If you reached the age of 99 and lived a Godly Christian life throughout, but then discovered w/out a shadow of a doubt that God never existed, how would you feel? Would you wish you had done things differently (perhaps done more fleshly things) or be satisfied with the way you lived? Keep in mind, all the things you always considered sins would be no longer be wrong.
(Please only respond with honest, thoughtful answers. Don't just say "I wouldn't regret a thing" just because it's the Christian thing to say. Really think about it. And this is HYPOTHETICAL. So please don't respond with "That could never happen. God DOES exist." It's a HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION!!! So play along. Thanks)
2007-07-13 07:52:58 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hindsite is always 20/20! :D I'm sure with that dilemna of knowing there is no heaven or hell you would debate your actions as a human being.
Some hypothetical questions try to bury facts. To me there is no gray area here. Giving you a minimal response to your question. The topic of God is brought up and there is historical accounts through Hebrew Chaldee and Greek languages and history that are considered evidence to many.
To answer hypothetically though;
I think the key is knowing yourself first. If it brought positive things in your life then you would have no regrets. If you think it brought negative things to your life then you would have many regrets. It's a fork in the road type question you won't ever know until your there and you have to define what there is.
Are you married? Are you single? Were you rich or poor? I do think that would be a awful way to end. The phrase "You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything" comes to mind. The rest of the versus to the song " You have to be your own man not a puppet on a string" . So in reflection were you making your own sound free decision or were you a puppet on string? Free decision is normally no regrets and of course the puppet you would have regrets.
Fortunately for myself I'm free in making my decision however I would definitely be dissappointed because there would be no good satisfaction in my work. I wouldnt be empowered as in my youth to present any possible new information to maybe help others along their way if there were no God life to me would be a hallowed shell there would have to be something there to replace that and present to others.
Expectations are high and being human we have social habits too that would be rocked. I think it would be like finding the rainbow and discovering there is leprechaun with a pot of gold. It would be no fun sitting in that rocking chair at least for me knowing the future I planned is gone.
2007-07-13 08:26:39 · answer #1 · answered by nightcrew 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll play along. OK, so there's no God. Well, I wouldn't change a thing. I can't imagine living without my church family. I can't imagine not having a purpose in my life. I mean, I could be more fleshly and earthly; want more things, do more to satisify ME. But I really, honestly enjoy knowing other people who are the same faith as me. We have a special bond, even if (and of course it's not) our bond is built on nothing. I feel BETTER when I serve someone else, instead of me. I gave a total stanger a ride home from the local auto parts place the other day. I do things like this because I'm a Christian. And it makes me feel good. It makes me feel better than having an affair or buying something big and expensive that I don't actually need. I know some people really enjoy things for themselves. I'm just not one of those people.
2007-07-13 08:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by starfishltd 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, if I had NEVER done anything sinful (so in this hypothetical situation I'd have to be someone else), I still don't think I would regret it. I'll explain why:
So since in this alternate reality I had never sinned, I must have only had sex within marriage. That means that I would have been able to give my virginity to my spouse, and never commit adultery, or even lust after someone other than my spouse. Nothing wrong with that.
It would also mean that I had never lied, so people would know they could trust my word on everything I said.
It would mean that I never stole anything, so I ran no risk of jail, or even of hurting other people or businesses.
It would mean that I ALWAYS exhibited the "fruits of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If a person ALWAYS exemplified those, I'm sure they would have lots of friends, so when I was ready to die, I'd be surrounded by them still. It would mean that I never got drunk, and I never exploded in rage. It would mean that I spoke only kind words to everyone.
I would have been generous, always willing to lend a helping hand, and I never would have overeaten or started a habit that would be bad for me.
I could go on and on in this vein.
No, I wouldn't regret a thing. I don't care if it is "the Christian thing to say." It's the truth. How could ANYONE regret it if they lived that kind of life?
2007-07-13 08:11:55 · answer #3 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, If there was no ultimate and superior authority, then there would be no such thing as 'sin.' I would probably kick myself in the butt. Don't get me wrong, I would still obey the governments laws as best as I could. But think about it, if I was to get away with cheating on something, lash out in anger in the flesh and not of the Spirit, there would be nothing there to say 'Hey, you know that is not what the Lord would want.' There would be no conviction, maybe guilt, but no true conviction. That's just how I would see it.
And PS- to the person at the bottom, being a Child of God does NOT keep you from having diseases or sickness, and it does NOT automatically mean your family is great, etc etc. Good values, yes, but what a Christian faces in life is the same thing that a non-Christian faces. The difference- we have the Ruler of the universe on our side. Have a good one
2007-07-13 08:11:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In all honesty, I would be fine with how I chose to live my life. I have a lot of fun, but without the consequences that "sinful" fun has. Not suffering the consequences is what makes it better. Good old fashioned, family fun. I am sure that I would regret some things like not spending more time with certain people or slowing down and enjoying life more, working less kinda stuff..but as far as living a Christian life...wouldn't trade it for the world, or redo that one bit...honestly.
2007-07-13 08:00:28 · answer #5 · answered by Tiffany R 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A very interesting hypothetical! As a Christian, it's been my good fortune that on several occasions, God HAS proven His existence to me, so that complicates this a bit. Since to answer it, I'll *also* have to pretend that those occasions hadn't taken place.
That said -- no, I probably would have done little or nothing differently. You see, Jesus' teachings, and most of the NT, distill down primarily to one thing: The Golden Rule. Anyone who lives by the Golden Rule as much as possible, is essentially living the sort of life Jesus wanted us to live. And here is the KEY!! -- the Golden Rule ALSO is the practice of ***common sense***. And I've tried to live my life in that manner, throughout my lifetime.
So -- NO WONDER to many atheists, and people of other religions live such Christian-seeming lives. They are simply doing a pretty good job of living by the Golden Rule!
2007-07-13 08:01:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
What has god got to do with leading a moral life? You are quite misguided to think that only Christianity defines what is right and wrong. Morality and ethics -- religious or otherwise -- are defined by rules of doing no harm to others and giving benefits to others in your behavior. If the only reason that Christians behave is because they are afraid of God or are looking forward to rewards in the afterlife, that is a pretty sorry reason for behaving well.
2016-05-17 04:40:07 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I discovered without a shadow of doubt that God did not exist, it would be an impossible paradox and I am not just saying this, I will explain it.
In order to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, I would have to examine every place in the universe to prove God was not there, furthermore, I would have to do so at all times, past, present and future (just in case God wasn't at the corner last time I checked, but he is now). At this point, with this knowledge, I would be a God, thereby proving that at the precise moment I thought there was no God, that I am one.
2007-07-13 08:02:44 · answer #8 · answered by Someone who cares 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would be fine with it. I would have lived my life the way I want to, anyhow. I treat people kindly. I am honest and am a good person.
I would still not sleep around, nor would I murder or steal. I wouldn't cheat the government, I would not be cruel to animals, etc. I hate the taste of booze, and I can't stand smoke. So.....I would not go get drunk every night and pass out. I would not take drugs, either.
I would not go around wrecking cars, looting, etc.
I'd be happy.
Sorry to disappoint you.
2007-07-13 08:08:27 · answer #9 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Following the principles in the bible are still good no matter if they are connected with God or not. Um I would probably wish that i had tried a few things out.. but really the Christian lifestyle is secure. I mean it promotes a happy family life and prevents diseases. and good things like that.
2007-07-13 07:58:36 · answer #10 · answered by Dakine 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋