Ok Athiests, and this question is to Christians to. Ok if you're right and I am wrong, then when we both die, we'll end up inthe same place, the dirt. But If there is a God and he manifest himself down to earth and died for our sins so we can be cleansed, baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost, I end up in heaven and you end up in hell,(though not up to me) why the Athiest stand? If there is no afterlife then why stand for no hope to make you feel better when youre down. Or why waste your life trying to find answers than trying to live it being the best you can be and accepting a simple truth? When If Im wrong and your right then when we die we both end up in the dirt, and If Im right and you're wrong you end up in hell and I in heavan. I am only 16 so take it easy on me.
2007-05-31 12:06:48 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What is wrong with living for today and helping each other because it is the right thing to do and not in order to get a prize?
If you believe in God or not why would that seem depressing to you?
2007-05-31 12:10:53 · answer #1 · answered by brwnidjkmo 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
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
2007-05-31 12:10:53 · answer #2 · answered by eldad9 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
What if the Muslims are right and you're wrong. Or the Buddhists? Or the Jews?
"A simple truth" What does that mean? Which truth? Do you believe in Santa Claus? When you were a child were you told about Santa and the Tooth fairy? Did you believe they were real and the truth?
Why not try and find the answers you seek? Because someone or some book tells you it's truth, does that mean it is?
Seek young person. The truth is available to you, just look for it.
2007-05-31 12:20:53 · answer #3 · answered by Pat Fortam 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not a stand, it's a rational view of the natural world.
If there is a heaven, where might that be? In outer space? Since we leave our physical body, by what means would we take our memories and identity, without our brains? And if we take no memories or identity, and have no physical body, what difference does it make?
Enjoy every minute of your life to the extent that's possible.
Use your mind to explore all posssibilities.
Follow that inner voice that tells you to do the right thing, and to give other people a hand. Listen to the music in your heart. That's God, this is heaven.
2007-05-31 12:44:53 · answer #4 · answered by commandercody70 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not Pascals Wager again.
Look, If I'm wrong I'd rather spend eternity in hell with the rest of the people I love than in heaven with a god just so he can think he's wonderful. At least Satan is honest about being a liar, manipulator and abuser. At least I know that Satan would try to screw with me. God isn't honest and he'll backstab you any time he feels like it while saying "its because I love you" and you'll be stupid enough to believe it.
2007-05-31 12:10:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
... Pascal's wager?
Oh, please.
I offer the atheist's wager:
A god may exist who will reward disbelief or punish belief. In the absence of clear knowledge of what if anything will benefit us hereafter it is better to concentrate on improving conditions here. You should live your life and try to make the world a better place for your being in it, whether or not you believe in God. If there is no God, you have lost nothing and will be remembered fondly by those you left behind. If there is a benevolent God, he may judge you on your merits coupled with your commitments, and not just on whether or not you believed in him.
2007-05-31 12:10:37 · answer #6 · answered by Dylan H 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
But if there is a god that really gets pissed when people worship him just for a reward or to "be on the safe side", but respects those who won't stoop to that level, you're really screwed.
Ummm... do you worship the Eskimo Salmon God (or any of the countless other gods anyone could conceive of) for the same reason? What if one of them is the real god and gets more upset for you worshiping another god than for not worshiping any at all?
2007-05-31 12:12:05 · answer #7 · answered by Boris Badenov 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i used to wonder the same thing and even spent my time 'believing' --just in case! what i found was when i needed Him he was there for me just as he will be for any other atheist or agnostic. the entirebible is based on the concepts of love and forgiveness. throughout the bible , and throughout the prophecies the same concepts are taught and promised. Thank God! So live your life now & suffer now(though you don't even realize how much better it COULD be)---when the chips are down and you need more than this life has laid on your doorstep God will STILL be there for you with his infinite love and wisdom and with the promise of forgiveness for all who finally seek him out. you don't need anyone to take it easy on you kid----you've got the Lord on your side. you will be ridiculed and made fun of for your beliefs---but the anger and resentment will come from those who do not believe--(yet)! spread the word.......it is a commitment to your God in return for his tender care! God bless you!
2007-05-31 12:28:20 · answer #8 · answered by say what? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i don't think there is a god because i think the concept of god and religion was a convenient way for people in power to control the public and get them to be useful, contributing members of society. can you think of a better way to get large masses of people to behave well, go to work, treat others kindly, work hard, and respect their elders than telling them they were going to burn forever if they didn't?
I sure can't.
which sounds better to you:
You, the Christian, treat others kindly because you were told to by God, and because you fear punishment (hell) if you don't, and hope to be rewarded with passage to heaven if you're good. You are following orders out of fear and greed.
I, the Atheist, treat others kindly because I think that's the right thing to do, because I think they deserve it, and because I respect people and hope everyone can behave better and be civil and kind to each other. I do not think I am being watched by some omnipotent being in the clouds, and I expect neither reward (heaven) or punishment (hell) after I die.
Christians are persuaded, through coercion and promises, to behave a certain way.
Atheists choose to behave a certain way. Being an atheist humanist, I choose to behave in a way that I hope benefits others.
Which would you rather be? An animal following orders out of fear and greed, or a human being using your logic to make your own decisions?
Religion does make life easier, because it is a way to convince yourself that someone out there is taking care of everything, and all you have to do is follow orders in the hope for some kind of reward at the end. You said yourself, "why stand for no hope to make you feel better when youre down." Is your religion, then, nothing more than a salve to make you feel better? Why not take solace in the hope that mankind can one day treat his brothers and sisters well and with care simply because that's the right thing to do, without the fear of hell or the lust for heaven?
*This is not to denigrate people who feel that they have a relationship with God. More power to you. I envy your peace of mind. This is a critique of religion's capacity for control.
2007-05-31 12:22:38 · answer #9 · answered by not_you 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zzzz. Pascal.
What if we're both wrong and Lord Ganesh or Allah is waiting for you in the after life? Look up the world wide statistics on your religion - no matter what you believe, you're in the overwhelming minority of people who have ever lived. Shear probability dicatates that you (and everyone else) are wrong.
2007-05-31 12:11:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋