You stated in a recent question that "Christian always like to say this..." and then essentially threw out Pascal's Wager.
I am a Christian. Personally I find Pascal's wager to be a disgusting cop-out for Christians. It is that quintessential scare-tactic of using hell to extort people into Christianity, which brings people into the religion for the wrong reasons.
The word gospel literally translates "Good News," and Christianity, in my opinion, should be ministering less about saving people from hell and more about the abundant blessings that await us in heaven. I am not the least bit interested in hell, because I will not be there; and my ministry reflects this belief.
So, as a Christian, I do not ever use Pascal's Wager as part of my argument for my beliefs... which means that your statement that "Christians always like to say..." is WRONG.
2007-08-08 19:42:28 · 15 answers · asked by SDW 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
rhsaunders--
I own Stenger; not that impressed with it.
The only Atheist publication I have ever been thoroughly impressed with was Mills' "Atheist Universe", mostly because it used more common sense and real-life application, without the technical babble that often shows itself as more scientists and anthropologists bickering and trying to look smarter than each other.
2007-08-08 19:56:15 · update #1
Sorry, Brian... jumped to a conclusion based on a few of your answers.
2007-08-08 20:56:28 · update #2
i'm atheist, but yes, i believe i've told you before religion needs more people like you.
2007-08-08 19:54:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jeef 4 · 8⤊ 1⤋
I've been trying to say the same thing for a while, yet I always get thumbs-down for it. It is not MY job to judge anyone to Hell, it's God's job.
Regardless of that, I feel compelled to tell others what I have been blessed to understand, especially some of the more complicated issues of the Bible. Of course, some folks are just not willing to listen to anything that defies what they believe in their own "bubble" and I cannot change that.
Damning people to Hell is not something Christians should slam down people's throats. It obviously doesn't work when trying to convince someone that God loves them ...
I also hear arguments that these are the End Times, and indeed they may be; however, taking a softer approach (not what you say, but how you say it) can make the difference between someone coming to know Christ as we do or someone slamming their proverbial door in our faces.
My husband is an unbeliever. He is a strong, stubborn Irish man who works hard and doesn't consider himself "book smart" (although he's far from stupid). Do you think ramming equations of Hell into his head will help him be with me and Our Lord in Heaven. Hardly.
2007-08-08 20:10:40 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd like to ditto Nicole and say "touche!"
I also can;t stand when people make broad statments when they use a theory to touch on a certain subject. I say the Bible is the bottom line authroity iin Chrisitaniy and that is the only place I may accept broad references. But only if the Bible is not taken out context. I can't stand that more than other thing....
Well God Bless and Glad I could answer one of your questions seeing as you answered one of mine recently (I believe...)
Well God Bless and Best of Wishes!
2007-08-08 19:54:03 · answer #3 · answered by Too Blessed To Be Stressed! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before I fully knew what Pascal's Wager I used it as an arguement....lol
P.S. SDW....I'm not Mormon, I asked a question about why you accused me of it...I would like you to answer.
2007-08-08 20:50:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
'rhsaunders" I've read "God, the failed hypothesis" I'm not "shattered" lol. Just a book some atheist scientists wrote. In my opinion, they tell very little to disprove a GOD.
2007-08-08 20:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Then why do we always see Christians using it here?
Your rebuttal is without merit.
We might have succeeded in teaching a few of you that it is a fallacious argument but it is still one of the most popular arguments presented by you Christians.
2007-08-08 19:53:41 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
very true I would never use that. we talk about God's love I will only mention hell if directly asked. we all havethe chanve of salvation through the blood of Jesus.
2007-08-08 19:48:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your approach is certainly more sound than that of many who show up here. But you do need to examine the basis of your Christianity, and justify your belief in that, and indeed even in the existence of god. I have never found satisfactory evidence to support any of this, and there is a fair amount of evidence to the contrary. I recommend:
2007-08-08 19:50:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Amen, i never use Pascals wager, pretty stupid anyway.
2007-08-08 19:59:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Good going! I like your thinking.
2007-08-08 19:50:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋