Okay, so I'm an atheist and I die. To my great surprise, I was wrong. So which will happen?

Question

1) God will be so disgusted at my disrespect and arrogance that he will bitterly "write me off", refuse to accept my soul, and even though I've admitted I was mistaken, I will simply cease to be.

2) God will realize that I was simply using my brain in one of the many possible ways he designed it, and like any parent who loves his child, he'll accept that I made a mistake, and welcome me home with open arms.

3) God will hate and despise my insolence, and punish me with eternal torture.

So if it's one, I'll get no more or less than what I'm already expecting.

If it's two, well great!

If it's three, than I can say with confidence that I would rather suffer than spend eternity with a vengeful, deplorable "parent" like this.

So what do I have to lose?

Answer 1

Indeed. Nobody wants to spend eternity with an amoral god. I honestly can't even begin to understand anybody who would even want to be in Heaven, if it would be indeed as described in the Bible.

Who could be happy in Heaven, knowing a few of their loved ones are burning in a lake of fire forever and ever and ever?

Answer 2

Being an agnostic, I would say that since humanity seems to so misunderstand God, 2 is likely (though not popular with the religious types - after all, we don't put in any of the work, yet still get the reward).

What do you have to lose? By the above, eternal life, should the answer be 1 or 3.

I would say that 1 wouldn't be that bad, just simply cease to be. However, I don't think anyone would want to suffer in pain for all eternity.

Answer 3

Option 3) is nasty, of course. Option 1) might hurt for a while and be worrisome until you actually get there, but I'm guessing if you truly cease to exist, you won't really care about it anymore. Option 2) is nice, but if you can do anything you want and still get the reward, it seems to kind of defeat what some thinkers believe to be the a major driving force behind religion: to give the people a set of rules and mores to keep society from degenerating into a free-for-all of thieves and murderers. Fear of authority figures (police, government, etc.) is another way to manage this, but especially in ancient cultures, getting the people to believe they were destined for an eternity of misery if they didn't behave themselves was far easier. So it's no wonder the Christian machine discourages belief in option 2.

There are, of course, other views of the matter than the stereotypical scenario espoused by the world's big three monotheistic religions. Reincarnation, whether in this frame of existence or others, is another option. And hanging around in spirit form to harass your descendents is another popular view. I have enough of the scientist in me to admit I really don't know, but my personal suspicion is that we do have some sort of component that survives beyond death. The preponderence of "paranormal" (a word used to describe anything the scientific religion would like to ignore even in the face of abundant empirical evidence) phenomena strongly suggests there's something missing from the stereotypical scientific, atheist view of the universe.

As for the truth, I guess we'll find out when we get there!

Answer 4

According to the Holy bible you already have a conscience or the law of God written on your heart. No one will stand before God completely blameless but the difference between Christ followers and non-believers is that Christians have accepted and can present to God the only payment that God will accept for "admission" into heaven and that is Jesus Christ Gods only begotten Son. Look at it this way, if someone you knew sent their son to deliver a message to you but you completely refused his son every time he approached you but then catastrophe happens and you find yourself at that persons door still "logically" refusing and even ridiculing his son, do you really think that person would grant you refuge in their own home? How about if that person kept calling you on the phone but you look at the caller ID, know who's calling, but never pick up? How is that person supposed to know who you are in the day you show up telling them "I'm sorry I never picked up your phone calls and made fun of your son but can I come into your house?" Can someone who you know has rejected you and all the people you love approach you and tell you "Hey look I'm a good person, why not let me stay with you for a while?" Well if it wouldn't work in those circumstances, do you think it should work with God? People have it right! GOD IS LOVE! But He is also perfect justice and righteousness and He has the last say as to what that is! No amount of using the brain He gave you will over ride the heart (the only thing He will examine) He gave you to believe in Him! So if you reject God, never acknowledge Him, never talk to Him, and even reject His Son, how much justice do you think you'll deserve when the time comes?

Answer 5

i'm Christian, yet went by way of an agnostic/atheistic spell a at a similar time as back. My own perception is that in case you think in Heaven/Hell you will finally end up in one or the different, so a Christian who lives a stable, hardworking and style life will bypass to Heaven, a bad, nasty Christian will bypass to Hell. in spite of the undeniable fact that, atheists usually don't think in Heaven/Hell, so i don't see a clarification why they'd desire to bypass to the two. regardless of they suspect will take place to them, that's what'll take place. Now, it incredibly is merely the deepest perception of a 14 year old, who's Christian yet is likewise very unswerving to technological expertise. To be truthful, no one incredibly can answer this question completely properly, except they seem to be a resurrected atheist.

Answer 6

Only God can tell you the answer because 1) I don't know you. 2) If I did really know you I still wouldn't know you as well as He could because He reads hearts, not me, or any human for that matter 3) You haven't lost the respect for God because If you are an atheist and you posted this question there has to be some relative reason why you fear death and the ultimate judgment, thus again you will have to answer ( or ask) HIM<

Answer 7

I would think the most likely answer would be 2. If there is a god, surely he would understand you are using what you were given. It doesn't mean much to follow a belief that others have dictated to you and you don't fully believe, or one that you are scared into by reasons of fear that you'll go to hell. He would accept you with open arms because you honestly tried to decide for yourself and stayed true to what you honestly believed in your heart.

Answer 8

None of your answers are right. Don't you think that when you get to Heaven and see that God exists, that you're atheist beliefs (or lack thereof) will be proved wrong? God will give you a chance to renounce your atheism and invite you into Heaven. If you accept, you will be welcomed. If you refuse, well then enjoy the heat.

Answer 9

Number one, you will not "simply cease to be." You'll suffer forever and ever and ever and then some.
Number two, if you were using your brain you'd realize that the only way you'll get to heaven is through Jesus Christ.
It'll be number three. God hates sin.
You really haven't a clue what "suffering" is, do you?
What do you have to lose? Everything.
What do you have to gain? Everything and then more than you could ever imagine.

I hope you choose wisely.................

Answer 10

I say it depends on how you live your life.

Some atheists say, "There is no God, and therefore I can be completely selfish and lie and cheat all I want in this life, because there is no God to punish me when I die." When these people die, I believe that God will say, "Sorry, you're wrong! I do exist! You go down to Hell!"

Other atheists say, "There is no God, and therefore it is my duty to help those people who are less fortunate or who are oppressed, because there is no God to help them out." When these people die, God will say, "Surprise! I really do exist! But since I am a loving and forgiving God, and I saw the good you did on your life on Earth, you may come into your Heavenly home."

At least that's what I believe.

Answer 11

If God is a just God and a loving and merciful God, he will not condemn you to suffer for eternity just because you didn't hold a belief system that included him. He would judge you according to how you lived your life and treated others. So the closest would be #2, I think.

If God is simply a powerful being who enjoys tormenting lesser beings, well that is no definition of a God worth worshipping or desiring to serve. So both #1 and #3 don't make a whole lot of sense.