Hypothetical Question for Christians! Atheists are encouraged to have a look!?

Question

Suppose there were ten identical balls differing only in color placed before humanity, and everyone was to choose only one of those balls. In making the decision friends and family encouraged one another to choose a specific ball. Finally, everyone has made their choice. Jesus there after comes soaring down through the clouds!
Jesus said, “All who chose the blue color ball come and stand on the left, and the rest of you on the right!” “All of you who stand on the left go to heaven, and those on the right go to hell!”
The ones on the right are infuriated and asks, “Why is that you send us to hell?”
Jesus replies, “I gave you the power of choice, so it is not I who send you to hell, it is you yourselves who do through your free-will!”

The ones going to hell then said, “What? How were we supposed to know which ball were the correct one? Our friends and family said that our respective color was the right one, and we therefore chose the respective color just like those who chose the blue ball! And some of us never got to see the blue ball so how could we have chosen it? ”
Jesus said, “I am God so I can do as I like!”
(Conclusion of story at the end)

Explanation:
The 10 balls with different colors represent the different religions in the world. The reason they are all balls is that each religion is as authentic as their respective religions in each individual’s eyes differing only in content. Each person chooses their respective religion because they truly believe it is the truth. And their choice had been influenced by their environment.

Question:
Does it make sense to judge someone upon their beliefs instead of deeds?

Conclusion to story:
Jesus then said, “Wait a minute first, I just changed my mind! I just decided that I’ve not had enough fun yet so I’ll postpone Judgment Day for now.”
After a long pause Jesus screams out, “You wicked people, I will now send down waves of fire to destroy you all, including innocent children and animals like I once did in the past! MUHAHAHAHA!”

Answer 1

Not a Christian, although raised as a Roman Catholic, and agnostic.

I know something is out there and I understand faith, but I have not chosen a faith, as each is as equally plausible and equally implausible.

I believe that earth and life is a testing or training ground for our spirits, and that how well we learn and adapt to what our specific lives teach us, determines whether we come back or go elsewhere. I believe we have a symbiotic relationship with our spirit.

Deeds far outweigh what beliefs we have.

Would 'Christians' that are single mothers, that cheat on their spouses, that use condoms, that are practicing homosexuals, that kill a person whether in war, manslaughter or cold blooded murder, who die with 'absolution', or being baptized, gives them a clear run to the pearly gates? Have we ever seen a bolt of lightning hit any blasphemer (outside of comedy shows). I mean really, who are we kidding? Typical response to this is that 'God moves in mysterious ways', but you could apply that statement to argue anything and explain nothing. That has got to be the most useless argument to convert to a religion that I have ever heard.

The bible in my mind was in its time a reasonable tool to lead people, and provide some basic moral fiber. To give the bible/Torah/Talmud/Koran any more credence than this is
in my opinion is folly.

This empowered the leaders of many to give their subjects a perceived just cause. With this perceived just cause, leaders could get subjects to easily die defending their perceived just cause. Religion turned into a powerful leadership tool. Call a competing society infidels/blasphemers/non-believers or satanic worshipers, and you would guarantee that wars would not be backed down, and your subjects would volunteer fight to the death in this war that would unveil.

On the other side of the coin, to the detriment of society, if knowledge existed that did not agree with the religion at the time, the knowledge was forgotten or destroyed, and people found spreading this knowledge were at high risk of being executed, banished or ostracized.

Answer 2

I like that analogy. You're very right, Christians do judge people on what they believe instead of what they do...how backwards is that? In fact, you're almost encouraged to do wrong because you can just confess your sins to god and he makes everything better.
How are we to know? Which ball is the right ball? What if Muhammad went up to Jesus and said "Sorry, Jesus, you're wrong. Every one that picked the red ball stand on the left and the rest stand on the right." What then? I guess we can never really know which one is right. If there are any Christians that are out there that would like to debate me on that, I'm up for it... shoot me an e-mail.

Answer 3

Sounds like the deal, only make it 2,000 balls or so and you'll be a little more on track.

I don't believe everyone else will be going to Hell, if there is one. Just sounds like an honest misinterpretation. I'm sure everyone will find out what the truth is before it all ends. We're all God's people.

Answer 4

How improper are you able to be? You count on that each one ten balls are exceptional since men and women say they're. The Bible tells us that each one scripture is from God. The Koran tells us that each one scripture is from God. The essential documentation of the 2 religions that the big majority of each person belong to let us know all scripture is from God, then, why might you believe there are any exceptional balls? From in which I stand it appears extra like a "seaside ball" to me, with such a lot men and women arguing over which colour is satisfactory, and a few atheists arguing that there's no ball or colour. You might need to be blind to not see the ball, and dull to argue over which colour is satisfactory. Let God, anything phrase you utilize to explain God, do the judging. You will have to return to institution and be trained some thing approximately metaphors, common sense and similes.

Answer 5

Oh cr@p, I went with the green ball. Well, I guess I deserve this.....wait, why? Oh right, because the blue ball didn't seem like a good choice at the time, I mean they all looked the same anyway. Well a guess a lifetime of good deeds won't excuse my ignorance for liking the color green.

Answer 6

your really are bored right?

for one thing your scenario is that Jesus religion is the "correct" one, because you say he has the power to send people to hell etc.
so in that case He would have clearly marked his colored ball maybe with a fish, otherwise he would tell you which one to chose then let you reject or accept that's the choice.

I find it odd that you only recognize Jesus as the "true" religion seeing you don't believe in any.
to me that proves that you "know" Christianity is the way, now what you do with your knowledge is up to you.
choose wisely.

Answer 7

You know this really started to make sense in the beging, and then at the end, you went and screwed it all up and ruined the whole story, if not for the ending, you would have, maybe, made sense, but this really confused me, and Im not even sure what your whole point is now...???

Answer 8

Is this a question or a polemic?

"Real" Philosophers call this tactic "Begging the Question".
You have assumed the response before the positing of the conundrum.

Tsk tsk. Sloppy philosophizing. It does not take a philospher to adduce your agendum. Try again with something less deliberately provocative.

Answer 9

a little harsh, but a good point. who is, say, a muslim to tell a christian that theyre going to hell, even if they are generally good people? same is true for christians, as well as all other beliefs out there.

Answer 10

they should ber wise to the old ball game. but god didn't put the balls or the religions there so there goes the fallacious argument as well