So, you don't beleive in God. Maybe your right. Maybe there is no God. But what if there is? What if your wrong and He is watching you right now, waiting for you to accept Him into your life? What if you are risking your ETERNAL life by mocking Him and not loving Him? If there was no God than I guess you have nothing to lose. But if there is than you could loose everything. Wouldn't you want to take the safe route and give God a chance to show you that He is real?
2007-05-17 01:40:47 · 19 answers · asked by AK 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yogini, you didn't answer the question.
2007-05-17 01:46:04 · update #1
This is sad, almost no one actually answered this question. Only tried to decide if it is an appropriate question or not. All it takes is a person willing to consider it and let God show Himself. God can do the rest Himself. I never insinuated that anyone should fake it to God. Only to open themselves up enough to consider God. I'm sure He is powerful enough to fit through even the smallest crack in someone's heart.
2007-05-17 01:52:48 · update #2
I never suggested that all non-beleivers have never considered God. It is a general question intended to inspire people to consider it. I have not judged anyone or condemed anyone for their way od thinking. I only wanted to hear people's answer to the question (which I have barely heard...it's a yes or no) and to get people thinking.
2007-05-17 02:43:49 · update #3
i know Hes real
2007-05-17 01:42:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Seriously, do a google searh on "Pascal's Wager"
It has been thoroughly debunked, and even apologists no longer use it.
I'll just say this:
What if YOU'RE wrong? What if you are following the wrong religion? You'll still go to hell.
I'm sure you're thinking, "There's no way I can possibly be wrong, so my question can't be turned back on me."
Why am I sure? Because the vast, vast majority of Christians I've met seem completely unable to look through the eyes of those they are criticizing.
Edit:
Here's a yes or no answer for you. YES, I am completely willing to take that risk since I firmly believe that your religion is absolutely wrong, and that I'd be wasting my time in following it (though I already wasted the first 22 years of my life on it.)
2007-05-17 08:46:38 · answer #2 · answered by Eldritch 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Yogini DID answer the question, or perhaps you do not know what Paschal's Wager is? Hers was my favorite answer.
And, yes, I am willing to take the "risk," because I would risk far more by not living every minute, every day to the fullest. Keeping one's focus on the here and now is the most joyful way to live. Your focus seems to be on what will happen after you die. That, to me, is very sad.
2007-05-17 08:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by Jan N 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A great point, however, I doubt it will have the effect you hope for. As Christians, we could talk until we're out of words and it wouldn't make a difference. We live exemplary lives and that might bring about a curiosity. Other than that, we need to pray that God will open hearts and use us as tools to share His gospel. He's changed hearts of many, such as Cyrus, the king of Persia. We need to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit and let God work through us.
2007-05-17 08:46:15 · answer #4 · answered by VW 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
CRAP, Paschal's Wager this early in my day? Ok, bar's open.
I'll start with a Mimosa *sip*.........I really can't tell you how often this is asked.
To answer your question: I was raised Catholic and spent 27 years believing in a vengeful and unforgiving god. After much Catechism (about 12 years) and also University classes in Theology, Sacred Scriptures and Catholic Tradition I had to decide if believing in the 'Christian' god was worth the pain it was causing me i.e. deep self-esteem issues, feelings of worthlessness etc. No Matter how hard I tried I was always going to hell. Why would anyone want to do that for the rest of their lives? After a lot of introspection, I decided to leave and have studied a number of religions. I have embraced Buddhism and am very peaceful. It makes sense. If your beliefs make sense to you then that's wonderful *I'm not being sarcastic* but Christianity isn't appropriate for everyone. I believe Jesus existed, I just don't like what Paul did to him in his 'teachings'.
This is Paschal's Wager. I'm sure you realize this. If you don't then you should read up on it and it gets asked a million times a day. We all have very honest reasons why we choose to believe or not believe and most of us have really thought things out. You might not like my answer but here it is. Namaste
2007-05-17 08:44:25 · answer #5 · answered by Yogini 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Hey, look - it's Pascal's Wager again.
Fair enough - but what happens if you worship a god, but when you die, you find out you've worshipped the wrong god? How do you know your is the One True deity? There's been all sorts of them - roman, greek, norse, vedic, aborigine, amerindian, aleut, african... I'm sure that there were zealots for every one at every time they were popular. You may be spending your entire life making Manitou mad, you know...
Then there's that little bugaboo about evidence...
2007-05-17 08:49:07 · answer #6 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard people ask this question before, many times over many years. My take on it is this: Belief in something because you are afraid not to believe is not a good reason to believe. (Geez, that sounds wierd.)
I don't believe in God but if he does exist, then I'm going to be in big trouble when the judgement day comes. I have decided that just before he blasts me to hell, I'm going to blame him for giving me a brain and a Universe devoid of any reason to believe in him. And if I have time, I'm going to holler at him for what he did to Job, and Adam and Eve, and Abraham, and lots of others.
Bottom line, though, I'm not worried about that eventuality.
2007-05-17 08:52:05 · answer #7 · answered by Brant 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This reasoning has never worked, not even the Bible mentions it, and with reason.
God does NOT want people worshipping Him who don't even believe in Him. You are asking people to falsely love God. Just doing the motions of following the Bible and going to church doesn't cut it with God, and that's exactly what you are asking them to do.
2007-05-17 08:45:45 · answer #8 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is no risk involved. It is as if I say there is a blue bunch of gob living in the center of the earth, and if you are not good, it will come for you. Are you going to believe that, just because you are afraid that the blue bunch of gob might actually exist? Can you see how ridiculous your reasoning is?
2007-05-17 08:47:52 · answer #9 · answered by shericomes 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let me ask you a question...... are you willing to take the risk that G-d is a loving G-d and he might not be all that offended that some people choose not to believe in him but live good lives; that they are living those good lives without promise of any reward in the end??
2007-05-17 08:48:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
not this again.
What if you are risking your eternal life by not believing in Zeus?
What if you are risking your eternal life by not believing in Ra?
What if you are risking your eternal life by not believing in Zoltar?
What makes you think God would appreciate me 'faking it' because that is all it will ever be. I don't believe. I can pretend to, but that is it. Sky daddies are as likely as magic purple invisible dragons to me, or the easter bunny. Do you understand that? To atheists, your God is as likely as Santa Claus. Can you force yourself to believe in Santa?
What if you are wasting your life with empty rituals and childish fear of a hell that does not exist?
2007-05-17 08:54:32 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋