I appreciate their worry over the fact that they think Christians are delusional and believing fantasy, however, its not like they are going to save us from anything.
Atheisum makes "human" sense regarding nothingness after death as we have no "proof" (but it sounds so depressing). I would rather live my life in a state of delusion than take the chance of being wrong.
If I die and find out there IS nothing else, I won't be missing anything :)
I don't understand why anyone would take that eternal risk. The atheists should be concerned for themselves - not Christians.
2007-06-02 07:34:01 · 31 answers · asked by Kaliko 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Everybody takes a risk, no matter what they believe. You are taking a risk by not being a Muslim. What if only Muslims go to heaven? You will be in serious trouble, for eternity. You will burn forever in the most tortuous state imaginable. Why take that risk? Why not become a Muslim?
But you don't believe in Islam. You believe in Christianity. I have no problem with that, but you must see that you cannot just "cover all the bases" because everyone must take the risk you speak of. You are taking a risk by not believing in Islam.
Why are you not afraid of that risk? Because you don't believe in Islam! Why aren't Atheists afraid of the risk of not being a Christian? Because they don't believe in Christianity!
2007-06-02 08:07:23 · answer #1 · answered by Heron By The Sea 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good lord! There are some moronic answers!
I totally agree with you. I would rather live life as a believer, to find out that I was wrong in the end -RATHER THAN- live life as a non-beliver to find out that I was wrong. Because in that case, my eternity would be spent in a lake of burning fire rather than in heaven w/ my father. Sounds like a no brainer to me!
To answer your question, I think they are concerned enough to want to prove themselves right. Which is impossible, but they can try.
Regardless of your religion....almost all in the world are based on wanting you to be a good person, and doing the right thing. I don't see how our "beliefs" are harming anyone. The fact that Christianity is a part of our government (although dwendling fast) can be nothing but beneficial to society. Afterall, this govt of the United States was based on Christianity. "In God we trust"!!! Maybe you (atheist) have heard it a time or two?
2007-06-02 08:03:16 · answer #2 · answered by Lyndsey G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
> I would rather live my life in a state of delusion
> than take the chance of being wrong.
And I wouldn't. I prefer the truth. I'd rather face reality, warts and all, than hide behind the most comforting fantasy. I can handle the truth.
> If I die and find out there IS nothing else,
> I won't be missing anything :)
We're not concerned about the hereafter. It's the here and now that we concentrate upon. It's important to live a moral, useful, and fulfilling life now. Most of us concentrate on that. Not eating shellfish and not mixing dairy products and meats does not enhance life one iota.
2007-06-02 07:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that you say outright that you "would rather live life in a state of delusion" pretty much says it all.
I disagree. The Truth is important to me. "Pascal's Wager," besides being an obscenely cynical and amoral position, could never satisfy anybody who was really interested in the truth.
As for why atheists are concerned with your "belief system" - because there is a definite agenda on the part of certain "Christians" to impose those beliefs on secular society. America rightly prides itself on its freedom of religion, its separation of Church and State; but these people have actually convinced themselves that this freedom is somehow an affront to their particular religion - because they're "right," of course. There is thus a very practical reason for atheists and all people who value their freedom to "concern themselves" with the Christian belief system.
2007-06-02 07:41:09 · answer #4 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So you basically believe in Pascal's Wager. You're a theist-wannabe....and somewhat of an agnostic. You're doing the whole church thing and praising a God, just to be on the safe side. Why? Why lie to yourself and to your God? If you are a skeptic.....go with it! If you have questions or doubts.....do not let them go unanswered! You are doing this out of fear. Fear leads to ignorance. Just because the "nothingness after you die, idea" is depressing, doesn't give any credibility to the idea of a creator. Atheists are the way they are because they no longer or just plain do NOT live in fear of a non-existent deity. We believe the religion was created out of fear of death, and then morphed into a psychotic power trip to where politicians and leaders could control the masses by preying on their fears.
2007-06-02 07:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by Abby C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are actually still taking the same risk. You are using Pascal's Wager to justify your beliefs, but what if the Muslim religion has it right? Shouldn't you hedge your bets and worship that one too? Or go with Hinduism? What about Buddhism? Maybe Zen is the only correct path. Why are any of these less valid than Christianity?
2007-06-02 07:44:03 · answer #6 · answered by seattlefan74 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, putting the Pascal's Wager nonsense aside, many atheists and other non-Christians are concerned because Christian beliefs are used in ways that they feel are harmful to all of us. They aren't trying to save you, specifically, they are trying to make the country a better place.
And so are Christians, of course. The problem is that we can't agree on just what a "better place" really is.
2007-06-02 07:43:19 · answer #7 · answered by fiacharrey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many atheists are highly educated in religion. To us, religion is a fascinating phenomenon of nature - something like discovering weird animal behavior. It's interesting to think about why a Bower bird behaves as he does. It's even more interesting to consider how some humans behave. It is fascinating to consider our ability to intensely believe in something for which there is no evidence whatsoever.
Regarding "saving" theists - I am quite sure that we have helped many Pascal's Wager believers, like yourself, to understand that it is terribly illogical. Hopefully your beliefs are based on something more than pretending to be religious in hopes of deceiving your god.
2007-06-02 08:07:37 · answer #8 · answered by HarryTikos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Athiests really spend no time worrying about your belief system. Athiests have spent time worrying about their own and have made a decision.
Christians are the ones who are mandated to convert people. Athiests do not have such a commandment.
So, the better question is, why are you so worried about what Athiests think? If you know your beliefs, why is that not enough for you? Why do the Athiests have to be converted to agree with you to validate your beliefs?
2007-06-02 07:38:47 · answer #9 · answered by Nunya B 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist, and I am not concerned about christian's belief systems.....until they try to insist I join in it.
At that point, I will likewise insist that they provide some evidence to back up their contentions. Otherwise, if christians leave me alone, I do likewise.
2007-06-02 09:12:04 · answer #10 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋