What if I am wrong?

Question

To all the nonbelievers...I am a Christian, I am saved and know when I die, I am going to Heaven.

But, to those of you that believe in nothing, or that we just die and that is it...WHY? I mean I think it is sad to think you live in this world, try to be good, and then...BOOM! That's it...it is just all over. There is no reward for your life. You just die.

Well if you are right, then I guess I have nothing to loose!

But, if we (Christians) are right, then what are you risking?

Wow, I am being blown away by the number of intelligent answers I am getting....kinda proving my point!

FORGIVE ME...I am new here, so be nice about the whole 'it's been asked' . I thought the point here was to ask questions...

Answer 1

Hi Hotmamma,

I am a 'non-believer' and a non-Christian. While we are on different ends of this religion thing your question spoke to me and I wanted to respond so that you can better understand the other side.

Faith is a wonderful thing, very much like love. But like love, you are either in it - or you are not. And there isn't much that can be done externally to change that. Sure, you can be courted, enticed, tempted, persuaded, convinced, on and on and on. But in your heart - in your core - its either there or it isnt.

Much the same with faith. You can be courted, enticed, tempted, persuaded, and then preached to, warned, threatened, welcomed and on and on and on. These are but a few of the tactics plied when religion tries to convert someone.

But at the core and in the heart, its either there or it isnt.

You are asking me to just believe so that I can be saved, despite there is no faith or belief in the same god you do.

This is akin to me asking you to just love someone, when in your heart it just isnt there.

To just proclaim a belief and a faith when its not there is a lie to myself, the world, and really a cheapening of religion.

Faith can be a beautiful thing. It sustains, it nourishes, it heals, it carries, and it provides joy.

But it can't just be manufactured out of fear of the unknown (what happens after death).

You may be right that there is a God and you will go meet him/her/it when you die. I realize that your faith makes you certain of this. That is a beautiful and comforting realization.

But I don't believe that and I don't share your faith. I think there is just as great a chance that you will be staring at God and he'll ask you why you didn't choose another denomination that had the "true" ticket to heaven (reference any number of protestant or Catholic faiths), or staring at a God who asks you why you accepted Jesus as his son when that clearly wasn't true (Judaism), or staring at a God who asks you didn't accept and follow the teachings of Muhammed (Islam), or staring into Nirvana (Hinduism) or even being reincarnated (Bhuddism). All of these religions (and many I have not mentioned) have millions on millions who were just as sure as you that they had the ticket to "heaven". What makes you so right and they wrong. I know the answer for you is faith, but their faith was and is just as strong and compelling. So who is right, or can you all be right?

Or what if you just die and there's nothing. Pop - its over.

I guess we all really know when we die - then we get to find out what's on that other side for sure.

But I can't just proclaim something that's not in my heart and isnt real. That would be a lie to myself and the world.

I have enjoyed answering your question - very thought provoking. I hope you will take my response with the sincerity and respect it was intended. Thanks!

Answer 2

Life is reward enough. Seeing the wonder of nature is more than enough to make me glad I got to live, even if it had been only for 10 seconds of seeing the beauty of the world. If you are a mother (as your name implies), I'm surprised you even have to ask what reward there is in life.

As for the second part, what have you got to lose, this question must be expanded to include all other religions, not just no religion. If the Hindus are right, we may both have much to lose. If the Greeks were right, we might both be in a lot of trouble.

However, even if the only options are Christian God or no God, then you stand to loose what seems to be your only reason for living - heaven, and I stand to lose nothing, as I expected no more after this life anyway.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

No offense intended but... you sound like my 7 year old son. Why should he do his chores unless I reward him with something? Isn't being a part of this family and taking part in our daily activities reward enough?

I do what is right in life because it's the right thing to do. I try to do good by others, not steal, not cheat on my spouse, not hurt others, contribute to society, help when needed, etc., not because I'm promised some eternal reward or threatened by some eternal fire, but because, merely by being human here on this earth, it's the right thing to do. Period.

I have nothing to lose... if I'm wrong, I'm wrong. So be it. I'm not going to go to church and pretend to believe just so I can hedge my bets on God existing. I'm pretty sure he'd know I'm a fraud if I did that.

I honestly believe we are born, we live the best life we can (and I mean best toward others as well as ourselves) and then we die... nothingness. Living a good and moral and ethical life is its own reward.

Answer 5

So are you saying that you live your life just because you think you get a reward in the end? That to me is more sad that just dying.
I have already had so many rewards in my life.
And not to be rude, but your question has been asked on here already, numerous times. It's called Pascal's wager...and it's not good for much other than a drink.

Answer 6

Well, I know there's more to life than death. And as for a reward? I have my reward now. Not only do I fulfil my purpose in this life, but I am surrounded by my beautiful and loving friends, and family. What more could a man ask for than to live with purpose, and be so loved?

Answer 7

YES! I get to drink before noon! Thank you pretty lady, I love you!

Okay, that wager is from Mr. Pascal. It's quite fallicious, as it [and to be very simple] assumes too much. First of all, are you fully sure belief is all that is required? Your Satan seems to beleive, and he appears to b going to Hell. Also, which god? I have gods, why is it only your god in the idea?

See. I hope that clears up how that argument is bad.

By-the-by, in case you don't know, this question comes up a lot here, so we started a drinking game.

Answer 8

Oy vey. No matter what anyone says to the contrary, we can have nothing BUT beliefs about what happens when we die.

Your belief paints you a rosy picture. Mine may not.

I just don't see the point of making something up to feel better about death (which I don't feel especially bad about in the first place).

But I think the real issue here is - you (and others) just cannot comprehend why we don't believe in your god.

We've explained over and over and over, but it just doesn't compute, and I doubt it ever will.

I think this may very well be my last post ever on this subject. I've about had it with the noncomprehension. It's pointless.

Answer 9

The answer is any god that is all powerful could spot your even 1 millisecond doubt for not accepting, and as for someone that was just pretending, he should spot them from within a crowd of a billion people. So Pascal's wager is ridiculousness,

and DRINK!

Answer 10

Christ demands belief to go to heaven.
It's kind of odd he would require something people like me can't give-belief.
If I faked belief in an all-mighty, it would be just as big a waiste of time- it wouldn't be real and I wouldn't get the reward. People who believe think it's so easy everone sould do it.