Is it better to believe in something and be wrong or to not believe in something and be wrong?

Question

I actually found it amusing how it was assumed this question should be directed at God and stuff. Maybe I was thinking about Buddhism or something.

Answer 1

Who knows? Chances are it's better to have experienced both sides of the equation as that would be the best way to understand both, correct?

Answer 2

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 (some people pray 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

Answer 3

I think it that a belief in God offers amazing health benefits. It gives people hope, faith and a belief in the after life. Such beliefs are helpful in a positive attitude, healing from trauma or illness and having hope.

I say God as a generic was to reference religion. All religions believe in a god of some sort. Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam ....

Answer 4

Let say you are a SCUBA diver.

Who goes under water with a tank filled with air, you hope.

If you have faith that tank is filled with air as you go underwater and that tank is not filled with air, you will die.

It does not matter how much faith you have, if that tank isn't filled with air you will most likely die unless you discover the truth pretty quick, in less than a minute or two at most.

If that tank is filled with Carbon Monoxide, you'll pass out and die before you figure out you have a problem.

So you better not have faith in a lie.

You better have faith in something that is real.

Same is true if you jump out of an airplane at 15,000 feet.

You have better be sure there is a parachutte in that back pack. If its really full of girl scout cookies, no matter how much you love those mint cookies, you'll die.

Pastor Art

Answer 5

I agree... I hate it when people make assumptions. People have assumed I'm a Satanist before because I don't believe in God...


To answer your question, if belief in something (without proof) has a huge effect on your life and the lives of those around you, perhaps not believing would be safer?

Answer 6

If I tell you a storm is coming and you don`t belive in me .... and the storm actually comes then you will suffer. But if you believed in what I said about the storm and it never came... you will not suffer, cos you were prepared for the worst. Better safe than sorry.

If i tell you there`s a garden, with all what you desire, 100 miles away, if you don`t belive in me, and all the people go and enjoy it.... you will definitely miss out on something. But if you did believe in me and nothing turned out to be there, theer was nothing you lost in driving to there, atleast you saw for yourself .... or maybe I`ll give you a candy for just believing in me and having trust in me.

PS. A religious belief can not HARM anyone, so why not ?

Answer 7

There are many many things you can choose to believe in, chances are you will be right about some and wrong about others.

The greater the consequences of your choice are, the more time you should spend investigating before you make that final decision. (ie don't spend more than 30 seconds deciding which shoes to wear today, but spend at least a year with someone before deciding to get married)

As to your original question, both are just as bad.

Answer 8

Well...what do you believe? Let's analyze your question. To believe in something and be wrong is not good, it is a major let down no? At the same time to not believe in something and be wrong cannot be that great neither right?

Answer is to not believe but to know! How do you know? Well search for the answer and see what is good for you and what works for you. If you do that then you cannot ever be wrong. That's that! Good luck.

Answer 9

I would rather have a belief and a dream personally but you should always have an open mind and listen to all sides in anything and everything thats the fun a belief idea or dream can be changed or expanded as you grow and learn.

Answer 10

It depends on what you're believing in or not believing in. I know this is R&S, but you're being rather vague.

In matters of belief, I mean-wow. You're open to alot. Your options are seemingly endless. If it's God you're alluding to, pray to Him and see what comes to your mind.

If nothing, then no-harm, no-foul, right?

Answer 11

It's better to believe according to your understanding.
It may not be possible for you to believe or even understand the things that I do, and the same is true of me to you.