2007-03-07 10:39:00 · update #4
your right I dont know. So what?
I will do the best I can as a person. If I turn out to be wrong so be it.
If I live my life in constant fear of what might be then I really will not be living at all.
2007-03-07 13:03:38 · answer #1 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't live in that kind of fear.
I honor the Divine in a way that pleases me, that benefits my community, and that makes sense to me. I follow the religion I chose with spiritual, emotional, and intellectual integrity. I try to treat my fellow human beings -- and the world around me -- with thoughtfulness and compassion.
If there is a Deity, I believe that that Deity is able to see into my heart and mind, and that if any judgement is to take place, that Deity will judge me according to the elements of my character.
In the religion I follow, there is no concept of "Hell" -- it is generally believed that if Gods exist, those Gods will welcome all people into a blessed afterlife regardless of their individual beliefs. We also don't believe that sexuality is a sin, so there's not that much concern about "naughty" thoughts.
The point I'm making is that not all religions fit inside the neat little box you've constructed for the purposes of your argument. What you say makes a certain amount of sense, but just doesn't apply within the context of some belief systems.
But to run with it for a moment... yes, it's possible that I'm worshipping the wrong God. However, all I really have to go on is my best reasoning and intuition, and I have followed those. To do otherwise would be dishonest, and I can't seriously believe that any God worth honoring would respect that.
2007-03-07 10:41:02 · answer #2 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, isn't that the point of religion? Whe people talk about how good god is, they are talking about what they think he is like. However, when talking about how to behave, god suddenly takes on a jealous and vengeful nature. Hopefully this duality will become more noticed as people learn that God could never exist as written in the bible. For instance, the fact that people believe that Hell exists immediately shows the fallibility of God. Many people fail to contemplate the length of time "an eternity" in hell actually is.
2007-03-07 10:34:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have to find the mean between *smug presumption* (which will damn a person if they have fallen into that trap), and *abject terror* of making the wrong move or being lost (which is a failure to trust in the goodness of God who will not overburden us and will see to our salvation as long as we do not put up any deliberate obstacles to that such as bad will)|
The mean is a healthy fear that we might not make it, that does not exclude joy and cheerfulness and a generally happy life|
That is the message of the Bible|
If you look at anything in life important that we endeavor to do, there is always a kind of fear that something will go wrong| That is not pathological, that is simply life| It is the mature person who is able to handle it|
---
2007-03-07 10:42:37 · answer #4 · answered by Catholic Philosopher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe in God, my God, and no I don't live in constant fear .If you believe in God, you can feel Gods presence, he can guide and lead you.
And the God I serve is a merciful God, and his mercy is suffient, so if I have done something wrong I can ask for forgivness, and not do it again, and God will forgive me.
As far as Hell goes, Well hell is for Satan and his imp's, so therefore God does not want the humans that he created to be cast there, all that God wants is your Love and Devotion, but if you fefuse his love you can be cast in the lake of fire.
Since you are Atheist you think I'm a quack, who has been brain washed, so whats the point of trying to convince you, But in case you are interested if you look at the major figure heads of the bible you will find that these men had many faults and sinned but that God was forgiving of those sins just as he is to ours
2007-03-07 10:45:59 · answer #5 · answered by kathy h 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I do not live in terror because I know that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to take the penalty for my sins. If that were not the case, I should live in terror for what eternity holds for me. I know that I am a Christian. I know that I am not perfect, just forgiven, and, because of that, I do not need to be overcome with guilt and fear.
Your assumption that God is not merciful is not correct.
2007-03-07 10:35:50 · answer #6 · answered by Bob T 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No...
I'm able to LIVE my life as comfortable as possiable, because I try following the teachings of my religion as much as possiable.
AND... if there's something I can't do, or that I do by mistake, then I know that God is a Merciful, and Forgiving.
Simple as that.
Peace.
Edit:
Seems like you seriously want to know... why not contact me and we'll descuss this?
2007-03-07 10:34:58 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Total opposite. I have peace because Jesus paid my debt for me. All my sins, past, present and future, have been nullified via the cross. As for whether or not I have chosen the right God. I have explained that here...
http://schnebin.blogspot.com/2006/05/gods-word-proven.html
2007-03-07 10:41:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those of us who are religious should not live in terror if we worship a gracious God Who does not require us to always get things right; 'salvation' is not dependent upon our actions, but upon Who He is.
2007-03-07 10:36:21 · answer #9 · answered by djkinsaul1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but you are totally wrong. Trusting in God gives you freedom from fear. It's the people that haven't called upon the Lord and accepted him as their Lord and Savior that need to be afraid..
Asker: I have a Bible that has been proven to have been around for a very, very long time.. It was inspired by God himself, and in it, he tells me that He is the only true God. We are to believe this by faith, and I would bet my life on it. And anyone who chooses not to believe it is betting their lives on it as well..
2007-03-07 10:33:37 · answer #10 · answered by Miranda 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋