But ask yourself this : Who is really better off?

Question

Even though I know without a doubt that GOD exsists, the one that created this earth we live on and everything in the Solar System and heaven.

Pascal Wager or not.. Every person here who believes in GOD wether it's the Christians, Jews and Muslims which I know all believe in the Same GOD even with the dispute about Jesus's divinity.

All are very happy, content, joyful, hopeful being people of faith

No one says I am a believer and I hate it.... That being said, if by chance thier is an afterlife we all have the chance to go, so wether you say it's Pascal Wagers can you admit we are really better off in the entire scheme of things?

Because if you really knew you could choose between laying in the dirt confined for eternity or living in Paradise of Heaven without a doubt none would choose a life of dirt

Can I get a witness on this?

Answer 1

When you are dead, well you're dead. You don't have feelings, thoughts or memories. So who the heck would really care where the body is at that point?

Do you remember where you were before you were born? No, the same when you are dead. Nothing...you cannot "feel" confined.

Once you get over the fear of death and dying, you will no longer need a heaven to make you feel better about it.

You are only giving us the god of Abraham to look to as an example. Have you considered hinduism? Zoroastrianism? These are other religions who also believe in god/gods. They are also fulfilled, but still don't believe in your one monotheistic god who can condemn you to hell or reward you with heaven? Are you saying their beliefs are not valid?

Answer 2

After being both a Christian and an Atheist, I wish that I had grown up in an Atheist family - not that I dislike my family.

I am much better off now, the hypothetical afterlife aside, than being when I was a Christian, nothing to do with wealth or "worldly things", just more comfortable and peaceful and as I look back on my Christian life, I can truly say that I didn't enjoy it. I won't say hate as there were some good things, but I found out that those things can be had without the extra cruft.

So are you really better off? Do you support laws that force others to behave in your limited set of morals? Do you seek to have unsubstantiated stories taught as an alternative to science?

No, sorry, no witness here (what a really weird expression that is)!

Answer 3

I've never seen any evidence that Christians all are "happy, content, joyful, hopeful people of faith."

Though the above statement does hold some truth; people of faith--the truly faithful-regardless of religion, do tend to be more content and happy, which I think says more about the illusion of comfort most religions offer than the actual beneficial qualities of said religions.

I think there is an egotistical factor to many religions, that piety=purity, as if by being pious and pure guarantees you entry into whatever afterlife you believe in. I've had so many Christians criticize my open beliefs and tell me I'm going to hell that I start to wonder about the 'purity' of a person who thinks they are better than others simply based on belief. To think--to assume--you are better or that your soul is purer simply based on some primitive religious myth--Christianity is only the latest religion of the thousands human kind has followed, and will undoubtedly follow in the future--is a grave mistake. If anything forcing your spirit into some narrow minded belief system most likely anchors you to this Earth (or the dirt as you aptly say), out of fear of change, instead of freeing your consciousness to pursue whatever path it may follow when your body stops being a vessel and becomes nothing but dead meat.

Answer 4

No...you are not gonna get a witness from me.

I am atheist. I am extremely happy. Happier now than I was when I was a believer. The Church always succeeded in making me feel guilty over crap. Who needs constant unfounded guilt? I was never good enough to claim the "Glory of Heaven". I was, in the Bible's and Church's opine, a worthless sinner. How was I supposed to digest all of that? When I really needed God, where was he when my marriage was falling apart? Where was he when my grandmother lay dying in constant torturous pain? Where was he when I was ex-communicated from my father for 9 yrs?
Besides, if I "believed" just for the sake of going to heaven, don't you think your God would know the difference in false belief and sincere belief...that is...if he is as omnipotent as the bible claims?
Crimmson, you just go right ahead and believe in God and be happy. Just realize that there are some of us that do not need a Christian God to find our own happiness.

Answer 5

No.

There indeed are some people that hate being saved. I mean, some still crave the life they once had and want so bad to go back, and just are miserable. There are many christians I have seen that are mad at many people and are not in the lease joyful at all.

I do not doubt, that we in the end are better off (no offense meant to anyone) but the fact that all are happy and joyful is really strecthing things...

Answer 6

Ummm... I'm "very happy, content, joyful, hopeful being" without deities. I have a religion. I don't want to exchange it, thank you much.

And if there is an afterlife, I have no doubt that it's not what anyone is expecting, so I'll be in good company.

Answer 7

I am a very happy, content, joyful, hopeful atheist. In fact, I am much happier now than when I thought your imaginary friend was going to condemn me to eternal torment for a little mistake. Now i take responsibility for my actions.

Your assertion that you are happy and believer, therefore unbelievers must be unhappy is poor logic. Again. Which I should expect from you by now.

Answer 8

It's sad, but some people were told at some point in their lives that to follow God, you have to deny yourself everything that is enjoyable and follow a bunch of arbitrary rules and pronounce the word "God" like they do in fundamentalist churches: "Gaaowd." And that if they don't, a mean old cranky god will send them to hell on an express bus.

Sad.

I think lots of them become atheists, and I don't blame them. If I had been taught such puritanical nonsense, I'd prolly be atheist too.

But there are bunches of reasons why people become atheists, and it all comes down to not wanting to follow the false dictator-god they learned about.

Anybody who really understood that they were choosing between steak and stale bread: who would willingly choose stale bread?

Answer 9

Have you considered the fact that in Judaism ALL good people have a place in the world to come, not just the believers.

p.s. Even though you may believe christians are happier than everyone else, reality does not conform to your belief. But have fun confirming your belief with the other christians. I'm sure you'll find SOMEONE that will back you up.

Answer 10

What about Option C: The chance to live a fullfilled and happy life here, and then to rest a while and do it all again. Only differently. Be somebody else, learn different thing than you did last time.

That's what I'm aiming for, anyway.