an exercise in what if... (for christians)?

Question

i just got a message from an outraged christian who emailed me just to preach about how i'd regret it all (being an atheist, i presume) after i die. which reminded me of that great "what if" question that comes up every so often from christians about atheists finding themselves before god when they die. so here is my what if...

to all christians out there:
what if you die and find yourself before a big sign that reads "welcome to the end. the little people made up the whole god thing to keep you busy and away from their pots of gold. sorry about that. your soul will self-destruct in 5 seconds."

wow.... i don't think i'm the one who is angry here... no need to get all defensive, i wasn't attacking.

as a rational adult, who has conviction in her beliefs along with a healthy undertanding that they are just that - beliefs, not necessarily any better than anyone else's, i ask questions. lots of questions. and one of my favorite games to play is devil's advocate. so i like what ifs... i'm not asking you to analyze it, just to think about it for a minute, from an angle you might not have considered before.

Answer 1

It just means i had a good life thinking good and kindly toward my neighbor and i died doing what i believed in with absolutly no regrets.
and that's all it means

Answer 2

Then I would Say thanks for making up the story. It caused me to have a better life. Because living the way I did, in anticipation of a greater end, made my life better. I was happier living as a Christian Than I ever was before. I had a great life. THANKS FOR THE RIDE!
You see, The way I see it, for me, it's a win/win situation. If I'm right, I win the big prize. If I'm wrong, nothing lost. It's all over and I had a great life on the way. I can't loose, either way.
For you, you have chance of loosing in a big way. If you're right, fine nothing lost, nothing gained. It's all over. But,if I'm right, then poor you. You may have had a good life. But, that's all over. First of all you have to admit that you were wrong. You will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Then you will be cast into a lake of fire to spend eternity with no water.
So I think I'll bet it all on Jesus.

Answer 3

Who wrote the sign?
You anti-christians really need to wake up. Why are you so angry about what others believe. Who is ranting more? I see the mockery, hatred, stereotyping, prejudice, and ignorance more from atheists comments than the christians. Yet have I read any intelligent point raised from your side. Even the ones who I do respect for their "backing their point", are mislead bc many of their "facts disproving God" are nothing of the sort. If this was an open forum to debate, many of those "facts" would be answered. I agree that many christians speak when they shouldn't. They may be defensive and say something they know nothing about. However, you can't catagorize a faith on anything an individual says. That's just insane. That logic can be used against any and all types of people and beliefs. If I judged your reasoning and intelligence (of being an atheist)from some of the crap other atheist wrote on YA, you all would be catagorized as uneducated, babbling, ignorant, tools who think themselves to be enlightened. I am sure that doesn't include all of you. Why is tension and anger the wall bt us? An open conversation would bring light to both sides. I mean, why aren't cat lovers going out of their way to mock and humiliate and hurt dog lovers? It's just weird. I also see people (calling themselves) christians, giving false information. That's not me though. If anyone from either group is wasting time harassing the other, they aren't worth aggrevasion of trying to reason with. They just don't get it. Point taken..move on! From my experience here, most anti-christians really are blind to what they criticize. Ask questions and converse if you are really interested in understanding, but if you have an agenda, just go on your way and keep being angry, bitter and enlightened in the belief of nothing somewhere else. I can only speak for myself and I know what and why I believe in Him. I have my reasons that you would NEVER understand. If you ever experienced what I have, you could never make me understand. It's personal like that. No words can convey or make someone else "get it". I have 3 degrees is molecular biology. I only say that because I heard many people try to use science and DNA to dis-proove God. I am a forensic DNA analyst in DC. I can say with 100% assurance, that DNA and science cannot disprove God. The truth is current findings support my faith. I wouldn't want you to take my word for that. I know very well, that anything a PhD. publishes, 5 other PhD's say the opposite. It's just like the media, politics or anything else. Most of the "science" that people use for their arguements NEVER describe the "why". It only describes the "how" of things. Unless you really think about that, you would assume them to be the same. We live in a physical world full of solids, liquids, gases, electromagnetism etc. For example, Our biochemical reactions to physical stimuli can be the same mechanism for reacting to a spiritual stimuli bc that's how we "work". So what? Finding similarites and recreating physiological conditions proves nothing. All they did was describe the "how". I am sorry I blurted all this out. It's not you in particular, it's just I am sick of all the ignorance disguised as intelligence. I wouldn't even care but it's in every other question on here. Enough is enough. Just let it go. If you are that convinced that this life was all by chance ie. distance from sun, tilt of axis to the exact degree for seasons and tides, lunar distance, temperature, molecular, cellular, atomical conditions, chemical interactions, physiology, thought, conscience, atmospheric pressures and barriers, cycling patterns etc. all interacting within miniscule dimensions necessary for life to exist....then fine...that's cool!
Take care.

Answer 4

IF there is no God then you think our lives are wasted. But even if there is no God and I am wrong about every thing I believe in: I would rather be wrong and serve a non-existent God and follow the teachings of the Bible than to be someone like you.

Answer 5

Wow, well I have of yet to contemplate to look for a pot of gold.
When I die, I will be dead, Judgment will come for us all, regardless if we want it or not.
So the whole what if thing to me is old and is asked by both the Non-Believers, and the Believers alike

Answer 6

ooh... poof!
it is the 'what if?' that sustains me. The Great Mystery that influences me. To be open and aware of textural scape.

Answer 7

then I lost nothing because what you believe is nothing happens after you die, so the result is I lived a happy peaceful life, either way, but if your wrong....well

Answer 8

So what? Nothing what one can do if it would happen. Do you believe it?

I am a Christian - I believe in God and His love for us.

Answer 9

The Bible, doesn't have any "what if"...

What if the bible is true ? Then what happens to you ? You simpy die, stop to exist.

Nobody wants that !

Answer 10

gwen: What IF both, atheists and Christians have it wrong?