Christians: Suspend your belief in god for a moment and imagine that god does not exist. How does that feel?

Question

I know it is not proven either way whether any particular version of god actually exists. Just imagine that you found out that god did not.
Don't give me a "god DOES exist, I know it" answer. I'm asking you to IMAGINE. Yes, it is a hypothetical question. If you don't want to imagine, just simply don't answer the question. No one's forcing you to do anything. I also would not like to get "why are you singling out Christians" answers or "why don't YOU imagine there IS a god" answers. Please address the question.

What would you think? What would your life be like then? How would you feel? Would you be able to continue with your life without a god?

Jim the Engineer: Do you realize you are using Pascal's wager? Look at it for a moment and see how many presuppositions are in it. It's a totally craven wager.

Answer 1

I think I would have a cold, empty feeling. I think I would go through life clinging onto worthless things trying to find some value in them. An emptiness deep in my soul that I couldn't explain. No, I couldn't continue my life w/o God.

Answer 2

Well, I saw your question for atheists, so I know you're not singling anyone out. I assume you mean for us to imagine as if there NEVER was God, not that He's all of a sudden been removed. So there would probably be no sense of loss, because there'd BE nothing lost. I think that moral codes from the beginning of time (or, following your question) or recorded human evolution, would be somewhat different and have less to do with absolutes. There would probably be even more humanism than there already is, because we would set ourselves up as gods. Never mind that He wouldn't exist -- we'd certainly make something up PDQ, and it would be ourselves as god. I'm trying to imagine this, really I am, and even from that point of view it seems as if our world would be worse off than it is now. More "flexible" rules and laws, more of a spirit of anarchy, less of a basis for morality of any kind. Honestly, I'm not sure I would trust human nature acting on its own to produce something better than we have now, with God in the picture (for some of us). Of course, removing God from the picture would logically have to remove the devil, Satan, as well. How long do you have to continue this discussion? I gotta be somewhere on Thanksgiving (lol).

BTW, as a Christian, I did not answer the similar question as it was posed to atheists earlier. Please, to all the other non-Christians of any kind, show the same respect.

Have a great night, all.

Answer 3

I don't know what I would do. My life basically revolves around Jesus. I guess it would sort of be the same, except a little scarier. I go to a christian school, grew up going to sunday school, and attend church regularly. My mess-ups in life wouldn't matter, and I might be going down the wrong path. I don't think I would though, because I am a naturally obediant person, it's just the way I am. I'd probably do what is good and obedient to society, because even people that don't know Jesus can be good people. I know a lot of people like that. I don't know how I'd feel. If it was all of a sudden - God doesn't exist, then I'd be feeling really alone and scared, but if it was over my whole life knowing that, I probably wouldn't notice. I would be able to continue my life without him - assuming he doesn't exist - but it wouldn't be as happy and full as it is knowing he does exist.

So basically - I'd probably lead a good life full of morals. I'd feel scared and alone if I just suddenly realised it, and feel normal if I knew it my entire life. I'd be able to live my life without him just fine. I'd just feel less full of life and happy as I do today.

Oh come on people, stop giving all of the "non christian" answers thumbs downs. That's rude. They're entitled to their opinions too.


I do think that it would be horrible and awful, but pretending it could work out well, that's my answer.

Answer 4

With all due respect to some of the above answerer's... I am so tired of the "brainwashed" comments....
People please - I for one, am no more brain washed than anyone else for what they believe or don't believe.
I have intelligence, enlightenment, love, compassion, humour and LIFE!
I have a good education, a strong marriage and well adjusted children. I have a dubious past, lots of life experience and opinions on everything from day to day living to politics and history. I can hold intelligent conversations and - to my knowledge - people are not bored of me, and I happen to be a Christian.

This question actually is impossible for any believer in God to answer. A truly full relationship with God is fulfilling and complete. I can't imagine my life without God. It would be empty. I know this because I lived a good deal of my life without God. I know what it's like and I now recognize it for what it was for me - empty and lost.

that's as close to an answer as I could get. Thank you for asking.

blessings and peace :)

Answer 5

I didn't believe in God for half my life. And I was adamant about it. I wanted people to know I didn't believe. I thought it made me cool actually. Then I started to read the Bible...to show the Christians in my life all it's inconsistencies and contradictions. Well, I'm sure you've heard it all before but it was like a veil was lifted. I began to see that God's Word was true. He didn't want to condemn me, he wanted to help and strengthen me. He gave us commands not to hinder us but to free us!

So when I remember back to when I didn't believe I felt locked up, scared, unsure of the future. If I never awoke to the truth I would be productive but I wouldn't be able to see beyond myself. I would be angry. I wouldn't care about my marriage and family to the extent I do now because I wouldn't see the eternal value in all human life.

When I look at this world...take away all the troubles...I cannot help but see God's hand in it all. Our land produces food for us, the sun, the rain, just our bodies alone are amazing...how could it all happen by chance?

Answer 6

I just think it is nicer to live beleiving that if you are a good person and put your faith in God, you live a more fulfilling life and are working towards something: enternal life with Christ.

I have thought that God did not exist when I have gone through bad times, and it just felt like something was missing. I sort of felt like nothing was worth living for anymore and it was pretty depressing.

What I remember is the "Footprints in the Sand". When we go through tough times, God carries us. It is part of the reason that I reaffirmed my faith. I just felt miserable thinking that there was nothing more than this life.

Answer 7

I cannot do that. I lived without HIM for so many years before
I asked HIM into my life, I don't even know how I ever lived without HIM.
My life was a total wreck before, I got saved.
You don't have to believe me. It is God, you are not believing, and I don't force my beliefs on anyone.

Jesus Is Lord

Answer 8

If for a moment there was no God. This world would be total chaos. People would not have any morals and wouldn't care of right and wrong....You thought the aftermath of New Orleans was bad it would be so bad we cant even imagine....how does that feel?

Answer 9

Again you people just don't get it.

We're Christians. We don't work that way.

We don't flounder around in doubt and chaos and confusion like you do.

These hypotheticals mean nothing to us - you might as well say, "Imagine you didn't exist, how would you feel?" the questions are just dumb, you see?

But for the millionth time - I suppose if God didn't exist, I could figure out how to live with despair and hopelessness.

I'd just ask you.

Answer 10

think of what your existence could be like if the Boogeyman replaced into actual ? Or vampires? Or goblins? Or elves? What approximately zombies? What approximately them ? How might your existence be diverse if the gut-munching undead walked the streets each evening ?